We have arrived at Poptropica’s birthday month, and what better way to celebrate than to honor an island that not only inspired many fans (like myself) but also celebrates many past islands and characters?
That’s right, everyone! We have finally come to the island I absolutely had to feature in a Flash-back…
Perchance to Dream: Settle in for a nice, long nap.
This is quite possibly the island with the most fanart, fanfiction, and theories sparking from it. While the ending left many questions (still) unanswered, it continued the arcs of several past characters and brought them all together in a surprising way!
Combo Breaker: It’s robot madness!
Though not much has been publicly written on the development for the ideas and storyline of this island, there is quite a bit of interesting concept art to look through. The first pic above shows a an early idea for the Dream Machine room, where there were originally five (not four) guinea pigs for Jupiter’s experiment.
Next, the above robot-fusion of several characters further proves that El Mustachio Grande was originally meant to be one of them. I wonder what caused that to change? 🤔
Kingdom Come: There is a castle in the clouds.
Prison entrance
This island also has some incredible background art, from the impressive design of the prison interior with the (foreshadowing) lightning motif, to Black Widow’s dream exploring different famous paintings and, of course, Binary Bard’s much-loved dreamscape. I remember restarting this island many times just so I could experience that scene again!
The scenery isn’t the only thing that made this island famous, though — it was also the new lore behind the characters. I redid this island and certain parts so many times, scouring for crumbs of new information. A particularly chilling moment was noticing the torn face of Mordred’s painting in his dream lair… sheesh.
This is probably the most graphic detail we’d ever get of that scene in a game aimed at kids.
Unfortunately, Super Villain will probably be of the later ones to return if we ever see the classic islands again, considering only two out of five of the islands leading up to it have been released on Haxe. That’s why I chose to cover Counterfeit, Astro-Knights, and Skullduggery leading up to this! Yes, I have revealed my evil ploy! This whole series was just for me to have another excuse to talk about Super Villain Island!
So let’s continue the legacy of our villainous friends (unless you count The Villain Saga…ahem, self promotion)! Super Villain and other classic islands were rendered unplayable in the Flash-Haxe transition, but it should not go to waste. Let the Poptropica Creators know what you appreciate about the island to encourage them to preserve it!
Hey Poptropicans, this is a guest post by Invisible Ring. Enjoy!
Hey there, Poptropicans! It’s been a while, but I think I am ready to showcase my dream island!
Maybe a few of you already know a thing or two about my dream island from my backwater YouTube channel, or from the Poppies 2021 nominations. My original submission to Poptropica’s 2020 Dream Island Contest is found in this little video right here:
…It was the rush job of a lifetime. All those pages on the video were burned through in the last three weeks of the contest… during finals at the end of the school semester… while trying to make daily holiday advent videos at the SAME TIME!! …Although I was proud of what I made at the time, I almost lost my mind doing it!
The contest came and went, and although this island didn’t win, I’m glad it didn’t, because it gave me the chance to finish what I started. From the beginning of January 2021 all the way to the end of May, I fine-tuned my quest and completed my dream island once and for all. The last thing I did was compile my whole island story into new YouTube videos.
I’m much happier with these videos than I was with that old submission video. (I can’t even look at what’s in the old submission video anymore!) Anyway, enjoy Megatropolis Island told through comic panels in this trailer, five chapters, and even a bonus:
So, my dream island is complete at last, and I think it’s gonna blow your mind. But if you don’t have time to view it now, feel free to subscribe to my channel and check out my dream island comic videos (and any of my other videos) anytime you like!
Please let me know what you think of my dream island, either in this PHB comment section or in the comment sections of my videos! Thank you, and Pop to you later!
The Poptropica Help Blog welcomes interesting Poptropica insights from anyone in the Poptropica community with thoughts to share. Interested in writing for the PHB? We’d love to hear from you! 📰✨
Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the August recap for Community Creations! August’s theme was Flight, so be sure to check out all the featured artists (not in any order)!
Wow, this work is stunning, right? The dramatic lighting, dynamic clouds, and wide camera angle make for an intriguing composition to say the least. But beyond that, just look at that cool blimp design! I love seeing a twist on the classic yellow blimp, familiar to any and all players. The alterations seen here make the ride much more interesting and personalized, especially with that clever Maroon Ring logo. Find her Instagram here and check out the blimp design up close.
Adventure Awaits by PegaKid
Adventure awaits!!! This work is filled with tons of joy and excitement, making me want to set off on my own adventure right away. The close up shot of this blimp makes the viewer wonder what lies beyond it and what the characters spot ahead. Plus, who wouldn’t want to travel with such an adorable cat by their side? Find her DeviantArt here.
Full-Power Betty Jetty by AdventurersNHunters
I’m loving this twist on Betty Jetty! Stepping away from her typical pink color scheme, it’s clear that this fully-powered version of her shouldn’t be underestimated. Betty Jetty is an iconic choice for our flight theme, and the green glowing effect really emphasizes her abilities. The skyline is a great addition to the composition and her billowing scarf adds a lot of movement to the scene. Find her DeviantArt here.
Poptober: Blimp by Gentle Dolphin
Uh, you doing ok there, guys? Originally made for the Poptober “Blimp” prompt, this work is excellent. Not only is it made with crisp colors and smooth line art, but it also tells a compelling story. The emotion expressed by the characters is hilarious and honestly pretty relatable for those with a fear of heights. Who really needs a compass to fly anyway… right? I love seeing Amelia in the spotlight, as well as the individually recognizable islands in the background. Find her DeviantArt here.
A New City by Dangerous Dragon
The prince was tired of living in the palace. He wanted to have a normal life. Do hard work. So in the yard of the palace there was a great hot air balloon, left by his great great grandfather. He was the first one to discover and rule Poptropica. Seeing an opportunity to leave as his father/king wasn’t home, he set out on the old hot air balloon.
Well, prince, you shouldn’t have done that. As he left around 4 in the evening, there were great winds. A storm approached. As it was an old balloon, it flew far, far away from the kingdom. He fainted.
He woke up later when the sun was setting. He looked below—It was nothing like his kingdom. It was a city, but he didn’t know what a city was. Still, he decided to land. He remembered the day he reached the city. He painted this artwork:
When the prince had landed that day, he had asked some people where the land of Poptropica was. They said that the kingdom was here before, but now it was a city. Now he works as a normal person in the city, keeping his secrets close to his heart. To this day, having learned about technology, he is still are astonished because if he was from the olden times, then how did he reach the future? Time travel?
THE END?
Oooh, quite the intriguing story, huh? Plus, the artwork really adds depth to the narrative. I’m already hooked and curious to see where this prince ends up. Though he obviously spends his time flying in a blimp during this short, I have a feeling the real meat of this tale lies in that new city. Who knows? Maybe he just got mixed up on Time Tangled Island? The theme of “flight” is just filled with so much potential for adventure, so I’d love to see this adventure continue! Find Dangerous Dragons often in the comments section.
Honorable Mentions
Off to New Adventures (Poptober Day 7: Blimp) by Lucky Joker
The Perilous Plunge (Poptober Day 3: Game) by Lucky Joker
Survival Island Opening by BrittScarlet
Poptropica Air by 1234rose18
Wow guys, you really reached new heights this month! I’d say that all these submissions were pretty fly. But before I take off, let’s learn a little about next month’s theme…
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…
Punk!
Any punk fans in the audience today? Cinderella’s transformation on Fairy Tale Island got me thinking that this would be a super fun theme for Community Creations. Fans are no strangers to punk edits of their favorite characters, afterall, and Cinder has quickly become a favorite.
If you’re a bit unfamiliar with what punk means, don’t worry, you’ll pick it up quite quickly! I’m talking black eye liner and black nail polish, I’m talking mohawks, choker necklaces, plaid pants, and rock music. Anything a bit edgy and alternative works, as long as it stays appropriate. Just take some inspiration from Cinder!
Maybe make some Cinder fan art, or redesign a Poptropica villain with a more punk aesthetic. Create your own in-game punk outfit, or even write a story about Cinder’s first poppin punk concert.
Submit: Comment below with a link to whatever you’ve created, email it to the PHB team on our Contact page, OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArt, Twitter, or Discord.
Results: Next month, I will feature 5 submissions that stood out to me the most as well as some honorable mentions.
Limitations: Just make sure you relate to both the theme and Poptropica (and nothing NSFW or otherwise inappropriate).
Due Date: I will take any entries before the end of this month. Submit as many things as you’d like!
I will be sure to let you know I have seen your creation. 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!
DIRECTOR D. and MADEMOISELLE MOREAU are in their office, waiting during another break between patients.
MOREAU
So, what’s taking so long? We have them, let’s go.
DIRECTOR D.
They’ve been tightening security even more than usual, and it doesn’t help that any of the helicopters have to be permitted by the computers in that “off-limits” upper floor.
MOREAU
Ah yes, Jupiter’s lab. Hasn’t Black Widow entered many highly-guarded museums before? She ought to be able to do something.
DIRECTOR D.
I asked her, and…
CUT TO BLACK WIDOW laughing for a solid few seconds, before answering dead-faced.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have cancelled many events, but better late than never on the recent 2020 Tokyo Olympics! Its return makes this next Island Flash-back quite appropriate for the sportful season…
Poptropolis Games!!
An official poster made for the island’s re-release
From a fandom standpoint, this island doesn’t seem to be as well-known or well-loved on the surface. There’s little fanart of characters or scenes compared to others such as Counterfeit or Monster Carnival. But look a little deeper and you will see how much this island has incorporated itself into fandom culture and events!
Concept sketches for the island’s scenery
Power Lifting, Poptropolis Games
Even after disappearing from the official game, fans continue to identify themselves by the Poptropolis Tribes. A year ago, the PHB hosted the 2020 Tribal Tournament, in which community members could win points for their respective tribes!
Concept art
Octopus Volleyball, Poptropolis Games
Another noteworthy thing is the music: the Poptropolis theme is easily one of my favorites from the game. Hear it below, and more on the PHB’s Behind the Scenes page! (You can also hear it on composer Jeff Heim’s “Poptropica Demo Reel 1” starting at about 43 seconds.)
A bit of trivia for those who were not playing during or before 2012: This island was originally released as a “classic” island with no sound, and came out in June of that year, timed near the London Olympics. To many a player’s surprise, the island “sank” and was removed in early 2013, but eventually was “risen” after an event that encouraged players to help “dig up the games.”
“PHB Poptropolis Games Banner” by Gentle Dolphin on DeviantArt
So let’s dig up the games again! Poptropolis Games and other classic islands were rendered unplayable in the Flash-Haxe transition, but it should not go to waste! Let the Creators know what you appreciate about the island to encourage them to preserve it!
🏝 Poptropica Help Blog 🗺 