Waka waka to you all! We are all familiar with a yellow circle that can eat dots in a maze, right? It has been declared that 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of his franchise, along with the 20th anniversary of the remarkably timeless PlayStation 2 [29]. As a young child in the early 2000s, I was introduced to Pac-Man within a retro game compilation titled “Microsoft Return of Arcade” on our old family computer and a nickname for him at the time was “Yum Yum” because of how he ate the Pac-Pellets [36]. I played the re-released Nintendo Entertainment System port of the game on our Nintendo Wii when I was a teenager [41]. Last year, I was overjoyed at how I hit the Pac-Pot in the Pac-Man Chomp Mania arcade machine for the first time [4]. I happened to have written my own lyrics for the famous first intermission scene during the same year [103]. This year, I hit the Pac-Pot for a second time [99]. Now that we got some of my own history with the gluttonous ghost-gobbler out of the way, let us voyage through his history with quite an appetite for a big celebration.
Blinky’s now chasing Pac-Man. Going as fast as a ghost can. That ghost is not gonna stop ‘cause today is Pac-Man season [103]! [7]
Oh no, now he’s a weak ghost! He’ll be on a piece of toast! Pac-Man is now chasing him and he’s bigger for some reason [103]! [7]It all started in arcades way back in 1980 [23] [48] [53] [54]. The name of the game was originally titled “Puck-Man” in Japan, but it was later changed to “Pac-Man” in the West. Why? Well, there has been some fear over how some English-speaking folks could have been a bit naughty by changing the “P” to an “F” by the power of vandalism [53]. How charming. I would say its legacy has managed to age outstandingly to this day, from the short yet iconic sample of music that plays when the game starts to all four ghosts chasing him quite non-deterministically [7], including:
Blinky, the red ghost
Pinky, the pink ghost
Inky, the blue ghost
Clyde, the orange ghost
Oh. And let us not forget about its Atari 2600 counterpart that would be considered to be a downgrade for how it consisted of dull graphics, lifeless buzzes and a horrible startup sound [94]. And not to mention its sprites for the ghosts kept flashing on and off, further decreasing the port’s quality [94]. As the offspring of someone who remembers playing the original Pac-Man too, I say that such an iconic masterpiece of an old school game will never, ever get old.
The original game was also available for many other systems, including the GameBoy, which is further proof of it being absolutely timeless to many gamers. [57]In addition to how the Pacster boomed in popularity in the early 1980s, there was a special edition of it titled “Pac-Man Plus”, along with a fascinating sequel titled “Super Pac-Man” [13] [48] [66] [70]. I was highly fascinated at the notable differences of Pac-Man Plus when I played, including the fact that the maze’s walls were mint green instead of blue and how cherries were replaced with cans of cola. It was really stranger to witness the ghosts become…apple-shaped when Pac-Man eats a Power Pellet [12]. It was also more challenging how the result lasted less in the hack’s first level, compared to the first level of the original Pac-Man. I also like how Super Pac-Man provided a new maze that required passages to be unlocked with certain several keys and replaced the Pac-pellets with various types of food, including apples as those elements made the game seem like a true sequel [70]. It was quite weird how the Pacster’s size increased when he consumed a Super Pellet though [45]. I suppose we can celebrate the special hack’s 40th anniversary in the year 2022, along with the 40th anniversary of Super Pac-Man for the sake of more nerdy festivities.
Pac-Man Plus was indeed a fascinating mod from the ’80s. [66]Did I mention that Pac-Man wore a cape in the Japanese flyer for Super Pac-Man? It really brings out his inner superhero. [70]Let us dine out with Pac-Man’s family. I can see Ms. Pac-Man as the first empowered female character in video game history [48]. Wearing her cute red bow and a splendid amount of makeup, Ms. Pac-Man fell deeply in love with her significantly yellow other but did not need him by her side when it came to chowing down around the maze so independently [9] [91]. And who can forget about the adorable Pac-Man Jr. whose sweetened friendship with a young red ghost named “Yum-Yum” was basically the retro gaming equivalent of Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending [71] [91]? Awww, and there was even an arcade game for Baby Pac-Man [50]. There was another sequel to the original Pac-Man game, but its gameplay and premise were completely different. Titled “Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures”, it consisted of the player shooting with a slingshot with Pac-Man on his way to get certain items for his friends and family instead of chowing down on weak ghosts [55], thus making the game from 1994 a rather disappointing successor to plenty of Pac-players [80]. I suppose the 40th anniversary of Pac-Man ought to be a big family reunion, quite like one in The Sims 2 [19].
The glamourously empowered love interest of the Pacster. [9]We might also throw a special party for this cutie’s anniversary in 2022. [50]What other instalments with established in the ‘80s? A new ally named “Mil” was a harmless ghost who gathered fruit into Ghost Pens in Pac & Pal back in 1983 [48] [52]. With arms, legs and a cartoony art style, Pac-Man aimed to help a lost fairy return to Fairyland in Pac-Land back in 1984 [48]. As a child at an after-school club, I saw a glimpse of Pac-Mania, the game from 1987 that upgraded the maze’s graphics into a 3D Lego-like canvas [48]. Aside from the other games that increased the Pacster’s cred in the ‘80s, does anyone remember that cartoon based on his life created by Hanna-Barbera [18]? Surely its theme song was not very memorable [79], but the show has some elements that made it at least somewhat faithful to the game’s legacy, despite how cheesy it can be for some Pac-players [18]. Nonetheless, I adore the classy look of Ms. Pac-Man’s hair in the cartoon! I do not doubt that a fair fraction of ‘80s kids will relish in that feeling of nostalgia in association with Pac-Man’s 40th anniversary as part of an online nonlinear Pac-player parade.
Pac-Man, his family and the eyes of his foes in the title screen of one of the episodes of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon. [18]If you wish to travel back in time to 1984, then welcome to Pac-Land! [48]For our fellow ‘90s kids, let us snack on those vibes from what additions to the franchise were released in that decade besides that unconvincing sequel from 1994 [55] [80]. Pac-Panic was a puzzle game that was also released in 1994 and at least encouraged our yellow hero to try something else new [48], quite like how Sonic the Hedgehog got into racing in a car for the first time in Sonic Drift [83]. The premise for Pac-In-Time was about the Ghost Witch sending the Pacster back in time, which seemed like quite a refreshing concept at the time [48]. Pac-Man Arrangement was a rather interesting addition to the line of arcade games that introduced a maze with very colourful walls and a new gold ghost named “Kinky” [48] [51] [58]. Wait! What?! How the Puck-Man did that name get away with being featured a family-friendly arcade game in 1996? Aside from Pac-Man getting a taste of ‘90s cred back in those days, he has also been recognised as a cameo on the cap of a young dream traveller named Klonoa since 1997 [33] [34] [38].
I think the designs of the ghosts from Pac-Man Arrangement are pretty cool. [48]This ghost gets away with quite a questionable name, but Pac-Man needed to ditch his original name that did not even begin with the letter “F” [53]. Double standards, much? But nevermind. Let us get a taste of nostalgia from them next decade. [51]Let us get a taste of 2000s nostalgia by mentioning an amount of the games was released in that decade, aside from a special 25th-anniversary celebration of an arcade cabinet [57]. It was Ms. Pac-Man’s time to shine once again in her 3D action game from 2000, Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness [48]. Although Pac-Man World was released in late 1999, Pac-Man World was a fun way to celebrate the main yellow muncher’s 20th anniversary as his first-ever 3D adventure [48] [67]. Its sequel was simply titled “Pac-Man World 2” and was available for the Nintendo Gamecube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance and computers [68]. The game that made the Pac-Man World series evolve into a trilogy was Pac-World 3 [69]. The Pacster also munched his way into the 2000s era of mobile gaming [64]. Instalments that were released for flip phones and slide phones include:
Pac-Man Crisis, but only in Japan [64]
Pac-Man Casino [64]
Pac-Man Puzzle [64]
Pac-Man Bowling [64]
Pac-Man Pinball [64]
As a 2000s kid who remembers flip phones and slide phones, I do not doubt that Pac-Man will still be appealing to future generations, especially due to how remarkably timeless the original game was and still is.
More Pac-woman empowerment in 2000! [48]You may need to give your wife a call soon, Pac-Man. Save some of the anniversary cake for your family. [64]In association with the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man back in mid-2010, there were two new ways to play [25]. A “Google” edition of the first game was introduced on Google’s homepage. It is very impressive how the maze has been expanded with some differently coloured walls built in the shape of most of the letters in the word “Google” as an exclusive feature for the most popular search engine. The design of the “Google” edition pretty much combined the nostalgia of the old school graphics of Pac-Man with the essential of searching for a specific topic on Google’s homepage and I am happy that it can still be played today. Just before Christmas in late 2019, I played Pac-Man Battle Royale with my boyfriend at Kongs in Birmingham and questioned why committing cannibalism was completely justified during the gameplay [39] [59]. Despite the acts of Pac-cannibalism, I really liked the brightness of the walls of the maze and the choice of colours for three clones of the Pacster. I do not doubt that many Pac-players are aiming to make his 40th anniversary in 2020 as celebratory as his 30th anniversary back in 2010.
One of my favourite establishments of the Pac-Man franchise. [25]And the 2010 – 2011 arcade game I played with my boyfriend in late 2019. [59]As the old routine goes, a more modern appearance applied to the protagonist to be hip with the current youth. Pac-Man’s blue eyes debuted in Pac-Man Party and are quite an upgrade to the black eyes that the cartoon characters from Joey Drew Studios were inspired by [31] [32]. The 3D animated cartoon series that first aired back in 2013, “Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures” was at least passable to me when I watched a few episodes of it [54], even if its theme song was not all that great to some of our fellow cartoon critics [15] [79]. I also remember playing the mobile game based on it on my iPad Air back in about 2014, even though it was firstly released back in 2013 [16]. Despite the reboot’s apparent failure [54], at least Wreck-It Ralph, a remarkable late 2012 movie from Disney about a “bad guy” wanting to prove that he can be good featured the Pacster in his classic form as a special guest [105], along with Sonic the Hedgehog [104]. The same applies to the sequel of the masterpiece, Ralph Breaks The Internet [74], along with a special version of the Pacster’s first game that was designed for promoting it on modern mobile devices [8].
And not to mention the blue-eyed interpretation of Pac-Man in the Ghostly Adventures franchise was aged down to a teenager [54], compared the original adult Pac-Man who wore a red fedora in the ’80s cartoon [18]. [54]Ralph is gonna wreck it! [8]The championship edition of Pac-Man and its sequels must have been breaths of fresh air from a familiar maze for the Pac-players who love to feel like champions [60] [61] [62]. Those who are into the dazzling effects seen around dance floors in nightclubs would be stunned by how groovy the championship editions of the maze are in all instalments [60] [61] [62]. The first championship edition was released in 2007 to further expand on the Pacster’s 25th anniversary after 2005 [60], even for the Xbox 360 in Japan, even though the console and its predecessor were commercial failures in Japan [14] [60]. Reflecting on the “Google” edition of the first Pac-Man game was a great way to celebrate the yellow dude’s 30th anniversary [25], I can tell that Pac-Man Championship Edition DX was another way to celebrate it in 2010 too [62]. Quite a while ago, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 was available to download for free on Steam, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 for a limited time in association with the Pacster’s 40th anniversary [47]. Such a thoughtful offer was also there to help our fellow Pac-players relieve stress from anxiety caused by the devastating effects of the coronavirus outbreak [61]. Despite the lockdowns [89], Pac-champions can still reunite online.
The gamers who digged Pac-Man Championship Edition DX must have got their groove on. [62]Pac-players around the world are wishing the Pacster a happy 40th anniversary at home. [89]During the mid-2010s, it was not long until Pac-Man became part of the Super Smash Bros. roster in Super Smash Bros. For 3DS and Wii U to further increase the franchise’s ambitious ability to providing memorable crossover events [42] [81]. He also returned as part of the streak of yellow within the rainbow of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster in the late 2010s [43] [100] [101]. Just look at those plaid gloves and boots within one of his alternate costumes, even if I would try to fight him as either Princess Peach in her gold dress or Rosalina in her green dress [42] [43]. To be honest, since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate seemed like a big conclusion of the entire Super Smash Bros. franchise, I think the next Super Smash Bros. game should be an HD remake of the very first one with at least a few newer fighters included for those who prefer the newer instalments [82], possibly including the Pacster and perhaps his dearest wife for those who would still like to see way more recognisable video game characters battle in the future.
Fire hydrant ride! [81]At least the retro design of Pac-Man was still relevant throughout gaming in the 2010s apart from the special “Google” edition of the original game [25]. As previously mentioned, I hit the Pac-Pot on Pac-Man Chomp Mania twice in my entire life so far, much to my delight [4] [97]. Originally the arcade game was titled “Pac-Man Ticket Mania” solely because it printed out a number of tickets that depended on the player’s performance [2] [5]. However, I believe that they changed the name to “Pac-Man Chomp Mania” to make it fit the usual aspects of Pac-Man’s gluttony [4]. I really dig the funky beat that plays along with the usual audio and how the walls of the maze slowly change colours like one of those colour-changing candles [4] [22]. Once Pac-Man eats all of the Pac-pellets in the maze, I feel that determination to guide him into the ghost’s hideout to hit the Pac-Pot [4]. How the honourable arcade game that adapted the masterpiece from 1980 into a challenge for winning tickets is a treat for both modern arcade admirers and old school gamers who declare to be Pac-players [2] [5].
One of my favourite modern arcade games that slightly jazzes up the aspects of the first Pac-Man game for arcade admirers. [4]8-bit Pac-Man still rocked the world of the 2010s with The World’s Largest Pac-Man and a special release for mobile devices [3] [6] [7]. To be honest, I think I would name the green Pac-Man, “Puck-Man” since that was the original name for the timeless masterpiece from the early ‘80s [3] [53]. I briefly remember playing the Lite version of the modern mobile port of the original game in my iPod Touch back in about 2012 or 2013 [30]. I adore how each level in the new and upgraded version of the Pac-Man app featured a variety of premises that makes each gameplay section fresh, such as a Candyland-themed maze and a maze full of sushi [7]. Who would have thought Hello Kitty would make a special guest appearance in the app back in Summer 2017, thus making the ghosts wear red bows [28]? I suppose there is a little old school Pac-Man for all of us, including our fellow mobile gamers. The same can apply to how our fellow Nintendo nerds and Sonic supporters are currently competing with the 8-bit Mario team and 16-bit Sonic crew in Mario and Sonic At The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games [97] [98].
I briefly remember playing the maze that featured cookies on my iPad Air last year. [7]Oh. And I also remember playing the Redbull-themed maze that was available for a limited time last year too. [7]To appeal to both old and new Pac-players back in late 2015, there was an instalment that was heavily inspired by the infamous glitch in the 256th level of the original game in honour of Pac-Man’s 35th anniversary [10] [11] [56]. Four new ghosts were:
Spunky, the black ghost [56]
Sue, the purple ghost [56]
Funky, the green ghost [56]
Glitchy, the ghost who can change colour [56]
Pac-Man 256 is still another way to bring jazzed up retro gameplay in today’s technological society, including today’s expectations of mobile gaming. I like how the player can see the maze and characters in a bird’s eye view, despite how the graphics maintain that 8-bit essence [10] [11]. It was also quite unnerving to see the Pacster explode into pieces when a ghost catches him. While there is no need to eat every single Pac-pellet, I can see how the way the glitch rises across the maze increases the challenge by encouraging the player to only turn back to eat more Pac-pellets at the safest times [11]. Even though glitches are unintentional and are infuriating if they end up corrupting a save file [93], it is certainly interesting that there was some inspiration for giving a grey cloud a dazzling silver lining [56].
The abilities to change the appearance of the maze and unlock unique power-ups while outrunning a glitch are part of an adventure that turned something unintentional into a daring challenge that was established on purpose [11]. [10]And speaking of Pac-Man on modern mobile devices, many other applications starring the gluttonous yellow hero that were released and available to be downloaded for at least a fairly long while in the 2010s include:
Pac-Man Reborn, an application that was only released in Japan [64]
Pac’N-Jump, which was heavily inspired by Doodle Jump [64]
Pac-Chomp!, which was Bejeweled with Pac-Man slapped on it [64]
Pac-Man Monsters, a Pac-Man-themed role-playing game [64]
Pac-Man Friends, an instalment that introduced other Pac-Men [63] [64]
Pac-Man Puzzle Tour, a puzzle game that had mediocre graphics at first [64]
Pac-Man Pop!, which was a Pac-Man version of Puzzle Bobble [64]
Pac-Man Maker, an application that was only released in Canada [64]
With mobile gaming having higher standards compared to the standards in the 2000s, it is no wonder many young people are as familiar with Pac-Man as many ‘80s kids are. As a modern mobile gamer who fondly remembers playing gems such as The Simpsons: Tapped Out and The Sims FreePlay [17] [20], I would also be interested to see some more mobile games starring the Pacster in the rest of this new decade, especially for foldable smartphones with specific features if they become popular and successful enough [102].
Perhaps there can be a Pac-Men’s night to celebrate the yellow protagonist’s 40th year. [63]Could Mil return in a Pac-Man mobile game that is exclusively for foldable smartphones in the future [102]? [52]Would you believe that there is now a Pac-Man themed Tamagotchi available in two designs for Pac-Man’s 40th anniversary [72] [75] [85] [87]? Of course, I know that it is not the first time Mametchi, one of the most recognisable Tamagotchi characters met the hungry yellow dude as I remember playing Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 back in March 2010 [40]. I like how a Tama-caretaker can play Pac-Man’s game in two different ways, along with how Pac-Man can protect a Tamagotchi from one of the ghosts after eating a Power Pellet [85]. In addition to Tamagotchi franchise maintaining its relevancy by celebrating a fellow franchise’s anniversary in 2020, the small device can be inserted into a Pac-Man-shaped case for the sake of style and additional comfort during gameplay [72]. As someone who owned a Tamagotchi Connection Version 2 that had a light blue case with flowers printed on it as a child back in about 2006 [86], I can say that the special Pac-Man-themed Tamagotchi seems like a real treat and coping mechanism for the Tama-caretakers who also see themselves as Pac-players during such difficult times [89].
It sure is nice how the Pacster will share his cherries with a Tamagotchi. [85]Are there any more associations with the Pacster’s 40th anniversary besides a special collaboration with the Tamagotchi franchise? Why yes. There are some trendy Pac-Man-themed clothes for plenty of nerdy fashionistas to order and wear before they join the pac [49]. My stars! There is also a stunningly nostalgic 40th-anniversary edition arcade cabinet consisting of the first Pac-Man [1] [57], along with:
Pac-Man Plus [1]
Super Pac-Man [1]
Pac & Pal [1]
Pac-Land [1]
Pac-Mania [1]
Galaga [1]
I am sure that some of our dear old school Pac-players would like to give it a try it someday. Surely the Pacster’s appearance in the live-action film Pixels was another way to celebrate his 35th anniversary due to how big and bright he was in his scene [37], but that film ended up being received less than averagely [78]. Besides many Pac-players celebrating the 40th anniversary as one big pack with more satisfying aspects, I am aware that there are plenty of Pucca funny lovers out there celebrating Pucca’s 20th anniversary and our fellow Disney desirers celebrating the 10th anniversary of Tangled, the animated masterpiece from 2010 that was a delightful take on the tale of Rapunzel [73] [88].
Look at those awesome Selected x Pacman No PacMan No Style T-shirts! [49]And look at this beauty! [1]In conclusion after tons of Pac-pellets for a meal and possibly some room for dessert, I sincerely hope our fellow Pac-players have fun celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Pac-Man franchise at their homes, just like how our French-speaking Hazbeans enjoy watching the official French dub of Hazbin Hotel’s pilot on YouTube [26] [27] [35] [95] [96]. Wishing the Pacster a great 40th anniversary as one online community of Pac-players would help lighten things up during an isolating time of having to succumb to limitations to protect ourselves, our friends and our families from spreading the coronavirus during its devastating outbreak [88]. The same can apply for celebrating the 25th anniversary of Rayman, the limbless hero who had his life rewritten four times [21] [24] [44] [76] [90]. I am sure a few Pac-players, along with plenty of our fellow Frozen fanatics would like to have a glass of pink lemonade during the lockdowns [92]. Don’t mind if they do, Olaf. It certainly has been a fascinating trip down memory lane and devouring the delight…and disappointments of each era of Pac-Man. Here is to an appetising 50th anniversary of the yellow dude’s legacy in 2030! See you all after an intermission [91]! Waka waka!
Namco Bandai Games. (2008). Klonoa. Nintendo Wii. Tokyo, Japan.
Namco Bandai Games. (2011). Pac-Man Battle Royale. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2007). Mario Kart Arcade GP 2. Arcade. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2007). Pac-Man. Nintendo Wii. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2014). Super Smash Bros. For 3DS. Nintendo 3DS. Tokyo, Japan.
Nintendo. (2018). Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Nintendo Switch. Tokyo, Japan.
OldClassicGamer. (2020). Rayman: The Animated Series – Episode 2 – No Parking (Full HD Remaster).Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs0zoSMcJvg. Last accessed 14th May 2020.
PacFan12. (2020). All You Can Eat. (Pac-Man And The Ghostly Adventures Season 1 EP5 Clip 5).Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRLkeBb9RsU. Last accessed 21st May 2020.
Pac-Man Official Website. (2020). Enjoy “PAC-MAN Championship Edition 2” for FREE! (Limited time).Available: https://pacman.com/en/news/?p=225. Last accessed 20th May 2020.
Pac-Man Official Website. (2020). It’s been 40 years since the beloved PAC-MAN game was introduced to the world. Let’s take a look back on PAC-MAN’s history.Available: https://pacman.com/en/history/. Last accessed 20th May 2020.
Pac-Man Official Website. (2020). Selected x Pacman No PacMan No Style.Available: https://pacman.com/en/news/?p=255. Last accessed 20th May 2020.
In all honesty, 2019 has sadly not been the best year for yours truly. I felt alone in today’s society at times. Brexit kept being shoved in my ears almost every day and I felt like the society within my country did not sincerely care about people like me anymore [35] [215] [216]. Despite how scared, anxious and hopeless I have felt for months, I at least received a few great opportunities to voice some characters for a talented aspiring artist on YouTube and I will always be grateful for them [62] [63] [64] [65]. Additionally, I considered Frozen II to be a masterpiece after watching it at the cinema [55]. There is also one thing I will praise 2019 for. And that is no other than the fact that so many great anniversary celebrations occurred. I love celebrating anniversaries, thus I am more than thrilled to make a nice list of anniversaries that have been worth celebrating in 2019. To those who have enjoyed reading my articles this year, I hope this one will be the icing on the cake. Speaking of cake, feel free to send your birthday cake emojis as we party through a bunch of anniversaries I believe were truly worth celebrating [43].
Come on! Who doesn’t love a birthday cake emoji? [43]Let us start with the 30th anniversary of the tale of everyone’s favourite red-haired mermaid from Disney. Thank Mickey Mouse the writers decided to not end the movie unhappily, compared to how the little mermaid passed away by turning into sea foam in the original tale [151]. Other than that, let us not forget some special editions of excellently made dolls of the iconic mermaid who gave up her voice for a chance to win Prince Eric’s heart [86] [88] [89]. Even some new Funko Pop! figures have been released in association with the celebration under the sea [6]. I honestly have nothing against Halle Bailey as Ariel in a live-action remake of the film as she seems to have plenty of talent in singing to suit the role [44] [100]. Other than my thoughts on that, I think that the live television adaption of the iconic tale simply titled “The Little Mermaid Live!” was a pretty interesting adaption for modern audiences, especially the young ones who have never watched the original animated film [1] [2]. Who would have thought the voice of Moana would be the next Ariel [1] [90]? Keep swimming on, whether you are part of that world or not, you poor unfortunate souls [2].
I have no mouth, fully black eyes. Striking a pose, I’m really pint-sized. Toys for the win! Looks like I’m in…Funko Pop! world. [1] [6]This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Sleeping Beauty, another Walt Disney classic [87]. The movie is much older than The Little Mermaid, but still as iconic nonetheless [37]. Besides, there has also been special Aurora dolls in association with her movie’s 60th anniversary [87]. I bet there were plenty of cosplayers cosplaying as Princess Aurora or Briar Rose to celebrate the anniversary. Some could say that Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil would be a decent modern association with the 60th anniversary [208], despite its predecessor’s rather mixed reception [61]. Too bad the lovely Aurora has been considered to be the least empowered princess of Disney history, but at least she can still be well-loved by many Disney nerds and very young girls [37] [179]. I could sure use a spindle to try and sleep better at night, as long as I have a sleepover with my boyfriend so that he can kiss me to wake me up. Oh, and I would also need to have a small plaster for my bleeding fingertip. What if Aurora wore a green dress instead of a pink one or a blue one? That would have been a really interesting twist.
Kiss me, you fool. [179]I would also like to mention the 10th anniversary of The Princess and the Frog. I remember watching the movie on the Grand Princess cruise when I was a teenager. I like how it adds a twist to the original trope of a frog being turned into a prince from the lips of a princess [181]. Tiana, the movie’s protagonist is still an awesome character to this day as she seems to be one of the more feminist and the most realistically developed princess, having the goal of working hard enough to own the restaurant of her father’s dreams rather than getting into a relationship with handsome prince efficiently [180] [181]. My favourite song from the film would have to be “Almost There” because it would be the feeling of being close to getting into college, university, a new job or a new home [181]. Could the movie from late 2009 about Disney’s first black princess receive an official sequel after the success and appeal of Frozen II [55]? I honestly would like that to happen as it truly deserved the positive reception it earned for a realistic female protagonist, delightful musical numbers and a unique take on the classic tale.
Tiana is such an awesome character! [180]Do you remember Polly Pocket? Even though I played with some examples of the bigger dolls with rubber clothes with an old friend as a child in the 2000s [148], I say the compact playsets from the 1990s were more memorable [119]. Furthermore, Polly Pocket, the cheerful pint-sized sweetheart returned to her vintage form in a special recreation of the Partytime Surprise Keepsafe Compact from 1989 to celebrate her 30th anniversary [83] [101] [198]. I just love its dazzling purple coat that consists of glitter and festiveness within its groovy interior. The appeal and success of the toy must have made up for how disappointing the 2018 reboot of the toy line from Mattel has been so far for plenty of old-school Polly Pocket fans, even though I can see it tried to fuse the 1990s and 2000s eras of Polly Pocket all together into one [102] [187]. And yes, Hot Topic also help celebrated Polly’s 30th anniversary by releasing a special Polly-themed collection [159]. Despite my fondness of the bigger dolls that could be dressed up, I honestly would like the next reboot of Polly Pocket can provide compact playsets that are very like the one from the 1990s.
Isn’t this a beautiful recreation of a classic toy from 1989 [83]?Speaking of Mattel, Barbie’s 60th anniversary must have been a blast, especially for huge Barbie doll collectors. My younger sister and I had a big bunch of Barbie dolls when we were children. Furthermore, you can say that I was a huge fan of Barbie as a child. I say the gorgeous layered dress she wore to celebrate her 60th year was quite stunning and her Proudly Pink doll was vintage yet vibrant [10] [98] [207]. I still remember seeing the recreation of her debut outfit from 2009 in association with her 50th anniversary [178]. As the Barbie Vlogs series progressed on the official YouTube channel, I saw the iconic beauty queen herself with light pink hair during her elevator challenge with Ken and thought it looked stunningly lovely [11]. It was probably a reference to the 60th-anniversary doll of her that consisted of pink hair [207]. Regardless of how any controversial Barbie dolls there were throughout the years, including the pregnant Midge doll from 2003 and the Slumber Party Barbie from 1965 [95] [186], I would say she still holds that feminist message today of inspiring young girls to become anything they want. How the heck does Barbie not age a day?!
Ooh la la! [10]The popular British talk show, Loose Women also threw a 20th-anniversary celebration for their loyal viewers to watch [78]. To those who may be unaware of what the show is about, its premise is a group of women answering questions related to difficult topics that would occur at some point during adult life [76]. I remember how all of us wished the lovely and talented Stacey Soloman a happy 30th birthday this year [81], which was a nice bonus to the show’s 20th-anniversary celebration, even though her fame debut was on The X Factor back in 2009 [165] [188]. Speaking of celebration, I bet plenty of viewers in the current generation still remember Loose Women’s 18th birthday back in 2017 [82]. Remember that old introduction of the show with a pink filter for the presenters [136]? Remember the one with an orange filter [99]? I think plenty of us still miss any of the previous sets and title sequences to a degree, depending on each previous series we remember the most [76] [79], but the current set and title sequence looks great as well [77] [80]. After so many logos, title sequences, set designs, and mature topics to discuss from 1999 to 2019 [70] [79], Loose Women deserved a great 20th-anniversary celebration.
The current pack of loose women in the current set of the television show that has reached its 20th Anniversary mark. [78]Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary was celebrated with more than just a special logo [142] [145] [146]. When I was a very young child in the early 2000s, I played Sesame Street: Numbers and Sesame Street: Letters on my family’s old computer at my first home [30] [31]. As an adult, I admire how plenty of episodes were not afraid to discuss serious real-life topics in a way that dies not corrupt its child-friendly appeal, such as Big Bird knowing about Mr. Hooper’s death back in 1983 [96] [126]. Another sign of Sesame Street maintaining its strength of bringing realistic issues into a child-friendly light would be the time when its South African version introduced Kami, a young muppet with HIV in 2002 [53] [97] [199]. What I especially love about Sesame Street in this decade is the rather accurate portrayal of Julia, the adorable orange-haired muppet who has autism and the way the other characters treat her with outstanding respect [143] [144]. Additionally, they also introduced a new muppet named Karli for teaching children about being in foster care and a parent’s addiction this year [38]. Looking through its history of character introductions, character alternations and such [52] [53], you can tell the show truly has evolved from its first airing back in 1969.
A reversed rainbow of our beloved muppets from Sesame Street. [142] [145] [146]I do no doubt that many Nintendo nerds acknowledged the 30th anniversary of the Game Boy, especially the old school Nintendo nerds [58] [169]. Surely you could only see black LCD on a green screen and it does not look very easing at times, but that consisted was the old school charm that was the part of many 90s kids’ childhoods. And yes, it began the legend of playing Pokémon on a handheld with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue [120]. Ah, good old Generation One. As the years of the Game Boy went by, there were various accessories to either enhance the experience or make it…interesting [133] [169]. I swear that I did not write this article on a Game Boy with the Work Boy add-on [133]! As someone who will always be humbled by classic portable gaming, I wonder if at least several Game Boys are still being played on by our dear old schoolers, whether they are light grey, black or any other colour [169]. As for me, I would take a selfie with a Game Boy camera and decorate it like how I did with my black Nintendo DSi when I was a teenager [133].
Fancy an official 2020s edition of this nostalgic handheld system called “Game Girl”? I do. [169]And speaking of Nintendo, 2019 marks its 130th anniversary. Would you believe that they started with handmade Hanafuda cards in Japan from 1889 to 1928 [112] [113] [170]? In the late 70s and early 80s, Nintendo’s legacy as a successful video game company spawned [112] [113] [170]. When I was a child in the 2000s, I had a blue and yellow Pikachu themed Nintendo 64 in my bedroom [114]. The two games I played on that system were Pokémon Snap and Super Mario 64 [106] [107]. Additionally, my first ever Nintendo DS game was Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friends, even though it was on my original pink DS that sadly had poor collaboration [105]. I later got into Wii gaming with Wii Sports, Wii Play, Mario Kart Wii and so on as a preteen [104] [109] [110]. This year as an adult, I sincerely hope the workers and fans of Nintendo enjoyed celebrating the one hundred and thirtieth year of a big business that has won the hearts of many gamers. Despite how positively I reviewed Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo’s newest third-party mobile application [217] [218], many have criticized its greedy tactics when it came to microtransactions [212]. Nevertheless, that should not overshadow the huge celebration. Here is to another year of the Switch’s legacy [112] [113] [170].
I hope you all enjoyed celebrating Nintendo’s 130th birthday, fellow Nintendo nerds! [170]Ah, the SEGA Dreamcast. It was thinking of its 20th anniversary outside of Japan [153]. It is shame that its financial failure caused SEGA to lose a lot of funds, but it will still be remembered for many great titles, including Sonic Adventure, the game that changed Sonic the Hedgehog forever and Sonic Adventure 2, its sequel that marked Sonic’s 10th anniversary and introduced Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat [130] [152] [153] [155] [156]. Let us not forget the Dreamcast port of Crazy Taxi that could make you question each passenger’s trust in the driver’s reckless driving [211]. And let us not forget about Seaman on the Dreamcast, which had a weirdly creative premise of taking care of a bizarre creature and at least a decent use of the microphone accessory [134]. Will SEGA have the courage and steady finances to finally develop a successor to the Dreamcast for the next gaming generation? Probably not, but at least we can all actually look forward to the upcoming live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie after its interpretation of blue blur was redesigned to rapidly increase its potential [117]. As for the original Dreamcast, we can always still think of it for the rest of our gaming days.
The SEGA Dreamcast and its logos. They’re thinking. [153]
Oh. Remember Sonic the Hedgehog as a DJ? He will need to stay focused and not get distracted at the thoughts of an upcoming game next time. [130] [152]Besides another Sonic monopoly game [157], 2019 also marked the 30th anniversary of the SEGA Mega Drive, otherwise known as “SEGA Genesis” in North America [154]. Yes, I know it was firstly released in Japan back in October 1988, but the 30th anniversary can still be celebrated outside of Japan because of how it was released outside of Japan about three months later [154]. Besides, we humans celebrate our 21st birthdays especially. As usual, we will always remember the Mega Drive for how it introduced us to the speedy blue rodent back in 1991 and later presented his adorable two-tailed sidekick in 1992 [140] [141]. The SEGA Mega Drive Mini, the old school console’s miniature counterpart is highly likely to help continue the trend of miniature versions of classic consoles for old school gamers [129] [137]. Who knows if that trend will continue from how it started with the NES: Classic Edition back in late 2016 [18] [49] [50]? A miniature version of Nintendo 64 called “Nintendo 64: Classic Edition” released at the time I get grey hair would really rock my socks. As for the 30th anniversary of the Mega Drive, does anyone fancy playing the first Sonic the Hedgehog game on an oversized Mega Drive controller [69]?
Shout-out to the ’90s kids who loved the Mega Drive! [137]Hey simmers, have you noticed that 2019 is also the 10th anniversary of The Sims 3 [183] [185]? From 2009 to 2013, there were eleven expansion packs for enhancing the base game, along with ten stuff packs for enriching a sim’s life. There were also eleven downloadable worlds that were available from The Sims 3 store [185]. I still remember trying the game out on my laptop when I was just sweet sixteen and creating a Betty Boop sim [192], as well as two male sims based on Mordecai and Rigby from Regular Show [19] [195] [196]. Even though it was interesting to see the childhood’s Mortimer and Bella Goth, I even created them as adults with their daughter Cassandra as a teenager and her son Alexander as a toddler [197]. Ah, the good old days. Due to its critical acclaim and appeal for introducing new aspects, including personality traits and much more customization for a sim’s appearance [185] [195] [196], I can say it is indeed one of the best-selling PC games of all time and has aged rather well. If there ought to be The Sims 5, I think I would prefer it being just an HD version of The Sims for old time’s sake [184].
A special collector’s edition of The Sims 3. [185]The Simpsons has officially been running for 30 years [115]! Wow! Lisa Simpson will always be my favourite character in the show. Yeah, many of us do believe that the animated sitcom has overstayed its welcome and went downhill after its first nine seasons [219]. I personally believe that the series should have ended after the releases of The Simpsons Movie and The Simpsons Game in 2007 as I believed that they both would have been part of a truly memorable finale to an iconic cartoon [40] [182]. Nevertheless, I enjoyed playing The Simpsons: Tapped Out on my iPod Touch during my first year at college [39]. Rumour has it that the show will finally end in 2020 [115], which I suppose is for the best as television shows that run for a long time tend to show signs of a plot being recycled. Johnny Test was one of those shows that pulled the stunt [66] [67] [68]. But even if The Simpsons will not run for a few more seasons, I would be thrilled if they let an HD re-release of The Simpsons: Hit & Run happen [204]. Unfortunately, I do not have my fingers crossed, even if they would be yellow if I went to Springfield.
No sky? D’oh! [75]If only Stephen Hillenberg was here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants [45] [162] [163] [164]. As he rests in peace, we still reflect on how timeless and memorable the episodes of the first few seasons of SpongeBob were, including Chocolate With Nuts and Band Geeks [7] [160]. Yes, I can say this includes the variety of internet memes involving the yellow fry cook [17]. The way the voice actors for each main character re-enacted the most memorable scenes from the earlier seasons while briefly cosplaying as their roles at The Trusty Slab is brilliant [163]. And let us not forget about the special, Spongebob’s Big Birthday Blowout [45] [162] [164]. A spin-off that could suddenly be disrespectful towards Hillenberg’s wishes [202]? We will pass, thank you very much. On a lighter note, the SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run trailer provides refreshing new animation that is exclusive for the film and a promising premise [116]. Furthermore, only showing SpongeBob as a child temporarily in the film shall be hopefully not disrespectful to Hillenburg. As for the main series that is still running on Nickelodeon, the Halloween-themed introduction for its latest Halloween special was pretty zany [161]. Fancy living! Here we come! La la la la la [160]!
Our cheerful fry cook with his Krusty Krew for his 20th anniversary. [45]After so many movies and TV shows throughout the years, I guess good old Scooby-Doo deserves a pretty good 50th anniversary [210], despite those high risks of the premise becoming rather stale and too predictable [167] [168]. He was my favourite cartoon character when I was a very young child. It was brilliant that the Loose Women even cosplayed as Scooby-Doo and his human pack this year [77] [80], which feels like two anniversaries for the price of one. And who would except that the gang would resort to competing against the Teen Titans in Teen Titans GO [21]? The upcoming animated film titled “Scoob” seems to be ready to start a whole new era of the mystery-solvers’ legacies with a refreshingly new 3D animation style in 2020 [57] [209]. It looks like Scoob will be a reboot of the franchise as it the teaser trailer portrays Shaggy and Scooby when they first met in their younger days, along with how they first met Fred, Daphne, and Velma [57] [209]. Even though plenty of us still believe that Scooby and his friends have overstayed their welcome, I suppose some of us can at least raise our glasses and say “To another fifty years!” without having to unmask anyone…for now.
Scooby-Doo and his team competing in a game show hosted by Control Freak. [21]Let us not forget about the 50th anniversary of the iconic moon landing [3]. No matter how many times conspiracy theorists have tried to convince us that the moon landing was a staged hoax all along [135] [189], its special anniversary still hit news headlines this year. And yes, there was a joke regarding the conspiracy theory in Minions, the movie about a certain pack of short yellow species from 2015 [92]. Nevertheless, I shall not hop onto that bandwagon as you will not see me with a tinfoil hat on my head [48]. No offence to Alex Jones. I even managed to spot a poster of the second human being to set foot on the moon, Buzz Aldrin at the Apple Museum in Prague. In addition to such a huge impact it left on humanity, many of us are excited for letting a woman set foot on the moon, thus bringing back a nostalgic memory of something truly unforgettable and adding a small but notable twist to it [213]. Furthermore, many of us will always be humbled when looking back at various reports of the landing on the moon. Rest in peace, Mr. Armstrong [214].
A photograph of a poster featuring Buzz Aldrin at the Apple Museum in Prague. [Williams, 2019]Primark’s 50th anniversary was also celebrated with its biggest shop yet opening [122] [124] [177]. My mother and I admire Primark, otherwise known as “Penneys” in Ireland for a wide range of such stunning clothes and accessories their shops would offer [122], even though staying around there for too long can be rather exhausting for me. Yes, that is just me, but at least I could still purchase a new cosplay outfit and accessory from Primark after the Christmas season. I know I can also rely on Primark for how its community strongly condemns modern slavery and human trafficking [121]. Who knows? Another paid job or voluntary work experience I get could be in a Primark shop. But for now, why not check out their latest Winter sales and see which clothes and accessories for the season suit you best [60]? Speaking of Winter sales, I could briefly cosplay as Lara Croft in her Winter outfit from Rise of the Tomb Raider in the future [191]. I now wonder what stunning clothes my grandmothers bought from Primark and wore with style back in 1969. As for me in the present, I would be delighted to dine at Primark’s Disney café soon [42] [123] [125].
The 50th anniversary bag my mother got from a Primark shop this year. [Williams, 2019]And let us not forget about Tesco and its 100th anniversary, my fellow Brits [93]. After almost eight decades of business that started back in 1919, Tesco spawned Tesco Express for petrol stations in 1994 [73]. In 1998, the company in Thailand merged with Lotus [74]. And let us not forget Tesco Direct, Tesco’s website that was launched in 2006 [72]. Tesco may have been unsuccessful in America [24], but at least it is still trusted by many folks in England, Poland, Czech Republic, China, Thailand, and Ireland today [71] [74] [176]. In the current generation of the United Kingdom, several of us probably boogied out to a few versions of the groovy advert and many of us were amazed at the nostalgic references, including Morph and a shopper in a funky 70s outfit [91] [173] [174]. Of course, the moment of an astronaut floating around in the shop to gather some grub is a possible reference to the moon landing that was reported around the world back in 1969 [174]. Again, two anniversary celebrations for the price of one! As we maintain proactivity for future generations, Tesco may keep delivering Christmas for another hundred years [175]. Whether you shop at Tesco Metro, Tesco Extra or Tesco Express, every little helps [176].
A whole century of a business is a heck of a long time. [173] [174]Another 100th anniversary celebrated this year is the one of Felix the Cat [33]. Such a wonderful, wonderful cat, isn’t he [28]? Too bad he did not have the best story way under a different name back in 1919. It was sad to see him attempt to end his own life by putting a gas hose in his mouth, which is definitely something you would not expect to see in cartoons today [51] [149]. Luckily, we saw him as a much more cheerful character years later and we still do today, especially when he reaches into his bag of tricks. A notable example would be the time when an escalator spawned from his bag and reached an apple tree back in 1959 [201]. Some other examples of the bag’s magic were from Felix’s own movie from 1989, despite its negative reception [41] [166]. In the mid-1990s, Felix starred in another television series titled “The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat” [33]. An example of his legacy in the 2010s would be that Felix the Cat application I have played on my iPod Touch back in Summer 2012 [193] [194]. Just like Barbie, how does the cat not age a day?!
Felix the Cat! The wonderful, wonderful cat! Whenever he gets in a fix, he reaches into his bag of tricks! [28]And last, but not least, 2019 marks the 80th anniversary of Batman [4] [34]. I bet there were plenty of Batman cosplayers out there who celebrated, along with some Robin cosplayers. Back in 1939, Batman debuted in an issue of Detective Comics [22]. Strangely enough, he and his sidekick Robin did make occasional appearances in the first season of Sesame Street back in 1970 [52]. Looking back at that could also be celebrating two anniversaries for the price of one. But wait! Another two for the one of price sensation came from how Batman even did yet another crossover with Scooby-Doo and his pack of human allies in Scooby-Doo and Guess Who [59] [213]? Batman’s collaboration with Fortnite this year sure was zany [54] [190]. And speaking of gaming, at least we do not have to worry about the poorly made video games based on his legacy anymore. Good times, right Angry Video Game Nerd [131] [132]? Nevertheless, the 2010s video games he starred in were exceptional to plenty of gamers, including Batman: Arkham City [209]. As long as DC does not back down on publishing new comics, here is to another decade with the dark knight [34], whether his iconic suit is blue and grey or fully black.
EIGHTY YEARS OF BATMAAAAAAAN!!! [34]Before we conclude this compilation, here are some honourable mentions:
The 125th anniversary of Barbour [14]
The 25th anniversary of PlayStation [118]
The 30th anniversary of Wallace and Gromit [15] [150]
The 20th anniversary of Disney’s animation adaption of Tarzan [172] [206]
The 10th anniversary of Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time [158]
The 10th anniversary of Megurine Luka, the glamourous pink-haired VOCALOID with an angelic voice [205]
The 2nd anniversary of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp [103] [111]
The 20th anniversary of Rayman 2: The Great Escape [127]
The 20th anniversary of Donkey Kong 64, the Nintendo 64 game that had a memorable yellow cartridge in Australia and North America [128]
The 10th anniversary of Up, Pixar’s masterpiece about an old man who made his house fly with lots of balloons [200]
The 10th anniversary of Coraline, the stop-motion film based on the novel with the same name [29] [85]
The 10th anniversary of Avatar, the thrilling live-action movie about a mysterious blue alien race [9]
The 15th anniversary of Mean Girls, a fetch chick flick [46] [84]
The 10th of a YouTube channel I recommend, MrMarioFan12 [94]
The 10th anniversary of Sonny With A Chance [36]
The 20th anniversary of Sonic Underground [47]
The 10th anniversary of The Annoying Orange [8]
The 50th anniversary of the 50 pence coin within British currency [15]
The 30th anniversary of the internet [56]
Feel free to make your own list of honourable mentions of other special anniversaries that I have not been mentioned, yet you have noticed in 2019.
All hail Queen Luka! [205]
“Isn’t it honourable to be on a 50p, lad?” [15] [150]Of course, awesome anniversaries do not just get celebrated in 2019. Remember Mario’s 30th anniversary back in 2015 [108], Sonic the Hedgehog’s 20th anniversary back in 2011 and the 20th anniversary of The Powerpuff Girls last year [20] [139]? I bet many of us also had a blast celebrating the previous special anniversaries of the things I listed back in 2009, including Barbie’s 50th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Sleeping Beauty [12] [13] [37] [178]. More anniversaries of the things we appreciate and admire will await us in the 2020s and so on. I would love to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sonic Colours with my boyfriend as I had a blast with that game on my Nintendo Wii when I was a teenager [138]. I can also celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tangled, Disney’s beautifully animated adaption of Rapunzel from 2010 [171]. Again, I would love The Sims to be officially remastered in 2020 as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the successful life-simulation series [184]. Such a huge method worked out brilliantly for Spyro the Dragon in association with his 20th anniversary last year, right [5]? I will see you all in the next year of the rat, fellow writers and creators [27]. Squeak!
Hopefully 2019 has been great for you if your Chinese Zodiac sign is the pig [26]. We just need to wait for the next year of the rat, including me. [27]References
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Laura's Ambitious Writing 