Vault Boy

Vault Boy is the corporate mascot of the Vault-Tec Corporation, appearing in their adverts, manuals, products, holotape games and training films. His female counterpart is Vault Girl. 
They appear in virtually every released game, and evolved over the years into a symbol of the Fallout franchise in general.
Vault Boy is a registered trademark of the Vault-Tec Corporation under the name of Vault-Man,Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 58: "Above the character card (with the trademarked Vault-Man) are your character skills. If you have any spare skill points (any number above 000), then you can spend them on this screen to improve your skills (see Experience, page 5—21 for more information)." and is used widely throughout game guides and manuals.
==Background==
In the Fallout TV series, it is revealed actor and spokesman Cooper Howard was the original inspiration for the character and his iconic "thumbs-up" gesture, and that Vault Boy was created to replace Howard in Vault-Tec advertising after he, or Vault-Tec itself, severed ties.Vanity Fair article
It is hinted that Vault Boy is bisexual or pansexual, making him one of the few known LGBT fictional characters in the Fallout series. Vault Boy is sometimes seen being portrayed in a romantic manner with Vault Girl. "Meet Me in Coswald!" goes further to reveal that Vault Boy entered a gay relationship with Bottle; the two of them engaged in a physical relationship. It is shown Vault Boy has a photograph of him and Bottle at his work desk.
Vault Boy often appears in cross-promotions with other corporate products, most recognizably within the GUI of the Pip-Boy series of wearable computers, which has often caused confusion with Vault Boy and the other similar mascot character Pip-Boy who can also represent RobCo Industries. Other products include various holotape games, and Vault Boy was also to appear in some issues of the Hell's Chain Gang comic of Hubris Comics, but because of the Great War, the series was never produced.Hubris Comics terminal entries; Hubris Comics receptionist terminal, Press Release
In 2077, he was supposedly voted the world's sexiest man.Fallout - A Special LIVE Report from Galaxy News news ticker: "Vault Boy named world's sexiest man""
==Game use==
In the Fallout games, Vault Boy is used to provide an iconic representation of almost all stats (perks, traits, skills, etc.) and items in later games available to the player character, being a generic representation of one's actions and survival, and also appearing in achievements and trophies for Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, as well as the mascot of the Fallout series itself. In appearance, he is a young male cartoon character with wavy blond hair, wearing a Vault jumpsuit. He most commonly expresses a wide grin but has been shown to make other facial expressions as well.
The design of the dwellers and the general art style of Fallout Shelter and Fallout Shelter Online is derived from both Vault Boy and Vault Girl.
===Relationship with the Pip-Boy===
Vault Boy should not be confused with Pip-Boy, which is the name of the personal information processor used as a game interface in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, Fallout 76 and Fallout Tactics.
Made by RobCo, the Pip-Boy device has its own mascot shown on the plate of the Pip-Boy 2000 series in Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout 76 (with pointy ears, red and yellow jumpsuit, red hair). In Fallout 76, the character was given the name Vault Boy 2000. The Pip-Boy 3000 model, created under a Vault-Tec/RobCo joint-venture, does not feature RobCo's own mascot.
While the name of the Vault-Tec mascot (round ears, blond hair, blue, and yellow Vault jumpsuit) is not present in the original games themselves, he was called Vault Man in the Fallout instruction manual. However, for some reason this name was forgotten - it was never used in any of the following Fallout content including games nor by any developers, only Vault Boy was used and became his real name.
According to Fallout developers Leonard BoyarskyInterview with Leonard Boyarsky: I also came up with the idea/design for the “Vault Boy” and the “cards” (as I called them) showing him doing all the different things in humorous ways. By the way, he’s not the Pip Boy, the Pip Boy is the little guy on your Pip Boy interface. The Vault Boy was supposed to evoke the feel of Monopoly cards, and the Pip Boy was based on the Bob’s Big Boy mascot. (creator of the character) and Tim Cain,Tim Cain in the Duck and Cover forum: p.s. Many people seem to think this is the PipBoy, but this is the FalloutBoy character. The PipBoy is the yellow and red caped character who appears on the pipboy device. he was always referred to as Vault Boy or Fallout Boy, not Pip-Boy. The misconception stems from the fact that the developers of Fallout Tactics (Micro Forté) confused the two and called the Vault Boy - "Pip-Boy" (which even ended up being used also by Chris Avellone when he wrote the Fallout Bible).
The makers of Fallout 3 returned to the real name "Vault Boy" in the game itself, although confusingly enough he is still called "Pip-Boy" in the trademark legal documents.
==Appearances==
The Vault Boy appears as a representation of almost all stats in all games and equipment in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. It also represented in Vault-Tec bobbleheads appearing in Fallout 3, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, and snow globes containing a Vault Boy appearing in Fallout: New Vegas.
He also appears in a Vault-Tec commercial on TV in the Fallout intro, in the "Leaving The Vault" Vault-Tec's video in Fallout 2, the What makes you S.P.E.C.I.A.L. public information video series in Fallout 4, and the You Will Emerge! educational film series in Fallout 76. He also appears as an actual person in a special encounter in Fallout Tactics, and in Shop-Tec interface in brown hair version in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.
Vault Boy is, on some images or videos, accompanied by another Vault Boy who looks exactly the same but with black or brown hair, or with alternative Vault boyish things like creatures or items. On others, he is accompanied by Vault Girl. A black version of Vault Boy appears briefly in the "Leaving The Vault" video in Fallout 2, with his hair fashioned in a crew cut.
==Behind the scenes==
* The character was originally designed by Leonard Boyarsky, based partly on Rich Uncle Pennybags from the Monopoly board game,Tim Cain interview on the Duck and Cover and then drawn for Fallout by George Almond for the first few cards and then by Tramell Ray Isaac, who finalized the look of the character as he is known today. 
** Brian Menze was responsible for all new Vault Boy images in Fallout 2 and Fallout: New Vegas and largely followed Tramell Ray Isaac's finalized style. 
** Natalia Smirnova drew all Vault Boy images in Fallout 3, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76, and further animated in 4 and 76. Smirnova's Vault Boys are easily recognizable with a short and stout stature and beadier eyes.
** Fallout Tactics Vault Boys were drawn by Ed Orman.Fallout Tactics interview
* While also being based off Rich Uncle Pennybags, Vault Boy perk cards as he is depicted on in Fallout and Fallout 2, takes inspiration from the community chest and chance card decks of Monopoly, as well.
* Leonard Boyarsky said about the first Vault Boy concept art that "this is the first ever drawing of the "skill guy" as I originally called him. I did it to show everyone what I was going on about. It was then given to George Almond, who did the first few initial cards (and began the progression from what you see in this pic to the final version). Tramell Isaac (T.Ray) then took over the cards and did the rest of them, finalizing his "look.""
* He also appeared in the 2002 action-adventure third-person shooter video game Run Like Hell: Hunt or Be Hunted (a game that was also made by Interplay), on candy bars called "PIP Boy Protein Bars™," with the Vault Boy Buffout addiction image on them.
* A Vault Boy bobblehead appears in id Software's RAGE, whose story is set in a post-apocalyptic world similar to Fallout.
* In Doom (2016), Vault Boy appears in the game as a part of the UAC's line of Marineguy toys, known, fittingly, as "Vault Guy."
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* In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018), Vault Boy appears as a DLC Mii costume for the Mii Gunner, wearing a Vault 111 jumpsuit and wielding the blaster seen on the energy weapons bobblehead.
* A Vault Boy puppet appears in One Man, and a Crate of Puppets.
* A common internet rumor is that the Vault Boy's thumbs up is meant to be a method of determining whether an individual is a safe distance away from a nuclear blast or not. In 2013/2014, according to both Brian Fargo and Tramell Ray Isaac, this is not true, and the gesture is simply a sign of Vault Boy's "positive attitude" in presenting that "everything is ok, when it really isn't."Brian Fargo on TwitterTramell Ray Isaac on Twitter
**This was referenced episode "The End" with Cooper Howard mentioning it to his daughter Janey Howard, which she later uses to inform him in a panic of the bombs dropping on Los Angeles.
==Gallery==
===Artwork===
Small Guns.png|Most Vault Boy icons for skills were illustrated by George Almond
CarryWeight.png|Carry Weight Vault Boy from Fallout and Fallout 2, illustrated by Tramell Ray Isaac
FriendlyFoe.png|Classic Vault Boy and black haired Vault Boy, for the Friendly Foe perk in Fallout
Strength.png|Muscular Vault Boy to show Strength for Fallout
Vault Boy.png|Walking Vault Boy from the Fallout Bible, also by Menze
Vaultboywink.jpg|Vault Boy on the Fallout Tactics game box
Married.svg|Classic Vault Boy and Fat Vault Boy, for the Married in Fallout 2
SecretVaultPublicNotice.png|Corporate Vault poster in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
SecretVaultPublicNotice2.png|Corporate Vault poster in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
SecretVaultPublicNotice3.png|Corporate Vault poster in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
SecretVaultPublicNotice4.png|Corporate Vault poster in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
Fallout3e transparent.png|A standard Vault Boy from Fallout 3, illustrated by Natalia Smirnova
VaultBoyFO3.png|Promotional Vault Boy of Fallout 3
VaultBoy.png|A standard Vault Boy from Fallout: New Vegas, illustrated by Brian Menze
Vault boy new vegas.png|The mobster Vault Boy as depicted in Fallout: New Vegas
Art-vault boy gambler.jpg|A gambling Vault Boy from Fallout: New Vegas promotional material
VaultBoy Superhero.jpeg|The Rad Child perk icon for New Vegas
GI Blues.png|Vault Boy in G.I. Blues for New Vegas
Vault Boy FO4.jpg|Vault Boy, in a business suit, for Fallout 4
VaultTecVanLogo01 d.png|Vault-Tec van logo texture file for Fallout 4
FO76 itv banner bombsdrop2021.png|ITV Banner Bombs Drop 2021 for Fallout 76
77 Vault Boy puppet.png|One Man, and a Crate of Puppets
Vault Boy OMG.jpg|A frightened Vault Boy (source?)
Pip Boy Biohazard.jpg|A Vault Boy in biohazard gear (source?)
Pip Boy Bullseye.jpg|A ravaged Vault Boy (source?)
Pip Boy Presents.jpg|The Vault Boy Presents... (source?)
Pip Boy Alright.jpg|A confident Vault Boy (source?)
===Screenshots===
VaultBoyFO1LoadingScreen.png|Vault Boy in a Fallout loading screen, the first colored Vault Boy
VaultBoyFO2LoadingScreen.png|Vault Boy portrayed as a Made Man in a Fallout 2 loading screen
BlackVaultBoy.png|A Vault Boy in the "Leaving The Vault" video of Vault-Tec made for Fallout 3
FO3VaultTrailer.png|The Vault Boy in a promotional video of Vault-Tec made for Fallout 3
Vault Boy Watch.png|A watch during the Tranquility Lane simulation in Fallout 3
Fallout4 E3 Workshop.png|The pixel art Vault Boy that appeared in one of the Fallout 4 E3 trailers to demonstrate the possibilities of the workshop mode
Fo4VW-Vault-boy-statue.png|Vault-Boy statue in Fallout 4 and 76
Score s6 utility slotmachine wv l.webp|A bearded Vault Boy as the West Virginia slot machine in Fallout 76
FO76 V76 poster 3.png|Poster in Fallout 76
FO76 V76 poster 2.png|Poster in Fallout 76
FO76 SPECIAL job.png|Poster in Fallout 76
VaultBoyPumpkin.png|A pumpkin carved in the shape of the Vault Boy in Fallout 76
FO76 Golf club 1.png|On a Fallout 76 golf club
Run Like Hell pipboy protein bars.png|Vault Boy in PIP Boy Protein Bars in Run Like Hell
===Real world merchandise and objects===
Fallout tactics promotional posters.jpeg|Fallout Tactics promotional posters featuring Vault Boy
Etc-fo-bobblehead-front.jpg|Vault Boy bobblehead version 3 for Fallout 3
Fo3 skill bobbleheads.jpg|Vault Boy skill bobbleheads for Fallout 3
QuakeConVaultBoy.jpg|Life-size Vault Boy statue displayed by Bethesda at QuakeCon 2015 for Fallout 4
VaultBoyPlush.jpg|Vault Boy plush on the Bethesda Store
Fallout Figure Vault Boy POP Vinyl 0004.png|Vault-Boy POP!
==External links==
* "On Vault Boy and Pip Boy" article by alec
* Vault Boy on Wikipedia
==References==
Non-game
Category:Pre-War fictional characters
Category:Hubris Comics characters
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