Popplio is a pinniped Pokémon that is primarily blue. It 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.
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. It practices daily with increasingly larger water bubbles. It can swim at 25 mph (40 km/h). Popplio has complete control of its water bubbles. Popplio is famous for its hard-working nature.
Appearances[]
Main Pokémon games[]
Other Pokémon games[]
In the anime []
Lana owns one in the Sun and Moon series of the anime.
Origin[]
Popplio may be based on a sea lion and a Hawaiian monk seal with elements of a circus clown. Popplio's propensity for blowing bubbles from its nose may also be based on the hooded seal and its inflatable nasal cavity.
Popplio may be a combination of sea lion pup, pop, pōpō (Hawaiian for ball), and ʻīlio-holo-i-ka-uaua (Hawaiian for the Hawaiian monk seal; meaning "dog that runs in rough water").
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. A 2016 community poll by Destructoid ranked Popplio as the least popular Pokémon starter. 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. According to Kotaku, Popplio "attract[ed] indifference, hate, or worse, straight-up pity." 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." Some fans referred to Popplio as "ugly," and its evolution, Brionne, received further criticism for being "too feminine."
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." Popplio was popular with multiple critics, including Vice writer Joel Golby. 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." During the voting of Polygon staff on which is the best Pokémon starter of Pokémon Sun and Moon, none of them voted Popplio. Ashely Oh described Popplio as a "shitty, nominal derivative of Piplup." 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." 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." 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."
Trivia[]
Popplio and its evolved forms are the only First partner Pokémon to have a piscine body.
