Dundee got an unexpected nod from Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley during a recent episode of his Scott Pilgrim Twitch drawings series.
During the livestream, O’Malley was talking about the Grand Theft Auto series when a viewer asked him a question about the upcoming sixth game which is expected to release next year.
While chatting with viewers mid-sketch, O’Malley responded to a comment by saying:
“You’re watching from Dundee? That’s cool.”
He paused for a moment, then asked, “What was the company called that made the game? Because they also made Lemming’s?” before being told
DMA Design, founded in Dundee in the late 1980s, went on to create the iconic Lemmings and launch the original Grand Theft Auto before evolving into Rockstar North – the studio now behind one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world.
Dundee’s connections with Scott Pilgrim
Scott Pilgrim is a graphic novel series written and illustrated by O’Malley between 2004 and 2010. The story follows slacker and bassist Scott Pilgrim as he tries to win the heart of Ramona Flowers by battling her seven evil exes. The series was later adapted into the 2010 cult film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, directed by Edgar Wright.
The film includes a recurring homage to the Dundee-built ZX Spectrum – a detail Wright, a self-professed fan of the system, acknowledged in interviews promoting the movie.
One of the more niche references comes in the form of character Julie Powers, who is humorously censored throughout the film using authentic ZX Spectrum sound effects – a playful nod to the 8-bit era and the machine’s influence on gaming and pop culture.
The Scott Pilgrim Twitch Drawings is a live series where O’Malley sketches characters from the Scott Pilgrim universe while interacting with fans in real time.
The streams offer a rare glimpse into his creative process and have become a space for playful moments, behind-the-scenes insights, and direct engagement with fans of O’Malley’s work.
