Tag: gentle dolphin

Blast from the Past, PHB Specials, Web Development

A Lifetime of Headers, Part III 🤩

LJ

Happy New Year, Poptropicanos! 🥳 We’ve made it a quarter of a century into the new millennium! Woah. 🤯

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣

Speaking of being shook, can you believe the Poptropica Help Blog has been around for an incredible 16 years, and is now on its way to the 17-year mark this summer? It’s without a doubt that the PHB has made a significant impact on readers from all around the world during its time in the blogosphere, and I personally think that calls for some sort of recognition. 🫶

It’s been nearly 8 years since Fishy commemorated the many styles of headers past, and double that time since veteran former author, Codien, did it first. With that in mind, I thought a fun way to celebrate yet another 8 years of awesomeness would be to take a stroll down memory lane once again and revisit some of the old headers (2017-present day) that have graced the top of our homepage.

Most of these designs were crafted by our founder, Slanted Fish, but a few were created by other PHB staffers as well. During special occasions like Halloween, April Fools, and The Poppies, we sometimes find it extra fun to whip up some themed banners for merry measure. We even held a contest once! Without further ado, I hope you enjoy this trip back to 2017 (where we last left off) in…

✨A Lifetime of Headers, Part 3✨

(Hover over each image for more details & click to see them in full-size glory!)

November 2024, by me LJ
October 2024 (Halloween), by Smart Icicle
July 2024 (PHB Poppies 2024), by Gentle Dolphin
April 1, 2024 (Mount Olympus/Zeus’s reign of terror prank)
August 2023-2024, by Slanted Fish
July 2023 (PHB Poppies 2023), by Purple Paw
August 2022, by Slanted Fish
July 2022 (PHB Poppies 2022), by Smart Bubbles
April 1, 2022 (Poptropica Hate Blog prank), by Purple Paw
July 2021 (PHB Poppies 2021), by Purple Paw
June 2021, by Slanted Fish
April 1, 2021 (Poptropica Dating Sim Fan Blog prank), by Smart Bubbles aka MarayannTheConqueror
February 2021, by Slanted Fish
September 2020, by Slanted Fish
August 2020 (PHB Tribal Tournament 2020), by Gentle Dolphin
October 2019 (Halloween), by Slanted Fish
July 2019, by Slanted Fish
October 2018, by Slanted Fish
September 2018 (PHB Header Contest winner), by Gentle Dolphin
July 2018, by Slanted Fish
July 2018 (PHB Poppies 2018), by Slanted Fish
January 2018, by Slanted Fish
October 2017 (Halloween), by Slanted Fish
August 2017, by Slanted Fish

As you might notice, our method for designing headers over the last eight years has largely involved using illustrations instead of piecing together assets from in the game.

What began as an innovative approach in 2016 has now evolved into the norm, and I feel that the blog is even more unique and captivating as a result. It really demonstrates the remarkable talent of our community, don’t you think? 😁

Which ones do you remember from back in the day and which ones are your favorite? I really like the one Gentle Dolphin created for the header contest held in 2018. The Poppies headers are always a hit for me as well. Share your opinions and memories down in the comment section below!

(Don’t forget to check out parts 1 & 2 for even more nostalgia!)

Thank you so much for reading as always and I hope you continue to hang around for more moons to come. Pop on y’all! 🍾

PHB Series, Pop Fan Artist Spotlights

Pop Fan Artist Spotlight: Gentle Dolphin 🐬

LJ

Howdy, Poptropicanos and welcome to a special edition of Pop Fan Artist Spotlight, featuring the works of our very own Gentle Dolphin!

I initially became aware of Gentle’s art in 2018, making this showcase a long-anticipated one; she’s actually been making Pop fanart on a regular basis since 2017. To begin, I would like to share one of my all-time favorite Poptropica fan videos—the iconic PHB parody of the “Who Broke It?” scene from Parks and Recreation. 🤣

Gentle Dolphin is consistently cooking up remarkable Poptropica artwork. Whether she’s illustrating her original character, designing costumes, or developing material for our April Fool’s pranks (which she has done a lot of btw!) her art creations are both charming and refined. Her artistic style has become quite distinctive to me, although she has explored various techniques on a few occasions. Take a moment to admire this beautiful gallery featuring some of her proudest creations from over the years. (Click for the full glory and titles!)

Alright, I just couldn’t help myself… Here are a couple of my personal favorites in addition if you weren’t done looking at great art yet. 😉

“Smash! Crackle! POP! Fighters Banner”
“Angie And Demi”

I asked Gentle Dolphin to share her main sources of inspiration when designing her captivating pieces. Here is her response:

My normal art style takes inspiration from a few things: MLP G4, Dork Diaries, and anime. My Poptropica style mixes my usual coloring with Poptropica Worlds’ anatomy. When coming up with ideas, I like bouncing off of friends and family. Staying motivated can be a challenge, especially when you’re dealing with burnout. When I have low motivation to work on a piece, I’ll either work on a different piece or take a short break from creating (I’ll have a snack, clean up, play a game, or chat with someone).

I can certainly identify with some of those feelings about motivation, and it’s quite intriguing to witness how different fandoms influence the artwork she creates. Furthermore, Gentle Dolphin graciously offered some guidance for fellow artists. The floor is yours, GD!

Practice by knowing what and how to improve, experiment with new techniques, take 10-minute breaks every hour or so, search for constructive feedback, and have fun!

That’s some sound advice. Thanks to her for sharing that with us!

GD is active across a variety of platforms, including Instagram, DeviantArt, Tumblr, X, and her own website. Check out any of her pages to familiarize yourself even more with her work and consider the possibility of commissioning her. Seriously, each time I come across one of her artworks, I find myself in awe. It was quite a fun process to compile all of them as it allowed me to appreciate a wide array simultaneously. 🤩

It’s not just me though; even the creators of Poptropica have taken notice of GD’s impressive designs and stylish flair. In September 2021, her Pumpkin Punk costume design (pictured in the collage) won a contest and was added to the game the following month.

On top of that, former Poptropica creator Jonathan Pitcher (notice the banner on his LinkedIn & X profiles 😉), who we’ve highlighted and talked to before, mentioned that he once pitched the idea of creating an island inspired by her art style! Even though that idea didn’t come to fruition, it’s still an incredible recognition. 👏

On the topic of art and GD, I should highlight that she is currently hosting an art collaboration in celebration of Pop’s 17th birthday. Tomorrow is the final day for submitting your entry, so if you have not yet participated, I recommend that you do so as soon as possible. This is a party that you’ll certainly want to be a part of! (Edit: You have until the end of the 29th!)

And that’s a wrap! Do you have any favorite artists that we have yet to showcase on the blog? I encourage you to submit your suggestions in the comments section below. I hope you found this Pop Fan Artist Spotlight as enjoyable as I did. A big thank you for reading as always and I’ll talk to you again very soon, pop on! 🍀

Creators' Blog Guest Posts

Interview with Gentle Dolphin from the Poptropica Creators 🎤🐬

Gentle Dolphin

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

1. How were you first introduced to Poptropica? 

I first discovered Poptropica back in 2008 (man, am I that old?). I watched my little sister play Poptropica on the family computer one day, and I wanted to play as well. Guess who kept playing the game long after that. 😉

2. Who do you think is the most underrated character? Overrated? 

Poptropica has a large quantity of characters, so some are bound to get lost in the shuffle over time. I have to agree with Purple Paw and say that Captain Ziggs is probably the most underrated Pop character. He gave his life to protect the citizens of Steamworks Island, yet he isn’t talked about much in the community. Even characters like the Elf Queen and the Magistrate get fan art on occasion.

As for the most overrated, I feel like I’m beating a dead horse by saying that Dr. Hare is overrated. He became the face of spinoff minigames, merchandise, and even Poptropica itself! He got so much attention that could have shared with other characters.

3. What are your favorite scenes, aesthetically and to play through? 

I loved visiting the dream worlds in Super Villain Island. They have some of the best scenery and provide interesting insight into some of Pop’s iconic villains. My favorite moment was hopping into the paintings in Black Widow’s dream. Talk about an immersive art experience!

I also want to mention the maze sections in Ghost Story Island. We’ve seen Pop from side-on and top-down perspectives, but this was the only time we could turn around and see every little corner of a location.

Lillies: There’s no need to moan, eh?
Graveyard maze in Ghost Story Island

4. From your perspective, how have you seen the Poptropica Help Blog (PHB) and community change over time? 

I joined the community sometime in 2017, when Poptropica was searching for ways to survive the death of Flash Player. There was a lot of uncertainty about Pop’s fate during that time, and the community changed along with the game. Older fans either stayed on board or left altogether, and new players joined the community. While the fandom isn’t as active as it once was, there are still dedicated fans creating fan art and crafting theories.

Backspace — the PHB’s “Blank Space” Taylor Swift Parody Music Video — with vocals by Gentle Dolphin! Read about the making of it here.

5. How has your PHB career surprised you? 

First off, being invited to join the PHB was already a big surprise. 😆

In all seriousness, being part of the PHB taught me a lot about working with others online. I learned how to better communicate via text and how to plan online events like our annual Poppies awards. I still make mistakes every now and then, but that means there’s still room to grow.

Designing “Addo B. Flash”, a character for the PHB’s 2020 April Fools prank

6. What inspires you?

I get inspired by many things, from stories to music to real-life experiences. 

7. What does the Pop community mean to you?

The Pop community is full of creative individuals with a shared passion. The PHB’s Community Creations series is a testament to that fact.

“PHB Tribe Reps for the Poptropolis Games” by Gentle Dolphin

8. How have your experiences with the community and Poptropica influenced you IRL? 

You could say that Pop had a notable influence on my interests. Poptropica used to have a Daily Pop page that included comic strips like Peanuts and Big Nate. These comics inspired me to create my very own comics and set me on a creative path. I should probably get back into making comics, now that I think about it.

9. Outside of Poptropica and your PHB involvement, what are you passionate about? 

I’m passionate about art and illustration. I’ve been working on a few projects, whether they be fully independent or with other people. Keep an eye out for them!

“Jersey Devil” by Gentle Dolphin

Favorites

  • Island: Ghost Story Island! It has a compelling story and a subdued tone not commonly felt in Pop’s other islands. I definitely want to see this island return in the future.
  • Backstory/Lore: I liked learning about Amelia during her side quest. While it doesn’t reveal any groundbreaking lore, it showcases Amelia’s character via casual conversation and set design. Her little apartment showcases her love of tea, her many adventures, and (of course) her obsession with unicorns. I certainly didn’t expect that last one, but I loved it!
  • Character: Fiona from Ghost Story Island. She is a sweet lady with a tragic history, and she is responsible for some of the island’s most iconic moments.
  • Villain: The Super Power Island crew. They’re a fun collection of villains to fight in a classic superhero setting.
  • Costume: I may be biased when I say “Pumpkin Punk”. 😜🎃

Thanks for the interview, and keep up the good work!

—Gentle Dolphin 🐬