10 Times Pokémon Games Were Censored For Western Audiences

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.