Guest Blog: Interview with Spotted Dragon from the Poptropica Creators

Guest Blog: Interview with Sporty Boa from the Poptropica Creators 📣

Meet&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/2017/05/06/mpip-fierce-flyer/" target="_blank">Fierce Flyer</a>!

&nbsp;
<img alt="The PHB's Fierce Flyer Popsona" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0adc7755-c40c-4fb0-afeb-28b163d442a4" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_fierce_flyer_popsona_portrait.png" />
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1. How were you first introduced to Poptropica?

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It’s all thanks to my sister really. I remember back in elementary school, in the late 2000s, I would look forward to staring at her computer screen. Well, up until the day I thought to myself, “Hey, maybe I should give this Poptropica thing a try myself!”

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2. Who do you think is the most underrated character? Overrated?

&nbsp;

A name that immediately comes to mind for me as criminally underrated is&nbsp;Merlin. I feel as though Merlin gets lost in the masterpiece that is&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/island-help/astro-knights/" target="_blank">Astro-Knights Island</a>. I mean, the bird&nbsp;sacrifices&nbsp;himself to save your Poptropican. Any respect Merlin has received through the years needs to be tripled, ‘cause I don’t hear nearly enough about this saint of an owl.

&nbsp;

As for overrated, it’s gotta be&nbsp;Dr. Hare, right? I mean, no disrespect to the doctor who decided to wear a pink bunny costume but, surely his PhD could’ve gone to better use elsewhere.

&nbsp;
<img alt="Merlin from Astro Knights Island" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0145eac3-8c62-41f7-9d44-430a435c0a5f" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_fierce_flyer_merlin_astrro_knights.png" />
The way to an owl’s heart is through its stomach.

&nbsp;
<img alt="The PHB's Fierce Flyer's Portrait of Dr. Hare" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d54f704e-b7c1-4e7f-8064-5fa5395aa750" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_fierce_flyer_dr_hare_portrait.png" />
Dr. Hare illustrated by Fierce Flyer

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3. What are your favorite scenes, aesthetically and to play through?

&nbsp;

Purely for the aesthetics, I’ve gotta go with Episode 1 of&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/island-help/survival/" target="_blank">Survival Island</a>. I really felt like I was there, like I was freezing and needed warmth and not just in the game. Getting that full immersive experience plus the beautiful scenery, is both nostalgic and was revolutionary to Poptropica.

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<img alt="Survival Island Illustration" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="52a717b2-4c89-4247-af8c-0ac3d99e115a" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_fierce_flyer_survival_island.jpeg" />
Survival Island, Ep. 1 wallpaper

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4. From your perspective, how have you seen the Poptropica Help Blog (PHB) and community change over time?

&nbsp;

Change is inevitable. In the Pop community, the biggest changes that I dealt with were fellow bloggers and Poptropica enthusiasts coming and going. But through it all, my fond memories with them remain dear to my heart, and I have a feeling they would say the same.

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5. How has your PHB career surprised you?

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Joining the PHB has gotta be a top 10 moment in my life in terms of excitement and happiness. I was over the moon when I was welcomed in, and was pleasantly surprised to find that through joining the blog, I also became a stronger writer.

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<img alt="Fierce Flyer's Popsona at the Poppies 2018 blue carpet" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4e78c1f5-589e-4dc3-ba56-beffe6f3a60b" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_fierce_flyer_popsona_2018_poppies_awards.jpeg" />
Fierce Flyer at the blue carpet of the&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/2018/07/27/10-years-phb-poppies/" target="_blank">Poppies 2018</a>

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6. What inspires you?

&nbsp;

I could go on and on about the many things I see and learn everyday that inspire me, but if I had to choose just one, it’d be my older brother and fellow PHB author&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/2018/01/30/celeb-sporty-boa/" target="_blank">Sporty Boa</a>. He’s played a pivotal role in the progression of not only my creativity, but also my journey of becoming my best self. So, shout-out to my brotato chip!

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<img alt="Fierce Flyer and Sporty Boa Popsona illustration" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="40dbcb09-bb29-4f45-94e3-f62067a6fa17" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_fierce_flyer_and_sporty_boa_popsona_portraits.png" />
Sporty Boa and Fierce Flyer at the PHB’s&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/2020/12/20/recap-flash-holiday-party/" target="_blank">Flash funeral for Poptropica</a>

&nbsp;

7. What does the Pop community mean to you?

&nbsp;

This community means so much to me; it’s hard to just put it in words, as corny as that sounds. I’ve recently turned 18, so I’m officially an “adult,” and I can truly say that the Poptropica community — everyone I’ve had the pleasure of meeting — will hold a special place in my childhood as a cornerstone of my life growing up.

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8. How have your experiences with the community and Poptropica influenced you IRL?

&nbsp;

Oh for sure! My blog,&nbsp;<a href="https://fierceflyerblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Fierce Flyer Adventures</a>, began as a Poptropica site, but has also branched out a bit. I made a post 4 ½ years ago called “The Oath of Socialization” where I basically challenged myself to break out of my shell and be my authentic self around others. That post really changed my life because, although it was only supposed to last for a week, I’ve been running with it to this day.

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<img alt="Fierce Flyer vs. E. Vile illustration" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc1e178-2e22-4e60-aa3f-9cdecbfb3946" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_fierce_flyer_evile_victory_art.png" />
Vanquish E. Vile by Fierce Flyer

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9. Outside of Poptropica and your PHB involvement, what are you passionate about?

&nbsp;

I’m super passionate about sports — all kinds, really. Anything with a ball, and sometimes a puck or wheel, I’ll be watching it. Along with that, a passion I’ve always had is creating stories. I want to be an author one day, or a director/writer for my own show or movie!

&nbsp;
<img alt="Fierce Flyer's Black Panther Popsona" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bc634348-d6b0-4f01-af21-2c684f9054b6" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_fierce_flyer_black_panther_popsona_art.png" />
Fierce Black Panther by Fierce Flyer

&nbsp;

Favorites

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Island: It’s a toss-up between Mystery Train and Reality TV, but I’ll give a slight edge to Mystery Train because of its captivating story and endearing characters.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Backstory/Lore:&nbsp;Ringmaster Raven. Such a captivating character with a truly tragic backstory, can’t help but to feel bad for him…</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Character:&nbsp;My guy Edgar! Every time he showed up on my screen I was grinning, a bright spot in an otherwise disturbingly creepy environment on Monster Carnival.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Villain:&nbsp;Poptropica has so many great villains, but the cake goes to Director D ‘cause as a kid, I thought he was the coolest dude ever. Here’s a hot take: I think he could rock the bald look!</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Costume:&nbsp;There are a lot of iconic costumes, but the one I remember the most, and&nbsp;always&nbsp;used, was the Midnight Ninja outfit. I would literally try to find any excuse possible to throw that thing on.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;
<img alt="Fierce Flyer's Favorites: Mystery Train, Edgar, Ringmaster Raven, Director D, Midnight Ninja" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d2e662d5-2802-473a-a727-64a7e5044f04" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_fierce_flyer_all_time_favorites_list.jpeg" />
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<hr />
&nbsp;

Thank you to Fierce Flyer for the interview – it was an absolute pleasure and the series has been a lovely opportunity to learn more about you and the <a href="https://poptropi.ca/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Poptropica Help Blog</a>’s team as a whole! See more of <a href="https://poptropi.ca/author/fierceflyerblog/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Fierce Flyer’s writing and contributions on the PHB!</a>&nbsp;✨

Guest Blog: Interview with Fierce Flyer from the Poptropica Creators 🦅💫

<img alt="Interview with the PHB's Gentle Dolphin! Gentle Dolphin's Popsona is shown on a video call, alongside the wolf from Fairytale Island, a pink cat, and flying unicorn " data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fa6abebe-5ecb-44a0-8ac1-7da7b3ee7541" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_interview_gentle_dolphin_popsona.png" />
&nbsp;

1. How were you first introduced to Poptropica?&nbsp;

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. 😉

&nbsp;

2. Who do you think is the most underrated character? Overrated?&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;
<img alt="Gentle Dolphin's underrated (Captain Ziggs, left) and overrated characters (Dr. Hare, right). " data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="04de99c8-6a94-4e7a-aeba-1c1874c5d7d4" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_gentle_dolphin_interview_character_choices.png" />
&nbsp;

3. What are your favorite scenes, aesthetically and to play through?&nbsp;

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!&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;
<img alt="Gentle Dolphin's favorite scenes: Super Villain Island (left) and Ghost Story Island (right)." data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ac5f6cde-2c6f-4c10-a713-ee85471d2d55" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_gentle_dolphin_interview_favorite_aesthetic_islands.png" />
&nbsp;

4. From your perspective, how have you seen the Poptropica Help Blog (PHB) and community change over time?&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;

6. What inspires you?&nbsp;

I get inspired by many things from stories to music to real-life experiences.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

7. What does the Pop community mean to you?&nbsp;

The Pop community is full of creative individuals with a shared passion. The PHB’s Community Creations series is a testament to that fact.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

8. How have your experiences with the community and Poptropica influenced you IRL?&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;
<img alt="Gentle Dolphin's Daily Pop page influence" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="78633a42-d0b7-4f42-8bfd-f71e0089d331" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_gentle_dolphin_interview_daily_pop_page.png" />
&nbsp;

9. Outside of Poptropica and your PHB involvement, what are you passionate about?&nbsp;

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!&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Favorites&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li style="margin-top:21px; margin-right:10px; margin-left:12px">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. </li>
	<li style="margin-top:21px; margin-right:10px; margin-left:12px">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!&nbsp;</li>
	<li style="margin-top:21px; margin-right:10px; margin-left:12px">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.&nbsp;</li>
	<li style="margin-top:21px; margin-right:10px; margin-left:12px">Villain: The Super Power Island crew. They’re a fun collection of villains to fight in a classic superhero setting.&nbsp;</li>
	<li style="margin-top:21px; margin-right:10px; margin-left:12px">Costume: I may be biased when I say “Pumpkin Punk”. 😝🎃</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;
<img alt="Gentle Dolphin's all time favorites (from left to right): Ghost Story Island, Amelia's lore, Fiona from Ghost Story Island, Super Power Island's crew, and Gentle Dolphin's own 'Pumpkin Punk' costume" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="51f44417-845d-469d-b98a-8a6c10986543" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_gentle_dolphin_interview_all_time_favorites.png" />
&nbsp;

<hr />
&nbsp;

Sincere thanks to Gentle Dolphin for the lovely interview&nbsp;and&nbsp;their outstanding contributions to Pop community and the <a href="https://poptropi.ca/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Poptropica Help Blog</a>! Find more&nbsp;of <a href="https://poptropi.ca/author/gentledolphin/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Gentle Dolphin’s artwork and writing on the PHB</a>!&nbsp;

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Guest Blog: Interview with Gentle Dolphin from the Poptropica Creators 🐬💖

Guest Blog: Interview with Smart Icicle from the Poptropica Creators 🤓❄️

Interview with Smart Bubbles from the Poptropica Creators 🫧 

<img alt="Purple Paw's Popsona: Self Portrait" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8964ff0a-0779-4d1f-a694-75c4020ac6c8" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/PHB_purple_paw_self_portrait_popsona.png" />
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1. How were you first introduced to Poptropica?

Surprise surprise, Funbrain! I’d been playing through our long lost friend, the Arcade, and had seen an ad for Pop on the side of the screen. My sister already knew a bit about it, and we set up a shared account. We continued playing together for a few years after that.

&nbsp;

2. Who do you think is the most underrated character? Overrated?

It’s near impossible to talk about overrated characters without mentioning Dr. Hare — 24 Carrot was but the beginning of his career. Personally, I also think Amelia gets a little more attention than she’s worth.
<img alt="Dr. Hare in Hoptropica" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="68d47f6d-5d66-4336-b680-23dfbb129382" height="203" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-dr-hare.png" width="474" />
Dr. Hare in&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/2020/12/09/hoptropica-is-here/" target="_blank">Hoptropica</a>

&nbsp;

As for most underrated, I’d have to go with Captain Ziggs from<a href="https://poptropi.ca/island-help/steamworks/"> </a><a href="https://poptropi.ca/island-help/steamworks/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Steamworks Island</a>.&nbsp;He’s already gone by the start of the island, but we later learn that he raised the drawbridge to keep the plant monsters at bay before presumably being cornered in his apartment. It’s largely thanks to him that the citizens of Steamworks made it to their cryotubes in time. Quite the unsung hero!
<img alt="Captain Ziggs from Steamworks Island" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="14c3c69c-8d89-442e-a23f-aba86639c300" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-captain-ziggs-steamworks.png" />
Captain Ziggs in&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/island-help/steamworks/" target="_blank">Steamworks Island</a>

&nbsp;

3. What are your favorite scenes, aesthetically and to play through?

It’s definitely difficult to choose, but in my eyes nothing beats Binary Bard’s dream from Super Villain Island. That galaxy artwork is spectacular, and the whole concept of the dream itself is so inventive! The Sacred Tree Hollow from&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/2020/09/21/ramble-twisted-thicket/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Twisted Thicket</a>, with its mystical forest aesthetic, ranks high on the list for me as well.

&nbsp;
<img alt="Super Villain Island - Binary Bard's Dream" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7e4695b-616b-46e4-a917-228d33614adc" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-binary-bard-dream.png" />
Binary Bard’s dream

&nbsp;
<img alt="Twisted Thicket Island's Sacred Tree Hollow" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3792b51a-c734-43b1-a6a6-c37ca57e9448" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-twisted-thicket-sacred-tree.png" />
Sacred Tree Hollow

&nbsp;

4. From your perspective, how have you seen the Poptropica Help Blog (PHB) and community change over time?

It’s always shifting and changing alongside Pop itself. People will come and go often according to those changes; the end of Flash in 2020 brought both a resurgence of new fans excited for the future of the game, as well as those who became less active in the community after the loss of the classic islands. It’s amazing to see how long the PHB’s lasted and how many different people have come here over the years, whether they plant roots or just stop by briefly.

&nbsp;

5. How has your PHB career surprised you?

I’d say I’m most surprised by the sheer amount of ideas, endeavors, and incredible creations that have graced the PHB, during my time as a staff writer and before! Artwork, fanfic, crossovers, animations, fan islands, even fan-made games—there’s so much creativity in the Pop fandom and the PHB holds a good chunk of it.

I didn’t quite know what to expect when joining the staff team, but it’s been a great experience thus far. The support and interactivity that can come from posting my own ideas is really gratifying. I’m thankful to be a part of it!

&nbsp;
<img alt="Purple Paw's Popsona" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="69fd9707-5d7d-4b35-9f77-c9eb0c0851de" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-popsona.jpg" /><img alt="Purple Paw's Popsona Portrait" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f706d119-fee9-466e-bbfb-f1eb2c000f4d" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-popsona-art.jpg" /><img alt="Purple Paw's Twisted Thicket Inspired Popsona" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abf4769c-7a73-441b-8e20-0837bd2e0b8a" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-twisted-thicket-avatar.jpg" />
&nbsp;

6. What inspires you?

As an artist myself, I’ve always been inspired first and foremost by other people’s artwork. I love viewing all the unique styles and methods of creating art and learning about how they’ve evolved throughout history. Getting outside and enjoying nature—whether by hiking, gardening, or finding a nice place to sit and enjoy the view—is a source of peace and inspiration for me as well.

&nbsp;

7. What does the Pop community mean to you?

A lot. It’s become a significant part of my life—alongside meeting a fair amount of my good online friends here, the community’s become an outlet through which to channel my creativity and to view other peoples’ creations as well. Poptropica’s highly nostalgic for me, and it’s really nice to know and interact with other people who relate to that.

&nbsp;
<img alt="Purple Paw's Mood Board" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="91f26f8f-b629-4c6f-81eb-fae127f263af" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-mood-board.jpg" /><img alt="Purple Paw's Popsona Portrait" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="40bf0ef5-942b-45fd-a79a-7db0f58e15b6" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-popsona-art-2.png" /><img alt="Purple Paw's Monster Carnival Art" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9978aebc-6aed-4265-b213-87a650e77a18" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-monster-carnival-art.jpg" />
&nbsp;

8. How have your experiences with the community and Poptropica influenced you IRL?

Plenty of writings, ideas, and pieces of art from my earlier childhood and the present have been heavily inspired by Pop. I remember writing stories based on the events of Astro-Knights and Twisted Thicket, and I even attempted to write a whole play revolving around Night Watch (attempted being the keyword there… ahem). Its myriad of characters even helped me overcome my avoidance of drawing people!

Even now, I still find joy and comfort in the many amazing islands of Pop. It remains special to me, and I can say with certainty it’s made a huge impact on my life.

&nbsp;
<img alt="Purple Paw's Steamworks Dragon Art" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bdb6862b-a891-428e-aaaa-edb3da7f310b" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-steamworks-dragon.jpg" /><img alt="Purple Paw's Madmoiselle Moreau Art" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2401a225-41b2-47b3-9529-512cff40e56e" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-madmoiselle-moreau.jpg" /><img alt="Purple Paw's Lunar Colony Popsona" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1aab3acb-f3ca-4bd2-8442-d4c50c3e58f2" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/purple-paw-robot-popsona.jpg" />
&nbsp;

9. Outside of Poptropica and your PHB involvement, what are you passionate about?

My ungodly amount of art and writing projects. Even though I abandon them frequently, I still care about them equally and do my best to continue them whenever life (and my overactive brain) permits.

&nbsp;

Favorites

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Island:&nbsp;Cryptids</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Backstory/Lore:&nbsp;Myron Van Buren’s family tree on his cabin wall</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Character:&nbsp;Princess Elyana</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Villain:&nbsp;Black Widow</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Costume:&nbsp;Daphne Dreadnaught’s steampunk design</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;
<img alt="Purple Paw's Favorites" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="96a8cfad-e15f-43ed-81da-065d6329cd9d" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/Purple_Paw_favorites.png" />
&nbsp;

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Massive thank you to Purple Paw for their wonderfully creative contributions to the <a href="https://poptropi.ca/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Poptropica Help Blog</a> and Pop community as a whole! See more of <a href="https://poptropi.ca/tag/purple-paw/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Purple Paw’s writing and art on the PHB</a>! ✨

Interview with the Poptropica Help Blog's Purple Paw 💜🐾

<img alt="The PHB's Slanted Fish: Popsona" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="52b45a5a-8304-409a-af44-91449ab305e5" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/slanted-fish-popsona.png" />
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1. How were you first introduced to Poptropica?

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My younger brother found Poptropica on Funbrain and introduced it to me. Back then, we would go on Funbrain to read Jeff Kinney’s&nbsp;Diary of a Wimpy Kid&nbsp;before it became a printed book series!

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2. Who do you think is the most underrated character? Overrated?

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<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Most&nbsp;underrated&nbsp;character:&nbsp;Elf Queen&nbsp;from Twisted Thicket. She doesn’t seem to get mentioned much in the fandom, but her leafy design is absolutely magical, and her storyline very fitting for our modern climate crisis.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Most&nbsp;overrated&nbsp;character:&nbsp;Dr. Hare, who might just be the most marketed Pop character (he even had a whole&nbsp;<a href="https://ideas.lego.com/projects/7ac39c5f-ba8f-4c03-967e-fa9c0b7ea88b">LEGO campaign</a>&nbsp;at one point!). But we love him anyway.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;
<img alt="The PHB's Slanted Fish: Underrated and Overrated Characters" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6b342ec5-6375-43de-8201-879ac58310de" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/slanted-fish-interview-characters.jpg" />
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3. What are your favorite scenes, aesthetically and to play through?

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It’s hard to pick a favorite scene as there are so many that are visually stunning! But to highlight a few, I love the aesthetics of the&nbsp;Imperial Garden on Red Dragon&nbsp;(especially the cherry blossom trees), and the various&nbsp;interactive puzzles on Nabooti, such as the mancala game and the fox-chicken-cornfeed conundrum.

&nbsp;
<img alt="The PHB's Slanted Fish: Favorite Scenes " data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8a943954-91e5-40c0-90a2-65d7d4f5849c" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/slanted-fish-interview-favorite-scenes.jpg" />
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4. From your perspective, how have you seen the Poptropica Help Blog (PHB) and community change over time? 

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The biggest change I’ve noticed personally is that the kids have gotten older, both in the PHB community and the fandom at large. Though Poptropica has always been aimed at kids, it’s fascinating to see how teens and young adults (myself included) still participate in the fandom, often returning from childhood nostalgia and sticking around for the community and inspired storytelling (perhaps even creating some of their own). Of course, young kids are still around. From my perspective, even children are capable of enjoying Poptropica’s more sophisticated stories, particularly those from the classic islands.

 
As for the PHB itself, it’s definitely grown in professionalism over time. When it first started, we were a group of mostly 10–12-year-olds just starting to learn how to run a blog together, with all that entails. We’d create cringey graphics, ramble on in our posts with inside jokes told in all caps, and occasionally have drama spilling over in the comments. Not that we manage to completely avoid that now, but we’ve come a long way since the start and our style has definitely matured a bit. Nowadays the blog is proud to present content that is more consistent, organized, informative, balanced, and still with a touch of fun!

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<img alt="The PHB's Slanted Fish: Drawing of the PHB Team (2014)" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efafcff2-3871-4495-863b-1fe5b587851c" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/slanted-fish-interview-PHB-team-drawing.jpg" />
Poptropica Creator Dr. Lange’s drawing of the PHB team (2014)

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5. How has your PHB career surprised you?

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I’ve been surprised by the&nbsp;rapid popularity&nbsp;of the PHB (it reached 1 million views in its first year, and 13 years later, has over 35 million). But I’m not too concerned about the statistics—I’m more interested in cultivating the&nbsp;quality&nbsp;of people’s visits, and to that end it’s been a blessing to hear from so many Poptropicans over the years who’ve enjoyed what the PHB offers.

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Another surprise is the&nbsp;creativity&nbsp;and intensity of so many fans’&nbsp;Pop-inspired passions, which help shape what the PHB brings to the fandom, from personal <a href="https://poptropi.ca/category/my-place-in-poptropica/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">My Place in Poptropica</a> stories to discoveries of <a href="https://poptropi.ca/category/pop-places-irl/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Pop Places IRL</a>. It’s definitely not a one-person operation—credit goes to the many, many Poptropicans who make it all possible!

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<img alt="The PHB's Slanted Fish: Goldface" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9c25a406-0e53-468b-b9bc-271d88d3c0fd" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/slanted-fish-interview-goldface.jpg" />
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6.&nbsp;What inspires you?

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Inspiration can come from anywhere: an interesting article, artifact, artwork… and it’s important to find some good ones, as that shapes our thought patterns and, eventually, the kind of person we become! As author Annie Dillard wrote, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Besides traveling the islands of Poptropica, I enjoy looking at real-life nature, listening to music and podcasts, and learning the stories of people past and present, as ways to be refreshed and inspired.

 
7.&nbsp;What does the Pop community mean to you?

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To me, it’s as simple as a gathering of&nbsp;people who enjoy Poptropica. They can be of&nbsp;all ages&nbsp;— some are even in their twenties like me. Poptropica fans are&nbsp;creative&nbsp;(just look at all the fan art, blogs, and videos),&nbsp;clever&nbsp;(we enjoy solving puzzles and finding trivia), and&nbsp;concerned&nbsp;(we support each other and sometimes critique for the good of the game we love). Above all, we’re united in our passion for Pop!

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8. From your perspective, how has the community changed over the past 12 years?&nbsp;&nbsp;

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The biggest change I’ve noticed personally is that&nbsp;the kids have gotten older. Though Poptropica has always been aimed at kids, it’s fascinating to see how teens and young adults (myself included) still participate in the fandom, often returning from childhood nostalgia and sticking around for the community and inspired storytelling (perhaps even creating some of their own). Of course, young kids are still around. From my perspective, even&nbsp;children are capable&nbsp;of enjoying Poptropica’s more sophisticated stories, particularly those from the classic islands.

&nbsp;
<img alt="The PHB's Slanted Fish: Community" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8e9ffcd0-2617-478d-83c6-9a37ba6949e1" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/slanted-fish-interview-pop-community.gif" />
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9. How have your experiences with the community and Poptropica influenced you IRL?

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Poptropica’s many whimsical worlds — from the medieval madness of Astro-Knights to the genie glamor of Arabian Nights — have inspired my&nbsp;art&nbsp;and&nbsp;writing, and widened my appreciation for&nbsp;digital storytelling&nbsp;and&nbsp;cultural connections.

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As for the PHB, it has given me a space to&nbsp;write about something I care about, to carefully consider how to express ideas, and help the blog’s staff and guest writers do the same. Having our content read by so many fellow fans is a responsibility, privilege, and a great encouragement to keep building the blessing.

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The skills, friendships, and passions developed over many years of playing and creating carry over to other areas of life too. For me, that has included earning my undergrad degree in English and pursuing a career in communications. With all the diversity in Poptropica and its community comes great potential for many more Poptropicans!

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<img alt="The PHB's Slanted Fish: Fish Namesakes" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a445312a-dd97-430d-bfc9-9071878ff96e" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/slanted-fish-interview-fish-designs.gif" />
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10. Outside of Poptropica and your PHB involvement, what are you passionate about?

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Perhaps it’s cliche, but I’m an advocate for making the world a better place, which can look a million different ways, including social justice, environmental sustainability, and everything in between.

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Touching back on my work with the PHB, and outside of it, I’m also passionate about language. I love conveying ideas through writing, discovering just the right words to use, and appreciating a good pun or poetic line. English is my first language, but Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese are part of my life, too. Being curious about languages opens up new worlds!

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Favorites

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Costume: Fish kimono from Red Dragon</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Island:&nbsp;Shark Tooth</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Backstory/Lore:&nbsp;How islands appear in the world of Poptropica through a central spot in the sea called the Nexus, as described in Poptropica graphic novel #4:&nbsp;<a href="https://poptropi.ca/2017/10/04/review-end-of-time/">The End of Time</a>.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Character: Sprocket</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Hero:&nbsp;Max McGullicutty from Survival</li>
	<li style="margin-left:34px">Villain:&nbsp;Scheherazade</li>
</ul>

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<img alt="The PHB's Slanted Fish: Favorites" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="42de8d3c-527c-489f-904f-0a6b62c3a9b7" src="https://pop-prod-drupal.s3.amazonaws.com/inline-images/slanted-fish-interview-favorites.jpg" />
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<hr />
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Thank you to Slanted Fish for her immeasurable contributions and delightful coverage over the years! Check out <a href="https://poptropica.com/blog/2021/07/guest-post-2021-poppies-and-interview-slanted-fish" title="2021 Interview with Slanted Fish">our previous interview</a>&nbsp;with the <a href="https://poptropi.ca/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Poptropica Help Blog’s</a> editor-in-chief, Slanted Fish, also posted to&nbsp;the<a href="https://poptropi.ca/2021/07/20/interview-slanted-fish-creators/" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline"> PHB</a>!

Interview with the Poptropica Help Blog's Slanted Fish 🎤🐠

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