Popplio
Pokémon character
Popplio artwork by Ken Sugimori
First gamePokémon Sun and Moon (2016)
Voiced byEnglish
Eileen Stevens
Laurie Hymes
Japanese
Rikako Aikawa
In-universe information
SpeciesPokémon
TypeWater

Popplio, known as Ashimari (アシマリ) in Japan, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Popplio is referred to as the "Sea Lion Pokémon" and was introduced as a starter Pokémon in the 2016 video games Pokémon Sun and Moon. Popplio is a Water-type pinniped Pokémon that is primarily blue. Popplio initially received generally negative responses from both critics and fans, but this reception improved when Sun and Moon released.

Concept and design

Popplio is a fictional species of Pokémon created for the Pokémon franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the series began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the video games Pokémon Red and Blue for the Game Boy.[1] In these games, the player assumes the role of a Pokémon Trainer whose goal is to capture and train creatures called Pokémon. Players use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon, and some can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution.[2] A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia,[3] by capturing, evolving, and trading to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.[2]

Popplio are sea lion Pokémon that can do tricks and form water bubbles from their "clown-like nose".[4][5] Popplio is a Water-type pinniped Pokémon that has large eyes, a long, white snout with black whiskers and a round, pink nose. There is a small, rounded earflap on each side of its head. Around its neck is a light blue ruff, which extends past its shoulders. It has four flippers. The front flippers are larger than the hind and have white markings separating its toes.[6][5] Popplio is able to snort bubbles of water from its nose, which it uses as part of its battle strategy. On land, it uses the elasticity of its bubbles to perform acrobatic stunts and jumps.[5] It evolves into Brionne, which later evolves into Primarina.[7][8]

Appearances

Popplio originally appeared in Pokémon Sun and Moon and later Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon as a starter Pokémon.[4][9] It is not obtainable in the base version of the games Pokémon Sword and Shield or Pokémon Scarlet and Violet; instead, it was added as part of post-game downloadable content for each: The Isle of Armor and The Indigo Disk respectively. Popplio has also appeared in Pokémon spin-offs, including as a partner Pokémon to Elio in Pokémon Masters EX and Pokémon Go.

In the anime, Lana, a protagonist in the Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, owned a Popplio as her main Pokémon. Lana's Popplio evolved fully into a Primarina in the series. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Popplio is owned by Professor Kukui and later becomes a Primarina.[10]

Reception

In contrast to the positive reactions to Rowlet and Litten, Popplio initially received negative reactions across social media platforms; however, these reactions have generally become more neutral or positive over time, leading many to see Popplio as a polarizing addition.[4][11][12] A 2016 community poll by Destructoid ranked Popplio as the least popular Pokémon starter.[13] In a Twitter poll held by The Pokémon Company International, Popplio was the least popular of the three starters, receiving only 21 percent of the vote.[14][11] According to Kotaku, Popplio "attract[ed] indifference, hate, or worse, straight-up pity."[11] As a result, supporters of Popplio began to defend the Pokémon, with writer Christian Hoffer noting how Popplio's fans have formed a 'Popplio Defense Squad' dedicated to send out "positive vibes."[12] Some fans referred to Popplio as "ugly," and its evolution, Brionne, received further criticism for being "too feminine."[8]

In response to the criticisms, Pokémon Sun and Moon director Shigeru Ohmori stated that "I personally think that Popplio was very cute and he'll be very popular with a lot of people."[15] Popplio was popular with multiple critics, including Vice writer Joel Golby.[16] Nintendo World Report writer Donald Theriault discussed how people considered it ugly, noting aspects of its aesthetic that were good, such as the frill around its neck. Additionally, he noted how Froakie went from looking "really plain" to being the most popular starter in Pokémon X and Y, saying that the starter was just a "means to an end," saying that he has a soft spot for the "underdog."[17] During the voting of Polygon staff on which is the best Pokémon starter of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, none of them voted Popplio. Ashely Oh described Popplio as a "shitty, nominal derivative of Piplup."[18] Megan Farokhmanesh of The Verge described Popplio as "very ugly;" however, she felt that its evolution, Primarina, was an improvement, talking about how it represents going from the "last pangs of youth" to being "confident in your style."[6] Polygon writer Allegra Frank discussed the initial backlash, and reacted to the reveal of Primarina, talking about how it changed the perception from the "stupid-looking, clown-nosed" Pokémon to "a precious flower, a gorgeous beauty, and a true beauty."[5] Paste Magazine writer Janine Hawkins found the criticism questionable, thinking that there was nothing "fundamental about Popplio's design that invites hatred." She noted that some people feel it's designed after a clown, which she identifies as not being "widely liked," she felt it looked more like a circus seal. She compared Popplio to Mimikyu, saying that the reason Mimikyu is so popular and Popplio is not is because "Mimikyu needs you, and Popplio probably doesn't."[19]

References

  1. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (December 25, 2016). "Pokémon Red & Blue – A Look Back At The 20-Year Journey To Catch 'Em All". Game Informer. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Allison, Anne (May 2006). Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 192–197. ISBN 9780520938991.
  3. ^ "Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Preview". Nintendo Power. Vol. 165. February 2003. p. 102.
  4. ^ a b c Ashcraft, Brian (May 10, 2016). "These Are Your Pokémon Sun and Moon Starters". Kotaku. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Frank, Allegra (May 10, 2016). "Take a closer look at Pokémon Sun and Moon's new monsters". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 14, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Farokhmanesh, Megan (October 27, 2016). "An apology to the pokémon Popplio for all the things I said". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Frank, Allegra (October 18, 2016). "Popplio's evolutionary line is Pokémon's best ugly duckling story". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Hernandez, Patricia (October 5, 2016). "Starter Pokémon's 'Feminine' Evolution Is Bothering Some Fans". Kotaku. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Becht, Eli (September 22, 2017). "Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon Trailer Shows Off Mantine Surfing". Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Rose, Edward (June 30, 2021). "10 Pokémon That Rarely Ever Appear In The Anime". CBR. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Hernandez, Patricia (May 11, 2016). "Pour One Out For Popplio, The New Pokémon Starter That Nobody Likes". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on June 13, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  12. ^ a b Alexander, Julia (November 23, 2016). "The cult of Popplio was created to defend, cherish Pokémon's divisive monster". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  13. ^ Hansen, Steven (May 13, 2016). "Damn, y'all HATE Popplio". Destructoid. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  14. ^ @pokemon (May 11, 2016). "Now that you've met Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio, which do you think has the most potential? #PokemonSunMoon" (Tweet). Retrieved June 13, 2016 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Hernandez, Patricia (October 19, 2016). "Pokémon Sun and Moon's Devs Respond To The Popplio Backlash". Kotaku. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  16. ^ Golby, Joel (May 10, 2016). "A Baseless Kneejerk Reaction to the Three Newly Announced Pokémon". Vice. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  17. ^ Theriault, Donald (May 16, 2016). "The NWR Pokemon Sun and Moon Starter Debate". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Frank, Allegra (May 10, 2016). "The staff of Polygon officially crowns Pokémon Sun and Moon's best starter". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  19. ^ Hawkins, Janine (July 25, 2016). "The Power of Helplessness: Why Everybody Loves Mimikyu and Hates Popplio". Paste. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021.

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