As part of its Nintendo Switch game platform, Nintendo is in the process of introducing its fans to Splatoon 2, a sequel to the 2015 Wii U title, Splatoon. The game includes Splatfest hosts Pearl and Marina, an emcee and DJ, who make up a pop duo called Off the Hook.
Splatoon’s introductory video includes Pearl and Marina performing a song (below) and there’s also a clip of them debating desserts with Pearl taking cake and Marina, team ice cream.
While Splatoon fans are split on Pearl, they’ve fallen head-over-heels for Splatoon, who is an interesting character not only because she’s an adorable DJ, but also because she’s black. This matters in Nintendo world because the vast majority of its permanent characters are drawn to appear either Asian or white.
According to Nintendo expert Jonathan Holmes of Destructoid, of 133 amiibos (Nintendo figurines featuring microchips that can by synced with games) only one is black. In Holmes analysis of Marina, he describes her as Nintendo’s first black leading lady, though concedes that Twintelle from Arms (whose hair has super powers, y’all!) was black, but still views Marina as different.
“[Nintendo] could have given her white hair, or made her skin green or blue like they did with “magical minority” Zelda characters like Midna and Ganondorf, but instead, they made her look like a regular black girl (except for the green tints on her tentacle hairs, of course),” wrote Holmes.
Without getting into the deeper fan analysis of Marina (and in game world debates there’s always a fair amount of racist push back on the concept of inclusion, with some ignorant fans arguing that people who advocate for brown characters are putting identity politics over game quality <–so dumb), it’s clear she was inspired by the explosion of growth in brown girls DJing and it’s awesome to see Nintendo recognize the movement in the form of an appealing character.
Splatoon 2 officially launches on July 21, 2017. Visit nintendo.com for more details.
Marina fan art above via parapatter.
Off the Hook ft. Pearl and Marina
Marina Fan Love
Crying over my new daughters. pic.twitter.com/cfn60ziFNU
— Doomfist’s Nipple (@OhHeyDJ) July 6, 2017
Ice Cream vs. Cake
summer is a good time for ice cream#Splatoon #Splatoon2 #Splatfest #NintendoSwitch #Nintendo pic.twitter.com/cBlPDYsrUp
— garbage boy (@bustedradio) July 8, 2017
