Earthworm Jim (character)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the character. For the video game series, see Earthworm Jim.
For the animated series, see Earthworm Jim (TV series).
Earthworm Jim
Image:EWJjim.jpg
The galaxy's mightiest invertebrate
Game series Earthworm Jim
First game Earthworm Jim
Creator(s) Doug TenNapel
Voice actor(s) Dan Castellaneta

Earthworm Jim is a fictional character, the protagonist of the Earthworm Jim video games and animated series.

[edit] Description

For most of his life Jim was just an ordinary earthworm engaging in normal worm activities, such as eating dirt, crawling and fleeing from hungry birds, until one day wherein fate should happen to smile on him and his life was changed forever.

A fearsome bounty hunter named Psy-Crow was on route to deliver the "Ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit" to Queen Slug-For-A-Butt but got in a confrontation with another space ship and lost the suit out of an airlock. The suit fell to earth landing on a farm somewhere in the southern United States. While fleeing from a flock of hungry crows Jim took refuge in the mysterious suit. The suit's powerful atomic particles affected Jim's wormy flesh and caused him to grow and evolve at a fantastic rate. Upon discovering his newfound powers granted by the suit, he overhears Psy-Crow talking to Queen Slug-For-A-Butt, and becomes interested to meet the queen's twin sister, Princess What's-Her-Name, setting up the events of the first game.

Through the games, Jim travels to many planets and faces many villains who are after the suit. In Earthworm Jim 2, Jim must rescue Princess What's-Her-Name when she is kidnapped by Psy-Crow.

[edit] Television show

In the television show, Jim (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) has an almost identical origin, but now resides in a home in the city of Terlawk (a play on Turlock, California, the birthplace of Douglas TenNapel) with Peter Puppy. Most of the villains from the game still show up from time to time to give him trouble.

Jim can be a bit naive and rarely thinks before rushing into battle, but on occasions can be very cunning. Jim is also very gullible, even trusting villains in not-so-convincing disguises. His motto is "When all else fails, start blasting!" Jim also has a rather large romantic infatuation with Princess What's-Her-Name, which usually confuses her, but he never falters in his resolve.

According to Earthworm Jim 3D, Jim was still a child when the Farmyard War of '72 ended, and his sign is Sagittarius, which suggests his birthday is around November 23 - December 22, 1972 in the tropical zodiac, or anywhere in December of that year in the sidereal zodiac. However, according to the game show in Earthworm Jim 2, his birthday was in June 9, 1994, the day where the first game in the series was first released.

Earthworm Jim's origin
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Earthworm Jim's origin

In the games, Jim has a slight southern drawl and says phrases like "Groovy!" or "Whoa, Nelly!". In the animated series his drawl has all but disappeared, but still retains his "Groovy!" catchphrase. Jim has a tendency to use big words and long drawn-out phrases. It is not uncommon for him to yell something like "We are all doomed! From the middle-English meaning 'condemned to ruination or death'! DOOOOMED!!" or "By the Great Worm Spirit, whose mighty bristles strike the hammerblows of justice". His battle cry is "Eat Dirt, (persons or things in question)!", which he usually follows up by laughing maniacally. This too can become long and drawn-out with phrases like "Eat dirt, everyone in the vicinity!" or "Eat dirt, evil banana-suited doofus!"

Jim has appeared in many different games. He is the main, player-controlled character in Earthworm Jim and Earthworm Jim 2, as well as the later Earthworm Jim 3D and Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy. He is also a playable fighter in Clayfighter 63 1/3 and an unlockable fighter in Clayfighter 63 1/3: Sculptor's Cut. Another little known appearance is in the game "Battle Arena Toshinden", but only in the PC version.


[edit] See also

Earthworm Jim
Games: Earthworm Jim | Earthworm Jim 2 | Earthworm Jim 3D | Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy | ClayFighter 63 1/3 | Earthworm Jim PSP
TV series: Earthworm Jim (TV series)
Heroes: Earthworm Jim | Snott | Peter Puppy | Princess What's-Her-Name
Villains: Psy-Crow | Queen Slug-for-a-Butt | Evil the Cat | Professor Monkey-For-A-Head | Bob the Killer Goldfish | Evil Jim
Other topics: List of Earthworm Jim characters | List of Earthworm Jim locations | List of Earthworm Jim items