Draft:Beat and Gum

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Beat^[a] and Gum^[b] are a pair of fictional characters appearing in Sega's Jet Set Radio series. Designed by the original game's artists, both characters debuted in the 2000 video game, Jet Set Radio, and have since become prominent characters associated with Sega's branding and name. They are both voiced by unidentified actors in the original titles, with Casey Robertson first voicing Beat in Jet Set Radio Future, and Julissa Aguirre first voicing Gum in Sega Superstars Tennis.

Beat and Gum are the leaders of the GGs, a group of graffiti gangsters who roam the streets of Tokyo-To, Japan and tag public property with their graffiti. After forming their gang, the two sought DJ Professor K and made his pirate-radio broadcasting station their base. Both Beat and Gum are seventeen-year old school dropouts who ran away from home in order to express themselves through the form of art, and continuously defy the law and its captains. Throughout the franchise, Beat and Gum capture the attention of rivalry gangs, many of which pose a threat to their organization.

Video game journalists have commented positively on the two characters since their debut, and have garnered recognition for their appearances outside their respective franchise. Often appearing alongside each other, Beat and Gum are noted for being the sole main characters of Jet Set Radio, and the series' mascots.

Beat is one of the main protagonists of Jet Set Radio, and acts as the leader of his gang, the Graffiti Gangsters. He is often described as adventurous, obnoxious, and optimistic. Alongside Gum, Beat recruits Cube and Combo - two gangsters from the United States - and helps them put an end to the hoax behind a mysterious vinyl record that could supposedly summon a demon.

In Jet Set Radio Future, Beat serves a relatively minor role until the end of the story. Throughout the game, Beat is depicted as a false antagonist, and is described as a "some headphone wearing freak" by Gum prior to his debut. Many of the characters assume he is responsible for the majority of the wrongdoings around the city, and it is later revealed that a robot (Zero Beat) was created by Goji Rokkaku to impersonate the graffiti artist.

Casey Robertson voices the character in Jet Set Radio Future and in several crossover video games, including Sega Superstars Tennis, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, and Sega Heroes. Beat's original voice actor in the original Jet Set Radio remains unknown. The unknown voice actor's archived lines from the game were reused in Sega Heroes.

Beat has received a generally positive reception among video game journalists, with many often mistaking him as the sole mascot of the Jet Set Radio video games. Beat was featured on Comic Book Resource's "Jet Set Radio's 5 Best Characters, Ranked" list.^[1] The Gamer indirectly mentions how Beat may be more popular than the series itself, writing: "As he's appeared in several Sonic and Sega party games, the main protagonist of Jet Set Radio might now be more famous than the game itself."^[2] The Gamer ranked Beat the seventh best Sega character, calling him "the most iconic character in the title," and "a stand-out character in Sega's lineup."^[3]

Gum is one of the main protagonists of Jet Set Radio, and serves as the de facto leader of the Graffiti Gangsters. She is described as cool, sarcastic, and reckless. Alongside Beat, Gum is able to recruit Cube and Combo and learn about the Golden Rhinos and their mission to obtain an old indie record that supposedly has the ability to summon a demon.

In Jet Set Radio Future, which takes place in an alternate reality of the original game, depicts Gum as the official leader of the GGs, who recruits YoYo. She has a strong hatred for Beat, and resents his actions.

Gum was voiced by American actress Julissa Aguirre for the Sega All-Stars series, who also provided the voices of NiGHTS and the female Xbox Live Avatar. She provided the voice for the character in Sega Superstars Tennis and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. Gum is also voiced by an unidentified actress in Jet Set Radio, where she is likely voiced by Marci Henderson, Andria Batise, Corina Harmon, or Jessica Crispi. In Jet Set Radio Future, she was voiced by either Gianna Giusti or Jessica Crispi -- the latter also appearing in the original game. Archive voice footage from Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future were used for Gum for her appearances in Jet Grind Radio Advance and Sega Heroes.

Gum has received a generally positive reception. She is noted for being easily recognized by the video gaming community, alongside her initial catchphrase, "Hey, You!" Gum was also featured on several video game magazine covers during the early 2000s in order to promote the Jet Set Radio franchise, the Sega Dreamcast, and the original Xbox console. In an op-ed, Christian Donlan for Eurogamer briefly mentions his love for the character in Jet Set Radio Future, but denies her existence to be his favorite aspect of the video game.^[4] In a 2014 article, Donlan further commented on the character in the game, writing: "Gum's the star of the show in my house - as the game's a lot easier than its predecessor, character selection is often a purely personal matter."^[5] DiGi Valentine, for his character review series Who Dat?, commented positively on Gum's expressions, sassy personality, and color scheme, while praising her animation styles and noting her "tougher demeanor" in comparison to Beat.^[6]

With the release of De La Jet Set Radio, the re-release of the original game, Gum has often been mistaken as the sole-protagonist of the game, especially in Australia.

Both Beat and Gum appeared in No Doubt's music video for their 2002 song, "Hella Good," which featured black-and-white gameplay footage from the Xbox game, Jet Set Radio Future.^[7]

The duo made appearances in the Sega Hard Girls series in the episodes "Broken Jet Set Radio" and "The Excessive 54th Annual! Go Give It All You've Got! Only You Can Be the Champion! Surpass All the School Events of the Past! Sehagaga Academy Sports Festival." Gum appeared in the episode "I Heard We're Graduating Sehaga," which did not feature Beat.^{[citation needed]}

Gum and Beat have become recurring and playable characters in the Sega All-Stars video game series, both first appearing in Sega Superstars Tennis.^[8] Gum was rumored to have been subsequently deleted during early development of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing,^{[citation needed]} but was announced she would be appearing in its 2012 sequel, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, exclusively by Nintendo Power.^[9] Beat, however, appeared in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing wearing his attire from Jet Set Radio Future, and was announced for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed during a beta testing reveal at a video game convention. However, Beat does not appear in the mobile version Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, whereas Gum does. In a publication by Archie Comics, Beat is featured in the comic book "adaptation" of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, in Sonic Universe #45.^[10]

The pair of characters have been featured numerous times as cameo characters in other Sega franchises and crossovers, as well as other video games. Beat and Gum appear in Sonic Adventure 2 on in-game posters, while Beat's outfit makes a cameo in Sonic Forces.^{[11][12][13][14]} Both characters make a cameo appearance as part of a profile icon in Sonic Colors: Ultimate. In 2018, Sega announced Gum would be playable in the mobile game, Sega Heroes,^[15] which also features Beat. In 2021, Sega dropped a teaser trailer announcing Beat as a playable character for the video game Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania,^{[16][17][18][19]} and announced once again as a returning playable character in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble.^[20][21][22] In June 2023, Sega announced that both Gum and Beat would appear as playable characters in Ubisoft's Roller Champions.^{[23][24][25][26]} The character designs, particularly that of Gum's redesign, received a mixed response.^[23][24] They were officially added to the game on 27 June 2023.^[27]

In 2017, concepts for a "new" Jet Set Radio game (titled Jet Set Radio Evolution) created by Dinosaur Games, which included updated and futuristic outfits of Beat and Gum, were rejected by Sega.^[28] The two characters were used in motion as a way to improve the pitch, with their updated designs commented on as "colorful."^[28] In April 2023, it was rumored that Sega had supposedly leaked footage of a Jet Set Radio franchise reboot game through an online survey, which featured cel-shaded renders of Beat and Gum wearing updated attire.^[29][30] Later that year, at The Game Awards, it was announced that a new game was officially in-development, showcasing both characters in Sega's teaser trailer.^{[31][32][33][34]}

For merchandise and promotional material, the characters have been featured as part of magazines, pins, and action figures. Gum does not have any officially-licensed action figures or statues, as opposed to Beat. In 2003, JoyRide Studios released a collectible figure of Beat, depicting his in-game style from Jet Set Radio Future. The same year, the company also released a limited edition piece count prototype of the figure. In 2010, Jazwares released a set of four racing minifigures as a form of promotion for Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing -- one of the characters being Beat with his in-game vehicle.^[35] In 2015, First 4 Figures released a statue of Beat, limited to 1,250 pieces -- which includes LED lights as part of the display.^[36] In 2017, Figma released a limited edition poseable action figure of Beat, equipped with in-game items. In 2024, Insert Coin Clothing released two separate collectible enamel pins depicting Beat and Gum from the original game, alongside several other pieces of Sega merchandise.

The pair of characters are often featured as part of fan-made and unofficial Jet Set Radio video games, more often than the other cast of characters. Beat and Gum have also made notable appearances on the covers of several video game magazines, specifically for Official Xbox Magazine, Nintendo Power, Official Dreamcast Magazine, GamePro, and Electronic Gaming Monthly.^[37][38]