🏝 Poptropica Help Blog 🗺

Hello! Welcome to the next part of our series with the Pop Creators interviewing members of the PHB team. Meet Sporty Boa!

1. How were you first introduced to Poptropica?

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!

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?

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*.

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.

Sporty Boa and his cat in Smash, Crackle, POP! by Gentle Dolphin

5. How has your PHB career surprised you?

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!

6. What inspires you?

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 stories*

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!

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?
Dr. Beev: Why wood’nt Beev be on this list?

Villains

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!

Thanks for having me! Be sure to catch this interview on the Pop Creators’ Blog too. This Boa’s gotta bounce!

– SB 🐍

Just Chillin’ with Member Gifts 🍬🧝🥶

December 8, 2022 Slanted Fish

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.

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! 💫

~🐠

Member Gifts

Bear with the Snowflakes, my Reindeer ❄️🦌

December 5, 2022December 7, 2022 Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans! As we enter into the new week, December’s 12 Days of Member Gifts — which began with the Fox Outfit — continue rolling on. Let’s pop open this advent calendar and see what awaits us…

Day 2 continued the fuzzy friend trend with a Bear Hoodie designed by Got School, while Days 3 and 4 (first announced on Instagram) brought along a kawaii Snowflake Follower by Scary Sword and Reindeer Onesie by Silver Fox respectively. (Thanks to Dizzy Feather for the tip!)

Today, on the fifth day of gift-mas, Poptropica gives to its members a Sleigh you can carry on your waist, designed by Shiny Flyer.

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 of membership status.

We’re almost halfway through the gift giving! Stay tuned over the next several days as we continue to unwrap these prezzies, and fingers crossed for more holiday celebrations in-game this season.

Happy Grapple-Pap! 💝

~🐠

Creators' Blog Guest Posts, Fan Art Features, Member Gifts, Store

Welcoming Winter with Fox Fits and Hare Brains 🦊❄️

December 2, 2022December 2, 2022 Slanted Fish

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! 💝

~🐠

Community Creations

Community Creations: November 2022

December 1, 2022December 2, 2022 Spotted Dragon

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the November recap for Community Creations. October’s theme was Royalty, so be sure to check out all the featured artists!

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

Top 5 Picks

Elyana & Mordred as Friends by emelyn_is_trying

Aside from the more recent Fairytale Island, Astro-Knights is without a doubt the first island that comes to mind for OG players when they think “Poptropica royalty.” In an alternate reality where an evil Binary Bard didn’t kidnap the princess, Elyana and Mordred could have seriously become great friends. These space nerds just make such a fun pair! Their dynamic poses, expressions, and enhanced outfits make for quite the engaging design too. Find their Instagram here.

Princess Red Baroness by abbeyjoy25

In more recent news involving Fairytale Island, we seem to learn more about the Red Baroness’s mysterious backstory every month. But we have not yet seen her in full princess attire, so this exploration of her potential outfit is super interesting! The design takes inspiration from other Poptropica princesses, including Snow White, Cinderella, and Elyana, of course. She definitely fits the princess aesthetic here, while still retaining her unique color scheme and attitude, making her still recognizable. Excellent idea! Find her Instagram here.

Princess of the Cosmos by HeartofEnder aka Solemn-Siren

Stepping away from pre-established Pop princesses while remaining in a princess theme, this work is inspired by the game Sky: Children of the Light. It is specifically based on a certain crown item from Season of AURORA, except here it’s given a Poptropica twist in style. The original character turned out to have such a unique, eye-catching design! The color scheme and composition feel magical, perfect for royalty from the stars. Very cool submission! Find her DeviantArt here.

Gacha Club Fairytale Island King & Queen by mysticsunni

Back to the realm of Fairytale Island, here we have the infamous Red Queen and her husband. This time made in the Gacha Club character creator! It’s really neat to see how accurate characters from other games can be replicated in another game, rendered in a completely different style but still recognizable. Not to mention how adorable they look! Find their Instagram here.

Rumpel by oneofthosenightbees

Last but certainly not least, we have a character that perhaps was not born into royalty but briefly achieved royal status nonetheless. What do YOU think would happen if Rumpelstiltskin became kind of Fairytale Island for real? This illustration simply demands our attention, directly engaging with the viewer through the character’s eye contact. The color scheme and expression portray a dark, daunting tone with that eye-catching red adding a lot of visual interest. Very intense and captivating! Find her Instagram here.

Honorable Mentions

Hear ye, hear ye… you guys royally crushed it this month! I wish you could all be rewarded with your very own crowns for the highness of your creative standards.

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…

Grapple-Pap!

Way back when the Grapple-Pap side quest first appeared, Poptropica introduced new festive lore into the game that we hadn’t encountered before. The holiday is basically Poptropica’s version of Christmas or other winter-y celebrations, so ’tis the season to celebrate it in our creations! The PHB even hosted a Grapple-Pap holiday party last year.

This month, I’m basically looking for any art that embraces the holiday season, but more so Poptropica’s take on winter festivities. Maybe draw some fanart of the side quest characters like Grapple-Pap himself, or create a cozy costume for your Poptropican perfect for the cold weather. Maybe even try to make an IRL Grapple-Pap mask or even your own Grapple-Pop treat IRL if you’re a whiz in the kitchen? Or simply incorporate IRL winter holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah into the world of Poptropica somehow.

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, Tumblr, Discord, OR the PHB’s Instagram.
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!

~SD