Author: Spotted Dragon

Community Creations

Community Creations: November 2019

Spotted Dragon
community-creations-logo

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the November recap for Community Creations! November’s theme was Steampunk and the featured work is not in any particular order. Be sure to check out all the featured artists!

No clue what’s going on? Go see our intro post.

Top 5 Picks

Crumb as Allegory of Prosperity by Criaha

Wow, beautiful coloring! I love to see minor Poptropicans put into the spotlight, and this piece does just that. From the texture of the hair, to the attention to detail in Mayor Crumb’s outfit, the technical skill on display here is wonderful. Even the background shows great interest, building an entire world in just one frame. I’m in love with the color scheme and composition! Find her DeviantArt here.

Deadzone by ray-of-flight

Oooh, what a fun design! Though this is simply part of a larger work in progress, I love the sketchy style of the background scene so far. Just this glimpse makes me excited for the project’s future! I think we can all agree that Steamworks Island has some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Poptropica (which was certainly needed to make up for the minimal characters!), making it a perfect inspiration for setting design. Keep up the good work! Find his DeviantArt here.

Poptropica Gijinka Cast 1 by CutieWinterSnow

What cute character designs! This ragtag lineup is a part of an up and coming Ask Blog — a super cool trend within the Poptropica Community. The ask features some underrated Poptropicans, complete with new humanoid looks, including Holmes, Booga, Sprocket, Merlin, and Monster Plant. So of course Sprocket and the Monster Plant fit our theme! I love the personalities shown in each humanoid design, and I can’t wait to see what interesting Q and A’s pop up! Find her DeviantArt here.

Jackrabbit Humanoid Version by WitchyArtistGal

Oooh! I love this Steampunk inspired original character design, particularly because of its unique animal features. The aesthetic of plants interacting with machinery has always fascinated me, and so I love the inclusion of gears and vines within the figure. Plus, look at that dapper outfit! There’s lots of interesting personality behind this design and the color choices are very appropriate. Great work! Find her DeviantArt here.

Steamworks by jadedillustrator

Ah, an oldie but a goodie! It is obvious that a lot of time and effort went into making this piece… and with great results! The painted, stylized look is super interesting, pairing well with the cool lighting of the scene. The tone really reflects the more ominous, eerie feeling that accompanies a majority of the Steamworks Island gameplay, huh? Finding bits and pieces of evidence alluding to what happened on the Island was always fascinating, and this drawing captures exactly that. Excellent technical skill and scene development! Find their DeviantArt here.

Honorable Mentions

  • Ghosts of Steam Works by Quick Fang
  • Just Like Plantwork by themightywolftiger

Super cool submissions, all around! It’s always extremely interesting to see what direction every artist goes in with our themes. Keep it up!

December: How Do I Participate?

Community Creations is a cool series for anyone in the Poptropica community to join in on. To sum up what it’s about, it’s basically a chance to show off your artwork, creepy fan-fics, Pop clubhouses, costumes, and anything else that pops into your mind.

If we really like the piece you submit, we will feature it here on the PHB! As long as it relates to that month’s theme. So what is December’s theme? December’s theme is…

Opposites!

With the holiday season fast approaching, it is important to remember the value of coming together, no matter our differences. So why not play around with that idea in this month’s theme? In whatever you submit, I want to see some contrasting ideas either clashing or coming together in an interesting blend. Anything you can think of really! Hot and cold, yin and yang, hero and villain! How would they all interact?

Maybe draw a sweet scene for the holiday season, with a blizzard going on outside but a cozy fireplace keeping your Poptropicans warm. Not really a holiday person? Write a story about your heroic Poptropican going head to head with one of Poptropica’s most dastardly villains! With this broad theme, this possibilities are endless for your creations, so apply it how you will! I hope inspiration will spark this month!

  • Comment below with a link to whatever you’ve created OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArt, Twitter, or Discord.
  • Results: I will feature 5 of the submissions as well as 3 honorable mentions.
  • Limitations: Nothing NSFW, and make sure you relate to the theme.
  • Due Date: I will take any entries before the end of this month. Submit as many things as you’d like!

I will always be sure to let you know I have seen your creation. Bonus points if you make a compelling description for your piece! While quality counts, I’m mainly looking for something to simply catch my eye, so don’t be afraid to join in!

So what are you waiting for? Go make something awesome!

~SD

Community Creations

Community Creations: October 2019

Spotted Dragon
community-creations-logo

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the October recap for Community Creations! October’s theme was Inktober and the featured work is not in any particular order. Be sure to check out all the featured artists!

No clue what’s going on? Go see our intro post.

Top 5 Picks

Freeze by MasterPinpey

Cute drawing for the prompt! Poptropica items and side characters and such don’t often receive the spotlight that they deserve, so I think that focusing in on this freezing power was a great idea. I love the perspective of having one character in the foreground and the other in the background, despite the fairly simple scene. Plus, the addition of the foreground character’s shivers, shocked eyes, and newly formed icicles are an excellent touch. Fantastic sketch! Find her DeviantArt here.

Injured by Meganf123456

Ooh, a dark scene! I like that this submission really contrasts our first one, showing the diverse drawings that can grow out of Inktober. This scene is dark and dramatic, perfectly fitting the “injured” prompt. Movement and emotion are particularly shown well! The glimpse we are given into the story makes me certainly want to know more about what is going on, which is always a treat (or trick?) for the viewer. Well done! Find her DeviantArt here.

Pumpkin Field by iLee-Font

Aw, cute! Though this piece doesn’t strictly follow the “official Inktober prompt list,” I think this doodle is perfectly appropriate nonetheless. The pumpkin patch setting matches the aesthetic of the spooky season very well, and is made interesting with the limited use of color. I’ve fallen in love with this artist’s sketchy style! Though messy, the posing, composition, emotion, and details of their drawings are excellent to say the least. Find their DeviantArt here.

Ring by happyclonetrooper

Ooh! Perhaps not a spooky submission, but fitting for Inktober nonetheless. I love how perfectly “Maroon Ring” matches the “ring” prompt. What are the odds? I think the artist’s style of Poptropicans is super neat, and I’m glad to see them branch out their use of mediums by utilizing colored pencil in this particular drawing. Even adding something as simple as a, well, ring, behind the figure adds great interest to the simple design. Great work! Find her DeviantArt here.

Happy Halloween! by MissEligon

Ahh, this is such a fun design! Certainly a stretch from our Inktober theme, but totally fitting for Halloween, so why not? The color scheme is super spooky, and the detail put into each character is superb. Every Poptropican has such a unique outfit, matching a unique expression and pose. Despite the undead vibes, each figure is so lively! The craftsmanship and composition is breathtaking. Stunning work! Find her DeviantArt here.

Honorable Mentions

  • Hanahaki Disease (Goretober 2019) by CrazyPaintbrush
  • Poptropica Halloween by izthewizard

Very spooooOOOOooOoky submissions this month guys! They really sent shiver down my spine! I hope you all had a fantastic Halloween, because I’m already excited for next year! 🙂

November: How Do I Participate?

Community Creations is a cool series for anyone in the Poptropica community to join in on. To sum up what it’s about, it’s basically a chance to show off your artwork, creepy fan-fics, Pop clubhouses, costumes, and anything else that pops into your mind.

If we really like the piece you submit, we will feature it here on the PHB! As long as it relates to that month’s theme. So what is November’s theme? November’s theme is…

Steampunk!

Now when I say steampunk, I don’t just mean the island. I mean the whole aesthetic! Most of us are in the midst of fall, and I think that this rustic, “machines intertwined with nature” theme can match some of those spooky, serene autumn vibes. That being said, basing your creations off of Steamworks Island itself is perfect!

The options are up to your imagination! Maybe put together a costume fit for a steampunk scientist? Or perhaps draw your favorite steampunk plant monsters! Even write a story focusing on the adventures of Sprocket. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

  • Comment below with a link to whatever you’ve created OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArt, Twitter, or Discord.
  • Results: I will feature 5 of the submissions as well as 3 honorable mentions.
  • Limitations: Nothing NSFW, and make sure you relate to the theme.
  • Due Date: I will take any entries before the end of this month. Submit as many things as you’d like!

I will always be sure to let you know I have seen your creation. Bonus points if you make a compelling description for your piece! While quality counts, I’m mainly looking for something to simply catch my eye, so don’t be afraid to join in!

So what are you waiting for? Go make something awesome!

~SD

Community Creations

Community Creations: September 2019

Spotted Dragon
community-creations-logo

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the September recap for Community Creations! September’s theme was seasons & weather and the featured work is not in any particular order. Be sure to check out all the featured artists!

No clue what’s going on? Go see our intro post.

Top 5 Picks

Season Fashion by xXLilAngel2004Xx

Ooh, covering all of our bases right away! Each outfit shows great personality, including all four seasons. The character designs show fantastic effort and attention to detail! Even the backgrounds match the seasons very well. The unique expressions, clothes, and posses show slight movement and hint at a much more in depth backstory behind each girl. Wonderful submission! Find her DeviantArt here.

Fall Forest by happyclonetrooper

Wow, beautiful! This artist never ceases to amaze with her warm lighting and color schemes. The landscape is simple but stunning, with a very welcoming ambient light. Both the setting and outfits of the characters are particularly appropriate for fall, fitting our theme perfectly. A world is really built around the focal characters of the piece, like a snapshot taken during a walk through the woods. Stunning! Find her DeviantArt here.

Seasons of Poptropica by Magniventris

Haha, amazing take on this month’s theme! The different scenes show a strong grasp on the topic, with a fantastic creative approach. There are more than four seasons when you stop to think about it! I mean, just look at Netflix! Ha, anyway, this piece truly feels straight out of a graphic novel. The humor is wonderful and the composition/perspective within each panel is well crafted. Plus, just look at that amazing color and line-art! Excellent! Find her DeviantArt here.

It’s Cold Outside by NineTenOnetyOne

Aw, cute! Focusing on winter, this piece perfectly encompasses the coziness of cooler temperatures. The outfit designs are very appropriate, and the minimal features still tell a big story about the dynamic between the characters. Wonderful personality is communicated through a small, cute scene. Great submission! Find her DeviantArt here.

Gentle and Amy – Spring 2019 by Gentle Dolphin

Wow, we almost hit all the seasons, huh? The vibrancy of spring is clearly shown in this piece through the warm, bold colors. Even the pose of the character displays a bouncy movement! The relationship of Gentle and her cat is super cute, conveying strong positive vibes when paired with the flowery background and bright color scheme. This piece is a perfect example of how a very simple background can make a piece look that much more finished and aesthetically pleasing! Fantastic, I love it. Find her DeviantArt here.

Honorable Mentions

That’s all of the features this month folks! Be sure to keep sending in submissions throughout the entire month! I’m excited to see what you guys come up with next. 🙂

October: How Do I Participate?

Community Creations is a cool series for anyone in the Poptropica community to join in on. To sum up what it’s about, it’s basically a chance to show off your artwork, creepy fan-fics, Pop clubhouses, costumes, and anything else that pops into your mind.

If we really like the piece you submit, we will feature it here on the PHB! As long as it relates to that month’s theme. So what is October’s theme? October’s theme is…

Inktober!

Inktober is a huge trend throughout the art community, but certainly a big pressure to get done everyday. Don’t know what it’s all about? To put it simply, Inktober is a challenge to draw something every day in the month of October, with each day built off of a different prompt. Some people go all out, while others keep it more casual. But because of the broad prompts, we can apply Inktober to all kinds of creations! Now, I’m not asking you guys to submit 31 pieces, nor do they have to be ink drawings. No! But anything Poptropica related that you’ve created based on Inktober prompts, or Halloween themes, is completely acceptable!

Below, you’ll find a huge list of the official 2019 Inktober prompts, but please feel free to mix and match and add your own twists when submitting into Community Creations! This month is all about spooky creativity, so stay flexible! For example, drawing some Zomberries would be perfect for “mindless.” Perhaps a scene from Twisted Thicket for the “overgrown” prompt? Or a huge Red Dragon for prompt 12! Go wild! You can even apply these themes to literature, costumes, you name it.

  • Comment below with a link to whatever you’ve created OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArt, Twitter, or Discord.
  • Results: I will feature 5 of the submissions as well as 3 honorable mentions.
  • Limitations: Nothing NSFW, and make sure you relate to the theme.
  • Due Date: I will take any entries before the end of this month. Submit as many things as you’d like!

I will always be sure to let you know I have seen your creation. Bonus points if you make a compelling description for your piece! While quality counts, I’m mainly looking for something to simply catch my eye, so don’t be afraid to join in!

So what are you waiting for? Go make something awesome!

~SD

Community Creations

Community Creations: August 2019

Spotted Dragon
community-creations-logo

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the August recap for Community Creations! August’s theme was movies & TV and the featured work is not in any particular order. Be sure to check out all the featured artists!

No clue what’s going on? Go see our intro post.

Top 5 Picks

Hollywood Diva by Miss Eligon

Oh, Kirk. You either love him or hate him. There is no in between… Anyway, what a simple and great piece! The humor is super fun and the color scheme works really well with the Back Lot background. I love the shine in Kirk’s eyes and the graphic shading style. It’s just so sassy and wonderful. Find her DeviantArt here.

Poptropica Endgame by Magniventris

Wow, stunning! Marvel’s Endgame was an exemplary inspiration for this month. The poster design is iconic and the character swaps are fantastic! I mean, Black Widow is just a perfect fit, right? I love the dramatic lighting, serious posing, and intense expressions. Amazing work! Find her DeviantArt here.

Poptropica Villains Portrayed by Spongebob by Gentle Dolphin

Alright, not only is this video hilarious, but it is also highly creative! Each scene is amazingly accurate, great for Poptropica and Spongebob fans alike. I find the “as portrayed by” trend of videos to be super funny, like c’mon, you had to have chuckled at this one at least once, right? The amount of effort put into collecting these clips is obviously great, and I’m impressed at the amount of villains that were included! A wonderfully unique submission to say the least. Find her DailyMotion here.

Beauty and the Ringmaster by Meganf123456

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llIkgtOjE8Q

Another wonderful video entry! I love seeing the creativity here. Tying in the story of Beauty and the Beast to the tragedy of Ringmaster Raven was an excellent connection. Like our other video feature, the effort put into editing this piece is loud and clear, especially considering the amount of original artwork put into it! Fantastic job. Find her YouTube channel here.

Screenshot Runaway by ANNE14TCO

Oooh, exciting! As if you paused an action movie, this screenshot style of artwork is very creative. It demonstrates a lot of movement displayed in one shot, proper intensity and all. Seriously, the caption, deep lighting, and expression in this piece is appropriately dramatic. Makes me feel like I’m looking at a real movie scene! Stunning. Find her DeviantArt here.

Honorable Mentions

  • Wizard of Oz AU by ray-of-flight
  • Reality TV Island by WitchyArtistGal
  • Doctor Hare Elements Forms by thehypercutter

Wow guys, I was totally blown away by your submissions this month! An absolutely amazing job done by all participants. Keep it up, because I’m excited for next month!

September: How Do I Participate?

Community Creations is a cool series for anyone in the Poptropica community to join in on. To sum up what it’s about, it’s basically a chance to show off your artwork, creepy fan-fics, Pop clubhouses, costumes, and anything else that pops into your mind.

If we really like the piece you submit, we will feature it here on the PHB! As long as it relates to that month’s theme. So what is September’s theme? September’s theme is…

Seasons & Weather!

With summer coming to an end and school starting up again for many of us, I think that focusing on seasons this month would be pretty apropos. While some may already be missing the summer sun, I’m sure some of us are already looking forward to the spooky season of autumn! Every year, the weather just seems to get crazier and crazier, huh? Might as well turn that crazy into creativity!

So, what are the limits on your creations? Well, that may just be up to you! You could design stylish outfits inspired by the four seasons, or maybe submit some action-filled fan-art of Dr. Cumulo Nimbus! Perhaps write some fan-fic about facing the harsh winter on Survival Island, or even draw what it’s like to fly your Potpropica blimp in a storm! Your options for creativity are endless.

  • Comment below with a link to whatever you’ve created OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArt, Twitter, or Discord.
  • Results: I will feature 5 of the submissions as well as 3 honorable mentions.
  • Limitations: Nothing NSFW, and make sure you relate to the theme.
  • Due Date: I will take any entries before the end of this month. Submit as many things as you’d like!

I will always be sure to let you know I have seen your creation. Bonus points if you make a compelling description for your piece! While quality counts, I’m mainly looking for something to simply catch my eye, so don’t be afraid to join in!

So what are you waiting for? Go make something awesome!

~SD

Pop Places IRL, Red Dragon Island

Pop Places IRL: Red Dragon

Spotted Dragon

Welcome back to “Pop Places IRL!” Miss the series? Today I’ll be taking you to Red Dragon Island and comparing it to its counterparts in real life. And if you like the sound of that, be sure to check out other Pop Places IRL posts.

So… where in the real world is Red Dragon based off of? Well, we already know that the island is based on the Magic Tree House books, so where is that based off of? The answer to that question is right in the novel’s description!

“Jack and Annie are headed to a land of fierce samurai and great beauty, the capital city of Edo (now the city of Tokyo), in ancient Japan in the 1600s. They bring only a research book to guide them and a magic wand with three special rules.”

Japan it is, Poptropicans! Wait, wait, wait, hold on… what about Main Street? What about Jack and Annie’s hometown? Well, “Frog Creek, Pennsylvania” is sadly a fictional city, but Pennsylvania’s neighborhoods match up pretty well anyway!

  • photo: Shadyside Pittsburgh (wikipedia.org)

Okay, now we can head over to Old Japan. We have many sites to see here, foremost being the imperial garden that our Poptropicans come across during our adventure. Basho’s Garden, which we visit later in the game, offers a similar setting. At both locations, we see beautiful Japanese trees, flowers, and huts over water. Looking at the IRL version of the scene, things seem pretty accurate!

  • photo: Best of Old and New Japan (kimkim.com)
  • photo: Exteriors of Japanese Houses (pinterest)

Moving on, we come across the Great Bridge before truly entering Edo! The resemblance of the bridge is uncanny to the Shin-kyo Bridge in Nikko Japan, which demonstrates very similar architecture and color.

  • photo: Nature & Nikko (tokyocheapo.com)

Next we have East and West Edo, which then lead to the fortress and the secluded lake. Red Dragon shows us a marketplace, paired with a stunning landscape, bonsai shop, and more. Though times have greatly changed since the days of Ancient Japan, its rich history can still be seen in the distinct architecture and environment.

  • photo: Sawara (japan-guide.com)
  • photo: Old Edo (muza-chan.net)

Even the Fortress in game mimics the classic Japanese architecture used in palaces and castles. Perhaps some stylistic choices were taken in Poptropica to add some more pops of color?

  • photo: Himeji Castle (japantoday.com)
  • photo: Imperial Palace Tokyo (japanvisitor.com)

Before we wrap up our trip through Tokyo, who could forget about the unique apparel and characters that we come across on the island? Geishas, sumo wrestlers, and ninjas alike are memorably encountered.

  • photo: Culture of the Kimono (tsunagujapan.com)
  • photo: Geisha in Kyoto (pinterest)
  • photo: Sumo Legend (asianews.it)
  • photo: Ninja (jpninfo.com)

Pretty cool, right? Many people in the community agree that Red Dragon Island has some of the most beautiful scenes in Poptropica. Makes me want to go visit Japan! 🙂

That wraps up our post, so what do you guys think of the comparison? Does Poptropica accurately capture Japanese culture?

Sayonara, Poptropicans!

~SD