Kimberly Jackson
Capcom hired Black consultants to help design Kimberly Jackson for Street Fighter 6. The team wanted her to be an authentic representation of Black people and culture. Standing 161 cm tall, she became the first female African American playable character in the franchise. Director Takayuki Nakayama noted that many staff members were fans of Black culture. They made a point of consulting with Black employees to ensure accuracy. The designers focused on cohesion between her fighting style and her origins. They needed another ninja character but struggled to match it with her American background. Her solution was to become a protege of Guy, a Japanese ninja from Final Fight who lived in the United States. The outfit emphasized speed and movement since she is athletic. Her hair and clothing were designed so her silhouette stands out clearly during gameplay.
Kimberly borrows elements from Guy's portrayal in the Street Fighter series. She uses slides and forward thrusts to quickly close distance on opponents. Instead of smoke bombs, she utilizes spray paint to mask her position during a fight. This acts as an explosive allowing her to immediately reposition herself to a different spot in the arena. Several other explosives can be used to distract an opponent. Her harder hitting super attacks include Bushin Beats, Bushin Ninjastar Cypher, and Bushin Scramble. These deliver a series of blows in rapid succession if they connect. The last move is intended for use against airborne opponents. Game director Kaname Fujioka described her muscles as thinner towards the ends of her limbs. Her body shape and movements are balanced to emphasize speed. Each of the three new characters had their own skeletal structure and physique.
Kimberly Jackson is an African American woman introduced in the 2023 fighting game Street Fighter 6. A prodigy who graduated from college early, she sought out Guy to train under him. In the game's storyline she is looking for her uncle Albert. He worked for wealthy martial artist Ken Masters but vanished under mysterious circumstances after the latter was framed for a criminal conspiracy. Kimberly learned Bushinryu, the fighting style she uses today. She wears a scarf around her neck which uses traditional African patterns when doing graffiti or Bushinryu. Her character theme was composed by Yoshiya Terayama. In English, she is voiced by Anairis Quiñones while in Japanese she is voiced by Nao Tōyama. She was designed to complement the old guard of Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li.
A comic starring Kimberly titled Street Fighter Masters: Kimberly by Udon Entertainment was slated for release in December 2023. Brand manager Jackie Simmons stated she was worried that Juri would overshadow her. She was relieved that Kimberly excited players just as much. A Good Smile figure in the Pop Up Parade product line of Kimberly was created. It was included in the deluxe edition of Street Fighter 6 along with one of Luke. In collaboration with Capcom for the 35th anniversary of the series, the company U-Treasure created candles based on Street Fighter 6 characters. Kimberly was included among those featured items. The game director Kaname Fujioka described her muscles as thinner towards the ends of her limbs.
Fanbyte writer Imran Khan called her a positive and undeniably cool portrayal of a subset of black culture. He felt this was a rarity in fighting games. IGN writer Michael Saltzman identified her as a standout character in the Street Fighter 6 cast. The Mary Sue writer Briana Lawrence praised her hair and spray can gimmick. Kinda Funny producer Blessing Adeoye Jr. praised her huge braids as one of his favorite depictions of Black hair in video games. Game Rant writer Smangaliso Simelane felt she embodied the new direction of hip-hop inspirations. Destructoid writer Chris Moyse called her design vivid and dazzling. Rolling Stone writer Christopher Cruz noted her theme touched upon chiptune music and hip-hop heavy beat drops. VG247 writer Alex Donaldson called her a joy and great addition to Street Fighter 6.
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Common questions
Who is Kimberly Jackson in Street Fighter 6?
Kimberly Jackson is an African American woman introduced in the 2023 fighting game Street Fighter 6. She is a prodigy who graduated from college early and seeks out Guy to train under him.
When was Kimberly Jackson released as a playable character?
Kimberly Jackson was released as a playable character in the 2023 fighting game Street Fighter 6. A comic starring her titled Street Fighter Masters: Kimberly by Udon Entertainment was slated for release in December 2023.
What is Kimberly Jackson's fighting style called?
Kimberly Jackson learned Bushinryu, which is the fighting style she uses today. Her moves include slides, forward thrusts, and spray paint attacks that act as explosives to reposition herself during combat.
Why did Capcom hire Black consultants for Kimberly Jackson?
Capcom hired Black consultants to help design Kimberly Jackson so the team could create an authentic representation of Black people and culture. The designers focused on cohesion between her fighting style and her origins while consulting with Black employees to ensure accuracy.
Who voices Kimberly Jackson in English and Japanese?
In English, Kimberly Jackson is voiced by Anairis Quiñones while in Japanese she is voiced by Nao Tōyama. Her character theme was composed by Yoshiya Terayama.