Happy new year, Poptropicans! 🥳 The start of 2023 brings goodies for members and non-members alike, as well as fandom highlights, including pops down memory lane. Let’s go!
January’s member gifts have arrived, bringing a Baby Snowflake follower, Blue PJs, and Blue Winter Boots to privileged players’ inventories! ❄️ (If that’s not you, have you tried our PHB monthly membership giveaways?)
Regardless of membership status, though, you might find some things you like over at Adventure Outfitters, where the shop floor is once again stocking PoptropiCon Island bits and bobs. With the last episode re-released for members only four months ago, this may be a hint for the paywall coming down soon for Ep. 3: Reign of Omegon. Fingers crossed!
Thanks to Dizzy Feather for the tip!
Over on the Poptropica Creators’ Blog, which has lately been getting much fewer updates compared with its social media counterparts, guest writer Invisible Ring has returned with a memory of an old Home Island landmark: the Movie Theater. 🎥🍿 As she shares, the theater used to be a room that played cartoons, though it was later remodeled into a crushed popcorn box with just one underwhelming video.
Original Home Island theater in 20172018 Home Island remodeling
But that’s not all! Ring missed the theater so much, she created a YouTube playlist featuring over 80 of the videos from BatteryPop she remembers seeing there. In between, she’s also cleverly interspersed commercials for her own Pop fan vids, including a trailer for an upcoming feature film called Pirates, Camera, Action! — watch it below:
New year, new story highlights on Poptropica’s Instagram profile! After a long stream of “Fan Art” highlights, Pop has added a few new categories to their page: OCs, Characters, and Memes. And the PHB is proud to be the first among the Memes for our recent post about our 2022 Rewind in the spirit of Spotify Wrapped! 💝
Anyway, enjoy the latest fan art features from this week — now neatly sorted into the new highlight categories. Still technically fan art, but at least the names are more differentiating. 😜
We may be well into December by now, but the Pop winter tradition is officially on for the third year in a row. All players can find the old man on Home Island to play the Grapple-Gift Side Quest! Here’s our guide.
Just like before, you’ll be asked to deliver a gift to the shut-in, Clareta, in a short journey across a cold cliff. At the end, you’ll win a Grapple-Pop treat that can turn people sickly green! 🤢 Check out our review of The Grapple-Gift here. Cheers — we wouldn’t want ol’ GP to get us for a year!
You may have seen the winter wonderland of Home Island topped with Christmas garlands, but there’s another arrival on the homebase as well: the Baron’s airship! Except, well, the Baron’s still missing…
…and taking the throne inside the Cabin of Curiosities is her nemesis Amelia! Though maybe frenemy is a better word for their curious relationship, as the storekeeper comes with a peace offering of Grapple-Pops for her absent archrival, as she apparently does every year.
Also in the cabin, you can pick up a plethora of gifts, including half a year’s worth of the monthly player-designed costumes for free! The returning outfits were determined by popular vote last month, bringing us the Rockette, Jester, Spa Day (with slippers), The Hair, De-Man, and Boxing Barb (with shoes and gloves).
To the right, you can also purchase Grapple-Pap goodies: a tri-color lamp, totem pole, Christmas garland, gargoyle, and villager outfit.
But back to the case of the disappearing sky pirate. Talk to the detective Amelia, and she’ll share that the Baron’s ship just drifted in on its own.
She’ll also tie in worry for the Baron with the legend of Grapple-Pap, which states that if you don’t spread cheer, the fearsome monster (who shares a name with the holiday) “will get you for one whole year.”
We know the Baron is notoriously un-cheery, so does that mean they’ve encountered Grapple-Pap… whatever that means? Will we not see them for an entire year? Or is Rumpelstiltskin in on this too?
While the plot is only getting thicker up in the skies, down at Adventure Outfitters, Amelia is back to her smiley self with new gear for the holidays. In addition to the wintry wonders on the shop floor introduced earlier, don’t miss the fine fits for players and pets, including the Polar Bear, Slice of Pie, and Ornament costumes for the latter littles!
Last but certainly not least, enjoy these fan art features Poptropica shared on their Instagram stories last week! Feeling inspired? Share something “Grapple-Pap” for our Community Creations this month! ✨
I was first introduced to Poptropica in 2010, when playing it in elementary school computer labs made you one of the ‘cool kids’. Given that I was one of the ‘quiet kids’ at school, I opted to explore the game where I was most comfortable: with my family.
It started with watching my sister, then my brother, Fierce Flyer, adventure across the Poptropica islands, with me acting as a literal over-the-shoulder commentator. Together we worked through difficult puzzles and boss battles, or simply admired the creative stories and characters Poptropica introduced us to. It was only after seeing my siblings’ mounting medallion count that I decided to experience Poptropica hands-on for myself!
Sporty Boa illustrated by Fierce Flyer
2. Who do you think is the most underrated character? Overrated?
One of the many things I love about Poptropica is its plethora of unique characters. When I first started blogging about the game, this was one aspect I could not stop talking about! I often would give my personal ranking of characters, including those which I considered to be the most underrated. Atop my list was Dr. Spyglass from Spy Island. Not only is he an excellent eye doctor, but he’s also the genius inventor behind iconic spy gadgets such as the chameleon suit and grappling bowtie! Despite this scientist’s creations being the means in which you save the island, I feel he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. I mean, I get he’s all secretive and spy-like, but it would be nice to see him pop up from time to time.
Speaking of popping up from time to time, I would have to say the zombies from Zomberry Island may be Poptropica’s most overrated characters. I may need to get my eyes checked by Dr. Spyglass, but I feel like I keep seeing them show up everywhere! Given their ambiguous purpose, do they really deserve so much of the spotlight?
Dr. SpyglassZombies
3. What are your favorite scenes, aesthetically and to play through?
The first scene that comes to mind is the Jersey Devil jumpscare in Cryptids Island. This scene is just as fun to watch someone else play through as it is to play through yourself! The tense buildup is executed so well, from the unnerving bathroom stall directions, to the dark, creepy house in the middle of the woods, and of course we can’t forget the window peerin’, breath stealing, fate sealing Jersey Devil!
Aesthetically, I have a soft spot for the Nøkken scene in Twisted Thicket Island. On par with the Jersey Devil in terms of creepiness, the Nøkken’s luminescent red paw prints against the dark, verdant forest is just *chef’s kiss*. Absolutely terrifying, but *chef’s kiss*.
Jersey DevilBeware the Nøkken by Sporty Boa
4. From your perspective, how have you seen the Poptropica Help Blog (PHB) and community change over time?
From my perspective, the Poptropica community has had its ebbs and flows. Since joining back in 2017, I’ve always viewed the PHB as not just a blog, but as a cornerstone of the community. While being a reliable source of information and news, the PHB helps bring together Poptropica fans, me included, providing space for people to share valued ideas, theories and stories. Through thick and thin, I’ve learned to appreciate the space we’re granted, and the community we share.
During my time with the PHB, I’m always pleasantly surprised when it comes to our community engagement events such as the Tribal Tournament and the Poppies. It’s such an honor to be a part of these positive, unifying, and genuinely fun experiences in our community!
I can be easily inspired by the natural world, my family, a kind word, and works of art. Though, what inspires me the most is actually the potential to inspire others. Knowing that I can plant a seed within someone that may blossom into something beneficial and beautiful is a rewarding feeling worth striving for.
African folktale trickster, Anansi the spider of storiesBusch Borrower: Pirate of the ForestIllustrations by Sporty Boa
7. What does the Pop community mean to you?
It means so much, honestly. Poptropica is a special game that has a special community. Both hold an equally cherished place in my heart.
8. How have your experiences with the community and Poptropica influenced you IRL?
IRL, I’ve always been a relatively timid person. The Poptropica community was the first online community I had joined and truly felt a part of. It allowed me to open up, both online and in real life, allowing me to recognize that my unique personality wasn’t something to shy away from, but value.
Doctor Trio (Hare, Beev, Nyah) by Sporty Boa
9. Outside of Poptropica and your PHB involvement, what are you passionate about?
Outside of the Poptropica community, I am an avid wildlife enthusiast. Whether extant or extinct, the diversity of life on Earth never ceases to amaze me. Conservation, education, and respect towards the natural world are things I’m quite passionate about.
My Pet Goat: One of these cuddly hircines may have a date with danger.
Favorites
Island: It will always be Cryptids Island for me, but I’ll throw Shark Tooth Island and Reality TV in there solely off nostalgia and good vibes.
Backstory/Lore: Mordred/Binary Bard is such an interesting character with a fascinating backstory. It just adds to the awe and epicness of Astro-Knights Island!
Merlin and Mordred by Sporty Boa
Character: Dr. Beev, Ishmael, Harold Mews… Poptropica has so many notable characters! Some of my personal favorites are:
Shark Guy (Shark Tooth Island): Hilarious, relatable and educational all wrapped up in a shark-shaped package!
Ishmael (SOS): As a fellow whale-lover, I vibe with Ish! (Also, if whale call gadgets are an actual thing, I’d love one!)
Harold Mews (Cryptids): A kind-hearted millionaire with a passion for conservation, who would have thunk?
Director D (Spy Island): He’s got the drip, the wit, and the wig, what more could you ask for in a villain?
Gretchen Grimlock (Cryptids): What makes GG stand out to me in terms of villainous characters is that she’s not just presented as a rival to your Poptropican, but also an imminent and dangerous threat.
Black Widow & The Strange Man (Counterfeit): Poptropica really nailed it with these two! They had cool designs, wove into the story well, and their individual arcs of deceit and redemption were well executed.
Costume: An iconic symbol of do-goodership and courageous adventure, the Robin Hood costume has a special place in my heart… and my closet!
Director DGretchen GrimlockBlack WidowStrange ManRobin Hood
Thanks for having me! Be sure to catch this interview on the Pop Creators’ Blog too. This Boa’s gotta bounce!
On we go with the 12 Days of Member Gifts! 🎁 Picking off from Days 1 through 5, let’s see what the next few days have brought the privileged.
As shared on the Pop Creators’ Blog, Day 6 gave us the Elf by Purple Noodle, Day 7 swept in with Just Chillin’ by Magic Kid, and Day 8 marched through with the Candy Cane Soldier by Cuddly Panda.
Candy Cane Soldier by Cuddly PandaElf by Purple NoodleJust Chillin’ by Magic Kid
To get these items, you’ll need to be a member and check your inventory. If you aren’t one, you can try your luck in the PHB’s Free Membership Giveaways. Or, if your design from the Holly Jolly Holiday Design Contest gets chosen, you’ll win your item regardless.
Only four more gifts to go! Meanwhile, we’re still waiting to see if the Grapple-Pap side quest will return this year. 🎄🙏 At the least, we’re expecting a return of the Baron’s airship — what drama will unfold, we’re not sure — though it should be bringing back one of this year’s free winning costumes as voted on by players! ✨
Anyway, here are the latest fan art features from Poptropica’s Instagram stories this week! As always, you can click into the artists’ names to see more visual and informational details. Enjoy! 💫
Hey Poptropicans! Blink and it’s December — the holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a plethora of gifts!
The 12 Days of Member Gifts annual tradition has kicked off, this year with items imagined by players via November’s Holly Jolly Holiday Design Contest. We begin with a flair for the furry: a Fox Outfit designed by Perfect Heart, or Joey, as some in the Pop community may know him.
Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks as more prizes drop into members’ inventories! If you haven’t had the taste of the bougie Pop life yet, why not try your luck in the PHB’s Free Membership Giveaways?
Fret not, non-members… Amelia’s got you for holiday goodies too. Pop over to Adventure Outfitters and you’ll find tons of winter wonders and Christmas cheer on the shop floor, including a little baby penguin! 🐧
Thanks to Dizzy Feather for contributing to this news post.
Guest writer Invisible Ring has returned to the Pop Creators’ Blog to bring us a throwback to an old project of Poptropica’s — the Dr. Hare LEGO set. Though the campaign did not succeed to make the Rabbot lair into a real toy, it did bring us a lot of fun Dr. Hare-themed items along the way. Still, Ring readily admits, all the “hare-brained” talk is really just a way to keep pushing her Poptropica fan movie, “Battle Morale.”
Last but not least, enjoy the latest fan art features from Pop’s Instagram stories — including a royal sighting also seen in our latest Community Creations. By the way, our new art theme is Pop’s winter celebration, Grapple-Pap — just in time for all this holiday spirit! 💝
🏝 Poptropica Help Blog 🗺 