Is Frye a Squid?
Yes, Frye is canonically an Inkling, which means she is a humanoid squid in the Splatoon universe with the ability to transform between squid and humanoid forms.
As an Inkling, Frye shares key traits with other humanoid squids in Splatoon, including having a squid form, the ability to swim in ink, and a connection to ink-based weapons and culture. So while her vampire squid inspirations make her unique, at her core Frye belongs to the Inkling species.
Diving Deep into Frye‘s Background
Frye made her first appearance in the September 2022 launch of Splatoon 3 as part of the idol group Deep Cut. As an antagonist in the new single-player story mode, she displays several previously unseen abilities.
Detailed Analysis of Frye‘s Abilities
- Shape-shifting – Frye can transform between humanoid and vampire squid forms
- Ink manipulation – She can submerge and swim swiftly through ink
- Ink-based weapons use – Frye wields a range of ink-using arms in battle
These capabilities align with those of other Inklings, confirming her species membership.
Frye‘s Vampire Squid Influences
While Frye shares Inkling traits, her design draws heavily from real-world vampire squids:
- Pointy ears
- Large forehead
- Overall darker aesthetic
As seen below, her vampiric motifs separate her from other humanoid squids visually despite their biological commonalities.
| Inkling | Vampire Squid | Frye |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
(Squid images courtesy of Splatoon Wiki, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Nintendo)
So in summary, while Frye represents a stylistic departure from previous humanoid squids, she retains the same biological classification and abilities.
Frye‘s Ever-Evolving Backstory
As a brand new character, Frye‘s story remains largely undefined and will likely expand across future Splatoon 3 content updates.
Nintendo plans to support the game through 2024, so her background stands to grow substantially more detailed over time. Fan theories also abound regarding hidden connections between Frye and other characters.
We‘ve already seen with the Squid Sisters how new information can shift perceptions and add depth. So I anticipate learning much more about this vampire squid-inspired idol as Nintendo keeps unveiling new Splatoon lore!
Closing Thoughts on Frye as an Inkling
While clearly styled after vampire squids, from all official accounts, Frye falls under the Inkling species umbrella in Splatoon. She demonstrates the same trademark abilities and traits as other humanoid squids in the series.
And given Nintendo‘s commitment to updating Splatoon 3, Frye‘s intriguing design likely hints at exciting story revelations still to come.
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