What's the deal with Nidalee? || character design & lore discussion

[@dtoonergames7450]

new art nidalee is so much more interesting, appealing, functional and importantly, LESS RACIST than the old design that I’m absolutely dumbfounded that they haven’t updated her yet

[@moon-ww6qt]

tbf,, they're currently working on two new reworks e.g. mundo and udyr. i dont know if they'll ever get around to reworking her,, but who knows

[@theanxiousace3783]

I like how in the new art she looks intense and muscular, like she's actually spent years running and climbing trees. It makes sense that she doesn't look like a waif. Also the clothes make more sense. They're practical. Protective. They look like clothes someone would actually wear while adventuring. Make that her new design and she'll be pretty good. Also, maybe give her new voice lines that don't make her sound like she's in heat?

[@timothymclean]

It's amazing what you can do when you don't squander 90% of the character design on sex appeal.

[@theanxiousace3783]

@@timothymclean It's almost as if you get more character.

[@DrewbusDumbledouche]

There's a lot of people that have a dislike for reworks in how they change the character's personality in a way that's lame. Sometimes I think that's warranted, I wasn't too fond of how they changed Galio or Gangplank. But Nidalee is such a lame character that I doubt a single person would be at all upset as to how they change her character much as what was the case with Irelia.

[@VideoGameManiac8]

@@DrewbusDumbledouche The worst rework has to be Swain tho. Old Swain and New Swain are 2 different people.

[@chowinsnow]

Meh, she could have heated lines around some champions. She's supposed to be somewhat primal being raised around and by animals...you know, the creatures that mate when it's time and think nothing of it. Or mate for the fun of it and think little of it. It's a feeling that happens. An urge.

[@asdfguim]

I agree with most of what was said, but wear leather and furs in a tropical jungle seen a bit crazy, for example natives here in Brazil where mostly naked, not because they couldn't make clothes, but because in amazon (and in most places around the equator line) is hot all year long, so they did not need much clothing to survive, they wore for the most part adornment pieces, that where definitly not made out of leather nor fur. Not saying she shold be naked, the leather bikini was worse for shure, but just seeing her in that heavy clothing makes me all sweaty.

[@tehtayziez]

I think there is a bit of a misconception around hide/leather armor, in the same way people look at someone in full plate armor and their mind often thinks he'd be slow and sturdy, where as it's simply not the case in real life. The chest piece she's wearing is pretty ideal as far creating armor for someone in this sort of climate, down to the material its made of and the sleeveless style, I don't think it's hits as many "silly" or unrealistic notes as her original design and obviously since they cant just go for the super realistic example of her being nude, it seems smarter to go in the direction they have I think. Also bear in mind that most of the amazonians today arent living in a hostile magic jungle where theyre hunted by other humans (or other humanoid races in nidalee's case) so for nidalee to wear some light armor helps give that signifier that she is a fighter and not just a person who lives a normal jungle dwellers life. It's a reasonably smart balance between the realism with her body being tougher/rougher and the more typical visual information in video games of showing someone is a combatant by having them wear armor at all times.

[@downsjmmyjones101]

She should probably look more like Robin Williams after coming out of Jumanji.

[@peeepepeheeeeheee]

yes! and look at the hulk and wherewolves, while transforming their clothes will rip so it makes sense to wear less and not spend a lot of time on clothes that could potentially get shredded to pieces also: i watched another review of nidalees short story and in it a hunter is distracted by her appearance, another reason why she could dress that way

[@MamaFeng]

Ai gata, mas é pq o Brasil é o inferno na terra. Onde a nidalee mora nn deve ser esse calor do cão não. Se bem que ela mora perto de Shurima, onde é um deserto, mas mesmo assim a floresta sempre é mas fresca por causa da vegetação, e ela está vestindo uma regata, o que significa que não é frio ou quente onde ela mora, e de qualquer forma, a sexualização de mulheres indígenas é PODRE PRA CARALHO então eu prefiro muito mais uma aparência respeitável e sensata pra ela

[@SoulDevoured]

That's partly why we have this idea that savages were naked. By the time alot of the art and mythology was created there were only a few unadulterated indigenous people left in the world. Most of them were in very freaking hot regions of the world.

[@Ladygothii12]

So....Nidalee is Tarzan (and Mowgli).... what are we gonna find out she's actually the heir to a noble Vastayan family in Ionia?

[@uomoafide6539]

Hell if i know... Is she actually Vastayan though? The new lore doesn't seem to be very clear about it. I hope they confirm her vastayan blood, not just the same old "Magical because she grew up in a magical place".

[@Ladygothii12]

@@uomoafide6539 yeah, I remember during the time they were figuring out what to do with Swain they changed him to be part vastayan thus explaining why he could turn into a bird and relating to another distant character (nidalee) and the expansion of noxus in a really cool way. But then they settled on mysterious raven demon thing . That was a bummer.

[@silvervelvet8893]

@@uomoafide6539 isn't it though? They have a Vastayan straight up say she isn't. I see your issue, but I feel like they've stated pretty clearly she isn't a Vastayan, with no real wriggleroom to even assume otherwise.

[@mediaguyking7045]

@@uomoafide6539 instead she’ll be magical because of magical bloodlines

[@alvarosager9206]

Nidalee is one of the champions which bother me the most, as a women playing league. So many of League's female champions are thin, attractive, young humanoids, many of which wear very tight and/or revealing clothing, and Nidalee is one of, if not the, most ridiculous. Also, it kind of annoys me how her skin color drastically changes between skins. I don't think that's the case for most champions, and I don't think skin color should be treated as a costume to take on and off, especially for one of the very few poc champions.

[@aquamarinerose5405]

There's a very small part of me that wonders if the race change on the Winter skin specifically makes more sense if it's essentially if she was raised by snow leopards in the frozen north or something instead of the tropical jungle, but that interpretation kinda falls apart when they also turn her loincloth Santa Red and also literally calling the skin goddamn "Snow Bunny".

[@justsomedudete3320]

My problem whit nidalee is... Why is her human form her default one if she doesn't wanna be a human? For me, her design could also have been a little bit more to the feline side of thing... Kinda like neeko's eyes, they're '' human " but are more far apart, like a chameleon, I think nidalee could have more of that animal inspired thing. Other thing, her shape lenguage could be a little bit more sharp, because, you know, humans probably see her as cold and alian, so... Make her sharper... But her '' human blood '' design is really pretty and I love it

[@dathblaze]

I main nidalee, I like her play style. And I don’t shy away from sexual characters, but even I wasn’t fond of things like her base skin, or her dance. I hope they do update her visually relatively soon, because I do like the new look she has, and I think it’d translate well into her other skins. Especially Super Galaxy

[@Lero5523312]

Some people say that leather armor is not needed in hot climate, but please remember that not only sunshine is something clothes are designed to protect humans from. What about insects? Poisonois spines of nearby plants? Spiders?

[@1Kapuchu100]

I think I will disagree a little with you on how much better and fitting Nidalee's outfit in the Short Story is. I agree that it is better than her old one, but I think it's worth remembering that she is the sole human among these cougars, and so doesn't have anyone to learn from, which stone age people did. They had parents and other people in the village/tribe that could teach them various crafts like skinning, tanning, sowing, working with various materials etc. Nidalee would have had to discover ALL of this herself, unless (as you mentioned) she somehow found people to trade with, but there's no real mention of that in the story so I assume that is not the case. The picture we see of her and the Vastaya, portrays her as wearing quite complex clothing, something I doubt she would figure out how to make in a few decades. I think her clothing would realistically be much more rudimentary and simple. Furs and leathers cut and sown roughly in a shape fitting her body, using belts or simple buttons to keep it together (for a shirt/coat like garment, at least). It's also worth considering what kind of climate she lives in, because that would affect how much, and what kind of, clothing she wears. African tribes people wear very little clothing, since it isn't really necessary because of how hot it is. People in more temperate climates like Denmark, Germany etc. would wear significantly more, and probably focus more on fur than just leather, given that the winters can become quite cold. Based on the Kumungu Jungle on the map, and where Cougars live in the real world, my guess would be that Nidalee would live in what amounts to a sub-tropical climate, which would affect the kind of clothing she'd wear. I don't think the material her clothes are made of in the picture are wrong. Mostly it's just how well made they are. Sorry for the rant...

[@silvervelvet8893]

She has hunted and killed humans. Even if no one taught her anything, she can have salvaged stuff from them. I like her newer design. Its a lot more cool, kinda reminds me of Horizon Zero Dawn style appearance, which seems very fitting for a hunter.

[@PlatonicLiquid]

We have a rainforest choke-full of cougars as well as deserts up here in Washington State of the ol US of A, and its currently below freezing outside. I don't know how that relates to your argument, I just like talking about Washington cause its rad. Also cougars are freaking scary.

[@peeepepeheeeeheee]

yes! and look at the hulk and wherewolves, while transforming their clothes will rip so it makes sense to wear less and not spend a lot of time on clothes that could potentially get shredded to pieces also: i watched another review of nidalees short story and in it a hunter is distracted by her appearance, another reason why she could dress that way

[@dreamycelestialtwilight7507]

Bruhhhh if that became new Nidalee I'D BE SO HAPPY ! ! ! She looks like a LEGIT Native Indigenous person and it makes me happy to see that ;o;

[@Ladygothii12]

I hope they change Nidalee , at least keeping the face in the new art. It's has so much more presence and character in that alone.

[@dragonsshayde]

So very much truth in this video. I will say the only thing I disagree with, and only on a technicality, is that old Nidalee was sexy for no reason. She was sexy for no GOOD reason but there was one single petty one. A joke. She was a "couger" and even had a hidden passive giving more experiance to lower level champions "hurr hurr more experience". Thus the sexy worked on a basic level of making the character just that: a joke. In the days of league one or two note archtypes that maaaay have been fine (it really really wasn't, for all the reasons you listed) but in the day of a serious character who's story we are to care about it's about time we see her evolve into something more, and like you I am so glad to finally see it happen.

[@ewokrover5823]

I know this is an old video, but I wanted to leave my remarks. I was looking at nidalee for inspiration for a dnd character I have been wanting to play for a while. I got the opportunity to play with a group that is more open to exploring concepts that move beyond the mechanics allowed by the current player options. One concept I really think is cool is the idea of a dual nature man/beast shapeshifter. I thought for a long time that lycanthrope or else druidic shapeshifting magic were the mechanics that would best suit the concept I wanted to play, but neither captured it (some at-will transformation into a dedicated animal form). Anywho, the point is that it made me think of this character from my LoL days and I was really interested in looking up the lore and seeing if there were any changes to it. That is how I came across your video. I never expected to hear about the social commentary and problematic design of the character. but in watching the whole video I found myself really drawn in to the conversation around these problems. I consider myself a very conscious person, if not "woke" (i dont really like the whole "woke" culture but whatever) but even then I learned A LOT from the things you explained in this video. So i just wanted to leave a comment expressing my appreciation for you delving into a heavy topic and offering your view on it while at the same time teaching some history. thanks for the effort behind this video.

[@DeathbyPixels]

So, Neeko had unrequited love for Nidalee? Riot stop making happy characters have sad backstories. Actually, Blizzard, you too. I saw the Mei short. I cried.

[@martecoronel]

What sense does it make to wear heavy clothing in a jungle? Amazonian natives don't really wear much clothing, nor do other natives from warm regions, and jungles are warm and humid. Yes, the bikini makes no sense, but neither does heavy clothing.

[@tehtayziez]

I think within the context of video games these days, leather armor (Which is what she seems to be wearing) is used as visual signifier for "light armor". Ofcourse that's not entirely true, though it depends what it's made of and how many layers you have. Judging by the sleeveless style of the top part and the rest being relatively baggy clothing, it's pretty decent as far as armor goes for a hot climate (Have a look at desert dwellers as they wear similar kind of stuff!). So on the whole I wouldn't say this is particularly "Heavy" clothing, especially not for a Jungle dwelling warrior as even people in desert climates wore heavy armor into battle despite the temperature, so this light armor chest piece and then baggy clothing is nothing wildly inaccurate.

[@agonys.embrace]

Warm hemispheres still experience cold nights and colder, "fall" and "winter" seasons. Believe it or not, when your body is adjusted to the temperature of the region you will become cold and wear a sweater when foreigners are walking around in shorts and tank tops. Furthermore when it comes to jungles and rainforests, there are insects and parasites galore. You need proper protection from skin irritation and insect bites.

[@mirarobin4096]

Yeahhhh... this character design was unfortunate.

[@234edog]

nidalee needs a new look badly. though despite the color story outfit looking more "practical" in the modest sense, i find it boring. her other outfit isn't any better. but i do agree. unless riot decides free the nipple, her looking like the cliche jungle princess isn't doing her favors.

[@T2266]

19:41 What about the metal belt buckle on her shirt?

[@TBSkyen]

Yeah, that one bugged me as well but I forgot to mention it. One assumes she got it through trade, or got it off a hunter she killed maybe. Still, my overall point stands.

[@T2266]

@@TBSkyen I'd say this design over all looks way too realistic for this game, just compare to the spear head on her side, and how the styles contrast.

[@gexianhen]

@@TBSkyen a natural hunter should kill a animal and skin them, using all she can. well i imagine if she kill a hunter she would take his stuff too, it work to me!

[@SampoPaalanen]

@@gexianhen Also that story seems to imply that she's not "kill on first sight" when it comes to humans and vastaya(sic) so it's possible that she got something thru trade during some of the friendlier encounters. Also wearing clothes is a learned trait for humans, a true "wild child" would be 100% naked, never having learnt to use clothes, so she has some contact with civilization even if only indirectly. It should be noted that only true "never had any contact with other humans" wild child wouldn't know to wear clothes as the video pointed out even the most primitive human cultures wear clothes suited for their climated (which may not be much but they understand the concept of clothes just fine).

[@Cupcake-zs7wh]

I think that contrast is exactly what they are going for, or in the very least fits intentionally or not, with the whole being drawn to human civilization. If she took more sturdy constructed parts of clothing from hunters she killed then it goes to exemplify that she is human and that she comes from modern human civilization.

[@nevlynnei1903]

Hey Skyen, just wanted to say I really liked the editing in this video. : D I never really had a problem with your jumpy switching between pictures as I mostly listen to your videos, but the transitions made it a lot smoother and more professional-looking. Keep up the good work!

[@maidominguez1123]

Another thing I could think about Nidalee Is... Why Is It such a great step for her to go, in human blood, from the sexy steryeotipe (sorry, spanish Is my #1 language) to a girl who leans More on the manly side of the gender roles? Like, she can be no longer a sexy steryeotipe while still being what Is considered femenine. I don't mean to say "gender rules exist follow them", but that there Is no need for her to also dislike being femenine all the Time. Like, I had this dream and she wore thight leggings and one of those elegant, confortable, and at the same Time, thight short long-sleeved dresses girls use in figure skating/ballet while also keeping It simple. I wish i could show you, but i struggle with drawing because of how my brain Is wired UnU. But here's the thing. Nidalee can like making her clothes. She can like dancing. But she doesn't have to sexy dance! In fact, she could be not a great dancer, but still enjoy It very much beacuse... You don't have to be good to like an activity. Who knows? Maybe i'll draw my design... Also... You know what could explain why she was abandoned, in a More terrifying way than saying "she Is part vastayan = she Is impure orwhatever"? Saying or implying that she was always neurodivergent. Saying she as a baby didn't babble or look at people in the eyes... As an Autistic Mexican, I too feel disconnected from the family who birthed me, and had to endure prejudice all my life. Also, my Best friend, with ADHD, happens to be just like Neeko! It would be amazing to change her into a Neurodivergent Woman of Color that didn't surrender the stuff that happened to her, that protects other outcasts and that Is actually not an offensive steryeotipe of indigenous, but an independent woman that knows when she Is being objectified and refuses to be done so, saving herself and other outcasts froom things like gr00ming! She would be something amazing if Riot was amazing! She could even be nonspeaking like Sona or Aphelios AND actually be a Champion that communicates through signs... Or you know, even the little gem in her forehead could be some translator? Power concentrator (if she Is vatasyan)? So many beautifyl stuff could be done with her but Riot just says no UnU.

[@majorghoul9017]

I love her redesign because she looks like a person instead of a charicature

[@jacc1854]

Not that I expected any different, but I'm glad you talked without ambiguity about her character design from a colonial standpoint. Even the modern iteration of Nidalee represents a fear of violence from the savage. Pretty much any time you have the terrifying violent wilds juxtaposed with "humanity," or "civilization," you're drawing on that innate fear of indigenous peoples. Plus the violent hypocrisy of then sexualizing that archetype for your own pleasure. Honestly no I don't think you can make Nidalee sexy, even in an alternate skin, without striking all these pitfalls.

[@Wolfansteen]

Well, the thing about alternate skins is that they exist in a different storyline than the characters are in for traditional LoL lore. For example, Project skins are all based in this universe of steampunk/cyperpunk-ish themes with different backgrounds, with all of them being made by some organization and attempting to find their place in the world. So, let's say we take Nidalee's French Maid skin, which will undoubtedly remain the same in a VU. While there's nothing that can make this not about "oh yeah, here's a skin for dudes to jack off to", it can at least remove the colonialist undertones through implication of "she's a maid in some Victorian setting". Still doesn't help the kind of repression of women themes and pointless sexualization, but I don't think that could be improved without just removing the maid skin altogether.

[@danieltrujillo4611]

the maid skin could be sexy, in that skin she isn't a savage woman so it wouldn't strike all

[@DeathbyPixels]

What do you know, another thing about other/ancient cultures I didn’t know because the USA’s education system is stupid. Note to self: ancient humans could make great clothing just fine. Never design a character who is based off the trope of “wild child/human” with minimal clothes. Not only is it logically and historically inaccurate, it is technically a racist thing.

[@Sandroman1999]

Oh my god that new design is so much better! Looks badass and I think she looks way more beautiful, like an actual person.

[@hillgarm4332]

Addressing colonialism into this kind of discussion can be paradoxical, on one side the idea of rudimental clothing, and lack of, does sell this image of brute and uncivilized but, assuming this Kumungu has a weather similar to a real jungle (18ºC min), fabric isn’t that helpful nor please to use in environment that is an hot and moist all day long. A reason why clothing wasn’t that developed in indigenous groups is because they wouldn’t be beneficial for the environment, that said the current Nidalee design is stupid, after all she’s wearing thick fur boots, but it doesn’t seem like the short story one would be that better for the jungle (i’d assume she’s wearing leather and i can’t say how comfortable that would be for her home). Honestly i feel like they did a good job with Neeko on that matter as she has decent clothing but also limits it considerably, not sure how that works on her as being a half lizard may make her incapable of generating heat.

[@Kaegrowl]

Well now I want Kuulcan to be a champ. Gimme more lizard folk yee

[@RyeNixie]

I'd argue the clothing shown in the concept art is not really much of an improvement and wouldn't match Nidalee. This is purely criticism of the clothing, the more stern and muscular look is considerably better compared to the old model body. Whilst the clothing is plausible on it's own it doesn't match the context or the environment of the character. The clothes Nidalee wears are sturdy and heavy, worn mostly in taiga where temperatures would be mild at best even durign the summer. Nidalee's archetype, on the other hand, comes from native rainforest tribes. These tribes often wore/wear very light clothes, most made-up of vegetation - in the warm and humid environment more clothes would be unnecessary or uncomfortably hot and sweaty. Being often revealing too is simply because of practicality and different beliefs of what is appropriate. It should not be seen as racist for character representing those still alive tribes for wearing revealing clothes, of course, this does not justify how poorly made and sexualized the old Nidalee was but in this case less clothing should not correlete with sexualized. The representation is the key factor here in which the old one failed. Another point to be made is that the clothes don't quite match Nidalees transformative abilites, nor the spear element which at least I deem to be strong part of nidalees character. Well of course it would be ridiculous for nidalee to retain all the clothes in both transformations but they could be more "plausible" so that the clothes just don't magically disappear in cougar form and reappear in human. Having such a heavy fur scarf(?) on the shoulders and leather vest also seems counterintuitive for restricting the upperbody movement which hinders the ability to throw - you guessed it - spears for example.

[@DuskEalain]

The "all outsiders are dumb and uncivilized" thing has struck so many cool and unique cultures with some really ugly stains that are still yet to be washed out. Like off the top of my head: Africans (obviously, as is discussed in this video). Native Americans by the colonists with a similar brush of "savagery". The indigenous groups of South America by the Spanish Conquistadors (which yeah the Aztecs were pretty brutal but still not really an accurate brush to paint them _all_ with). The Celts by the Romans with the whole "dirty savages that ran into battle naked" thing (which the Picts are known to do but that's it). The Norse by the Christians... and also the Romans if I'm not mistaken (pretty much where you get your Olaf-esque stereotypical "Viking"). So on and so forth. It's really disappointing because not only is this a mess we still have to deal with, it also strangleholds being able to tell interesting stories from or inspired by these cultures without (intentionally or unintentionally) bringing this ugly baggage alongside them.

[@timothymclean]

18:45: Not that the comments are going to _care_ about the distinction between "intentional racism &c" and "perpetrating problematic tropes without thinking". They're just going to be pissed about criticizing Riot and/or critically thinking about stuff that isn't obviously important.

[@fireflyer97]

I really hope that riot go with this concept.

[@cannoneermike]

I hope that she gets that visual update from the universe, it looks so cool

[@lilyomp4598]

Aw man, do you know if you'll ever do a "whats the deal with xayah and rakan"? Theyre my favorite champs, and I'd love to hear you do an analysis of them

[@Obstpflanze]

Id really like to read the poem you mentioned. Could you please share it? :)

[@alienworld780]

"Don't spend on me. Better spend on your friends and family." "But duuude, you are my friend and family." XD

[@Cool30Comics]

Since she's in a jungle, maybe they should use some more tropical clothing styles instead of heavy fur/skins.

[@DXGraveman]

That new nidalee looks amazing my only problem is the shiny polished steel ring holding the leather together on her outfit even though it’s such a small detail

[@elle4204]

something that also bothers me is how inconsistent her skin tone seems to be in every single skin... shes been white washed in so many splash arts and in game. i really hope she eventually gets updated

[@quizzicalsmudge877]

The stripper skin and sexy character design was the thing that put me off using her as my primary champion, despite me loving her kit and play style more than most other champs in the game. It just is just so annoying to me.

[@undefinederror40404]

I'm really glad you took some time, glad that you've made this video and glad you still get add revenue on this video(despite the mention of the titty bar etc lol).

[@monkusaugustus4017]

As a non nidalee player I've never noticed this but now that i do... It's fucking weird lol... (bewitching Nidalee doesn't look like her at all) Also doesn't Lee sin's base skin have a darker skin tone than his other skins too?

[@alexmercer2743]

All this talk about Nidalee and Neeko makes me wonder why everyone on Runeterra seems to speak the same language. Vastayah have their own sure, but it seems like the humans all share one and the vastayah know it too. This could be very interesting or very disappointing depending on whether or not Riot has an explanation or its just a gameplay thing.

[@charizard1557]

Bravo. You can pronounce ø correctly. I'm impressed

[@TBSkyen]

I mean. i am Danish, so I would hope so.

[@charizard1557]

@@TBSkyen you are? I never knew. Your danish accent sure doesn't shine through

[@KingSarathos]

Hey, Skyen, you think you could do an analysis of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice? I'd like to listen to your thoughts on design and such. :)

[@bxela9691]

interesting how she looks muscular and strong in the splashart of the story more than the actual default one lol.

[@nikolai1566]

although you're correct with the whole colonialism rant, there are lots of jungle located cultures that use little to no clothing due to the climate. Not defending the design on the slightest, I agree that she looks like a stripper using a cosplay, i'm just clarifying that not using complex clothing is not necessarily only a colonialist racist view, cultures may choose to use very little clothing depending on where they live, and of course that doesn't define their intelligence

[@no-uh2dm]

Your videos are so good. Since you don't really need visuals for these videos, since you do such a great job explaining, could you by any chance upload the audio to SoundCloud or another audio streaming site?

[@dinopixels7206]

So are the vastaya meant to be one animal species mixed with a human? Because that's what you see the most.

[@pokemanpeter7129]

You should make a build a better video of Nidalee like you make with janna, ashe and thresh. But I doubt you will read this comment as it's a 2 year old video

[@TBSkyen]

I read all my comments

[@pokemanpeter7129]

@@TBSkyen omg you are the best, never expected this

[@savsga]

Kinda random-ish question T B Skyen, but are there any character designs in league (or any other game for that matter) that you like where the character is sexy, but not for a strong design reason like Evelyn is?

[@charcoalangel7536]

Now I want you to talk about the original Jungle Book :)

[@plastictouch6796]

Why can't rengar and nidalee be friends 😭. They could have made the lore make sense. Like Rengar could be part of the ecosystem, he could slay dangerous monsters that arise from the wild magics of the jungle and get rid of things like Kazix and invaders from other nations that don't belong and upset the balance. Why they gotta be slaying regular ass cougars in a magic jungle it makes no sense. Rengar should be slaying giant unnatural warped beasts arising from wild magic.

[@LinardBraslin]

I don't see anything hard and heavy about the things you just talked about. It's the reality of human civilization. Thank you for the well done analysis!

[@nakoruruwantspepsi1556]

Is it bad that I still like the old design? I'd be down for a revamp, make her more muscular and give more cover. But can we keep the pony tail? Also I wish RIOT would continue with, was it traditional? Like Karma and trundle had, when you update the champ you could still have some reminder of the old design. I was sad there was no old goofy Sion voice or Gankplank.

[@lagartoloco94]

I hate to point this out but in a recent Neeko Q and A Riot mentioned an uncomfortable view related to what you just discussed in this video.

[@TBSkyen]

?

[@lagartoloco94]

Mr. Skyen a pleasure! Honestly I don’t quite remember what that point was several months ago. Lemme see if I can find that old q and a.

[@lagartoloco94]

Aha! Found it! “What did Neeko look like in early concept art? Since we hit the idea of “a chameleon vastayan” pretty early on, she looks pretty much like the initial concept. In the early explorations, she was wilder and less influenced by civilization. But actually, the way she’s evolved to look now is because she’s constantly learning from and mimicking other people, and that makes her less wild and more like a human being.” nexus.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/2018/12/ask-riot-neeko-edition/

[@lagartoloco94]

So yeah unfortunately exactly the kind of view you mentioned in your video which is a bit uncomfortable.

[@TBSkyen]

@@lagartoloco94 Oh boy that.... yeah that is an UNFORTUNATE way to phrase that, jesus.

[@darklordstan6154]

She's from probably from the shapeshifter tribe like the boar man from that story about the man who voyaged to Ionia to study vastaya.

[@onadaTotihotiH]

Considering that Riot have never said anything about Nidalee in ages, much less about a visual update, if she does get one, I doubt it will be for a while

[@deveede0213]

Have they not just done this with needs tho?

[@antwan1357]

Can anyone explain to me why Nidalee a human female can change into a male lion.?

[@mirarobin4096]

Wait, Since when did you have a vlog channel ?!? Skyne you need to advertise your self better. I would have subed to that ages ago if I had known it had existed.

[@felixrivera895]

13:45 the creators of Kill La Kill would agree with you.

[@TBSkyen]

Oh lord, yes! KLK is ALL ABOUT the constrictions society places on people literalized through constricting fashion (to the point where it uses a wedding dress as a literal visual symbol for mind-control)

[@cyaneye5911]

What's the deal with azir or xerath maybe? Thank you 😊 ♥️

[@cyaneye5911]

Or maybe the anesthetic of targon😊

[@jankiecruz240]

Little did we know, they weren’t actually going to do anything with her. It’s been a year lol

[@TBSkyen]

Classic Riot™

[@yourlocalwaifu8601]

Still

[@surprisednt]

What's the deal with Katarina?

[@ngannguyen-un1ef]

zyra , elise or lissandra pls

[@g33kaholic24]

Dont forget her taunt line,"Did I mention, its mating season?" -_-

[@sammumoo8186]

I absolutely loved this video. Learned a lot, too. Subscribed! Can't wait to watch all your videos now.

[@andresalgado9375]

That lizard is an Argonian from TES lost in LoL universe :v

[@TBSkyen]

Elder Scrolls 6 is League of Legends 2 confirmed

[@andresalgado9375]

@@TBSkyen Nah. League of Legends is Skyrim 2, TES VI will be Skyrim 3.

[@Arman3OO]

Udyr next!

[@tictac2102]

Do dravens character design.

[@Ech0.x]

This was a very interesting and intuitive video thanks so much for making it. My brain was satisfied with all the knowledge.

[@GarredGaming]

Can you do content on Super smash Bros?! I would love to hear how you would break down old games to the new games

[@strahinjaspasic9865]

If u ain't chatolic January is the most expensive month

[@angularbubble3532]

Hey!!!! TB is Back :D

[@diaryluminary1033]

I don't like that Nidalee's cat form is a little bit too small. Her cat form should be a little bigger, to make it look more formidable. Besides big cats are bigger than humans in real life.

[@princeoflies8031]

I never realized she was this bad, wow.

[@monsterhunter3P]

you: teaching about nidalee's lore and crosses colonialism youtube: "hit's a button" *Video got Demonetized*

[@jukmifggugghposer]

The anti-"10/10 if naked"

[@EnjoyKaka]

New subscriber. Q U A L I T Y content. Here to stay.

[@loveandhate]

wooooo a TB Skyen video woop!

[@downsjmmyjones101]

We all know Conan is the reason Nidalee looks the way she does right?

[@ВадимТенек]

Thanks for the videooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

[@andreasnielsen2108]

Udyr udyr udyr udyr udyr ...

[@esli_]

I've just started watching your "what's the deal with..." series and I like them a lot, they're really interesting and informative at the same time! Although I agree with many of the points you explain, I disagree with the 'sexiness' part. I think a female character can be designed to be sexy without having any relations to her personality. Of course in Nidalee's case, it's a racist stereotype but overall, I believe being sexy without a reason is not a negative trait at all. Being physically attractive in a sexual way is a beautiful part of femininity and I think it's better to embrace that aspect instead of condemning it.

[@yurikz9]

i absolutely love you

[@melonrap3858]

😍

[@ChinoWantan]

TWIIIIIIIIIITCH

[@mademoiselleria1412]

Easiest answer for character design: IT’S FAN SERVICE

[@TBSkyen]

That is, at best, only part of the answer. And, being the obvious part, isn't really the interesting part of the answer.

[@mademoiselleria1412]

T B Skyen ye xD

[@kibrika]

I kind of disagree about "it's not ok for a character to be sexy without a point". It's not ok for a character to be sexualised (big decollete on Kai'Sa or current Nidalee) but people can be sexy incidentally without it being their major plot point. (I'd argue Lux is a good example of this?) Now I'm getting into fan-fic territorry, but being sexy could totally be relevant to Nidalee, as she's never been sexy to a cougar male, and being able to reproduce (be sexy) is probably just as important for an animal pack as it would be for humans, finding out she might appear sexy to humans could be a significant draw towards that "like me" culture that is not her home.

[@lukaversace4975]

Great video i really enjoyed it

[@Sequellbellhelmel]

Ah, good old White Man's Burden, LOL edition.

[@snowpawzvideos]

A romantic interest in Nidalee?? Goddamnit I wanted a wholesome sisterly soulmate connection

[@cameronfurlong320]

Old design was way better and hilarious. Happy they haven't changed it

[@francismirasol4451]

DONT Y'ALL EVER TOUCH MY NIDALEE 😭

[@piperfree4271]

I think you're too much in your own head on this. It is and was very common for indigenous people to not wear many pieces of clothing especially in the sountern hemisphere where her character seems to be based on (you know the whole jungle thing... usally warm and tropical climat)

[@TBSkyen]

She's not wearing "not many pieces of clothing," my dude, she's wearing the stripper version of a cartoon Exotic Jungle Savage halloween costume.

[@piperfree4271]

@@TBSkyen I'm not saying that she's a good execution of the concept. Just saying that showing off some skin is not bad if you're going for an southerm hemisphere indigenous concept. No need to be triggered... I like your content a lot.

[@nomisunrider6472]

@@piperfree4271 What cultures is she meant to be inspired by then? You’re speaking as though all jungle dwelling cultures are the exact same. Is she meant to be Maya? Burmese? Brazilian? Filipino? There are hundreds if not thousands of cultures she could have pulled inspiration from, and they chose 1800s African stereotype. It’s not the lack of skin covering, it’s the lack of any original thought.

[@Levair]

I like nidalee

[@mini_high]

I was just starting to wonder if you had got wind of the lore update