Lenora's animé design changed for international audiences

[AuraKshatriya]

Upon the release of the recent Pokémon episodes in North America, namely A Night at the Nacrene Museum! and The Battle According to Lenora!, it was revealed that Lenora, the Gym Leader of the Nacrene City Gym, had her animé appearance completely re-drawn and re-animated to match her second official artwork, which depicts her with her apron over her shoulder. Screenshots of some scenes from The Battle According to Lenora! are provided below, courtesy of PokeBeach.com

Japanese Episode-1    

American Episode-1    

Japanese Episode-2    

American Episode-2    

Additionally, these are both versions of her official artwork, being the only character in Pokémon Black and White to have more than one.

First    

Second    

Source(s): Bulbapedia

[Magmaster12]

I don't see what the big deal is.

They're clearly just correcting the error they made of using the wrong art.

[The Spirit of Time]

It is not wrong art, but they used both the artwork in the animé, just for the sake of diversification. By the way, am I the only one who sees the Japanese version as fatter than the American one?

[Alakazamaster]

Originally Posted by The Spirit of Time

It is not wrong art, but they used both the artwork in the animé, just for the sake of diversification. By the way, am I the only one who sees the Japanese version as fatter than the American one?

She's fatter because the apron is kind of poofy and is not skin-tight, making her look bigger.

This change really didn't seem totally necessary, since it really is pretty minor. Just seems like more trouble than its worth.

[Masterge77]

They censor her apron for the anime, yet keep the apron for the game, seriously, what were these people thinking!?

I mean really, if you start a new game in an international version of Black and White, Lenora still has the apron, yet the anime dub censors it, yeah, I find this censorship pointless.....

[Idno58]

I think she looks cooler without her apron. But that's just me.

[WherewolfTherewolf]

Originally Posted by Masterge77

They censor her apron for the anime, yet keep the apron for the game, seriously, what were these people thinking!?

I mean really, if you start a new game in an international version of Black and White, Lenora still has the apron, yet the anime dub censors it, yeah, I find this censorship pointless.....

Design decisions = censorship?

Honestly I don't get why anyone would consider this a big deal in the first place

[Cat333Pokémon]

I can imagine what's going on here. Lenora's appearance with the apron could be a racial stereotype, which some folks could interpret as the role of African Americans in the southern United States during the American Civil War, which put them as slaves. The apron could make her look more like a house maid. Just an idea.

I swear, people need to stop censoring stupid things like this. If slavery is the reason for this one, it's only emphasizing racism subconciously rather than trying to hide it. Or maybe TPCi doesn't want to hear from any of those groups who complained about previous racial stereotypes, notably with Jynx.

[Ultimazone]

I think she looks more appealing without the apron, so I have nothing actually bad to say about this..

[Sableyed]

I'm usually pretty angry about this sort of thing, but this time I don't mind so much. For one thing, why would you wear an apron while battling?

[The Tropius of Tropiuses]

I like this new design. It makes her look more like a Gym Leader than a maid.

[Shadow]

As other members pointed out, the change wasn't exactly necessary, but it makes Lenora look a little better than before and more fitting as a gym leader.

[Aquablast]

The change look better but not such a big deal.

[Kirby-Chan]

I don't mind the change and personally I think Lanora looks better without the apron. But the design change doesn't make a huge difference.

[AnathemA]

Nobody wants another Jinx incident.

[7dewott8]

It really makes no difference