Gamertell

... for Imaginary Friends, that is.

That’s right, I’ve discovered at least two game characters who are gainfully employed outside the game industry. Likely due to decreased opportunities, these characters have made a lateral employment leap, appearing in Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends on the Cartoon Network.

The first is the character known as Blooregard “Bloo” Q. Kazoo, as acted by an under-appreciated Pac-Man baddy. I’m not certain if just one of the ghostly foursome is playing the part or all four are trading on-screen time (after extensive makeup sessions, of course), but my bet is on cyan-colored Inky even though the character’s personality is closer to Blinky’s.

Of course, Blinky got most of the attention as the leader of Pac’s opponents, which might have lead to Inky venturing out on his solo career. I’m sure the royalties from the 1980s Pac-Man cartoons are not very much these days, too.

Of course, if it is Inky, the name Bloo and the all blue costume really is not that much of a stretch. Guess you have to play it safe with your first non-game acting gig.

In Foster’s, they do seem to dress him up a bit, likely to hide his true identity, but the smooth blue mound and oversized eyes sorta give it away. The good news is that Bloo is a starring character, so that should keep Inky off the street and out of alleys a while longer. Face it, being one-fourth of a bad guy team in an older arcade game isn’t quite as lucrative as being the bubble-headed star of a cartoon.

The other character, however, is a bit more scandalous and does not have quite as large a role on screen. Either a cross dresser in the TV series or in Final Fantasy, Cactuar can be seen in Foster’s sporting rather noticeable bosoms and a pretty, pretty hat. Smaller cacti also play many smaller roles in the show as massage devices and other types of villains. My guess is that these are actually Cactuar’s kids, proving his/her dedication to family.

Cactuar has made small appearances in several Final Fantasy games, often as a difficult creature to capture or a background element. Much like Inky, Cactuar was a tertiary character who would rarely get much respect. With hundreds of co-starring and upstaging creatures in any Final Fantasy game, it’s pretty difficult for someone as enigmatic and feeble as Cactuar to earn a living. It’s also likely Square-Enix didn’t know how to handle Cactuar’s outlandish behaviors and unusual talents.

I haven’t found Cactuar’s character’s name in Foster’s yet, but I’m sure a fan out there can lend a bit of insight. Maybe he/she is simply working behind the scenes on crew or part of the production staff, making guest appearances when extras don’t show up.

If you see any other former game characters in other employment during these difficult economic times, please let us know. we like to keep tabs on - and help support - our game characters.

Read [Final Fantasy Compendium] Site [Cartoon Network]