NextSharkNextShark.com

‘I belong here’: Writer reveals the origin behind ‘Valorant’ Agent Neon, ‘LoL’ Zeri’s voice lines

‘I belong here’: Writer reveals the origin behind ‘Valorant’ Agent Neon, ‘LoL’ Zeri’s voice lines

Michael Luo revealed that Zeri from “League of Legends” and Agent Neon from “Valorant” were inspired by an anti-Asian attack.

January 11, 2022
SHARE
Narrative writer Michael Luo revealed that Zeri from “League of Legends” and Agent Neon from “Valorant” were inspired by an anti-Asian attack experienced by an elderly Filipino woman in New York.
Luo shared the reason why both characters from the multiplayer games say the phrase, “I belong here. We all belong here,” in a tweet on Jan. 10. 
He shared photos of the two characters and a screenshot of the New York Times article titled, “Brutal Attack on Filipino Woman Sparks Outrage: ‘Everybody Is on Edge.’” The article covers a story in which a 65-year-old Filipino woman, Vilma Kari, was assaulted near Times Square in New York while her attacker, Brandon Elliot, yelled, “You don’t belong here.”   
“Back in March 2021, I read this article,” Luo tweeted. “It’s the reason Neon and Zeri say ‘I belong here. We all belong here.’ A reminder. #StopAsianHate.”
View post on Twitter
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter

A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.

Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.

Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.

Riot Games’ multiplayer game “Valorant” recently revealed their first Filipino character, Agent Neon, who has electricity-based powers and incredible speed. The company’s other multiplayer online battle arena game “League of Legends” also unveiled their newest champion, Zeri, with a trailer uploaded on Jan. 6, 2022. 
The trailer features Zeri defeating a group of men in the fictional undercity district Zaun with her electric magic. She also appears to have the ability to dash over walls and move with exceptional speed. 
“A headstrong, spirited young woman from Zaun’s working-class, Zeri channels her electric magic to charge herself and her custom-crafted gun,” reads Zeri’s short biography on the Riot Games website. “Her volatile power mirrors her emotions, its sparks reflecting her lightning-fast approach to life. Deeply compassionate toward others, Zeri carries the love of her family and her home into every fight. Though her eagerness to help can sometimes backfire, Zeri believes one truth to be certain: stand up for your community, and it will stand up with you.”
Filipino voice actress Vanille Velasquez, who voices both Neon and Zeri, took to Twitter on Jan. 6 to say, “I am ecstatic to announce that I am also the voice of the newest League of Legends champion, Zeri!”
“Thank you so so much, Riot,” she added. “To voice in just one of your games is already a huge honor. To be in two is absolutely amazing. I cannot be more grateful.”
View post on Twitter
While Agent Neon will be joining Valorant’s update on Episode 4: Disruption tomorrow, Zeri will make her appearance on Summoner’s Rift with the “League of Legends” patch 12.2 launch on Jan. 20, according to Dexerto
Featured Images via League of Legends (left), VALORANT (right)
MOST READ
    HAPPENING NOW
      Michelle De Pacina

      Michelle De Pacina is a New York-based Reporter for NextShark

      SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

      RELATED STORIES FROM NEXTSHARK

      Support
      NextShark's
      Journalism

      Many people might not know this, but NextShark is a small media startup that runs on no outside funding or loans, and with no paywalls or subscription fees, we rely on help from our community and readers like you.

      Everything you see today is built by Asians, for Asians to help amplify our voices globally and support each other. However, we still face many difficulties in our industry because of our commitment to accessible and informational Asian news coverage.

      We hope you consider making a contribution to NextShark so we can continue to provide you quality journalism that informs, educates, and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. Thank you for supporting NextShark and our community.

      © 2023 NextShark, Inc. All rights reserved.