[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pink_panther_gottlieb_bg_mop.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Go ahead, hum that song.]]

''Pink Panther'' is a {{pinball}} game [[LicensedPinballTables based on]] the [[Franchise/ThePinkPanther popular comedy film series and cartoon character.]] It was designed by John Buras, illustrated by Jerry Simkus, and released by Creator/{{Gottlieb}} in 1981.

The game's premise is a ''very'' loose adaptation of ''Film/TheReturnOfThePinkPanther''; the Panther is pursuing an attractive female jewel thief through a dimly-lit mansion as she pilfers its collection of gems. Get the black diamonds to enable the Secret Passage, then light the flashlight and enter the Hidden Staircase. Lock two pinballs to explore them, then start three-ball multiball for a frantic chase to collect the blue diamonds scattered around the playfield. Players who can collect the most diamonds are rewarded with a free game.

''Pink Panther'' is noteworthy for being Gottlieb's first multi-ball pinball game. The rules are not too hard to grasp, yet the game is fast enough to tease players into one more try. Unfortunately, it wasn't profitable for Gottlieb, as fewer than 3,000 tables were produced, not enough to recoup the costs of the license. As such, used games for sale tend to fetch high prices from collectors.

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!!The ''Pink Panther'' pinball demonstrates the following tropes:

* AscendedExtra: The thief, a supporting character from ''The Return of the Pink Panther,'' receives billing here equal to the Pink Panther himself.
* ClassyCatBurglar
* CompositeCharacter: The role of Inspector Clouseau is fulfilled by The Pink Panther himself in this game.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Spoils that the movie's jewel thief is a woman.
* LicensedPinballTable
* MediumBlending: Done with the cartoonish Pink Panther and the more realistic-looking thief.
* PragmaticAdaptation: Of ''The Return of the Pink Panther,'' though the burglar is never identified as [[spoiler:Lady Claudine Litton]].
* SecretUndergroundPassage: The Hidden Staircase and the Secret Passage.
* SpellingBonus: P-I-N-K enables the Extra Ball.
* TrailOfBreadCrumbs: On the playfield, the Pink Panther pursues the jewel thief by a trail of small gems she drops behind her.
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