In Taito’s 1986 arcade game Bubble Bobble, the two bubble-blowing dinosaur heroes are named Bub and Bob.
Bubble Bobble follows the adventures of two boys transformed into bubble dragons. Bub and Bob trap enemies inside bubbles, then pop those bubbles to clear each single-screen stage. The game’s central mechanic combines platforming with puzzle-like enemy positioning, since bubbles can also serve as temporary platforms.
The names are often confused with the game’s title or with later characters from Taito’s related Rainbow Islands series. Bub and Bob are the protagonists of Bubble Bobble; they are not the names of the bubbles, enemies, or stages. Their dragon forms are also sometimes mistaken for dinosaurs, although the game presents them as bubble dragons.
Taito designed the game for cooperative play, allowing two people to control the heroes together. Its many endings, hidden rooms, items, and secret conditions gave the apparently simple arcade format considerable depth.