Rayman is a franchise of platform video games, published by Ubisoft. Since the release of the original Rayman, conceived by Michel Ancel in 1995, the series has produced a total of 45 games across multiple platforms. The series is set in a fantastical, magical world which features a wide range of environments that are very often based on certain themes, such as "the Eraser Plains", a landscape made entirely of stationery. The core games of the series are platformers, but there are several spin-off titles in other genres. The protagonist is the eponymous Rayman, a magical being renowned for his courage and determination who, with the help of his friends, must save his world from various villains.
Games
Main series
Spin-offs
Raving Rabbids
Other
Characters
Rayman is the main protagonist of the series. He has no arms, legs or neck, though he has hands, feet, and a head that are able to move independent of his body. Due to his lack of arms, Rayman is able to throw his fists in long-range punches at his enemies, and in some games is even able to project balls of energy from his hands. He is able to glide by spinning his hair like a helicopter blade. He is typically found wearing white gloves, a red neckerchief on a purple body and a white ring on the chest, and yellow trainers. He is voiced by David Gasman, Steve Perkinson and Douglas Rand in the video games and by Billy West in. He was awarded the Best New Character award of 1995 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.
Globox is Rayman's dimwitted best friend and sidekick. Although easily frightened, he has often demonstrated his courage. He and his wife Uglette have over 650 children. In Rayman 3, he is voiced by John Leguizamo.
Barbara is a spunky, red-haired princess warrior and barbarian who first appeared in Rayman Legends, becoming the first human being to be playable in the main series, simultaneously with another sister and eight other cousins who can be rescued throughout Legends. She is armed with a flailbattle axe, whose head can be launched forward from the shaft to strike foes from a distance, and uses a magical winged helmet to float through the air, mimicking Rayman's helicopter hair ability. Barbara also returns in Rayman Adventures, having cut her long hair to neck level and exchanged her axe with a shovel.
Betilla the Fairy is a benevolent fairy. After failing to stop Mister Dark steal the Great Protoon, Betilla assists Rayman in his quest by granting him various new abilities as the game progresses. Betilla reappears in a similar role and with a new curvaceous design in Rayman Origins, where it is revealed she was the one who created Rayman. She also has 5 sisters.
Ly the Fairy is a benevolent fairy who assists Rayman through the course of the second game. She is voiced by Kim Michelle Broderick.
Murfy serves as a guide to Rayman. He has a hasty nature, unable to deal with failure. He appears bored with his job and cannot be bothered with trivial details. His race is depicted as mischievous and described as "cultivated hedonist". He is voiced by Billy West.
The Teensies are a magical race of ancient, diminutive and wise creatures created by Polukus.
Polokus, known as "Bubble Dreamer" in Rayman Origins and Legends, is a divine being and, according to Rayman 2, is the creator of Rayman's world. During the plot of Rayman 2, Polokus is sleeping and can only be awoken with four masks that Rayman is tasked with collecting.
The Magician is a magical being that helps Rayman on his journey in both the original Rayman and Rayman Origins. At the end of Rayman Origins, The Magician, now a Teensie, is revealed to be the villain of the game, having been inspired by Mr. Dark, the villain from the first game, and replacing him. In Rayman Legends, he reappears and clones himself to create five separate Dark Teensies for Rayman and his friends to battle.
Reception
Since his debut in 1995 on the Atari Jaguar, Rayman has become a popular video game character, along with his trademark helicopter power and lack of limbs.
Other media
In 1999, was produced to cash in the success of the video games at the time. Only four episodes were made. In 2019, another TV series was announced to be in works at Ubisoft Motion Pictures.