Parents' Guide to

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Friendship and heroics mark fun re-creation of arcade alum.

TV Disney XD Kids' Animation 2013
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 6 parent reviews

marioroxmysox
marioroxmysox Adult
July 21, 2015
age 2+

From Family Man to Teenage Jerk

This is not the Pac-Man that I remember from the Games, like in "Pac-Land", "Pac n' Roll" or "Pac-Man World 2", where he was portrayed as an Adventurous Family Man, caring for his family and protecting his home from Ghosts. Yes, Pac-Man eats junk, but he had a balanced meal, like Cherries, Apples, and Grapes, to counteract with the Pac-Dot Cookies (Yes, they are cookies, not drugs). Also, according to the Hanna-Barbera Cartoon, Power Pellets grow on trees, so the Power Pellets are fruit. What I don't like from this "Pac-Man" story is that he's a gluttonous teenage jerk, who focuses more on food rather than helping others. Because that's what we want to show our kids: making them fat by eating junk. Also, I hate that there's a villain named Betrayus... who's named that for no reason other than to be tortured, that's like naming your child "Satan" for his misbehavior. In closing, this Pac-Man from this show is a bad role model, and I prefer you go for the Hanna-Barbera cartoon if you want something Pac-Man Related.

This title has:

Too much consumerism
1 person found this helpful.
Dakota R.
Dakota R. Adult
May 29, 2020
age 6+

Its fine.

I don't get why parents are getting mad at characters for saying phrases such as "shut up" or "stupid". It's fine, as long as you teach your kids not to say these words at a young age. This is just a mediocre show, nothing will happen to your kids if they watch it.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When Pac-Man (a.k.a. "Pacster") (voiced by Erin Matthews) takes a wrong turn in the maze on the way home from school, he accidentally opens a portal to the nether realm ruled by Betrayus (Sam Vincent) and policed by his army of ghosts. Pacster's mistake is just what Betrayus needs to stage a takeover of Pac-World and exact revenge for his banishment long ago, and suddenly the happy land is overrun by ghosts. Now it's up to Pacster, the last of the fabled defenders of peace, and his best friends, Cilindria (Andrea Libman) and Spiral (Vincent again), to save the world from Betrayus' evil plans.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (28 ):

Far from the two-dimensional dot-matrix world of his classic video game, PAC-MAN AND THE GHOSTLY ADVENTURES gives Pacster an intriguing back story, a couple of comical BFFs, and a selfless purpose of saving the world to fulfill his destiny. Known as "The Yellow One" by his enemies, the last of a race lethal to the ghosts and thought to be extinct, Pacster faces his heroic destiny head-on and shoulders responsibility for the entire world. What's more, he leans on his friends for help and turns to others for guidance when it's needed. In other words, there's a lot of potential in this vibrant, action-packed series.

As is to be expected in modern incarnations of classic characters, advances in animation technology put a whole new spin on Pac-Man and his world. The show does retain a few vestiges of the original game (Pac still chomps on colored berries, he can power up and down, and some of the sound effects recall the game's), but mostly it's an entirely new story designed for a new generation of fans.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the idea of destiny. Kids: Do you think you're "destined" to do or be something in particular? What of your special skills and qualities seem suited to this course? What do you want to accomplish in your life?

  • What role does Pacster's friendship with Spiral and Cilindria play in his success against Betrayus and his ghosts? Why is it easier to face a difficult challenge when you're not alone? Who are your closest friends? What makes them so special to you?

  • How does this Pac-Man character compare to what you know of the original one? Why do you think the show's creators decided to re-create him and his story? What gives a character staying power with fans? Do you think this one has it?

TV Details

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