Pudding

Reporter Pudding is a fictional character and secondary antagonist featured in Sega's Space Channel 5 series. She is a reporter for Channel 42, and is guided by her fellow henchmen who declare themselves as "dedicated fans." Known for her arrogant demeanor, Pudding has a high, selfish ego who grew up with honorary fame and popularity, leading her to become one of the Milky-Way's most competitive celebrities. By the age of sixteen, Pudding had already become one of the galaxy's most beloved teen idols, who would eventually start to lose her limelight within the upcoming years, which started her feud and antagonizing personality with other popular stars across the galaxy. At age nineteen, Pudding had saved the Milky-Way from immediate danger twice - both the Morolian Invasion and from the Rhythm Rogues - with the sole intention of boosting her own privilege and popularity, and continues to ally herself with her closest rival, Ulala from Channel 5.

First conceived in 1997, the character was created by Takashi Yuda, and designed by Yumiko Miyabe, but was not originally conceived for the original concept of Space Channel 5. The character was originally depicted as a young girl with a white, pink, and red color scheme, with the design switching to white, blue, and green to better contrast series protagonist, Ulala. In the Japanese version of the original game, Pudding was planned to be voiced by Mineko Okamura, and eventually was replaced by Kae Īda, who was originally casted as Ulala. In the summer of 1999, Pudding made her first appearance in a video game commercial for the Sega Dreamcast, which advertised several upcoming games for the console. She made her video game debut on December 16, 1999, in Space Channel 5.

The character of Pudding has garnered a positive response from critics, who commented favorably on her rivalry towards Ulala and her role as a series antagonist and anti-villain. In more recent years, Pudding is often regarded as one of Sega's more popular characters, often being featured in spin-off media and appearing as a cameo character in other video games.

Background
Pudding was formerly a teen icon for approximately 4 years to many teenagers across the galaxy. Pudding was best known for her guitar skills.

On her sixteenth birthday, Pudding got her first nose job to make herself look more attractive and beautiful for her audience. She later went on to get a second nose job.

When it was time for Pudding to step down from her teen idol years, she eventually found a career as a reporter for Channel 42, one of the many popular tv channels across the galaxy, and a competitor against Space Channel 5.

Space Channel 5
After an attack on Spaceport 9, Pudding, along with her cameramen and her bodyguards, went to get the scoop. Upon their arrival, Pudding encountered another reporter, Ulala. To get to the scoop before Ulala, Pudding and her had a dance battle. However, Ulala won the battle and continued on to the scoop. It is unknown whether or not Pudding succeeded.

Later, during mission 3, Pudding is one of the first to arrive and hear about the secret Morolian Base. While Jaguar and Ulala fought, Pudding was able to make it to the scene first. However, as a result, she was hypnotized and later saved by Ulala once she made it deep inside. It is unclear whether or not Pudding made it to the scoop after Ulala.

In report 4, Pudding later teams up with Ulala and Jaguar to confront the chief Space Channel 5 agent and CEO, Mr. Blank. The three end up saving the morolians (after realizing they, themselves, were also hypnotized).

During report 4, Ulala, Pudding, and Jaguar end up saving Space Michael from hypnosis.

At the end of report 4, the three are confronted by Evila, a robot duplicate of Ulala to be seen as the galaxy‘s best reporter. They end up defeating the robot, only to find Blank has not her massive machine. While defeating the new Blank, Pudding is the first to be knocked out of the battle.

At the end of the game, Pudding is one of the very few of Ulala’s supporters that is cheering on her battle against T.V Dimension Blank. Ulala later defeats Blank, sending him off into space. Pudding, Ulala, and several others close out the report with her, and they conclude the report by marching their way down the galaxy, which is lead by Ulala, Pudding, and Jaguar.

Space Channel 5 Part 2
In an attempt to find President Peace, Pudding first appears in report 2 as a rival to Ulala, and one must beat the other in a guitar battle to continue on to the scoop. Ulala succeeds, and Pudding and her bodyguards leave in pity and anger. It is unclear if Pudding made it to the scoop to see what happened to the President.

In report 3, Pudding is one of the many reporters trying to get to the ransom of President Peace. Pudding can be seen flying in the sky on her bird-like vehicle, passing everyone, and eventually dashing off. It is assumed Pudding was the first to make it to the scene, however, it was a trap and there was no ransom. In report 5, Pudding is one of the few reporters to hear Pine’s radio call. Pudding, Ulala, Space Michael, the Morolian Boss, and Pine are the ones to show up. In order to get to Purge, Pudding and the rest must face multiple robots. When the reach Shadow, the gang must pull off a musical band to proceed. Pudding plays her guitar and is controlled by command by the player. After defeating Shadow and his band, it is revealed Shadow is actually Jaguar, who was controlled by Purge unwillingly.

During report 6, Pudding is one of the few to fight Purge. Initially, she does not fight him at all, but some of his robots before Ulala encounters him.

In report 6, when Ulala is on conscious, she can clearly see Pudding “helping” her recover to help fight Purge before he does any more damage. In the end, Pudding outs and insults Purge before his demise. Purge is eventually flung into space (just like Blank), and Pudding, Ulala, and the rest of the team lead the way across the galaxy once again.

SEGA Superstars Tennis
In this game, Pudding is one of the 20 playable characters. Her character is well-suited for fighting

against opponents, as she cannot fall over.

Her special ability, when activated, allows her to confuse the opponent with a messed up ball track, creating a zigzag-like trail. This special skill is not all too great, however.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
In Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Pudding is one of the 24 main playable characters the player can chose to race as. Pudding can be unlocked after earning 50 stars in World Tour, and can be purchased in Twilight Engine, along with Joe Musashi. Pudding is one of the two only Space Channel 5 characters to appear in the game, the second, of course, being Ulala. Pudding‘s All-Star move is very simple, and acts like a hot rod, just like Knuckles, B.D Joe, Vyse, Beat, MeeMee, Wreck-it-Ralph, Metal Sonic, and Alex Kidd. Her special move is unique, as she uses an electric guitar to blast her opponents off track. Her theme music come from part 2 of Space Channel 5, when she first appears. The song is called Guitar Showdown.

Pudding has the exclusive Dreamcast mod, which can be purchased in Scorching skies for 42 stars. Other characters who can use this mod include Beat, Gum, Vyse, Ulala, and Shadow.

Appearance
Pudding wears a blue dress and blue headband. She also wears blue and white boots and has a pink tattoo that reads ”42.” She also wears blue headphones on occasion.

Pudding also has green hair, which might have been dyed.

In part 2, her attire stays mostly the same, but she is now wearing fishnet stockings.

Trivia

 * Pudding is the first rival in Space Channel 5.
 * Strange enough, Pudding drives a bird-like car, which can be seen in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.
 * To show how much she cares about her career, Pudding has a tattoo that reads “42” on her upper collarbone.
 * Pudding rides a completely different spaceship in the sequel. The first one was a pink spaceship with a big 42 on it equipped with a capsule to protect her from the space. The second one seems to be based one the first, but in a more space motocycle-like design. Its color was also changed to green. This is her car in the racing game.
 * Pudding's voice actress from the first game, Sumalee Montano, was replaced with Larissa Murray, only to come back to voice the character in Sega Superstars Tennis onward, making her the only voice actress to be replaced and later return.
 * According to the Gyun Gyun Guide Book and Sugoku Sugoi Guide Book, Jaguar is Pudding's "type". She seems to have a crush on Jaguar, but will not act on it.
 * During the track "Pudding's Secret Plan" from Space Channel 5 Part 2 Soundtrack Vol. Chu!!, Pudding says to her bodyguards, "Doesn't it look like I'm playing?" This indicates that in Report 2, Pudding is not actually playing her guitar.
 * Pudding is one of the two Space Channel 5 characters, besides Ulala, who has appeared as a playable character in the SEGA Superstars series.