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Blinky

"Aw, come on Munchy! You don't wanna eat me. Think of all we've been through together. Okay, bad example."

— Blinky, Pac-Man World 3

Blinky (ブリンキー Burinkii), also known as Akabei in Japanese and nicknamed Shadow, is the leader of the Ghosts and the arch-enemy of Pac-Man. He is also portrayed as the most aggressive ghost who always chases Pac-Man, and is hard to shake once he starts. He is known to have a short temper, and is good friends with Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. He also has a daughter named Yum-Yum.

While originally the main antagonist in the first Pac-Man arcade game, his antagonistic role of the franchise has largely been diminished to an ally in recent incarnations, though he is still considered the series de-facto main antagonist in remakes of the first game and by older fans.

History

Arcade Games

Blinky8bit
Original Blinky sprite.

Pac-Man

Main article: Pac-Man (game)

Blinky first appeared with Pinky, Inky, and Clyde, the other members of the Ghost Gang, in Pac-Man. He starts out of the Ghost Home in the center of the Maze.

Blinky is the most persistent of the original four; he is the most aggressive ghost in the arcade games, and is always directly targeting Pac-Man when in "chase" mode (thus his nickname, Shadow, as in he "shadows" or follows Pac-Man). When the ghosts are in "scatter" mode, Blinky typically occupies the top-right corner of the maze.

After Pac-Man eats a number of Pac-Dots, Blinky will continuously accelerate; this state is colloquially known as "Cruise Elroy". The number of Pac-Dots that Pac-Man must eat in order for Blinky to become Cruise Elroy gets lower and lower as the game progresses. In certain later games, Blinky's "Cruise Elroy" state is triggered by how long the character remains on the maze rather than the remaining Pac-Dots.

Blinky follows a similar role in these subsequent games:

Pac-Land

Main article: Pac-Land

Pac-Land features Blinky and the other ghosts as they try to stop Pac-Man using cars, buses, UFOs, and planes. No ghost is stronger than the other in this game, and the only one who acts differently from the others is Sue.

Pac-Mania

NOTE: In Pac-Mania, Blinky and Clyde's colors are swapped. For more information, see Clyde and Blinky error.

Main article: Pac-Mania

Carrying over his cowardly persona from Pac-Land, Blinky behaves as Clyde typically would in the original Pac-Man, but he has switched colors with him as well.

Pac 'n Roll

Main article: Pac 'n Roll

Blinky and the ghosts appear in Pac 'n Roll as enemies. They team up with Golvis in order to get rid of Pac-Man after their previous defeats. Although Blinky, Inky, and Clyde weren't completely interested in getting revenge, they went along with Pinky's plans due to her bossiness.

After the destruction of Golvis's UFO, Blinky and the others watch Pac-Man on a television in the middle of the ocean. The ghosts then discover the reason Golvis was imprisoned was because of his clumsiness, not because of his power, much to their annoyance.


Pac-Man Party Royale

Blinky is an enemy ghost in Pac-Man Party Royale. If set, he spawns in the center of the maze, targeting one of four Pac-Men, trying to catch them. If he catches a Pac-Man, that Pac-Man will become a ghost and Blinky will stop for some time, then continue to move to target another Pac-Man.

Pac-Man World series

NOTE: In the Pac-Man World trilogy, Blinky and Clyde's names are swapped. These appearances are going by their color rather than their name. For more information, see Clyde and Blinky error.

Pac-Man World

Main article: Pac-Man World

Blinky appears in the second cutscene, holding a burlap sack with Ms. Pac-Man inside it, who he kidnapped believing it was Pac-Man. He also appears in Toc-Man's Lair as one of the four roaming ghosts. He also appears as an enemy in some levels.

Pac-Man World 2

Main article: Pac-Man World 2

Blinky is the fourth boss in Pac-Man World 2, as one of the ghosts who unintentionally released Spooky. Blinky fights from a machine which attacks using fireballs and fiery blades (mounted on the bottom of the machine, which may knock Pac-Man off the stage). He is invulnerable to Rev-Rolls; Pac-Man must bounce on the glass cockpit to destroy it. He later appears in a huge submarine called the Megawhale with the other ghosts, in a final attempt to stop Pac-Man from reaching Ghost Island.

Pac-Man World 3

Main article: Pac-Man World 3

In Pac-Man World 3, Blinky is a playable character, and teams up with Pac-Man. He can attack using a ghostly screech called "Sonic Boo".

He is first mentioned by Orson, who tells Pac-Man to find all of the Ghost Gang in the Spectral Realm. Pac-Man only finds Pinky, who tells him that Erwin is using Inky and Clyde for power, and has connected them to an energy-sucking machine used to power Erwin's robots.

Later, Pac-Man finds Blinky caught in a cage and mocks him; Blinky declares that he'd rather be left in the cage than be mocked. When Pac-Man releases him and tells him about Erwin's siphons, Blinky agrees to help him, albeit temporarily. He then helps Pac-Man in various battles, and later single-handedly defeats Spectral Fiend (an ally of Erwin's) and one of Erwin's siphons.

Animated Series

Main article: Pac-Man (TV Series)

In the 1982 animated series, Blinky appears alongside Pinky, Inky, Clyde, and Sue. He works with Mezmeron in attempt to stop Pac-Man and seize the Power Pellets. Here he is depicted as slow-witted and cowardly; this was the first (and only) time he was portrayed as such. He also has grammar problems.

PMATGA's Blinky

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures

Main article: Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures

Blinky made an appearance in the Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures TV series. Rather than an enemy of Pac-Man, he (along with Pinky, Inky and Clyde) act as Pac-Man's allies. Like in some other media, Blinky seems to act as the leader of Ghost Gang. He is depicted as having a rivalry of sorts with Inky. He's the oldest of the ghosts and as seen in the episode The Pac Be With You, Blinky was once a master of Pac-Fu before losing his body and was even more skilled than the legendary Master Goo.

Other appearances

Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures

Main article: Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures

Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde appear as enemies for Pac-Man, petrifying him whenever they appear. Unless Pac-Man is able to get a Power Pellet, he will faint. Occasionally, the others will leave important items behind after they are eaten. Once their leader, the Ghost Witch of Netor is defeated, Blinky and the others fly off.

Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness

Main article: Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness

Along with the other ghosts, Blinky was recruited by the witch Mesmerelda to stop Ms. Pac-Man from finding the four Gems of Virtue. Blinky and the ghosts fail in their mission, allowing Ms. Pac-Man to defeat Mesmerelda and restore Pac-Land.

Pac-Man World Rally

Main article: Pac-Man World Rally

Blinky appears as a playable racer in this game. He is a medium-weight, and wears green goggles. Blinky is also featured in the stage Ghost Mansion.

Pac-Man Party

Main article: Pac-Man Party

Blinky appears as a playable character in Pac-Man Party. In the game, he aids Pinky, Inky, and Clyde in stealing cookies from Mr. Cookie. At the end of the game though, it is revealed that they never stole the cookies, and that they were actually given to them by Mr. Cookie himself to test Pac-Man and his heroism.

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (video game)

Main article: Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (video game)

Blinky, alongside his other three cohorts, appear in the video game adaptation of Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures as an ally of Pac-Man.

Pac-Man 256

Main article: Pac-Man 256

In Pac-Man 256, Blinky, unlike the other ghosts, behaves very much like he did in the original game(s), constantly chasing Pac-Man. Blinky reverses direction when blue.

Mario Kart series

Main article: Mario Kart Arcade GP
Main article: Mario Kart Arcade GP 2

Blinky has appeared as a playable racer in several Mario Kart games, specifically the arcade ones. Alongside Mario and all his friends, he is joined by Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man. He does not appear in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX.

Super Smash Bros. series

Main article: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Main article: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Blinky makes a handful of cameos in several Super Smash Bros. titles, all of which are in his 8-bit form. He is incorporated into Pac-Man's moveset as his side-smash, and he can also be summoned as an Assist Trophy. In Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U, he and Pinky are also part of Pac-Man's taunt; both of them are replaced with Fairies in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

In the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS stage "Pac-Maze", Blinky appears as a stage obstacle. He behaves similarly to the original arcade game.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Blinky reprises his roles as a part of Pac-Man's moveset and Assist Trophy. He also appears as a part of Ghosts spirit, which represents original four ghosts. In the Ghosts Spirit Battle, Blinky is represented by red Kirby.

Amazing Katamari Damacy

Main article: Amazing Katamari Damacy

In Amazing Katamari Damacy, Blinky, alongside Pac-Man, is part of a constellation.

Film

Wreck It Ralph Pacman ghosts cameo

Wreck-It Ralph

Main article: Wreck-It Ralph

Blinky, along with Pinky and Inky, make a cameo in Wreck-It Ralph at Game Central Station.

Pixels

Main article: Pixels

While Blinky himself did not appear in the movie, the red ghost car from Pac-Man's scene assumed his role, and had "BLINKY" as its license plate. This car was driven by Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler).

Characteristics

"A red ghost that chases after PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series. The way he incessantly follows PAC-MAN earned him the nickname Shadow. When you get further in the stage, he also gets a terrifying speed boost! In Smash Bros., he appears in the PAC-MAZE stage and in PAC-MAN's side smash."

— Trophy Description, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

Appearance

Blinky is a red-colored ghost. He has big eyes, and often has an angry expression. He is typically limbless within games, but some incarnations show him with arms, sometimes with orange gloves as well.

In the TV series and Pac-Land, Blinky wears a wide-brimmed hat, and has a somewhat cowardly and afraid expression rather than being angry. In Pac-Man Party and Ghostly Adventures, he has a protrusion to the top of his head (which he calls his "hairdo") and blue eyes; his arms are also stubbier.

Personality

"It'd be a bleak day when a true ghost could be worried by a spectral slime like you!"

— Blinky, Pac-Man World 3

Blinky is the most determined of the ghosts, and the leader of the Ghost Gang. He is often depicted as the most intelligent and most conceited of the quartet. He is also the most aggressive ghost in all "maze-oriented" Pac-Man games, relentlessly chasing Pac-Man/Ms. Pac-Man. Though Pac-Man (under most circumstances) is an enemy of all of the ghosts, Blinky is his main nemesis among them; however, some games depict this as a form of friendly antagonism.

In the Hanna-Barbera series, Blinky is considered shy, cowardly and slow-witted. Despite occasional bravado and confrontational attitude when tasked with harrassing Pac-Man, Blinky's cowardice is most often shown when Pac-Man has just eaten a Power Pellet and Blinky tries to run away to avoid being eaten by Pac-Man, albeit to no avail. Blinky is also shown to have grammar problems on occasion, though his grammatical problems are a result of his cowardice. He tends to admit defeat when in a defenseless position, and sometimes undergo a nervous breakdown in the process, however, he never feels remorse for his actions in the slightest, and is simply driven by a mere desire for self-preservation and avoid chomping.

In Pac-Man World 2 and 3, Blinky has less angry expression. He later wears with green goggles in the 2006 racing game Pac-Man World Rally.

In Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, Blinky is still the de-facto leader of the Ghost Gang, but is now an ally and friend of Pac-Man rather than a pseudo-antagonist. Despite this, there have been occasions where he has enjoyed frightening and picking on Pac-Man, and has also shown to enjoy upsetting Pac-People the most out of the four ghosts, showing that even as an ally, he still possesses mischievous tendencies. He can sometimes be arrogant and snarky. He is also a Pac-Fu master who genuinely believes in the code of Pac-Fu thus he never once mentioned his skills or showed them until The Pac Be With You.

Trivia

  • During the development of the original Pac-Man, Namco president Masaya Makamura wanted the game to have all of the ghosts be red. Toru Iwatani knew he wanted the ghosts to be colorful, so he held an informal poll among his colleagues. Absolutely no one chose the red-only option.
  • In the (partially) published source code of Pac-Man Ghost Zone, there is data for a ghost named "Pierre". This ghost appears similar to Blinky, but with a mustache, teal gloves, and a teal hat.
  • Blinky's Japanese name, "Akabei" (アカベイ) is derived from "Aka" (赤), the Japanese kanji for "red."
  • On certain promotional material for Pac-Mania, Blinky is identified as the "Approaching Monster" (迫っかモンスター Semakka Monsutā).[1]

Gallery

Character Artwork

"Ghost Gang" Group Artwork

Other Group Artwork

Ghostly Adventures Stills

Wallpapers

Sprites

References

  1. ↑ [1]
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Pac-Man Characters
Main Characters Pac-Man • Ms. Pac-Man • Jr. Pac-Man • Baby Pac-Man • Professor Pac-Man • Chomp-Chomp
Other Characters Miru • Sour Puss • Pac-Devil • Sir Pac-A-Lot • Pac-Master • Ms. Pac-Master • Krystal • Buttercup • Fairy
Pac-Ghosts Blinky • Pinky • Inky • Clyde • Sue • Funky • Spunky • Kinky • Tim • Orson • Yum-Yum
Main Antagonists Ghost Witch • Toc-Man • Mesmerelda • Mollusc • Spooky • Wandy • Erwin • Golvis • Ink Master • Mezmeron
Minor Antagonists Gobblin • Jack • Wormwood • The Fiend
Pac-Man Party Mr. Cookie • Patra • Roger • Woofa • Bearserk
Ghostly Adventures Pacster • Cylindria • Spiral • Betrayus • Fuzbitz • Sir Cumference • Spheros • Dr. Buttocks • Butt-ler
Crossovers Pooka • Fygar • Dig Dug • Mappy • Mr. Driller • The Prince • Mario