New Pac-Man Cartoon in the Works

Avi Arad, executive adviser at Namco Bandai is looking to bring 1980's pop-culture icon and original arcade sensation, Pac-Man, back to TV -- in 3-D. Arad showed a 3-minute teaser at the 2010 E3 and told listeners the new version would be aimed at a different age-group than the classic cartoon, which ran on ABC from 1982-1984.

The new incarnation finds a 3-D Pac in highschool, where he deals with a host of problems normal teenagers face everyday. Such issues may include getting to the bottom of why Pac-Man is "the only yellow one in Pac-Land. What does that mean," Arad asked, "Is it a social statement?"

As a larger theme, Pac is locked in battle with a series of ghosts that are trying to take over Pac-Land. He must rely on family and friends, including Pinky, Inky, Blinky, and Clyde - the original four menaces from the classic arcade game.

No studio or distributor has been named, yet.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010