Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures


Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, also known as Pac-World, was an American-Canadian-Japanese computer-animated comedy-adventure television series featuring Namco's classic video game character Pac-Man. It is produced by 41 Entertainment, Arad Productions and Bandai Namco Entertainment for Tokyo MX, BS11 and Disney XD.
The series first aired on June 15, 2013, on Disney XD, and debuted July 1, 2017, on KidsClick in the United States, on March 17, 2014, on Family Chrgd in Canada and premiered on April 5, 2014, on Tokyo MX and BS11 in Japan, and is being produced by Avi Arad. It premiered on Disney XD UK on January 11, 2014. On October 5, 2015, the series premiered on Discovery Kids in Latin America. The show also premiered on Discovery Family on November 16, 2019. A video game based on the series was released on October 29, 2013 for PC and consoles, and November 29, 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS.

Plot

The series takes place on and around the planet Pac-World as well as its Nether-World, where time passes at an Earth-like rate of 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, also having a 7-day week. Pac-Man and his best friends Spiral and Cylindria attend Maze School, a boarding school located within the city of Pacopolis. They help to protect citizens from the threat of Ghosts after the seal that locked up the Netherworld was accidentally opened by Pac at the time he was avoiding the school bully Skeebo. Ghosts are able to possess Pac-Worlder bodies although only for a time limit of a few minutes unless aided by Dr. Buttocks technology. Victims of possession usually are apparent by a red-eyed glow although this too can be prevented with Buttocks technology.
Pac-Man also has four friendly ghosts that surrendered and vowed to help him along his voyage. Pac-Man vows to stop Betrayus and the ghosts from taking over Pac-World while searching for his long-lost parents. He has the unique ability to eat ghosts and destroy the ectoplasm that makes up most of their bodies. Only their eyeballs survive, which he spits out. They reform their bodies using a regeneration chamber. The ghosts continually attack the city to locate the Repository, a storage chamber for the corporeal bodies of the ghosts which would allow them to live again if they possessed them. It is kept hidden to deny them this freedom and only President Spheros and Pac-Man are aware of its location. The ghosts also attack the Tree of Life to prevent Pac-Man from gaining powers to fight them. Without the power-berries, Pac-Man is not able to fly, or breathe in the Netherworld.

Characters

Main

Crew

Australian releases

There have been two DVD releases in Australia. These were released in Australia on October 2, 2013. The current releases in Australia are:
  1. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: The Adventure Begins, the first DVD release containing the first 6 episodes
  2. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: Pac to the Future, which contains another 6 episodes.

    North American releases

On January 7, 2014, in North America, there were four DVD releases. The Adventure Begins DVD only contains the first episode, whereas the other three DVDs contain four episodes each:
  1. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: Pac is Back includes the first four episodes
  2. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: All You Can Eat contains the four following episodes
  3. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: Let The Games Begin contains the four episodes that follow after
  4. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: Ghost Patrol was released in North America on March 18, 2014.
  5. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: A Berry Scary Night was released in North America on September 16, 2014.

    Redbox exclusives

Two additional DVDs each with three episodes, were released exclusively to Redbox:
  1. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: Indiana Pac and the Temple of Slime
  2. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: Mission Impacable!
Another DVD titled Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: Pac To The Future was released exclusively to Redbox Canada.

Other

Several video games based on the show have been developed. An endless runner for iOS and Android titled Pac-Man Dash! was released in July 2013. This is also hosted for free in Canada on the CHRGD website. In 2017 "Bandai Namco Entertainment" decided to discontinue Pac-Man Dash! and remove it permanently from the Apple Store and Android Market.
A 3D platformer with the same name as the TV series was released for Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC in late 2013, accompanied by a 2D platformer for the Nintendo 3DS shortly after. A sequel was released in October 2014. Characters from the show have also appeared in the compilation release for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC, titled Pac-Man Museum.

Release

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures debuted on June 15, 2013, on Disney XD USA and March 17, 2014, on Disney XD Canada. It moved over to Family Chrgd on October 9, 2015. In the Philippines, it aired on Disney Channel on March 3 and ended on October 30, 2014, to give way for the special programming of "Monstober". It returned to air on March 2, 2015. On May 7, 2019, more than a month after KidsClick's demise, Discovery Family premiered the series on November 16, 2019 as part of a distribution deal with 41 Entertainment.

Reception