Jynx
| Jynx | |
|---|---|
_art.png) National Pokédex Scyther - Jynx (#124) - Electabuzz Johto Pokédex Smoochum - Jynx (#153) - Elekid | |
| Japanese name | ルージュラ - Rougela |
| Evolves from | Smoochum (only in Pokémon Gold and Silver and later) |
| Evolves into | None |
| Generation | First |
| Species | Humanshape Pokémon |
| Type | Ice / Psychic |
| Height | 4 ft 7 in (1.4 m) |
| Weight | 89.5 pounds (40.6 kg) |
| Ability | Oblivious |
Jynx (ルージュラ Rougela in Japanese, Lippoutou in French, Rossana in German, "紅唇娃" in Cantonese and "루주라" in Korean) is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise, originally introduced in Pokémon Red and Blue. Jynx is noted more than other Pokemon characters due to the controversy over her original appearance (see below).
The name Jynx is a play on the English word "jinx", a curse or hex of bad luck. The reasoning behind this isn't immediately clear; it may be that she's styled after a Yuki-onna, or because Rougela comes from "Rouge" and "la", which means "lipstick" in Japanese.
Appearance
Jynx has an imposing appearance, resembling an exaggerated stereotype of a husky human lady. It has purple flesh, long blonde hair, and an eye-catching set of rose-red lips. The clothes it appears to wear are indeed part of its body, made to look like a pair of circular red bra and a red skirt. Though not often (and only in the anime) seen, underneath the skirt are Jynx's legs, and they look just like bare human legs, only a dark bluish-green. In Stadium, it's assumed that she has nothing in her skirt, as the pokedex showed the dress being hollow, like a ghost. However, why she can use "Mega kick" is a mystery.
Controversy
Prior to the modern Jynx design seen above and introduced more recently, Jynx originally had pure-black flesh.
This original design bore a striking, but possibly coincidental, resemblance to entertainers in blackface. A strong case can be made for Jynx being a parody of or homage to the Japanese Ganguro and Yamanba fashion trends, which were extremely popular when Pokémon was first released, but it can't be denied that blackface-influenced characters have appeared elsewhere in anime and manga - examples can be found near the beginning of Osamu Tezuka's early graphic novel, Metropolis.
As Pokémon became more popular in the US, this similarity to a particularly racist image from America's past offended some. In particular, it had offended children's book author Carole Boston Weatherford, who accused Jynx of being a racist stereotype in an article titled Politically Incorrect Pokémon in the magazine Black World Today, shortly after the anime episode Holiday Hi-Jynx aired. Episodes later on are also either banned or cut in USA. (see anime)
In response to this controversy, in 2002, Nintendo changed Jynx's face from black to purple and its hands from blue to purple in Pokémon games, a change which would be reflected in the anime three years later in Advanced Generation.
Characteristics
Jynx is an "urban" Pokemon, one who owes its existence somewhat to the presence of humankind. Jynx is known for its kissing habit, which it actually uses as a battling tool, giving paralysis/hypnosis/confusion-inducing kisses to its opponents. Jynx vocalizes a mysterious language understood only by other Jynx, a language that despite sounding rather human, no human or other Pokemon is able to understand. Scientists are studying Jynx's unique tongue to try and understand what is being said.
Jynx walks in a dance-like fashion, where its wiggling motions with its hips are very seductive. In fact, its bouncing motions are alluring enough so that any person seeing it feels compelled to follow along in the same dance procession without giving a second thought as to what he or she is doing.
Jynx live in icy cold caves or around icy cold caves.
In the video games
(In the order of release date)
Red/Blue: Obtainable in Cerulean City by trading. Used by Elite 4 Lorelei.
Pokemon Stadium: Rentable.
Pokemon Snap: Appear near to Articuno's egg.
Gold/Silver/Crystal: Obtainable.In the Ice Cave by catching/ evolving from Smoochum. Used by Elite4 Will.
Ruby/Sapphire: Unobtainable. Used by a random trainer.
FireRed/LeafGreen: Obtainable in Cerulean City by trading. Used by Elite 4 Lorelei.
Emerald: Unobtainable. Used by a random trainer.
Pokemon Stadium 2: Rentable. Appears also in a mini game.
Pokemon XD: Used by an opponent in Orre Colosseum. Appears Card #10 (Psychic Excess) in Battle Bingo.
Jynx is a popular Ice-type Pokemon to be used in the games, because of its very high special attack, high special defense, and high speed. The combination of its Psychic and Ice types makes it a good special attacker, especially when combined with Calm Mind and Lovely Kiss. It also learns some moves such as Mean Look and Perish Song naturally. However, its abysmal defense makes it risky to use around any physical attacker as its defense is even lower than that of most unevolved Pokemon.
- Because of the above controversy, Jynx's skin was changed from black to purple in Pokémon Stadium 2 and all later games.
In the animé
Jynx made an appearance in the episode The Ice Cave, which was not aired in English-speaking countries, and in the episode Holiday Hi-Jynx, which isn't re-aired in USA but is in the UK, both because of the controversy over her appearance. She later appears Pokémon Orange Islands series, in episodes still present in American rotations.
Her 13-second appearance in Pokémon AG episode 23 All Things Bright and Beautifly was cut out when the episode was localized for English-speaking countries. She later appears in episodes 116 and 117 of Pokémon AG, with the inoffensive purple skin color.
In episodes 116 and 117, because the main episode order of these episodes would have been during Feburary which is also Black History Month, KidsWB chose to air these episodes out of order and air them in April after the Hoenn Championship League episodes as it would help build the ratings with the Grand Festival and Hoenn League episodes and it would have avoided offending the Black People during Febuary due to the Jynx controversy. However one exception was in the episode "Hi Ho Silver Wind!" (AG121) where a purple Jynx had a minor cameo which aired in Febuary. These episodes were aired in the normal rotational order in the UK.
Three Jynx(s) and a Smoochum were in episode AG169 aired in Japan on 16th March 2006. Then the Smoochum evolved, so it ended with four Jynx(s)
See also Banned episodes of Pokémon.
In other properties
There are two different sorts of Jynx figures. The first type , based on the original Jynx design with black skin, is no longer available, as that series ceased production after the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Example: Pokemon Christmas edition (not available outside Asia), and Pokemon Kids Collection (banned)
The second type is the purple skinned variety. Example, Figure #7 in series two of Pokémon Zengaku Zukan[1], is currently available in Japan, and has purple skin. Neither series has never been released outside of Asia.
![[1]](http://my.tomy.co.jp/yujinp/img_shohin/4904790937590_b.jpg){kind=link}
Jynx has made a number of appearances in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, with the black-skinned design (sometimes US version cards show up purple and edited before the controversy) before the Weatherford controversy, and with the purple-skinned design after Nintendo regained control of the Pokémon TCG. Jynx first appeared in the Base Set with her black-skinned design, but later reprints of this card have the purple-skinned design. The list of expansion sets Jynx has appeared in is the following, all as Basic Pokemon:
- Base Set (Psychic-type, reprinted in Legendary Collection)
- Gym Challenge (Psychic-type, as Sabrina’s Jynx)
- Neo Revelation (Water-type)
- Expedition (Water-type)
- Aquapolis (Psychic-type)
- EX Unseen Forces (Water-type)