Blanka (/ˈblɑːŋkə/ ⓘ; Japanese: ブランカ) also known by his birth name Jimmy[1] is a character in Capcom's Street Fighter fighting game series.

Blanka was originally designed as a pink-skinned human character by Akira "Akiman" Yasuda, and underwent several re-conceptualizations during the production of Street Fighter II before reaching his final depiction as a feral savage with green skin and long orange hair.

Blanka's backstory is that he was once human, but after a plane-crash in Brazil, he mutated, resulting in his green colouring and his ability to generate electricity.

[2] Blanka's most prominent physical characteristic is his green colour, initially attributed to his consumption of chlorophyll from plants to blend into his jungle environment.

[7][8] However, when Street Fighter was brought to the U.S., Blanka's colouring was attributed to his being struck by lightning during the electrical storm in which his plane crashed.

[21] Blanka first appears in Street Fighter II, when he sees his mother (who tells his backstory) after he competes in the World Warrior tournament.

[9][22] Although in the initial games Blanka's mother says the plane crashed when he was "a little boy", the manual for Street Fighter IV says it happened when he was a baby.

[19] In Super Street Fighter IV, Blanka enters a worldwide tournament to be recognized by people so his mother will be proud of him.

[40] Blanka briefly appears in Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie, when he is lowered from a cage and defeats Zangief in Las Vegas.

[15] Charlie is taken captive by General M. Bison at the beginning who forces Dr. Dhalsim to subject him to genetic testing to create the perfect soldier.

[43] In UDON's Street Fighter comic adaptation, Blanka is used as a living weapon by Shadaloo until he is rescued by Delta Red (Cammy's squad).

Capcom producer Yoshinori Ono, surprised when told that Blanka is popular among Brazilians, apologized for the poor impression of the country given by the character.

[55] In 2009, after Rio de Janeiro was chosen to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, an internet meme spread making Blanka the games' unofficial mascot.

[58] He was ranked the franchise's 17th-best character (out of 50) by UGO as initially "hook[ing]" gamers and "an indispensable part of Street Fighter now.