Pudding

Overview

Pudding is the deuteragonist of the first two Space Channel 5 video games and appears as a boss in Space Channel 5 and Space Channel 5 Part 2. She is an arrogant reporter who enjoys winning whatever is thrown her way - whether it's a dance-off or report battle.

Pudding first appeared in the 1999 video game Space Channel 5 and has since remained an iconic character of that series. She served as a main character and antagonist in the first two installments and a minor character in Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash!, released in 2020. Pudding also appears as a playable and unlockable character in the Sega All-Stars video game series, alongside Ulala and the Morolians.

In the English versions of the games, Pudding is voiced by both Sumalee Montano and Larissa Murray, and later Cherami Leigh in Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash!. Archive footage of Montano and Murray were used in the Sega All-Stars video games, alongside Apollo Smile, whose voice clips for Ulala were used for Pudding in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.

Concept and creation

Pudding was created to be the opposite of Ulala - rude, opposing, and arrogant. She was created to look cute, but yet perky.

Her original prototype designs showed that she was supposed to have similar colors to that of Ulala, but it was changed because the characters looked too similar. Her outfit was changed from white and pink to blue and white. Her hair was also changed from pink to teal.

Powers and abilities

Pudding is known to have a wide-variety of abilities and powers. Being a reporter for Channel 42, Pudding has the skills of a experienced, but yet arrogant, journalist.

• All-Star Move - Like every other playable character in the game, Pudding has the ability to go All-Star, an ability obtained by racers who are 10th to 2nd place in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. During the ability, she will pull out her guitar and blast people off the road or track.
• Guitar abilities - After rising to fame after helping to defeat Chief Blank, Pudding picked up a gig as a guitarist on her show for Channel 42. During her first encounter with Ulala in Space Channel 5: Part 2, Pudding encourages her to battle her in a guitar battle, which the results of the outcome are dependent on the player.
• Reporting - Pudding is one of the better-known journalist across the Galaxy, showing up to nearly every major scene since the events of Space Channel 5. As her newest profession, she may be professional but she is always rude and attempts to steal other people’s spotlights.
• Speed - As a reporter, Pudding must show up to the scenes as fast as possible. Using her Spacebird 42, Pudding is able to beat several people to the scoops and be the first to gather vital information. In Space Channel 5, Pudding is easily able to beat all the other reporters to the Morolian's secret base, while in Space Channel 5: Part 2 she is able to avoid the Space Police and quickly dash away on her vehicle to the ransom exchange.
• Superstar State - Like every other character in the game, Pudding is able to go Superstar in Sega Superstars Tennis. Her ability allows her to cause the tennis ball to zig-zag across the court and force the opponent back once hit. Unless a power-type, Pudding has a small chance of canceling out her opponents activated Superstar State, if they hit the ball immediately after Pudding.

Fictional history

Past

Pudding was born on September 5, 2480. Her zodiac sign is Viro and her blood-type is AB.

Pudding grew up a spoiled star, wanting the tiniest bit of fame and appreciation. Eventually, she became a popular teen idol all across the Galaxy, and later joined Channel 42 starring on her own show to boost ratings.

At a young age, she received two nose jobs, one for her sixteenth birthday. However, Pudding grew jealous of Ulala - the new star of Channel 5, and her fans began to slip under the radar. Then, her only goal was to show her face on television and “indirectly” sabotage Ulala’s new show - her Swingin' Report Show.

Space Channel 5

Pudding makes her first appearance in the 1999 Dreamcast video game, Space Channel 5. She serves as one of the secondary antagonists alongside the Morolians, and becomes a protagonist in the game’s final chapter.

When Puding hears of the Morolian Invasion happening at Spaceport 9, she, her fanboys and crew, and Rocka Billy take a trip and interrupt Ulala on-air, while also promoting herself and Channel 42.

Later, Pudding and many other reporters hear about the secret Morolian Base hidden in the Asteroid Belt. With Ulala distracted by Jaguar during a rival battle, Pudding sneaks her way in on her Channel 42 hovercraft, the Spacebird 42. Once in, she is immediately taken by the Morolians and hypnotized to dance for them. When Ulala encounters Pudding, she can either save her or let her go. Regardless, Pudding remembers Ulala’s attempt to save her.

Later, Ulala calls upon Jaguar and Pudding to help her put an end the the mastermind behind the Morolian Invasion. As it turns out, the Morolians are good being who were brainwashed by none other than Channel 5 Chief Blank himself. Throughout their attempts to stop him and save the Morolians, they encounter Evila - a robotic copy of Ulala designed to be “The Ultimate Reporter.” Afterwards, Giant Evila shows up and the three take flight on their hovercrafts. Pudding is the first to be knocked out, and later helps Ulala put an end to Blank’s final form.

Space Channel 5: Part 2

Pudding appears as a supporting protagonist in Space Channel 5: Part 2 with a much more persistent role. Pudding first appears when Ulala makes her way through Fountain Square while trying to investigate the kidnapping of President Peace. Her rival then interrupts her show and promotes herself once more, now taking up a guitar gig. Ulala has no choice but to face her foe in a guitar battle.

Later, Pudding attempts to get herself to the exchange for President Peace, but is ultimately fooled like everyone else.

Pine, the chief of the Eastern Venus Space Police, later sends out a broadcast calling reporters in the area to what she thinks to be Purge’s hideout. Pudding, Ulala, and others show up and make their way through the hideout to encounter Shadow blocking their way. The group has no choice but to participate in a “Battle of the Bands” against the Rhythm Rogues. During the process, they unmask Shadow to find Jaguar had been brainwashed by Purge the whole time.

In the end, Pudding and the others are able to confront Purge in the stadium to find that he is brainwashing fans that were kidnapped all across the Galaxy. Eventually, Ulala defeats Purge with the help of her friends and everyone she had saved previously. This, in turn, puts an end to Purge’s rein of power and fame, and the team starts a march that leads to the end of the Galaxy.

Kinda Funky News Flash!

Pudding serves as a minor protagonist in the game. Three years later, her rivalry is still strong with Ulala - but has matured and it doesn’t influence her current programs and work for Channel 42.

With a new foe with a goal to take over the Galaxy and brainwash the Morolians, Pudding goes through an asteroid field to seek the scoop, but is ultimately caught by Glitter and held against her will.

Later, rookies Lou and Kee, with the help of pirate broadcaster Jaguar, save Ulala, Pudding, and all the other reporters and save the Galaxy.

Other game appearances

Sega Superstars Tennis

Pudding appears as one of the two playable Space Channel 5 characters in Sega Superstars Tennis. The game features several well-known and fan-favorite characters from selective Sega-published video games, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Jet Set Radio, and Super Monkey Ball.

Pudding can be unlocked after defeating her in the Singles Tournament in the Space Channel 5 Planet. She is classified as a control type, and like all the other playable characters has a useable ability known as a Superstar State. During the ability, Pudding will zig-zag the ball towards her opponents, and when the other players hit them, they will be forced backwards. In addition, if an opponent has a Superstar State activated, Pudding will have a chance to be able to cancel their ability entirely (excluding Power-types) if they hit the ball immediately after Pudding.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Due to fan-demand, Pudding was added as a playable character in the fourth installment of the Sega All-Stars series, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. In the game, she drives a recreated version of her green vehicle, the Spacebird 42. The player can unlock Pudding if they obtain 50 World Tour Stars and “purchase” her in Twilight Engine after beating her staff ghost.

Her All-Star Move allows her to take flight and blast opponents on-track while playing theme song from Space Channel 5: Part 2, "Guitar Showdown". The blast will be caused by her purple and white guitar, which will float above her.

Appearance

Pudding has greenish-teal hair that is braided in the form of deadlocks, and stands more than 5 feet and 8 inches tall. She is peach-pale skinned and has blue eyes and pink lips.

For attire, Pudding originally wore a blue low-cut dress with long-white boots. She also wears a blue hairband and blue headphones. In addition, she also wears long, white gloves and carries a pair of two blue canisters on her back.

Her newer outfit shows her wearing fishnet stockings instead of long boots that go higher than the knee. Although she still wears white boots, they are much shorter and almost surpass her knee. Her dress is now replaced with a skirt and low-cut shirt that reveals her belly. Her canisters are one silver instead of blue.

Personality

Pudding is arrogant, rude, and abrasive. She likes to be the best at anything and likes competition - good and bad, and is ready to take on any challenge. She is also shown to be a soar loser, as she always storms off-stage when she fails. However, Pudding will help others if they help her, and is shown to be a sufficient and reliable ally at most times.

Pudding was also shown to be a spoiled teen who was obsessed with fame and popularity, which is why she got so jealous of Ulala very quickly. But, at the age of 22, Pudding's rivalry against the Channel 5 reporter has matured, and her manners have as well. However, their rivalry is still intense.

Character reception

Pudding's character has received a positive reception. Sumalee Montano, who voiced the character in the first game, has received recognition for her role as Pudding, but criticism towards her voice portrayal has been noted over the years. Larissa Murray, who voiced the character until 2011, has received praise for her vocal performance as the character.

Pudding herself has been popularized in both fan fiction and the anime/manga community. Since the character's debut, she holds a strong reputation for being annoying, but is still a fan favorite among fans of the franchise. Her popularity would earn her a spot as a playable character in the Sega All-Star franchise.

Trivia

• Pudding is the first rival reporter Ulala (or the player) meets in the games.
• Pudding's guitar cameoed in one of the Sonic Archie Comics.
• Pudding is known to be one of the first independent female antagonists from a video game published or developed by Sega.
• Pudding, alongside many other Space Channel 5 characters, received an action figure manufactured by Palisades Toys in early 2000.
• In Sega Superstars Tennis, Pudding's tennis racquet is mostly pink and yellow with a heart in the center of the net.
• Pudding's original design consisted of her having pink hair, and wearing a white and light pink dress with heart headphones, but the concept was scrapped because it was too similar to Ulala's design.
• Pudding is indirectly mentioned in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and the mobile version of Sonic Transformed.