Thanks to Hamada for helping with edits.
Update, May 23: Cut a sentence saying this piece of concept art was for Pac-Man and the Ghastly Adventures; it was for the ill-fated Pac-Man Monsters.
In a rarity for “Character Chronicle,” we’re discussing someone older than me today! Pac-Man’s anniversary is tomorrow, I’m feeling festive, and our latest subject needs no verbose, grandiose introduction. In the spirit of the brash baddie Blinky, let’s dash right into the fray!
Blinky’s blurb on the official Pac-Man website (Image: Bandai Namco)
Blinky and his buddies, the Ghost Gang, debuted alongside Pac-Man in his eponymous arcade game. Before its release, arcades were generally perceived as a boy’s club, hangouts marred with dim lighting and filthy restrooms. Accentuating that reputation were the games themselves, which were typically violent crusades against unsightly aliens or monsters. Namco (now Bandai Namco) wunderkind Toru Iwatani sought to soften their image by welcoming more women. Citing Disney, anime, and manga as influences, he also wanted children to enjoy his work, so he championed cute characters and simple controls. Saying he accomplished his goals with Pac-Man would be a massive understatement!
Blinky’s History
Celestial shooter Space Invaders became an unprecedented success in 1978, spurring several companies, including Namco, to cash in on the craze. Iwatani took a different approach, instead drawing inspiration from “a children’s story about a creature that protected children from monsters by eating them.” Adding tension to the game was accomplished through four enemies, ghosts who would chase players “in waves” akin to Space Invaders.
The Ghost Gang’s introduction to the Western world. In Japan, the leader’s called Akabei while arcade cabinet distributor Midway localized him as Blinky. The villains sport different names internally, one batch of which is totally incoherent. (Image: Bandai Namco)
However, Iwatani decided to flesh his specters out by giving them unique mannerisms. And since the story’s creature could utilize a power source to overcome his aggressors, Namco’s mascot hopeful would achieve the same through large pellets that let him eat the ghosts. Popeye’s spinach also influenced this idea.
Something else that helped the game succeed was its bubbly, bright cast. Iwatani channeled Casper and Obake no Q-Taro for Pac-Man‘s cherubic, now-famous antagonists. However, an internal debate raged regarding what colors they should be. Then-Namco president Masaya Makamura asserted that all four ghosts should be red, while Iwatani and forty of his colleagues believed otherwise. Makamura eventually relented. And, altogether, their quarter-guzzler spent about a year and five months in development.
The angry emanations always spawn in the center rectangle. Ms. Pac-Man dropped Clyde for newcomer Sue, another orange ghost (whose encore performances usually recolor her purple to differentiate them). Blinky’s happy to team up with other specters! (Image: Bandai Namco)
Pac-Man’s arch-enemy returned to torment his wife in Ms. Pac-Man two years later. And he’s continued chasing Bandai Namco’s royal family across Super Pac-Man, Baby Pac-Man, Pac-Man Plus, Pac & Pal, Jr. Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, both Pac-Man Arrangements, Pac-Man VR, Ms. Pac-Man: Quest for the Golden Maze, Pac-Man All-Stars, Pac-Man: Adventures in Time, Pac-Man Vs., the Championship Editions, the Battle Royales, World’s Biggest Pac-Man, Pac-Man 256, Geo, Community, 99, and the Mega Tunnel Battles. Should Pac-Man or a relative dare enter a neon labyrinth, Blinky will never be far behind!
Even when Pac-Man escapes the maze genre it created, Blinky’s vendetta never wavers. Remaining a frustration in Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man, Professor Pac-Man, Pac-Land, Pac-Attack, Pac-Man Pinball Advance, Pac-Motos, Pac-Man Pizza Parlor, Pac-Man Tilt, Pac ‘N Party, an endless array of redemption and mobile outings, and the old Hanna-Barbera cartoon is his pleasure. He isn’t above assisting greater evils, either. In side scrollers Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures and Pac-in-Time, it isn’t Blinky calling the shots but the deranged Ghost Witch of Netor. Likewise, he’s hired muscle in Pac-Man World, Pac-Man World 2 (along with clones of himself at one point in development), Pac ‘n Roll, and even maze-crawler Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness. Meanwhile, Blinky is playable in Pac-Man World 3 as well as Pac-Man World Rally, Pac-Man Kart Rally, and Pac-Man Party; he’ll jump at the chance to embarrass his nemesis.
In Jr. Pac-Man, Blinky’s young daughter, Yum-Yum, falls in love with Pac-Man’s son. Neither Blinky nor Ms. Pac-Man approve, but the kids earn a happy ending. Doubt this incarnation of Blinky’s a dad, though… (Image: Bandai Namco)
Notably, Party also operated as a soft introduction to the now-abandoned Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures multimedia reboot. Ultimately, it spanned a two-season cartoon (that ended on a cliffhanger), two multiplatform platformers, two handheld titles, the 2014 Pac-Man Museum compilation, and a handful of miscellaneous things. In this continuity, Blinky’s relationship with the hero is much more friendly, even if he still happily causes grief for Pac-People on occasion.
When Pac-Man ventures outside his home franchise, Blinky often joins him. Bandai Namco’s Ridge Racer V and 64 include the red rebel as a hidden racer. Pac-Man’s win quote in Street Fighter x Tekken is a bunch of arcade sprites, including you-know-who’s. And the Pole Position series, QuickSpot, and Amazing Katamari Damacy, among others, also incorporate Blinky.
Several canceled games were slated to include Blinky. Unlicensed works like CD-Man, Pac Man 2021, and a dating sim sport Blinky knockoffs, too. (Image: Bandai Namco)
Frequent Bandai Namco collaborator Nintendo is proud to feature Blinky alongside their mascots. The red rogue competes in the first two Mario Kart Arcade GP titles. Sprites of him decorate a racetrack in Arcade GP DX and Mii costume in Mario Kart 8. Pac-Man summons Blinky for an attack in the Super Smash Bros. series, the whole Ghost Gang’s an Assist Trophy, Nintendo 3DS’s Pac-Maze stage features them as hazards, and they’re collectively a Spirit in Ultimate (Blinky possesses a red Kirby). Also, Pokémon artist Ken Sugimori once drew a content Blinky resting atop Trainer Leaf’s head.
Plenty of other companies celebrate Pac-Man, too. Blinky eventually joined Pac-Man 256 predecessor Crossy Road; they share their developer, Hipster Whale. Namco’s arcade mainstays star in a Pac-Man-themed Minecraft expansion. Waves of Blinkies roam Sonic Dash’s Pac-Man events. Google’s Pac-Man homage unsurprisingly retains him. Rightfully, Blinky’s among the industry icons in Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph (a feat subsequent crossover Disney Tsum Tsum commemorated), while he’s mercifully only alluded to in the Adam Sandler / Sony Pictures “comedy” Pixels. French artist Invader has lionized Blinky. And, of course, a litany of media and merchandise has honored Pac-Man over the decades, often including his red rival; listing every appearance Blinky’s made over the last forty-four years would be too unwieldy!
Bandai Namco’s first mobile Gashapon machines were in the likenesses of Pac-Man and Blinky. Not only does he tail his foil physically, but also in terms of importance—and I have no doubt he’ll grace Pac-Man’s upcoming film adaptation. (Image: Bandai Namco / SEGA)
So, what’re my thoughts on Blinky?
When you’re young, visiting an arcade is always thrilling. There’s a wide, wild array of games to discover, many of which will be new to you and convey how diverse this medium is. But few games match the ubiquity of Pac-Man. Yes, it predates me by nearly a decade, but everyone I know who was around for “Pac-Man Fever” remembers it fondly. It’s easy to see why. Pac-Man’s premise is simple but engaging; anyone can grasp it within seconds. Attaining a new high score is profoundly gratifying.
But another strength elevated Pac-Man: it had character. I mean, it literally had characters, a quality the spaceships and extraterrestrials of Galaga or Space Invaders can’t quite claim. Pac-Man and his four foes are visually distinct, likable, and memorable—and these qualities continue to serve them well.
Alongside the Ghost Gang, Mario’s Boos and Kanto’s Ghost-type Pokémon were my introduction to ghouls in this medium. They’re all fun, iconic characters. (Image: Bandai Namco)
Pac-Man’s digestible dynamic is timeless. You want to stay alive and eat stuff, while the Ghost Gang wants to eat you; conflict ensues. Ordinarily, Pac-Man is vulnerable to their touch, and since he only starts with so many lives, effectively evading the creeps is necessary. And this was long before save states and other luxuries hit, so death’s a harsh punishment. Tempting you to insert more cash was Namco’s goal here, y’know? But, again, chugging along through these elaborate dungeons and seeing your score rise is addictive, even today.
Something else that impressed my young self upon first trying Pac-Man was discovering how smart the ghosts are. They alternate between hanging around a corner of the maze, with Blinky settling in the top-right, and actively hunting Pac-Man. When the Ghost Gang does chase the yellow hockey puck, Blinky’s easily the most focused, aggressive one—he pursues you with fervor, earning him the name “Shadow” (Pac-Man World 3 sorta follows this up by making the red brute a brawler; the Toc-Man mech aside, he’s the game’s deadliest character). Pac-Man’s AI is simplistic by today’s standards, but in the Eighties it wonderfully individualized its villains. Again, they’re characters.
Iwatani and company were right: the ghosts needed to be different colors. Not only would it get confusing telling them apart, it’d make Pac-Man look less interesting, less vibrant. (Image: Bandai Namco)
Each corner of the maze also contains a large Power Pellet, a glorious delicacy that flips Pac-Man’s script. Munch one of these orbs, and then all four ghouls turn blue, gain a frazzled facial expression, and slowly run away from you while emitting frantic audio. Now, you’re the predator, and chomping them yields one of the most satisfying sound effects in all of gaming! This adds a layer of strategy, too. If you’re desperate to finish the current maze, a Power Pellet’s invaluable: the ghosts will avoid you, and any who wind up in your way are swiftly neutralized. If you’re seeking a high score, however, then you’ll probably try baiting the ghosts to chase you towards one. Eating them in succession yields bonus points, which in turn yields extra lives. That’s risky, though: Power Pellets only briefly energize Pac-Man, a window that grows shorter the farther you get—almost as if your assailants are getting stronger, building up a resistance. But, man, is it thrilling!
The threat the ghosts pose never completely subsides, of course. But they’re still charming! Aside from their primary color, Blinky and his mooks are visually identical: the bottom of their sprites resemble spikes, their heads are round, and they flaunt huge googly eyes. Those spikes imbue the baddies with an edge, a reminder that, yeah, they are dangerous. Everything else, though, softens them up; they aren’t scary. And their large, blue eyes channel an innocent, childlike quality. Watching the weirdos’ eyes meekly float away after devouring their bodies is also deeply satisfying (ditto for the silly intermissions, which reward you for surviving and reaffirm that these rapscallions aren’t infallible).
One letdown with the labyrinths in the World series and Maze Madness is the lobotomization of the Ghost Gang. Sure, this was an inevitable consequence of the limited camera angles, but watching Blinky lazily lumber after you with nary a trace of his old ardor is deflating. (Image: Bandai Namco)
Regardless of the harsh technical limitations, Blinky looks like a ghost, albeit of the cartoony bedsheet variety. Bandai Namco never lost sight of that: the Ghost Gang’s matured nicely over the decades. Each member has been subtly individualized, highlighting their personalities without sacrificing their cohesion or decorous simplicity; naturally, Blinky habitually dons angry, smug, or determined facial expressions. When not depicted as sprites, the spooks’ irises are colored black but are also in the shape of a Pac-Man sprite. Plus, they wear gloves that resemble his. If somebody, in some unprecedented feat of cultural evasion, is unfamiliar with these five characters, a casual glance quickly communicates that they’re intrinsically linked.
My favorite aspect of Blinky’s veneer, however, was coined by Iwatani’s quarter-guzzler: he’s red, my favorite color. When I was little, Power Rangers forged an unimpeachable association between the warm color and leadership, courage, and strength. The Ghost Gang’s relatively competent figurehead reinforced it (as would Mario, Red, and others). His red body nicely suits his hostile temperament, too.
Although it’s since seemingly been sorted out for good, the Clyde / Blinky identity crisis somewhat damaged my perception of them as a kid. Made me think they were interchangeable, less distinct or important. (Image: Bandai Namco / Hanna-Barbera)
Although Blinky will thankfully never get phased out of the series, it is interesting comparing how Pac-Man’s post-arcade fare treats him. Any game firmly rooted in the original’s formula follows its example and employs him and his friends as your enemies. This makes sense; chasing the hero across colorful labyrinths is what they were literally made to do. It’s a role too engrained in culture for them to ever lose. Ask anyone who Pac-Man’s enemies are, and while they may be unable to list their names, they will assuredly at least manage to answer with “the ghosts.”
Anything beyond that scope, however, requires someone else take the reins as the main menace, reducing the Ghost Gang to either become their lackeys or form an uneasy alliance with Pac-Man. This also makes sense. It lets the various studios who make these experimental titles express their creativity via a fresh rogue. These sinister malefactors automatically get propped up by usurping the Ghost Gang, too. If Pac-Man’s persistent pests answer to them, they must be really bad, right? Likewise, if someone’s forcing gaming’s oldest opponents to cooperate, then Pac-Land must really be in trouble!
These cute goofballs would be hard-pressed to pass themselves off as world-ending threats. Following others’ schemes is one thing, but does Blinky really have the brains for anything greater? (Image: Bandai Namco)
Bowser and Dr. Eggman, two of Blinky’s Wreck-It Ralph castmates, make for instructive counterpoints. Like Blinky, they’re goofy and enjoy jovial rapports with their arch-enemies. Infrequent exceptions aside, they’re firmly the driving forces behind their series; their machinations push Mario and Sonic, respectively, into action. But they’re also bigger and more physically imposing than the red bedsheet, their resources are seemingly endless, and both harbor unwavering confidence—they are capable evildoers. Even the malleable Gengar or Mimikyu can present themselves as more credible threats than Blinky, who has his social circle, a revolving door of bosses, an occasional new trick, and little else.
Today, Blinky struggles to be anything more than a nuisance. Sometimes, he isn’t even that! Media often depicts him and Pac-Man as frenemies, if not friends; “ol’ Red” casually hangs out in his Museum+ digs, for one example. Pac-Man’s basically a celebrity within the series’ fiction, his arsenal keeps growing, and later Championship Editions either slow down time when a ghost approaches or lets you safely bump into them a few times; his power over Blinky is pretty absolute. Pac-Man 256 really sells this; you’re effectively never in danger after upgrading a few power-ups. Heck, the World trilogy touches on their fear of him: the first reveals that just uttering Pac-Man’s name spooks ghoul-kind and they’re terrified of waking him up during their midnight heist in World 2’s opening.
In World 3, Blinky’s voiced by John Guerrasio. His gruff yet goofy portrayal evokes Joe Pesci, a nice contrast to Pac-Man’s elegant, deeper voice. And their rapport, that of a straight man and his dumb, wannabe tough guy rival, is surprisingly entertaining. (Image: Bandai Namco / LongplayArchive)
Meanwhile, Pac-Man reluctantly rescues them and their crummy home in the third. And though Blinky and Pinky help him across the game, he never thanks them and ends World 3 by hunting them for laughs (in complete fairness, the quartet did first presumptuously invite themselves over to stay at Pac-Man’s place for an indeterminate amount of time). Chumming up to the yellow fella is probably the smartest play Blinky’s ever made, and it still backfired spectacularly! Really, outside their oldest games, the Ghost Gang are lovable losers who have each other and occasionally do the right thing but are basically at everybody’s mercy—think Jessie, James, and Meowth.
Blinky and his flexible companions are bona fide, endearing industry staples. They earned that status long before I was born, to the point where I honestly can’t imagine a world without them. Their relationship with the headliner fluctuates—they can be cordial, adversarial, or anywhere in between—and it always comes across as believable. I don’t know when I’ll play another Pac-Man game, new or old. But it’s comforting to know that we’ll all see this spook again.
Congratulations, Blinky! You’re a fighter!
Few characters carry a legacy as venerable as these bozos. And while Blinky and his posse aren’t celebrities in their world, they unquestionably are in ours. (Image: Bandai Namco)
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That poll of the four designs from 2012 was NOT for Ghostly Adventures, which was in production with finalized character designs since at least 2010.
That poll was ACTUALLY for Pac-Man Monsters, a short-lived mobile game.
Ah, thanks for the correction.