Museum Character Hall of Fame

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History of PAC-MAN™

The Comic-Con Museum is thrilled to announce PAC-MAN™ as the second inductee into the Comic-Con Museum Character Hall of Fame.

Born in 1980 and widely considered the original digital game mascot, PAC-MAN™ made a profound impact on the video game industry, the role of storytelling in games, and popular culture as a whole.

For an entire generation, PAC-MAN™ ignited a love of video and arcade games. Those of us who were there for the start of PAC-MAN™ remember going to the arcade and lining up for a chance to play while our friends stood around and cheered on. We were able to connect with PAC-MAN™ on an emotional level in a way we hadn’t with other video game characters.

For the generations that followed, PAC-MAN™ is an icon and one of the most widely recognized images on the planet. He plays a significant role in the history of video games, and his presence continues to pervade not only in the game industry but in all areas of popular culture today including fashion, film, food, music, and art.

By honoring PAC-MAN™ we pay homage to digital creators and the vision and values that inspire them. PAC-MAN’s™ creator, Toru Iwatani, had no training as a designer or programmer, but he had a powerful vision. A true pioneer and champion for inclusivity, Iwatani aimed to design a game that would appeal to female players. With the creation of PAC-MAN™, Iwatani helped to open the doors of the gaming industry to include all players while also helping creators to understand the opportunity they have to not only make a fun game, but to make a positive impact as well.

As we reflect on 40 years of PAC-MAN™, we are grateful for his contributions to popular culture, for the many decades of fun he has provided to us all, and we look forward to what he will bring us in the future.

Icon for previous Museum Hall of Fame Inductees

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Previous MCHOF Inductees

DC LOGO, BATMAN: TM & © DC. Jim Lee.

In July of 2019, Batman, DC’s iconic Super Hero, was honored as the inaugural inductee into the Comic-Con Museum Character Hall of Fame.

As part of the induction ceremony, Jim Lee, DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer, summed up why Batman is so deserving of the honor.

“Batman is very real. The core of Batman, the qualities that made him endure from generation to generation is as true to life as it gets. Batman is an inspiration that makes us believe that it’s possible to take any hardship and forge it into something good. Batman is real in every person who summons the strength and resilience to keep going, and that my friends is a superpower.”