Bubsy is the main protagonist of the video game franchise of the same name, Bubsy. In 1991, Accolade's Michael Berlyn designed for them a mascot during the ongoing console wars; and Bubsy, as for many other video game characters from the 90s, was a response to the popular Mario and Sonic from Nintendo and Sega, respectively. Though Bubsy failed to earn himself the same status as said mascots, he became "ironically liked" and managed to stay somewhat relevant over the years.
He made his first official appearance on March 4, 1993, with the release of Bubsy I, but appeared in promotional publications months prior.
Physical Appearance[]
Bubsy is an orange-furred anthropomorphic bobcat with a light-colored muzzle, stomach, and soles, brown-tufted ears, a short tail with a dark tip, clawed hands, and blue eyes. He wears a white T-shirt with a red exclamation mark on it, or alternatively, a jumper.
He's gone through minor alterations over the years, with Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back having implemented the most prominent changes, like his enlarged ears, the inclusion of claws on his feet, and his tan-colored soles now being paw pads. Some of the features from this version were reused for his Paws on Fire design.
Personality[]
Bubsy has the traits of a joke character and is a talkative, egomaniacal, self-proclaimed hero, characterized by his 4th wall-breaking dialogue and referential humor. With his first game revolving around the debatable crime of aliens visiting Earth to steal yarn, Bubsy's journey was kickstarted over reasons of self-concern; where he worried for his yarn ball collection if he let the creatures roam about.
Though he's woefully ignorant by always presenting the question "what could possibly go wrong" whilst engaging in dangerous situations, he recognizes when things get too hot under his feet and will try to walk away when the role of "hero" has lost its appeal.
In the cancelled TV-series, he shared many traits of his in-game self, though was noticeably childlike and blindly drawn to the concept of adventure, even when fully understanding the risks. His actions often caused harm to others, though unintentionally so.
Since Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back, he became more of a sarcastic narcissist, where his dialogue and tone of voice perceivably exudes disinterest, or even annoyance. Many of his old mannerisms have been criticized by him, implying he's self-aware, yet part of the series' humor remains he's changed relatively little.
Throughout the game series, Bubsy is depicted to merely be an actor and matches that sentiment by acting like a diva at times.
Abilities[]
Bubsy is very agile, as he can jump in long distances and can perform quick attacks to defeat enemies. Alongside this, he can glide long distances and use air currents to use that ability to fly. He also has super running speed capable of outpacing even projectile sound waves.
Bubsy also has a wide array of equipment which he utilizes throughout his different journies throughout his world, ranging from a reality warping TV Remote to the Smart Bomb which can turn his enemies into marbles.
Bubsy is also seemingly a technological genius, as he was able to create an entire rocket ship with only found parts in a matter of seconds.
Trivia[]
- Though claimed to be a bobcat, Bubsy doesn't fully resemble the animal;
- Next to some missing physical features, like spotted fur, the games contain "meow" jokes and Bubsy mimicking the sound, while bobcats do not perform the classic sound of a cat's meow.
- Lani Minella, The voice actor for Bubsy in Bubsy 3D, also voiced in Mario's Larry Koopa and Wendy Koopa, Sonic Adventure 2's Rouge the Bat, and various games.
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