10 Times Pokémon Games Were Censored For Western Audiences
You can't handle the truth.
Throughout the years, Pokémon has been the focal point of serious controversy. Many have taken issue with the concept of evolution, and there are some who believe the game encourages violence towards animals.
Pokémon series also brings with it a debate on bad parenting. Why would a mother allow her ten-year-old child to wander around the region, completely unaccompanied, while trying to tame wild beasts? Furthermore, why is the protagonist of Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald the only playable character with a father?
It's hard to believe that a game for children could have so many detractors, but the ugly truth is that Pokémon could have had a lot more haters if the Japanese version of the games had hit the shores of Europe and America.
When they were being developed for western audiences, certain elements of the franchise were pulled from each Generation of the Japanese release to make them more child-friendly. Some aspects were rightly scrapped due to their racial and sexual connotations, but other things that were given the boot feel like they were removed to placate a sensitive market.
10. Jynx's Skin Was Changed From Black To Purple
One of the most widely known changes to the game and cartoon series, the Pokémon known as Jynx originally had black skin instead of the purple tone we recognise today.
Once the western audience saw Jynx, its depiction was met with resounding backlash. Several protesters claimed the Pokémon portrayed a multitude of the negative racial stereotypes predominantly associated with the black community. Jynx was likened to the performing minstrels - or blackface actors - of yesteryear that unashamedly belittled those of African descent.
It can be argued that Jynx's inaugural design was based on the Ganguro fashion trend that was popular with young, Japanese girls during the mid 1990s, and that the controversy surrounding Jynx's appearance was simply a misunderstanding between Asian and western cultures. The idea of a Ganguro girl was to be darkly tanned while wearing heavy amounts of make-up, with your hair dyed a bright, eye-catching colour.
Not wanting to cause any further disputes, the developers changed Jynx's skin to purple for Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. From this point, Jynx has remained purple, both in the animated series and the games.