It seems this joke is lost on most, but doesn’t Rufus epitomize how the rest of the world sees the typical American? Morbidly obese, lazy, loud, impatient and not too bright? I’m American myself, but Rufus seems to have been created as a kind of pot shot at Americans.
Think of the other cast members, all with various fighting disciplines…all look like they can fight. The only other overweight fighter is E. Honda…and he is a sumo wrestler with tremendously muscular legs and arms. Yet here is Rufus, a blob who would be bed ridden IRL with very short limbs, that can do leaping dive kicks, and somehow isn’t out of breath after a few seconds?
This probably sends the wrong message to kids, more overweight people are appearing in the media…and it is becoming more acceptable. When really it is unhealthy and though they shouldn’t be insulted for being overweight it certainly should be discouraged.
the overwhelmingly large portion of the american population that is fucking fat sends a much worse message to kids than a japanese video game portraying a fat character
1/2. Rufus is deliberately and exaggeratedly stereotyped, just like Dhalsim represents a ridiculous Indian stereotype, T.Hawk is a generic Native man, Rolento is an implied Nazi, and etcetera. It’s part of the game’s “world perspective” aesthetic. It makes more sense to have a character like Rufus now because the stereotype that Ken represents (laid back surfer dude American) isn’t really applicable to American culture anymore.
It’s not necessarily tied to a nationality, it’s kinda just a trope. Kind of like Viper is is just a “secret agent” character. I guess they were running out of countries to satirize.
