September 13, 1986 (1986-09-13) – July 18, 1987 (1987-07-18)
Popples is an animated series, based on the Popples toys, created by Marie Cisterino, Janet Jones, Fran Kariotakis, Janet Redding, and Susan Trentel, that aired in syndication in the United States from 1986 to 1987 and Sky Channel in the United Kingdom from 1987 to 1988.[1] The cartoon was produced by DIC Enterprises and LBS Communications in association with The Maltese Companies.
Like the toys which they are based on, the Popples resemble colorful teddy bears/rabbits with long, pompom-tipped tails, and they have pouches on their backs that allow them to curl into a fuzzy ball. All the Popples stutter when they say words with the letter "P" in them. The name "Popple" is a reference to the popping sound they make when unfolding themselves from such a ball, or pulling objects from their pouches.[2] In the cartoon Popples commonly pull large items from their pouches that could not possibly fit inside, which come from hammerspace; in "Popples Alley", one of the Popples' human friends looks inside one of their pouches and sees numerous objects floating in a void.
Nine of the Popples live with a human brother and sister, Billy and Bonnie Wagner. Billy and Bonnie think they are the only kids who have Popples until a neighbor family moves in and they have their own Popples — the Rock Stars, Pufflings, and Babies. The Popples tend to make the kids activities go out of hand, but with beneficial results by the end. The plot revolved around the children's efforts to hide the existence of the Popples from the adults around them, although their existence is found out by the Wagner parents in the pilot and not in the cartoons.
Bonnie Wagner: Older sister of Billy, who tries to control the chaotic situations the Popples tend to cause.
Billy Wagner: Younger brother of Bonnie, who doesn't seem bothered by the antics of the Popples.
Ellen Wagner: Bonnie and Billy's mother, who remains unaware of the Popples, except in the pilot episode. Her face is usually unseen.
Danny Wagner: Bonnie and Billy's father, also unaware of the Popples, except in the pilot episode. Appears less than his wife, and his face is usually unseen, like his wife.
Mike: One of the siblings who moved next to the Wagners in the second season, along with their own Popples.
Penny: Mike's sister.
Bonnie & Billy's Popples
PC (Pretty Cool): Large blue Popple, who serves as the co-leader of the bunch along with Party. Although he loves to have fun, he never lets things get too out of hand and is probably the most sensible member of the group. He also has a magic finger snap that can trigger all sorts of neat surprises. PC appeared in 40 episodes.
Party: Large pink Popple who is literally a party animal. She'll find a reason to party any time day or night and is always pulling party hats and confetti from her pouch. Party serves as the primary Popple, as she appears in 41 of the show's 46 episodes and on the Popples logo.
Pancake: Large dark magenta (maroon) Popple who is very sweet and affectionate. She likes to tickle Billy and Bonnie with her tail and always knows just what to do to cheer someone up. Pancake had the fewest appearances of the original nine Popples, appearing in only 10 episodes.
Puzzle: Orange Popple who is more or less the bookworm of the bunch. He enjoys reading and is quite intelligent, but he still has a great sense of humor. Puzzle is also shown to be a good swimmer. Puzzle appeared in 15 episodes.
Prize: Hot Pink Popple who is very vain and takes great pride in her appearance. She has a small crush on PC, speaks in a Marilyn Monroe-esque voice and dreams of being a film star. Prize appeared in 15 episodes.
Puffball: White Popple who loves to throw her voice around. She is very skilled at imitating voices to trick people and Popples alike. She also hates getting her white fur dirty and tries hard to stay clean. Puffball appeared in 15 episodes.
Putter: Small green Popple who is somewhat hyperactive and has a tendency to do practical jokes but is very playful. Putter has a knack for fixing and inventing things, but they do not always work quite like he expects. Putter had the most appearances outside of the two lead Popples, appearing in 25 episodes.
Potato Chip: Small yellow Popple who loves to eat snacks. Sweet, sour or salty, Potato Chip loves them all and has quite an appetite for such a small Popple. She also has a talent for imitating sounds and sound effects. Potato Chip appeared in 18 episodes.
Pretty Bit: Small purple Popple who almost always speaks in rhyme. She is more shy than most of the Popples, but is still very loyal to her friends. She enjoys poetry and is also an expert on manners and etiquette. Pretty Bit appeared in 11 episodes.
Mike & Penny's Popples
Punkster: One of the punk-rockstar Popples. Punkster is blue, wears a pink and yellow cape and carries a guitar, and has a lightning bolt on his tummy. He is regarded as Papa Popple for the baby Popples. Always appears with Punkity and was featured in 15 episodes.
Punkity: The other punk-rockstar Popple. Punkity is magenta, wears a green hair accessory and earrings and carries a microphone or tambourine, and has a star on her tummy. She is regarded as Mama Popple for the baby Popples. Always appears with Punkster and was featured in 15 episodes.
Bibsy: One of the Baby Popples. Bibsy is white and wears a purple and white bib, booties and bonnet with a star pattern. He was featured in 14 episodes.
Cribsy: Another Baby Popple. Cribsy is pink, and wears a striped white and blue hat with a matching bib and booties and even her eyelids are blue. He was featured in 14 episodes.
Pufflings: A sub-species of smaller Popples. Pufflings are unable to speak, but communicate with others with a high-pitched warbling sound. The Pufflings like to hop and bounce around and sometimes give out joke tags that one of the Popples will read out loud. The six Pufflings have white, dark blue, red, purple, light blue and yellow fur.
Sports Popples
This was a group of six sports-themed Popples who appeared in only two episodes: "Decatha-Pop-A-Lon Popples" (in which all six appeared) and "Popple Cheer" (in which all but Cuester appeared). The only previously established character they ever make contact with is Bonnie, in the latter cartoon, where they explain they're "new in the neighbourhood". They are both played by Danny Mann.
The Sports Popples each specialize in one sport, wears an outfit based on that sport, and folds into an appropriate type of ball. Even their tails are shaped like sports balls:
Big Kick is a soccer player who turns into a soccerball.
Cuester is a pool player who turns into an 8-ball and appeared in "Decatha-Pop-A-Lon Popples".
Dunker is a long-limbed basketball player who turns into a basketball.
Net Set is a tennis player who turns into a tennis ball.
Pitcher is a baseball player who turns into a baseball.
T.D. (Touchdown) is a player of American football who turns into a football.
Popples broadcast 47 episodes, including the pilot, with two segments contained in each half-hour show. Both of the season's intros and endings are different.
Season 1 (1986–1987)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Original air date
1
1
"Popples: The Movie"
6 September 1986 (6 September 1986)
A two-reel live action movie stars Brady Bluhm as Billy, Kamie Harper as Bonnie, and Nancy Lenehan and Jim Staahl as their parents. In this spectacular movie, Billy and Bonnie must rescue the Popples when their parents accidentally send them to Goodwill, which follows a surprise remodel of the family's attic. This film marks the first appearance of Billy, Bonnie, their parents and the Popples.
2
2
"Popples Panic at the Library"
13 September 1986 (13 September 1986)
The Popples help Bonnie choose a book to take home. This episode marks the first appearance of Bonnie, Party, P.C., Potato Chip, Puzzle and the librarian.
3
3
"Cooking Up a Storm"
20 September 1986 (20 September 1986)
The Popples get up to some cooking antics. This episode marks the first appearance of Billy, Putter, Pancake and Pretty Bit.
4
4
"Molars, Bicuspids and Popples"
27 September 1986 (27 September 1986)
Billy goes to the dentist for a check-up. This episode marks the first appearance of Prize, Billy's mom and the dentist.
5
5
"The Treasure of Popple Beach"
4 October 1986 (4 October 1986)
The Popples are trying to find the treasure of Popple Beach. This episode marks the first appearance of Puffball.
6
6
"Poppin' at the Car Wash"
11 October 1986 (11 October 1986)
Billy, Bonnie and the Popples are visiting the car wash.
7
7
"Springtime's a Poppin'"
18 October 1986 (18 October 1986)
The Popples help Billy and Bonnie plant a garden.
8
8
"Popples Play Pee Wee Golf"
25 October 1986 (25 October 1986)
Billy, Bonnie and the Popples are playing a game of Pee Wee Golf when they're about to get a hole in one, and get $25 to buy their mother a present.
9
9
"Popples Flood the Fluff 'n' Fold"
1 November 1986 (1 November 1986)
When Billy gets his mouse costume for the school play dirty, he and the Popples head to the laundrette, where the Popples cause a very big flood.
10
10
"Clean Sweep of Things"
8 November 1986 (8 November 1986)
Billy enlists the help of the Popples to clean up his bedroom.
11
11
"Poppin' Wheelies"
15 November 1986 (15 November 1986)
Billy, Bonnie and the Popples are visiting a roller rink to try out their skates, eventually the Popples decided to go skating too.
12
12
"Bonnie's Popple Party"
22 November 1986 (22 November 1986)
When Bonnie's birthday plans get put on hold, Billy and the Popples decide to throw their own surprise party for her.
13
13
"Aisles of Trouble"
29 November 1986 (29 November 1986)
When Billy and Bonnie discover that there isn't any food to eat at their house, the Popples sneak off the grocery store on their own.
14
14
"Popples' Paint Party"
6 December 1986 (6 December 1986)
Billy is making a science project at school and the Popples are helping him too. Meanwhile, Prize turns into a statue.
15
15
"Pop-Paring for Bed"
13 December 1986 (13 December 1986)
When the Popples decide to help Billy and Bonnie get ready for bed, they accidentally turned the bathroom into a big giant mess. Luckily, Puffball is there to help sort it out, with a ukulele.
16
16
"Poppolympics"
20 December 1986 (20 December 1986)
When Billy and Bonnie were away to the junior Olympics, the Popples hold their own annual Poppolympics, and despite not having a gold medal like the others, Pretty Bit is determined to win it. This is the first episode with all the Popples.
17
17
"Sports Shop Pop"
27 December 1986 (27 December 1986)
The Popples follow Billy and Bonnie to a sports shop where they try out different sports.
18
18
"Takin' Out the Trash"
3 January 1987 (3 January 1987)
The Popples try several plans to help Billy take out the trash, but with each plan the mess seems to get even worse.
19
19
"A Hair Raising Experience"
10 January 1987 (10 January 1987)
The Popples are causing mayhem at the hairdressers.
20
20
"Pop Goes the Radio"
17 January 1987 (17 January 1987)
Going head to head with Tommy, Billy is entering his plane to a plane flying competition, with Putter riding on it.
21
21
"Poppin' Pillow Talk"
24 January 1987 (24 January 1987)
Bonnie, Party, Potato Chip and Prize are having a pillow talk. Meanwhile, Billy and P.C. have other plans to stop them.
22
22
"Popples' Alley"
Sometime between 24 and 31 January 1987 (Sometime between 24 and 31 January 1987)
Bonnie are at a bowling alley, with the other Popples causing mayhem at every turn.
23
23
"Where the Pop Flies"
31 January 1987 (31 January 1987)
It's the day of the baseball game, and Billy is about to hit the home run, but not with the Popples, because they'll ruin the game.
24
24
"Hooray for Hollywood Popples!"
7 February 1987 (7 February 1987)
Billy and Bonnie are visiting the movie studios in Hollywood. Meanwhile, the Popples tag along and decide to make their own movie.
25
25
"Backyard Bigtop"
14 February 1987 (14 February 1987)
When Billy and Bonnie are feeling sick and can't go to the circus, the Popples had to make their own circus for them. This is the second episode with all the Popples.
26
26
"Backyard Adventure"
21 February 1987 (21 February 1987)
Billy, Bonnie and the Popples are going camping together. But when the wind tries to blow the tent, the Popples have to build a brick wall to stop the wind blowing the tent.
27
27
"Poppin' at the Drive In"
28 February 1987 (28 February 1987)
Billy, Bonnie and the Popples are at a drive-in cinema, where the Popples cause much fun on the big screen.
Season 2 (1987)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Written by
Original air date
25
1
"Popplin' Around the Block"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
7 March 1987 (7 March 1987)
The Popples are going around the block with their new friends and discover new things.
26
2
"Moving Day"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
14 March 1987 (14 March 1987)
It's Moving Day and Billy and Bonnie meet their new neighbors and friends Mike and Penny. Meanwhile, all the Popples meet Mike and Penny's new popples and hold a very special parade at their house. This episode marks the first appearance of Mike, Penny, Punkster, Punkity, Bibsy, Cribsy and the Pufflings and the last appearance of Pancake. This episode is also the season premiere.
27
3
"Treehouse Capers"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
21 March 1987 (21 March 1987)
When Billy, Bonnie, Mike and Penny have an argument when they build their treehouse, the Popples help build it themselves.
28
4
"No Bizness Like Popple Bizness"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
28 March 1987 (28 March 1987)
When the kids were away, the Popples decide to make a video for them.
29
5
"Museum Peace"
George Edwards
4 April 1987 (4 April 1987)
The museum is closed, and there's no way Billy and Bonnie can't get in. Meanwhile, inside the museum, the Popples are taking the fun out of it.
30
6
"Lemonade Stand-Off"
Bob Logan
11 April 1987 (11 April 1987)
Billy and Mike are holding a lemonade stand for everyone, but there was no one there. Meanwhile, the Popples tried to help them.
31
7
"Popple Post Office"
Bob Logan
18 April 1987 (18 April 1987)
Billy and Bonnie are taking a letter to the post office, but the Popples are too cheeky to join in as well.
32
8
"Funhouse Folly"
George Edwards
25 April 1987 (25 April 1987)
The fairground is closed, and there's no way Billy and Bonnie can't go. Meanwhile, the Popples are taking the fun in the hall of mirrors and loads of other things.
33
9
"Fixer Upper Popples"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
2 May 1987 (2 May 1987)
The Popples are trying to fix things, but the things they tried isn't getting too well.
34
10
"Rock Around the Popples"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
9 May 1987 (9 May 1987)
Mike is taking his tuba to a music store, when out of the blue, the Popples are joining him too.
35
11
"The College of Popple Knowledge"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
16 May 1987 (16 May 1987)
When Penny meets Bonnie on their bikes, Bibsy and Cribsy head off to school, but there was no school left for them. Luckily, the other Popples are planning their own college, starting with Puzzle for maths.
36
12
"Popple Cheer"
Jody Miles Conner
23 May 1987 (23 May 1987)
Bonnie is on cheerleading duty, when out of the blue, the Sports Popples are there to give her a hand. This episode marks the first appearance of the Sports Popples, but this episode only features T.D., Big Kick, Dunker, Net Set and Pitcher.
37
13
"Barn Hoopla"
Jody Miles Conner
30 May 1987 (30 May 1987)
Bonnie is visiting a farm. Meanwhile, the Popples are having fun in it, causing madness and mayhem at every turn. This episode marks the last appearance of Prize.
38
14
"The Jellybean Jamboree"
Jody Miles Conner
6 June 1987 (6 June 1987)
It's the Jellybean Jamboree at school, and Billy and Mike are going too, while the Popples are joining in as well. This episode marks the last appearance of Billy.
39
15
"Private Eye Popples"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
13 June 1987 (13 June 1987)
The Popples are pretending to be detectives, and things were very wonky here, but it was sure fun, until Mike and Penny returned.
40
16
"The Repair Shop"
Jody Miles Conner
20 June 1987 (20 June 1987)
Bonnie is taking the doll to the repair shop, but the Popples are visiting too. This episode marks the last appearance of Puffball and Potato Chip.
41
17
"Decatha-Pop-a-Lon Popples"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
27 June 1987 (27 June 1987)
The Sports Popples are holding their very own sporting events. This marks the only appearance of Cuester, since he was the only Sports Popple left and the last appearance of the Sports Popples.
42
18
"Cuckoo Choo Choo"
Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
4 July 1987 (4 July 1987)
The Popples are making a train station. This marks the last appearance of Mike and Putter.
43
19
"The Popple Fashion Parade"
Jody Miles Conner
11 July 1987 (11 July 1987)
Bonnie and the Popples are holding a show in the night, but when morning came, Penny appeared and tells Bonnie, she is having too much fun with the Popples. This marks the last appearance of Bonnie and Pretty Bit.
44
20
"Poppin' at the Zoo"
Jody Miles Conner
18 July 1987 (18 July 1987)
Penny and the Popples are visiting the zoo. The Popples are having so much fun, causing madness and mayhem at every turn, meeting animals and playing. This marks the last appearance of Penny, Party, P.C., Puzzle, Punkster, Punkitty, Bibsy, Cribsy and the Pufflings. This is also the final episode of the series.
Release
Home media
A single-disc DVD of the series was released in the UK by Maximum Entertainment in 2004, containing 10 segments.
Streaming
As of 2020, the show can be found on Pluto TV and on demand at Paramount+.
^Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 474. ISBN978-1538103739.
^Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 471–472. ISBN978-1476665993.
