Jeanne is an Umbra Witch and Bayonetta's eventual ally in her fights against the forces of Paradiso. She was originally the heiress to the Umbran Throne 500 years ago and has a friendly rivalry with Bayonetta that has lasted nearly as long. When Jeanne first appears, she seems to be on the side of the angels and converses with most of the four Cardina Virtues. Jeanne must be defeated four times throughout the first game.
In the second game, Jeanne aids Bayonetta during some of her angel battles. During a demon summon gone wrong, her soul is dragged down to Inferno and Bayonetta journeys to Fimbulventr to rescue her.
By fulfilling certain conditions for both games, Jeanne can be used in Story Mode and Tag Climax.
Personality
Compared to Bayonetta, Jeanne is far more serious and aggressive in her personality. In the first game, she seems to enjoy both testing and taunting Bayonetta and has very little patience for the Laguna she works with, often killing them or abandoning them to their fate at Bayonetta's hands. She appears to always be one step ahead of Bayonetta, knowing more about her own past than she does, taunting her for it. She is incredibly rash, a trait she has apparently carried for years, as show in flashbacks to the past where she blatantly disregards Umbran law when challenging Bayonetta to combat. This is once again shown in the second game where she pushes Bayonetta out of a rampaging Gomorrah's way with no regard to the consequences: her soul being knocked out from her body and dragged to Inferno.
Through Bayonetta's flashbacks, it is revealed that Jeanne was the one who stabbed her in the heart all those years ago, presumably leading to her being abandoned in a coffin at the bottom of a lake with few memories of her former self. However, in the end it is shown that she did it to protect both Bayonetta and the Left Eye and that it was a task she completed with great sadness. In fact, it is shown that she cares more about the Umbran legacy than her own life by one of her taunts. Her previous aggressive attitude to Bayonetta dissipates when she is freed from Balder's mind control and both her and Bayonetta maintain an air of friendly rivalry in their renewed friendship.
She obviously cares very deeply about Bayonetta and frequently puts her friend before herself.
Appearance
Bayonetta
Jeanne's appearance in Bayonetta
Jeanne is portrayed as a tall, slender, youthful looking woman with porcelain skin and a short, platinum silver hair, similar to pixie cut. Jeanne wears her signature body suit made by the clothing line "d'arc." It is red with a button design starting from the left side of her chest down to her right heel. The buttons open up, revealing a white layer underneath on the front of her right leg and on the back of her left leg. The suit has a rather large renaissance style collar that is worn similarly to a tie with her Umbran Watch resting right in the center of her bust. She has black furry cuffs on her arms, as well as wearing red open-toe heels, revealing perfectly manicured toes. Her glasses are red and feature a wing design followed by a few black feathers over her right ear.
Bayonetta 2
Jeanne's new appearance in Bayonetta 2
Jeanne makes a reappearance in Bayonetta 2 with a makeover of her own. She has used magic to considerably lengthen and grow her hair to thigh-length, with it covering some of her face and reaching down her back (thus similar to Cereza's long hair in the first game). She wears a new outfit, a skin tight biker suit with angular shoulders and a vertical stripe design. Her Watch is now near her left shoulder. The suit has black accent stripes near the shoulder seams that follow inward, going down the length of her body. The black stripes also go down her arms, one on each. Instead of the semi-wedges she wore, she now wears red thigh high boots and gloves, also sporting the stripe design. The glasses she had with the wing design are instead being replaced by silver and orange goggles which appear to have a cat/mask like design, as well as golden feather-like earrings with red jewels. She retains the use of her All 4 One, which have feline Musketeers acting as the charms over feathers, pointing towards her new cat theme.
Powers
As an Umbra Witch, Jeanne has the same abilities as Bayonetta, although she has more experience at using them despite having been repeatedly beaten by Bayonetta in combat (this is likely because she was testing her instead of trying to beat her until she reached Isla del Sol). She is signed into a pact with a moth-like Demoness known as Madama Styx, her fists and feet appearing through Jeanne's Wicked Weaves, and has shown the ability to summon her fully in Climax Sequences and Umbran Climax in the second game. In The Broken Sky, Jeanne displayed some form telekinesis when she directed one of her bullets towards Bayonetta; when she did this her eyes turned red.
Jeanne's arsenal is vastly similar to Bayonetta's in terms of function, but they differ in what they are named, their color scheme, and the demons Rodin hunted down and sealed within the weapons. Like Bayonetta, Jeanne is adept with any weapon once it is in her possession and has masterful skill in the bullet arts.
It's hinted that Jeanne's primary weapon is the katana, Angel Slayer, which sets her apart from other witches.
Events of Bayonetta
Jeanne met Bayonetta when they were children and, as she said, they used to play together. As time passed, Jeanne became the Umbra Clan heiress. In her final test to become the leader of the Clan, she was told by the Umbran Elder that she had to choose an opponent; she chose Cereza, which broke the Umbran laws. After the Elder mentioned this, Jeanne just said "It would not be the first time we've faced each other." Some time after her defeat at Cereza's hands, civil war broke out between the Umbra Witches and their light counterparts, the Lumen Sages, in which Jeanne fought alongside Cereza. The war ended in the witches' favor, but the humans, fearful of their powers and instigated by Balder, started massive witch hunts that ended up killing almost all the witches. However, Jeanne and Cereza survived. Jeanne, fearful that the greatest Umbra treasure, the Left Eye, would fall in to the hands of the Lumen and the Laguna, sealed Cereza in a lake for 500 years.
Jeanne meeting with Bayonetta after their battle with Lagunas.
In the present day, Balder had brainwashed Jeanne to work for the Lumen Sages. Despite having been an ally in the past, she is forced to both face Cereza and lead her to her "fate". Jeanne and Cereza, now known as Bayonetta, first meet each other again when a plane full of Laguna (summoned by the self-sacrifice of Vigridian noblemen, which Jeanne witnessed) falls into Bayonetta and Enzo's position. After a brief fight with her fellow witch, Jeanne leaves without saying a word. Some time afterward they meet each other in Vigrid, where she tells Bayonetta that she disappointed her. They fight again for Bayonetta's Umbran Watch, and after the fight Jeanne leaves, saying that Bayonetta is not ready yet.
They fight three more times after this encounter. The first takes place on the Umbran and Lumen holy grounds, where she is found speaking to the Cardinal Virtue Temperantia and showcases her Beast Within abilities. The next occurs in a plane from the Valkyrie Military transport, where she converses with the Cardinal Virtue Sapientia and taunts Bayonetta about her relationship with Cereza. This ends in her being knocked out by a wave as she pursues a Bayonetta going to search for Cereza. Bayonetta confronts Jeanne for the final time on Isla Del Sol, where Jeanne activates the city security systems and seemingly kills both Luka and Cereza.
After talking about Bayonetta's fate as the Left Eye, they start an intense fight that ends up in one wall of a skyscraper of the island, after flying and fighting in rockets and other buildings that got collapsed. She also changes her normal clothes for a white version of Bayonetta's Umbran formal suit. After her final defeat, she comes to her senses. She tells Bayonetta that in the past they were not enemies at all, but friends, despite Bayonetta having been exiled and Jeanne having been the heir to the clan. Taking the gem from the Umbran Watch on Bayonetta's chest (which says "Jeanne and Cereza"), Jeanne reveals that it was not one of the Eyes of the World, but the last remaining piece of a seal she had placed on her in order to protect her 500 years ago. Jeanne tells her to "stand", and is then seemingly killed by two rockets that collide with the building.
In the final chapter, it is revealed that Jeanne did not die in the explosion of the building. Instead she used the red jewel that she used to seal Bayonetta centuries ago to protect herself from the impact and also break free from Balder's manipulation. When Bayonetta is awakened as the Left Eye and incapacitated by Balder, Jeanne rides to her rescue. When Balder mocks Jeanne regarding being disregarded for Bayonetta as the Left Eye, she responds that she doesn't care about the power and she is there to rescue her "Umbran sister".
When she pulls Bayonetta out of the statue's eye, she is apparently killed again by a shockwave from the statue, but returns in the end to help Bayonetta destroy Jubileus by using her hair in conjunction with Bayonetta's to summon Queen Sheba. After saving Bayonetta from an incoming rock, she ironically claims that "even after destroying that abomination, it is still is going to destroy the world" and that she is going to get her out of there even if it costs her own life, claiming that she is "one of a kind". After Bayonetta insists that they "both are one of a kind", they destroy Jubileus' body together and return to Earth.
At Bayonetta's funeral, Jeanne is disguised as a nun and praying to summon Laguna, just as Bayonetta did in the Prologue of the game. When the Laguna come down from Paradiso to claim Bayonetta's soul, Jeanne mimics the previous actions of her fellow witch further by proceeding to assault them. This is the signal for Bayonetta to rise from her coffin. Their friendship renewed, the two remaining Umbra Witches fight side by side against the Laguna in the graveyard.
Events of Bayonetta 2
Jeanne's new look in Bayonetta 2
In a bright city scape after the events of the first game, just before Christmas time, Jeanne meets Bayonetta on her bike to comment on how things between the Trinity Of Realities have been unusual. She agrees to pick up some things for her and Bayonetta's party hat evening and drives off. When Bayonetta has to fight with an influx of angels hijacking the Platinum Stars display team, Jeanne appears flying one of the jets through the city to help complete their daily obligation to their demonic contracts. After a rail bridge is destroyed, the witches meet up where Bayonetta asks if Jeanne has gotten everything. Jeanne claims they can pick up missing caviar if they finish it up quickly. The pair engage with Belief in a battle which ultimately leads Bayonetta to call upon Gomorrah to finish the angel off. However, the demon suddenly breaks free from his bonds and turns on his master. Jeanne notices this and quickly rushes to save Bayonetta and is hit in the process, knocking her soul from her body. As she laments that this isn't how things are supposed to end, Jeanne is then dragged down through a portal into Inferno. After dispatching Gomorrah, Bayonetta is seen holding Jeanne's lifeless body in her hands.
Bayonetta later learns that Jeanne's soul can still be saved before it is completely absorbed into Inferno by reuniting the source of her long life, Jeanne's Umbran Watch, with her soul. In order to travel to Inferno, she also learns she has to go through the fabled Gates of Hell found at the sacred mountain of Fimbulventr. She urges Jeanne to hang on as she travels to the mountain to rescue her friend.
When Bayonetta eventually makes it into the depths of Inferno, the demon Alraune has captured Jeanne's soul in order to use the witch's power for her own. After a titanic battle, Bayonetta rips Jeanne's soul free and manages to barely make the time limit to save her. Jeanne awakens and begins to float off towards her body in order to revive, but not before warning her friend that something big is about to happen to the world and that she needs to be careful.
Jeanne later appears in her fully revived state in a fighter jet in order to escort Bayonetta and a young Balder to the top of Fimbulventr to rescue Loki from Loptr's clutches. She later summons Gomorrah to swallow Loptr's physical body after Bayonetta wins in her own fight with him. Several days later after the events on Fimbulventr, Jeanne accompanies Bayonetta in some shopping during the after-holiday sales, only to join her friend in fighting when more angels arrive following Enzo back from the mountain.
Unlockable Character
In both games, Jeanne is unlockable as a playable character after meeting certain conditions.
In order to unlock her as a playable character in the first Bayonetta, the game must be beaten on at least Normal Mode with Platinum scores on all chapters (excluding Angel Slayer/Rodin). She can also be unlocked for one million halos at the cheat phone stations. In Bayonetta 2, beating the game's Story mode regardless of rank unlocks Jeanne as a playable character for both the Story mode and Tag Climax.
When Jeanne is playable, combat will be slightly different, though the story remains the same with Bayonetta's skin merely replaced by Jeanne's. Some differences in combat are:
- Wicked Weave attacks do x1.5 damage.
- Takes x1.5 damage from enemies.
- Can dodge non-stop.
- Dodging still provides invincibility frames, but does not produce magic or create a "slow down" effect when timed properly.
- Can only activate Witch Time without an accessory using Moth Within, her version of Bayonetta's Bat Within.
- Attacks used during Witch Time yield x2 combo points (vs. Bayonetta's x1.5 multiplier).
- She has her own voice (during gameplay, not cutscenes) and has a much more snooty and rude attitude than Bayonetta.
- Her Wicked Weaves are white and pink, not black and purple as Bayonetta's are. Infernal Demons summoned by Jeanne reflect this.
Also, most weapons have a version with a different name, color scheme and backstory, more fitted to Jeanne.
Weapons
Bayonetta
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Bayonetta 2
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Gallery
- For more pictures and screenshots of Jeanne, click here.
Appearances in Other Media
The Wonderful 101
Jeanne in The Wonderful 101
Bayonetta, Jeanne, and Rodin appear as secret unlockable playable characters in The Wonderful 101.
Super Smash Bros. Wii / 3DS
Along with Rodin, Cereza, and Bayonetta, Jeanne appears as a trophy in Super Smash Brothers, as well as Bayonetta's alternate color swap being a homage to Jeanne's look.
Trivia
The concept art of Jeanne as a teacher, and Bayonetta as a nun.
- Jeanne is named after "Jeanne d'Arc," better known as Joan of Arc. Given the many historical witches mentioned in various Accessories, it is likely that she is the Joan of Arc.
- Jeanne's watch contains the numbers 141216. According to Mari Shimazaki, the character designer for Bayonetta, it represents the year/month/date of Jeanne's birthday, which means Jeanne's birthday is January 6, 1412.
- Interestingly, Joan of Arc also was born on the same date.
- The Couture Bullet available only to Jeanne, "Formal," suggests that Jeanne is a Germany school teacher in her time off. This is supported by bonus concept art by Mari Shimazaki (which also reveals that Bayonetta is a nun in her time off, as seen outside the window). Her occupation is fully stated in Bloody Fate, as she chats with Bayonetta about their occupations, with Jeanne outright stating that she is happy "being a high-school teacher."
- It is implied that Jeanne teaches the subject of History according to a tweet from series creator Hideki Kamiya.
- She is also mentioned to be a mild-mannered schoolteacher in the description of her Cutie J outfit and it mentions she defends her students as superheroine, Cutie J.
- Like Cereza, Jeanne had a cat doll when she was a child. However, hers appears to have been professionally made, in contrast to Cereza's Cheshire, which seems to be homemade. This shows how differently Bayonetta and Jeanne were raised.
- It is speculated that the Umbran Elder was Jeanne's mother, because clan leaders usually pass down their roles to children or close relatives. This is also evident through the fact that Jeanne was in training to be the next heir.
- It was made known by an interview in the Bayonetta Official Strategy Guide that Jeanne's method of entering Witch Time is a result of her always wanting to push herself to her limits.
- When you are dressed like Cutie J and have Bloody Moon equipped, for the taunt, she says "Bring it" and makes the same pose of Viewtiful Joe's transformation.
- Jeanne's Cutie J alias is also a reference to Cutie Honey.
- Despite not being the main character, technically Jeanne can be played in more levels than Bayonetta herself; she is both an unlockable playable character and one is forced to play as her at the beginning of the Epilogue.
- Jeanne's motorcycle is called "Angel Slayer" according to the fuel tank, and the license plate reads "U1 QTJ" (Cutie J). Kamiya states in his commentary developer commentary that the "U1" is for "Umbra #1," representing Jeanne's pride as an Umbra Witch.
- When playing as Jeanne, there will be certain times where the colors of the demons summoned do not match. For example, her white hair will enter the ground, but she will be covered with black swirls of hair, and a black demon will appear. It is also worthy to note that during some chapters or fights, her Wicked Weaves of Madama Styx's limbs appear in black hair.
- To further the parallel between the Bayonetta and Devil May Cry series, Jeanne's personality is similar to Vergil's, Dante's twin brother in DMC. Both are serious, power-driven, and ruthless characters with the only exception that Jeanne cares deeply for Bayonetta and wishes to save her, while Vergil, despite caring for his brother, seeks only to gain power despite the cost.
- She is a light haired, red-clothed rival that fights Bayonetta more than once, can deflect her bullets with shots of her own, becomes playable later on, and frees Bayonetta from Jubileus; much like Dante does for Nero in Devil May Cry 4.
- It is a running gag among fans that Jeanne is the lover of the character Vergil. Fans also often joke that she is the mother of Vergil's illegitimate son, Nero, or even Dante's sister.
- Jeanne is voiced by Grey DeLisle in both games and the English dub of Bloody Fate. In the Japanese versions of the games and movie, she is voiced by Mie Sonozaki.
- In an interview between Hideki Kamiya and the game site Silconera, Hideki stated he would like to make a Bayonetta spin off title staring Jeanne for the Nintendo 3DS.
- In the Wii U port of the first game Jeanne's bust size is reduced. This was done in order to make her body type closer to her concept art, as well as match her body type in the second game.
- Although Jeanne is unable to activate Witch Time by dodging at the last possible moment, there are certain enemies in the game that will allow her to active Witch Time, as you would normally playing as either Bayonetta, or Rosa: Kinship's in Chapter XV "Truth," Belief -- chapter I, Verse 2,-- "World of chaos," And Cachet--within circle formation-- Chapter 1, Verse 2.
- In Super Smash Bros. Wii U/ 3DS Bayonetta has alternate colors based off of Jeanne's Bayonetta 2 costume, and the hair color for the wicked weaves, changes to white.
Quotes
Bayonetta
- "What's the matter, Bayonetta? All that sleeping made you soft?"
- "Fancy bumping into you here. Out to find some answers about your past, are we?"
- "Two overseers...the Eyes of the World. They are the power behind everything."
- "Will you face me in this hallowed arena?"
- "The only ones meddling are your hapless minions. This will be taken care of in the manner I see fit. Your assistance is not required."
- "I suppose coming here has given you a second wind. Feeling better, Bayonetta?"
- "You and I once fought for the jewel upon the crown of the Umbra throne. And now that you've returned, my sleeping beauty, it's time to finish that fight."
- "What's the matter, sweetie? Afraid of something, are you?"
- "No need to take out your stress on me, Bayonetta. It's clear you're worried for the girl."
- "My, aren't we attached to our precious little one? Do you like it when she calls you "Mummy"?"
- "I am well aware of my task! But you have forgotten that I do not need your help!"
- "If you've made it this far, that should be enough. You're back to your old self. This is where we finish what was started so long ago."
- "Between us there was a law that was never to be broken. It stated that "The intersection of light and dark would being calamity to this earth". But 500 years ago, a child was born in clear violation of this tenet. That child was you."
- "The disaster this caused sent the clans into a spiral of chaos that continues to be felt to this day. You, the half-breed of light and dark, are at the center of that chaos. Allowing you to continue to exist is a danger than cannot be accepted."
- "When the Eyes of the World are within our grasp, the power of creation will be awakened. That is why the Left Eye, our treasured Left Eye, will never fall into the hands of another!"
- "The memories you've held for 500 years are the source of your fear. They cloud your vision. But now, you've accepted your fate. That is how you bested me. That is why you possess the most beloved of Umbran treasures. That is why you possess the Left Eye."
- "I will not stand for the wild ambition of a treacherous Lumen Sage who disrupted our age old balance. Your path ends here!"
- "In the innocence of our childhood, we used to play together, as friends. But as time passed, perhaps even my eyes were clouded with fear."
- "Do not fear your fate. Stand, Cereza. Stand and open your eyes. For with every truth, there is another one to be seen."
- "I have no intentions of gazing upon the Left Eye. I am here to reclaim my Umbran sister!"
- "This looks ridiculous on me! I swear, this is the last time I cosplay."
- "Will you hurry up? Don't tell me you fell asleep in that thing again!"
Bayonetta 2
- "Just had something I had to look into. Cereza, you haven't felt anything strange recently?"
- "Our friends in Paradiso are far too quiet. I'm sure you've noticed. But they aren't the only ones. 'Our friends down south seem to be a bit upset as well."
- "Forgot the caviar. Think they're still open?"
- "No...This isn't how things end..."
- "Cereza...you came here to...to rescue me? Are you insane?"
- "Be careful, Cereza. Something...something big is going to happen to our world."
Taunts
- "You motherfucker!"
- "Such a disappointment."
- "Bitch, please!"
- "You bastard!"
- "I will die before I allow the Umbra to vanish from this world!"
- "I'm going to make you suffer in this life, AND the next!"
- "Descend to darkness!"
- "I'll show you REAL strength"
- "Enough of your shit!"
- "Not a fan of Witches?"
- "You're fighting ME!"
- "Oh, don't be scared!"
- "Bring it!"
Activating Witch Time
- "Foolish!"
- "Slower than usual!"
- "Feel your fear!"
- "You're worthless!"
Wicked Weaves
- "Begone!"
- "Die!"
- "Disappear!"
- "I'll crush you!"
- "Worthless!"
- "Burn!"
- "Fuck off!"
- "You're vanquished!"
- "Stand..."
- "...So you can fall!"
- "Quit wasting..."
- "...My time!"
Character Selection/Tag Climax
- "I stake my honour as an Umbra!"
- "This too is fate."
- "Let's get this over with."
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