Category: PHB Series

Community Creations

Community Creations: April 2020

Spotted Dragon
community-creations-logo

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the April recap for Community Creations! April’s theme was Staying Home (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

Bunch of Animals by T-ropicaNation

During this period of quarantine, I would be surprised if you haven’t heart of the popularity of Nintendo’s Animal Crossing. I know the game has certainly gotten me through some intense boredom lately. But if you aren’t familiar with the game, this is a fantastic introduction to it! The character designs are all super cute, and so it is wonderful to see some of our favorite Poptropica villains pictured in that style. According to the artist, “Rebel is a snooty deer, Copy is a peppy cat, Betty is a sisterly ostrich, Ratman is a smug rat, Crusher is a bear jock, and Speedy is a lazy hamster.” I absolutely love the colors and personality in this composition. Excellent design! Find their DeviantArt here.

Staying Home by Midnightoilstudios

Another subtle nod to Animal Crossing, I see! With a Nintendo Switch in hand, this character is certainly doing what most of us have been doing lately: sitting in bed playing video games. Nothing wrong with that! I love the little details in the composition, such as the photos on the bulletin board and items on the nightstand. They tie into Poptropica excellently, and really add more atmosphere to the scene. The blanket and Switch even match the colors of Binary Bard! Fantastic ideas. Find her DeviantArt here.

Studying BY AdventurersNHunters

Oooh, another cool bedroom scene. Inspired by Studio Ghibli’s “Whisper of the Heart,” this composition gives me real lofi vibes. It captures what it’s like to be a student during this odd time, as we attend online classes and try to gather motivation to actually study. Yes, Animal Crossing has been distracting me from school work. I love the dramatic lighting and the little details all around the desk. Just look at that Dr. Hare keychain! A fantastic CJ feature. Find her DeviantArt here.

Staying Home by Quick Fang

Aw, what a cute piece! A simple, straight-forward design, but a perfect representation of our theme nonetheless. We all may be stuck inside, which certainly hinders a lot of our routines, but that doesn’t mean we can’t stay positive. I love that we get to feature some animation, and the plain, blocked off colors really remind me of my childhood. Maybe I should use this time at home to learn some animation? Never too late to get into some new hobbies after all. Find the artist in the comment section or on Discord!

Super Hotdog Boy by ray-of-flight

Ah, I love this piece! Made for the Creators’ “Draw This In Your Style” Challenge of Ned Noodlehead, this work definitely reflects one of the art trends that has resurfaced during quarantine. Whether it be a DTIYS, a SixFanArts Tag, or some other trend, artists around the world have found ways to connect with people online. In this work in particular, I love the comic book vibe that the background gives off. The plain colors and lineart are super smooth, allowing the figure to really pop off the page in a graphic way. Wonderful work all around! Find his DeviantArt here.

Honorable Mentions

  • Six Fanarts by ANNE14TCO
  • Poptropica DnD Shenanigans by BlazingAngel123
  • regret by Magniventris
  • Actual Schedule During Quarantine by PegaKid2012
  • Easter Buns by WitchyArtistGal

Wow, so many great entries this month! Should I even be surprised?

May: 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 May’s theme? May’s theme is…

Wild West

If I were to describe the current state of the world right now, I think “wild” is a word that comes to mind. Times are kinda crazy and everyone is being affected in different ways. It’s important to remember that we are in this together and that so many people are working hard to improve this situation, but at times it really can feel like the wild west. Illnesses, supply shortages, and empty streets can be seen in every direction. But hey, just look at how well the environment is doing, right?

Anyway, it’s time for you to push away that boredom of being trapped in your house and show me your most creative Wild West creations! I’m talking cowboys, horses, desert scenes, you name it. So bring it on!

  • 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 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!

~SD

Pop Fan Artist Spotlights

🎨 Pop Fan Artist Spotlight: T-ropicaNation

LJ

What’s up, Poptropicans? It’s LJ with a series from the dead a Pop Fan Artist Spotlight, where I showcase a certain Poptropica fan’s artwork in an effort to give more recognition to their talent; this next artist definitely deserves it. Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to T-ropicaNation (who I will refer to as Nation in this post for a smoother read).

Nation has consistently been posting their Poptropica art online for a few years now, and every illustration is it’s own sensation. Although they primarily keep to their particular cartoonish style, some pieces are very bright and bubbly while others are dark and gloomy — making each one unique.

Take a look at this gallery of some of their best work, including the artist’s proudest piece, “Flowers” (pictured at the bottom left):

Simply amazing! I really like Nation’s use of value and colors, and I find the gigantic eyes on the characters SO flipping adorable. If you feel like I do, you’ll be pleased to know there’s plenty more where that came from. You should totally check out their page on DeviantArt; they have a pretty large Poptropica section, and they really deserve more followers!

Well, the spotlight dims for now. I hope you enjoyed this look into a Poptropica fan’s artwork! (I know, it’s been a long time…😅) I encourage you to share any of your own creations to our DeviantArt group if you happen to have any too. Now the question is, who would you like to see in the spotlight next?

– Lucky Joker 🍀

Pop 5

Pop 5: Islands I want to see return to Poptropica

LJ

Good day, Poptropicans! It’s Lucky Joker here popping into 2020 with one of my first non-news posts, a Pop 5 list. It’s a new decade and that means a new era for Poptropica.

With the new version of Zomberry Island on the horizon (or is it? we’re still waiting…), it feels like the perfect time to start compiling my list of islands I hope to see return to the game one day, in full sound-updated glory. Let’s begin! (If you haven’t played all the old islands: beware, spoilers ahead.)

#5: Mystery Train Island 🔍

Starting off this list is Mystery Train Island, which is possibly one of Poptropica’s most popular adventures — and among my personal favorites. Every island has a theme; and the theme of this island is a classic, yet compelling whodunit set in the late Victorian era. How appealing does that sound? Right up my alley, that’s for sure.

I can just imagine how calm and soothing the soundtrack would be with a soft piano playing beautifully if it was sound updated. And can we talk about how awesome the boss level is (or should I say was…)? It’s one of the most climactic scenes in the entire game in my opinion. A crescendo would go along brilliantly with it I’m sure.

#4: Wild West Island 🌵

Popping in at the number four spot comes another Poptropica fan favorite — Wild West Island! This Old-West-inspired escapade is full of many fun and exciting moments. With the multitude of western mini-games, lingo, and scenery, this island makes for one special and enjoyable experience that you can 100% immerse yourself into.

As for the soundtrack choice, it’s undeniably unquestionable — western folk music of course! Give Jeff Heim a banjo, a guitar, and a harmonica and I’m sure he could create at least a dozen hillbilly hits. It’s a sound we have yet to hear in Poptropica, I believe.

#3: Super Villain Island ⚡

Smack dab in the middle at third place is the super Super Villain Island! I mean, how could an island featuring four of Poptropica’s most prominent wrongdoers not be in this list? In my opinion, SVI has one of the most creative and out-of-the-box concepts — it’s like a cool sci-fi movie or something — and of course, some of Poptropica’s coolest characters.

The roaring storm over the ocean, each of the villains’ dreams, the colossal battle at the end — there are so many great tracks to be made here! I can already hear them now. Super Villain needs to return and there should be no doubt about it.

#2: Game Show Island 🤖

Just behind the top pick is the remarkable, robotic extravaganza that is Game Show Island! Sure, it’s not the absolute best to have graced the screen in the past 12 and a half years, but Game Show is arguably one of the most fun islands in the game; I don’t think there’s one Poptropican who doesn’t like it (even if it’s not their favorite). All of the mini-games and funny looking robots totally make the island interesting and amusing. I think having it sound updated would enhance that.

Each location could have a different background song. A modernized gypsy-like tune would be a good choice for the city of Istanbul. It would capture that unique Turkish sound perfectly. As for Japan, I’d like something kawaii, or something highly electric to really get my heart racing during Mr. Yoshi’s Super Terrific Challenge. Russia’s pretty diverse, so perhaps a remix of the national anthem would suffice? In Miami, a rad hip-hop track would definitely work well. And you can surely count on the vibrant sensations of tango to create an atmosphere in Buenos Aires. You could hear the world in one island! (Not to mention all of the mechanic and techy sound ops throughout.)

Honorable Mentions

Alright, before I reveal my number one choice, I wanted to honor a few other beloved islands that almost made this list. Give it up for Super Power Island, Nabooti Island, and Counterfeit Island! They’re all wonderful classics, and totally deserve to be in the top five as well.

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for. Taking the trophy for the island I’d love to see return most…the astounding, the stupendous, the one and only — it goes to none other than…

#1: Astro-Knights Island 🚀

Astro-Knights Island! This thrilling quest is one like no other and is definitely one of my all-time favorites (along with Mythology)! This intergalactic island is jam packed with mythos, action, and adventure — everything Poptropica is all about.

Can’t you just envision a dreary, medieval melody accompanying the crummy streets of a fallen Arturus as you played? I certainly could! In addition, we could get some celestial tunes for when we’re journeying through the stars and an intense orchestral symphony with a battle like dynamic for when we’re defeating the evil Binary Bard.

Astro-Knights is an absolute must play for any Poptropica player and it undoubtedly needs to grace the map once again. What do you think?

And there you have it — the full list of islands that I think should make an epic comeback to Poptropica! (Psst, creators, if you’re reading…I’m sure many others would agree with me, so you know…)

Thank you so much for reading as always and I’ll talk to you all soon. Happy Easter to those who celebrate! 🐰🐤

My aim is egg-cellent, hehe

– Lucky Joker 🍀

Community Creations

Community Creations: March 2020

Spotted Dragon
community-creations-logo

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the March recap for Community Creations! March’s theme was Hobbies 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

DnD Night by BlazingAngel123

Ah, DnD, a classic hobby if I do say so myself! Each character in this composition has a unique expression and design, which really makes the scene dynamic. Can you imagine these villains actually playing games together? It certainly would be a sight to see, and I think Raven would make a great DM. Excellent work! Find her DeviantArt here.

Painting by iLee-Font

I think it’s safe to say that if you’re a fan of community creations, you’re likely a fan of painting as well. Poptropica’s art community is strong and talented as ever, so of course painting is a perfect hobby to showcase! And who better to showcase it than Black Widow herself? I love her design in this piece, and I love the more pastel color scheme. Absolutely wonderful! Find their DeviantArt here.

Poptropica Chess Playing by AdventurersNHunters

Another classic game! For some reason, it is super easy for me to imagine our beloved Poptropicans from Mythology Island playing chess. And to be honest, my money is on Athena over Zeus. But anyway, I love the colors and detail in this design! The background and foreground work well together for sure. Great work! Find their DeviantArt here.

Extreme Work Out (Collab) by NineTenOnetyOne and WitchyArtistGal

Oooh, a collaboration! When two artists put their heads together, great things happen. I love the humor in this piece and the posing of the characters. Plus, dialogue always adds a unique layer of context and interest. You can definitely see the talents of both artists coming together here, which is a wonderful thing to feature! And exercising is certainly a good hobby to get behind. Fantastic! Find their DeviantArts here and here.

Ok by Criaha

Now music is a hobby that certainly has a place in Community Creations! This simple design shows a lot of artistic talent through subtle details and choices. The lineart and shading is smooth and the composition of the arms is excellent. Even the slight glow of the eye adds such great interest! Seeing Binary Bard in this style is really beautiful. Nice work! Find her DeviantArt here.

Honorable Mentions

No honorable mentions this month guys, sorry! Keep sending in those submissions though! In the meantime, did you catch the PHB’s annual April Fools prank? I think that the work Gentle Dolphin put into it definitely deserves a feature.

April: 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 April’s theme? April’s theme is…

Stay Home!

During these tough times, it’s important to stay at home so we can keep as many people safe as possible. But I definitely know that boredom can be a tough enemy during these times as well, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay bored! Finding a creative outlet that you can work on while stuck at home is a perfect boredom buster, so why not participate in Community Creations?

The theme is pretty vague this month so everyone can join in. Show us what you’re doing to have fun at home, with a Poptropica styled twist! Any Poptropica art (or writing, or costumes, or anything) you create purely out of boredom is perfectly acceptable to submit. So get out of bed and get creating! Having trouble? Check out our post on what to do in Poptropica during quarantine to spark some inspiration!

  • 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

Pranks

Flashy Fools: the real April 1st experience ⚡️

Slanted Fish

Heeey Poptropicans! So you remember all that talk we posted yesterday about a grand PHB Flash Experience? Our little Flash game of homage to the pending doom of Flash and old school islands? Well, check your calendars…

Yup. So, April Fools! How long were you clicking to “allow Flash” and refreshing the page so you could play the game? Were you convinced that your computer just couldn’t handle Flash anymore? Did we fool you?

Whether our shenanigans had you flashing with anger at game that was never meant to load, or flushing with embarrassment for refreshing way too many times, we hope that, in the end, we can still make you flash a smile. So here, enjoy the behind-the-scenes of this year’s PHB prank.

Gentle Dolphin put a ton of work into making the preview scene of a glitching bridge in our prank post. Check out the stills behind the gif, from a peaceful Red Dragon Island scene to the world falling apart with game-breaking code.

In addition to the scenery, she also made plenty of outfit prototypes before settling on the final look of our invented villain, Addo B. Flash. (And yes, he even has the Flash logo in his design!) Addo also came with views from different angles when we introduced him, which was Gentle Dolphin’s idea to add to his legitimacy as a game character.

Which of these outfits do you like most? Were you bamboozled by the PHB Flash Experience, or cautiously suspicious through it all? We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Keep on popping, Poptropicans.

—the PHB—

p.s. Play the old school islands before Flash is truly gone, here.

p.p.s. Quarantined? We’ve come up with ideas for making the best of Poptropica in these bizarre times here.