ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

PAC-MAN and Otamatone Merge in Pocket-Sized Musical Crossover

other · 2026-08-07

A new collection of tiny musical instruments has been introduced by PAC-MAN and Otamatone, featuring the Otamatone Melody PAC-MAN edition adorned with PAC-MAN's iconic yellow visage. This compact music device, which can be attached to a keychain, comes preloaded with 11 songs. The Melody models simplify the mechanics of the larger Otamatone: a tail button allows for song selection, pressing the stem plays the melody, and squeezing the cheeks creates a 'wah' sound. The collaboration showcases miniature musical versions of the ghosts Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. Each instrument measures approximately 1.6 × 3.75 × 3 inches and operates on a CR2032 battery. PAC-MAN, designed by Toru Iwatani, first appeared in Japanese arcades in 1980, while Nobumichi Tosa created the Otamatone in 2009.

Key facts

  • PAC-MAN and Otamatone have released a pocket-sized musical crossover.
  • The Otamatone Melody PAC-MAN is preloaded with 11 songs and attaches to keychains.
  • The Melody models simplify the full-size Otamatone mechanics with a tail button and stem press.
  • Squeezing the cheeks produces the characteristic 'wah' effect.
  • The miniature versions measure 1.6 × 3.75 × 3 inches and run on a CR2032 battery.
  • PAC-MAN entered Japanese arcades in 1980, with US arrival in October.
  • Otamatone was designed by Nobumichi Tosa of Maywa Denki in 2009.
  • PAC-MAN and ghosts also appear on Regular and Deluxe Otamatone formats, with ghosts joining in early 2026.

Entities

Artists

  • Toru Iwatani
  • Nobumichi Tosa

Institutions

  • Maywa Denki
  • PAC-MAN
  • Otamatone

Locations

  • Japan
  • United States

Sources