Popples is an animated series, based on the Popples toy line, 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, on CITV-DT in Canada, and on Sky Channel in the United Kingdom from 1987 to 1988. 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 marsupial teddy bears with long tails ending in a pom-pom and 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.
In the cartoon, Popples commonly pull large items from their pouches that could not possibly fit inside, such as elephants and pianos, which come from hammerspace; in the episode "Popples Alley", one of the Popples' human friends looks inside one of their pouches and sees numerous objects floating in a void.
Contents
Plot
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.
Spin-offs
The Popples also had a comic book series from Star Comics (an imprint of Marvel Comics).
A new series based on the characters premiered in 2015.
Characters
Humans
Bonnie Wagner (voiced by Barbara Redpath (season 1) and Valri Bromfield (season 2)) is Billy's older sister, who tries to control the chaotic situations the Popples tend to cause.
Billy Wagner (voiced by Noam Zylberman) is Bonnie's younger brother, who does not seem bothered by the antics of the Popples.
Ellen Wagner (voiced by Diane Fabian (season 1)) is Bonnie and Billy's mother, who remains unaware of the Popples, except in the pilot episode. Her face is usually unseen.
Danny Wagner is 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 (voiced by Valri Bromfield) is one of the siblings who moved next to the Wagners in the second season, along with their own Popples.
Penny (voiced by Jeannie Elias) is Mike's sister.
Bonnie & Billy's Popples
P.C. (Pretty Cool) (voiced by Hadley Kay (season 1) and Danny Mann (season 2)) is a 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. P.C. appeared in 40 episodes.
Party (voiced by Louise Vallance) is a large pink Popple who is literally a party animal. She will 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 (voiced by Pauline Rennie (season 1) and Sharon Noble (season 2)) is a 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 (voiced by Dan Hennessey (season 1) and Maurice LaMarche (season 2)) is a medium-sized 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 (voiced by Louise Vallance) is a medium-sized magenta 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 (voiced by Louise Vallance) is a medium-sized 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 (voiced by Len Carlson (season 1) and Danny Mann (season 2)) is a 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.
Mike & Penny's Popples
Punkster (voiced by Danny Mann) is one of the punk-rockstar Popples. Punkster is blue, wears a pink and yellow cape and carries an electric guitar, and has a lightning bolt on his tummy. He is regarded as a father figure for the baby Popples. He always appears with Punkity and was featured in 15 episodes.
Punkity (voiced by Louise Vallance) is 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 a mother figure for the baby Popples. She always appears with Punkster and was featured in 15 episodes.
Bibsy is one of the Baby Popples. Bibsy is white and wears a purple and white bib, booties and bonnet with a star pattern. She was featured in 14 episodes.
Cribsy is 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. She was featured in 14 episodes.
Pufflings are 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, magenta, red, purple, blue and yellow fur.
Sports Popples
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 episode, where they explain they are "new in the neighbourhood". They are voiced 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. He appeared in the episode "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.
Episodes
Popples ran for 44 episodes, including the pilot, with two segments contained in each half-hour show. Both of the season's intros and endings are different.
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 series can be found on Pluto TV and on demand on Paramount+.
Tempo Video (1987–1988)
Broadcast UK history
Sky Channel (1987–1988)