It seems like this generation of Pokémon just can't stay out of hot water. Following the premiere of the latest episode of Pokémon: Twilight Wingsfans noticed something off about Gym Leader Bea. In the show, the character's skin tone appears lighter than in the games, leading some to claim that Bea had been whitewashed.

The accusation comes on the heels of a similar controversy. Last year, a fan-made mod released which lightened the skin tone of Gym Leader Nessa -- blatant racism that put many on guard. But, in this case, the issue is not fan-made but comes from an official piece of Pokémon media. Pokemon Twilight Wings is the latest promotional effort for Pokémon Sword and Shield, games that have already been somewhat contentious.

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Some have argued that the change is not malicious, but instead a misunderstanding. Twilight Wings has a distinctive art style that makes unique use of light, especially bright sunlight, throughout the show. Defenders say that the brightness of the lighting is what is washing out characters that are on the light side of tan -- characters like Bea.

Unlike Nessa, who is clearly meant to be a woman of color, some argue that Bea is just tan. As a martial artist in the Pokémon world, Bea likely spends a lot of her time outside, punching trees and sitting under waterfalls with her Machamp. The Galar region is not particularly sunny, so her skin tone is a testament to just how much time she spends outdoors. This defense lines up with how Japanese media normally portrays people with tan skin: as outdoors-types with darker than average skin -- sometimes to the point where it's... questionable.

Characters like Dark Sakura from Street Fighter and Gym Leader Marlon from Pokemon Black and White 2 have skin tones comparable to Gym Leaders Raihan, Nessa, Lenora and Iris, but they are only tan. Marlon, in particular, has his pale, untanned feet and waist peeking out from his swimsuit. These characters are dark enough to appear to be people of color but are clearly not meant to actually represent racial minorities.

Obviously, no amount of sun can actually turn people as pale as Marlon and Sakura that brown. A particularly hurtful line can be drawn to the idea of a suntan making pale people "pass" for Black, and that a Black skin tone is something that can be gained with time spent in the sun and shed through time spent indoors -- an idea that no doubt played a part in the Nessa whitewashing controversy. And, unfortunately, an idea that is a norm in Japanese media.

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The issue with Bea could also be an offshoot of that idea, meaning the discrepancy may be a cultural misunderstanding. Japanese media has only recently started portraying tanned skin realistically, meaning fans up to this point have had their work cut out for them trying to figure out whether a character is Black, Brown or neither -- especially considering the generic facial features of most anime art styles.

It may seem inconsequential to some, but seeing characters that look like you and knowing they are like you is a massive boon and hugely encouraging, especially for a younger audience. In a world that consistently isolates the "different," representation in media helps people feel like they belong. It can make a child feel safe enjoying something like Pokémon because they see Trainers that look just like them.

But there is another side to this for older fans. Many people who grew up starved for representation in their favorite franchises will latch onto any character with a slightly different skin tone. However, this is complicated when taking into account cultural differences between the creators and the audience. What is a widely accepted cultural norm for portraying a person as tan in one region could be a widely accepted cultural norm for portraying Black people in another. When these intentions and interpretations don't match up, it can be confusing -- and potentially hurtful to fans.

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