In honor of Pac-Man's 40th anniversary, Bandai Namco America revealed a new theme song and video for the iconic arcade game.
Released just in time for this weekend's Pac-Man exhibit at ComplexCon in LA, the company recruited Japanese DJ Ken Ishii to create the techno-dance inspired theme song, "Join the Pac." Ishii took signature sounds from the arcade classic to create the song.
Directed by Yuichi Kodama, the video nods to Pac-Man's 1980s roots, with its style and classic hip-hop infused imagery. As the video progresses, Ishii himself sits down to play the game. A group of dancers posed as Pac-Man's enemies -- Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde -- entertain a crowd with their own hip-hop flair. In the end, everything comes to together when a group of dancing Pac-Men and Ms. Pac-Man join them on stage.
“Everyone at Bandai Namco Entertainment is extremely proud and excited to celebrate 40 years of Pac-Man, not just a video game icon, but a true cultural icon,” stated Senior Vice President Chris Gilbert in a press release for the event. “2020 will be a monumental year as we celebrate Pac-Man’s birthday all year long with ground-breaking brand partnerships, a new theme song, and engaging events around the globe.”
Pac-Man was developed and released by Namco in 1980. Since then, the character has become a staple in pop culture. The video and song seem to just be the beginning, as Bandai has plans in store for Pac-Man's 40th through the game's website.