Origins
When Blanka was a young boy, he was aboard a plane that crashed in the jungle. This crash caused him to grow up in the wild, although he has connections to a local village. Because of a electrical discharge caused by the plane crash, he developed his characteristic green skin and the ability to generate electricity on his own. Ever since the crash, Blanka had been separated from his mother. Years after the crash, Blanka saved Dan Hibiki’s life and became best friends with Dan teaching him English.
Creation
Blanka was created by Akira Yasuda. Blanka went through a couple of changes such as, Hombre Blanco and Hammer Blanka.
Character Evolution
Blanka first official appearance was Street Fighter II. Blanka develops a liking for street fighting so he enters the Second World Warrior tournament. In his ending his mother seeing him on TV, she addresses him by his real name, Jimmy. She explains that she gave him the ankles before the plane crashed when he was little. And they are finally reunited.
In Street Fighter Alpha 3, Blanka origins is expanded further. After eating a melon in a back of a truck, unbeknownst to him, took him to civilization. He is later reunited with his friend, Dan Hibiki and also meets Sakura for the first time.
Major Story Arcs
In the Udon Comics, Blanka is introduced as a Shadaloo prisoner who was experimented on (resulting to his monstrous appearance and electrical powers) He is unleashed on Delta Red when they discover Shadaloo’s base of operations but ceases his attack when painful memories of being brutalized by Cammy (who was Killer Bee at the time) are evoked upon seeing her. Blanka was recovered by Delta Red along with Dee Jay and both their mind is eventually freed from Shadaloo’s influence. During a plane ride, Delta Red’s plane is captured by Shadaloo forces and Blanka is once again forcibly subjected into servitude for Shadaloo’s purposes. He participates in the Street Fighter tournament on Shadaloo island but is eliminated in the early round. Once the Psycho Drive is destroyed and the island is evacuated, Blanka returns to his senses. The aftermath of the comics shows a similar ending to Street Fighter II (being reunited with his long lost mother).
Powers and Abilities
Blanka’s fighting style is self taught due to growing up in the jungle. Some of his techniques consists of:
Electric Thunder: Blanka’s body is covered in electricity, causing damage to those who get near him.
Beast Roll (or Rolling Attack): A move where Blanka curls into a ball and fly horizontal. Blanka can also do this diagonally.
Ground Shave Roll: Blanka somersaults forward into a rolled-up position on the ground, and then rolls while on the ground.
Lighting Cannonball: Similar to the Ground Shave Roll, only that Blanka electrifies himself before preforming this move.
Shout of Earth: There are two variations to this move. Blanka will beat his chest and roar, followed by either pounding the ground discharging electricity, causing standing opponents to be electrocuted, or release the electricity in a vertical column which can hit airborne opponents.
Characteristics
As a 6’3″ male, Blanka weighs 216 lbs and is widely believed to be Brazilian.
Other Media
Film and Animation
Blanka appears in the live action film, Street Fighter portrayed by Robert Mannone. His background was combined with Guile’s best friend, Charlie, going by Carlos Blanka. He was captured by Bison, who subjects him to genetic testing to create the perfect soldier. The Street Fighter animated series, an American production released in 1995, follows this version of the film.
Blanka also appears in Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie as a minor role. He faces Zangief.
Role-playing game
In the role-playing game Street Fighter: The Storytelling Game, released by White Wolf in 1994, Blanka is described as a Capoeira practitioner, predating Elena and relatives of the brothers Laura and Sean Matsuda: Pedro da Silva (uncle), Enzo and Manuela (cousins).
Games
Blanka has made a multitude of appearances in the Street Fighter series.
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Street Fighter II (first appearance)
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Super Street Fighter II
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Street Fighter IV
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Super Street Fighter IV
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Street Fighter Alpha 3
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Street Fighter Alpha Anthology
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Street Fighter EX 2
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Street Fighter EX 3
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Capcom vs SNK
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Capcom Classics Collection