Theory: Ohkay City is actually Oklahoma City[]
A prominent fan theory links Ohkay City from Dog Man to Oklahoma City, based almost entirely on the similarity of their names. The theory suggests that author Dav Pilkey or the creators of the Dog Man movie used a simple pun to name the fictional city.
The evidence: A name and a nickname[]
The core of the theory rests on this simple wordplay:
- The name: Ohkay City.
- The abbreviation: Ohkay is a phonetic spelling of "OK."
- The connection: The common abbreviation for Oklahoma is also "OK."
The logic of the pun[]
- Pilkey's humor: Fans note that author Dav Pilkey frequently uses silly names and puns throughout his works, from the elementary school humor of Captain Underpants to the more layered jokes in the Dog Man series. A city named for a pun fits perfectly within his established style of humor.
- A "just okay" city: In the movie adaptation, a building was initially named "Ohkay Apartments," implying they were "just okay, not bad but not great". The joke about the city itself being "just okay" or average is a common trope in comedy, and using Oklahoma's abbreviation to create this pun would be a classic Pilkey move.
- Subtle inspiration: Even if the connection is a lighthearted joke, it could have provided a starting point for other elements of the city's design. The "average American city" feeling of Ohkay City, with its downtown, industrial areas, and police headquarters, could be loosely inspired by real-life Oklahoma City, even if not explicitly acknowledged.