Sinjin Van Cleef

From The Character Database
Sinjin Van Cleef
Sinmo-min.jpg

Vital statistics
Names Sinjin Van Cleef
Gender Male
Race Human
Occupation Student, Stagehand
Origin Victorious Season 1 Episode 1: Pilot (March 27, 2010)
Alignment Good
Age 15-19
Created By Dan Schneider
Height 185cm (6ft 1in)
Weight 68 kg (150 lbs)

Sinjin Van Cleef (born August 24, 1995) is a recurring character in Victorious. He is a peculiar and somewhat stalker-like student attending Hollywood Arts High School. Throughout the series, he is shown to have a significant crush on several girls, particularly Jade West, but also Trina Vega, Tori Vega, and Cat Valentine, much to their dismay.

He is portrayed by Michael Eric Reid.

Personality[edit | edit source]

Sinjin Van Cleef is an eccentric student at Hollywood Arts. His locker is decorated with food that's been "chewed but never swallowed," like meatloaf. He has an unusual hobby of collecting teeth from relatives of past presidents. Sinjin harbors a huge crush on Jade, despite her lack of interest, and even breaks into her house in "Wi-Fi in the Sky." He once declared himself as her "backup" when she and Beck broke up. In "Wok Star," he shows an affinity for moss. Sinjin is fully aware of his oddities and doesn't seem to care what others think (he found it self-explanatory why his pants were unzipped in "Wok Star"). While generally friendly, Sinjin's behavior often unnerves others. He would date any girl who would agree, which can make him seem desperate. Sinjin also plays the saxophone, as seen in "Crazy Ponnie."

Origin and Appearance[edit | edit source]

Sinjin Van Cleef's name is a nod to the popular online game World of Warcraft, referencing a boss named Edwin Van Cleef and a Horde city called Sen'jin Village. Sinjin appears in almost every episode of the series, except for a few.

It's mentioned that Sinjin's parents want him to be "normal like other kids."

Sinjin is considered a nerd and has very few friends. He is friends with Luther the janitor, who texts him when he finds 'weird chiz' in the trash, and seems to have a friendship with Robbie, though they don't interact frequently.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Sinjin first appears in the pilot episode, working backstage during the big showcase and providing Tori with a headset. In later episodes, his quirky personality is highlighted through his unusual hobbies, awkward crushes, and bizarre antics. Some notable appearances include "The Bird Scene," where he shows Tori his locker; "Jade Dumps Beck," where he asks Jade if she wants a new boyfriend; and "Robarazzi," where he shares his collection of presidents' relatives' teeth, creeping out even Rex. Sinjin is also involved in various other storylines, from almost drowning in a kiddie pool in "Survival of the Hottest" to sneaking into Jade's house in "Wi-Fi in the Sky."

He is frequently seen engaging in bizarre activities, such as dressing up in costumes, working backstage at Hollywood Arts, or causing trouble for his classmates in various ways. He also plays a saxophone in the girls' bathroom ("Crazy Ponnie"), helps produce Beck's film ("The Blonde Squad"), and gets involved in several mishaps that reflect his quirky and often unpredictable nature.

Throughout the series, Sinjin remains a memorable character due to his odd behavior, unique hobbies, and persistent efforts to befriend or date his female classmates, despite their lack of interest.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • Sinjin was originally planned to appear only once, but this idea was later changed by Dan Schneider.
  • He is aware of his unpopularity and sometimes feels unhappy about it, such as when he responded with "I know..." after Trina showed disgust at the thought of going on a date with him. He also seemed sad when Jade canceled a makeover she had promised him.
  • Sinjin’s locker is covered with chewed-up food stuck on with industrial adhesive ("The Bird Scene").
  • He has an unusual hobby of collecting teeth from relatives of past U.S. presidents ("Robarazzi").
  • Sinjin loves disco music. In "Tori the Zombie," he says, "No one can kill disco! Don't fight it!" while dancing with a vibrating hairbrush.
  • According to TheSlap.com, most golf courses in Los Angeles have a "No Sinjin" policy.
  • He is aware of his "weird and disturbing" mannerisms, once asking, "What's wrong with weird and disturbing?" ("Wok Star").
  • Sinjin is highly skilled at video game surfing ("iParty with Victorious").
  • On TheSlap.com, he reveals that his cat has more friends on SplashFace than he does and jokes that he understands why, saying his cat is more fun to hang out with.
  • He is possibly a fan of iCarly, as he expresses a desire to meet the cast on TheSlap.
  • Sinjin's username on TheSlap is "MrSkinnyJeans," and he seems to have a fondness for skinny jeans.
  • His father owns a rubber factory ("Prom Wrecker").
  • Sinjin shows an interest in moss, mentioning that he found two different types of moss ("Wok Star").
  • He has a purple PearPhone.
  • Michael Eric Reid, who plays Sinjin, appeared in the Sam & Cat episode "#BlooperEpisode."
  • Rex has referred to Sinjin as a good friend on TheSlap.com, indicating he is friends with Rex/Robbie.
  • Sinjin can be a nice and well-meaning person, but he sometimes does dishonest things for personal gain or to help others.
  • In "The Great Ping Pong Scam," Sinjin builds a fake soda machine for Tori to hide in, and she kisses him on the cheek as thanks.
  • He tried to make Tori miss her play in "Tori Gets Stuck" because Jade promised to pay him and give him a makeover.
  • Sinjin rigged the ballots for Prom Queen in "Prom Wrecker" to help Trina win, on the condition that she would be his date.
  • Sinjin can be a bit strange, often sniffing girls' hair, especially if he likes them, as seen in "The Wood" and "Who Did It to Trina?"
  • According to Rex's post on TheSlap, Sinjin is part of a band.
  • His bedroom is in the basement of his house.
  • He has a younger sister named Courtney.
  • Some Victorious fans blame Sinjin for the breakup of Beck and Jade, but he claims on TheSlap that he was just a catalyst, believing their issues would have led to a breakup regardless.
  • Sinjin enjoys licking balloons, as seen in "Prom Wrecker."
  • He appears with braids or cornrows in "How Trina Got In."
  • Sinjin has been at Hollywood Arts longer than Trina, as he was a student a year before she arrived.
  • He plays the saxophone.
  • His secret crying spot is the handicap stall in the girls' bathroom.
  • His family had a pet possum named Fangs when he was younger.
  • If he could have any superpower, Sinjin would choose the ability to straighten his hair with his mind.
  • Sinjin can knit and is attempting to make himself a swimsuit, as mentioned on TheSlap.
  • He takes hip-hop as his dance class at Hollywood Arts.
  • It's unclear how Sinjin got into Hollywood Arts, though he has shown talent in stage design and set-up.
  • A play he wrote was produced by the school in "Cat's New Boyfriend," involving a tent. It is unknown if this was the same play he mentioned in "Wok Star."
  • On "Brain Squeezers," Sinjin correctly answered all the questions, and he was accidentally doinked, implying he is fairly intelligent.
  • Sinjin is the tallest character on the show.
  • In "Tori the Zombie," Sinjin is said to be 15 years old, but a flashback in "How Trina Got In" shows it was his second year, meaning he was likely 18 or 19 during most of the series.