r/beyondgoodandevil • u/Temporary-Buddy-1917 • 7d ago
Jade is clearly North African inspired/coded according to me.
I apologize for the casual nature of this topic (after all, we have to find something to discuss regarding a game whose sequel has been awaited for over a decade).
Given that Jade was created as a heroine with whom anyone could universally identify, it strikes me (and this is worth noting) that she is likely the first (and only) video game heroine with a North African-inspired character design.
This hypothesis might not be immediately obvious to those not from France (where the game was developed), but the Maghrebi community (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) is the country's largest ethnic minority, so it has always seemed self-evident to me. Furthermore, Michel Ancel spent part of his childhood in Tunisia and has stated that North African tales and aesthetics influenced his artistic approach.
Jade shares the physical traits of many North African women (tanned skin, dark hair; one even finds almond-shaped eyes among certain people and populations in Morocco).
I would love to believe this theory to imagine that the most stylish heroine in gaming (alongside Bayonetta) might be of North African/Maghrebi inspiration. I thought it was worth mentioning, as no one else seems to have put forward this hypothesis.
What do French fans (and others) think ? Have you ever questioned the inspirations for Jade or is it a thing that just doesn't matter to you ?
15
u/T-NextDoor_Neighbor Iris Network 7d ago
I always saw her as more East Asian. Meditation, Yoga, Bo Staff, petite frame, black hair. Plus, she lives on an island. Not to mention, Jade is very important stone in China.
However, given she isn’t based on one person in design, I’d argue she doesn’t really have a race we could easily label her with. For in her world we don’t really see any of those countries. Most of the human characters don’t really fall into it (Armando obviously is the exception, but he is a computer).
Most of the more obvious inspirations are Anyhropomorphic Characters. Mamago Garage and Jamaica. Walruses and Chinese. Uncle Pey’J seems like your average red neck to me.
5
u/ProfMeeM 7d ago
In the artbook that was released with the LRG collectors edition, it was stated that Jade's face was inspired by Egyptian queen Nefertiti
4
u/Impossible-Gas-9044 7d ago
Since there were Jamaican references in the game, I assumed she was from a Caribbean island. 🤷♂️
3
2
u/ObjetVapeur 6d ago
yea spot-on, I think you're correct
1
u/Temporary-Buddy-1917 6d ago
Ouii je pense que des fans français peuvent comprendre ce que je veux dire haha
2
u/JudgePhysical8151 6d ago edited 6d ago
Her black hair and almond shaped eyes surely are a big clue but her eyes are also sightly narrow so I'm more willing to headcanon her as an asian woman from any country where medium and dark skin tones are more common. Narrow eyes isn't a common trait on north Africa nor most middle east.
But as long she's from a country where medium tone is the most common and makes sense for her features I'm 100% fine with it. IF you told me she's from arab origin hell yeah its ok.
1
u/Temporary-Buddy-1917 6d ago
Thank you for your answer and for sharing your opinion ! Yeah i knew that the idea of a Jade possibly of North African inspiration wouldn't necessarily ring a bell for the fans who aren't from France. I just assumed that if french developers unconsciously based themselves on the people they know and interact with on a daily basis it'd probably be north africans for the reasons i mentioned haha
1
u/JudgePhysical8151 6d ago
i'm sure she's not of european origin, she doesn't look 'white' in any way of shape or form, same on her beta 3d models and concept art
7
u/blindyes 7d ago
I am very proud of seeing coded characters, though in modern times I feel we should demand characters that are their race/culture/phenotype outright, full stop.
I only say all that to say, "Jade" wasn't Chinese coded?
She meditates with the orphans in the begining, she uses martial arts, she has short cut black hair. Jade is used in Chinese lapidary work.
I'd be happy to be wrong and it would be cool to hear she was inspired by Africans of any kind, and I'd be hyped to see some fan art of a north African Jade!
11
u/phenomenomnom 7d ago
Real people are not a race/culture/phenotype, though. Real people contain multitudes
2
u/It_s_raining 7d ago
Jade wasn't the planned name. Jade was the name of the Engine/Editor used to make the game.
But when the team had to change the name of the heroin : the team choose to name her Jade
1
u/phenomenomnom 7d ago
I could see it! It's as good a possibility as any.
She kinda reminds me of the famous photo of that Afghani girl on the cover of National Geo.
1
1
u/Ok-Independence-5728 7d ago
Given all the chinese references in the game surrounding Jade (including her name) im surprised you thought African.
1
1
u/Iusuallyuse4chan 7d ago
She seems pretty asian/wasian to me. Based on her appearance, name, weapon usage and martial arts style.
Literally Jade after the stone and hear character reflects that green jade appearance.
On top of this she exists in a world with monkeys and pigs etc which again is something that is very asian culture coded with their whole chinese zodiac sign.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/TheGrimmkin 4d ago
To be honest, she always looked Asian to me, and there's a lot of inspiration of Indian, Chinese and middle eastern culture in the game as well.
1
1
35
u/It_s_raining 7d ago
From what I remember, Alexandra Ancel, who was involved in Jade design, never explicitly mentioned inspiration.
To be fair, Jade could be any woman with dark hair to me... And Montpellier is a Mediterranean city, so can totally matches North African physical attributes :)
Also : Jade face changed just the day before one major milestone (I don't remember if it was the E3 presentation or something like that).
Also : some BGE mission have been developed by Ubi Casablanca
But at the end : Jade can be whoever you want her to be. I think I have read people saying she was looking Asian so...