Popples was a Saturday morning cartoon, based on the Popples toys, that aired in the United States from 1986 to 1987. The pilot was a live-action Shelley Duvall special, in which they were puppets and marionettes; after this was well-received, it was decided to make a cartoon series with the same characters. The cartoon was produced by DIC Entertainment and LBS Communications in association with The Maltese Companies. Like the toys they're based on, the Popples resemble colorful teddy bears or rabbits with long, pompom-tipped tails, and they have pouches on their backs that can be everted so they resemble fuzzy balls. 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 couldn't 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 come around and mess up whatever the kids are trying to do; e.g., if the kids are trying to brush their teeth, the Popples end up spilling water, toothpaste and soap all over the bathroom. If the kids are trying to clean their rooms, the Popples come along, mess up the room even worse and then help them get everything back to normal just in the nick of time. The plot revolved around the children's efforts to hide the existence of the Popples from the adults around them.
Popples Panic at the Library
Sep 13, 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.
Cookin Up a Storm
Sep 20, 1986
The Popples get up to some cooking antics. This episode marks the first appearance of Billy, Putter, Pancake and Pretty Bit.
Molars And Biscuspids, And Popples
Sep 27, 1986
Billy goes to the dentist for a check-up. This episode marks the first appearance of Prize, Billy's mom and the dentist.
Treasure Of Popple Beach
Oct 4, 1986
The Popples are trying to find the treasure of Popple Beach. This episode marks the first appearance of Puffball.
Popping at the Car Wash
Oct 11, 1986
Billy, Bonnie and the Popples are visiting the car wash.
Springtime's A Poppin
Oct 18, 1986
The Popples help Billy and Bonnie plant a garden.
Popples Play Pee Wee Golf
Oct 25, 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.
Popples Flood The Fluff-N-Fold
Nov 1, 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.
Clean Sweep Of Things
Nov 8, 1986
Billy enlists the help of the Popples to clean up his bedroom.
Poppin' Wheelies
Nov 15, 1986
Billy, Bonnie and the Popples are visiting a roller rink to try out their skates, eventually the Popples decided to go skating too!
Bonnie's Popple Part
Nov 22, 1986
When Bonnie's birthday plans get put on hold, Billy and the Popples decide to throw their own surprise party for her.
Aisles Of Trouble
Nov 29, 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.
Popples Paint Party
Dec 6, 1986
Billy is making a science project at school and the Popples are helping him too. Meanwhile, Prize turns into a statue!
Pop-Paring For Bed
Dec 13, 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 an ukulele, that is!
Poppolympics
Dec 20, 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.
Sports Shop Pop
Dec 27, 1986
The Popples follow Billy and Bonnie to a sports shop where they try out different sports.
Taking Out The Trash
Jan 3, 1987
The Popples try several plans to help Billy take out the trash, but with each plan the mess seems to get even worse.
A Hair-Raising Experience
Jan 10, 1987
The Popples are causing mayhem at the hairdressers.
Pop Goes The Radio
Jan 17, 1987
Going head to head with Tommy, Billy is entering his plane to a plane flying competition, with Putter riding on it!
Poppin' Pillow Talk
Jan 24, 1987
Bonnie, Party, Potato Chip and Prize are having a pillow talk. Meanwhile, Billy and P.C. have other plans to stop them.
Popples' Alley
Jul 4, 1987
Bonnie are at a bowling alley, with the other Popples causing mayhem at every turn.
Where The Pop Flies
Jan 31, 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!
Backyard Adventure
Feb 21, 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.
Poppin At The Drive-In
Feb 28, 1987
Billy, Bonnie and the Popples are at a drive-in cinema, where the Popples cause much fun on the big screen!
Hurray For Hollywood
Feb 7, 1987
Billy and Bonnie are visiting the movie studios in Hollywood. Meanwhile, the Popples tag along and decide to make their own movie!
Backyard Bigtop
Feb 14, 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.
Moving Day
Mar 14, 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 really the season premiere.
Popple Post Office
Apr 18, 1987
Billy and Bonnie are taking a letter to the post office. But the Popples are too cheeky to join in as well.
Poppin' Around The Block
Mar 7, 1987
The Popples are going around the block with their new friends and discover new things.
The Popple Fashion Parade
Jul 11, 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.
Tree House Capers
Mar 21, 1987
When Billy, Bonnie, Mike and Penny have an argument when they build their treehouse, the Popples help build it themselves.
Museum Peace
Apr 4, 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.
Funhouse Folly
Apr 25, 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.
The Jellybean Jamboree
Jun 6, 1987
It's the Jellybean Jamboree at school, and Billy and Mike are going too! Meanwhile, the Popples are joining in as well! This episode marks the last appearance of Billy.
Cuckoo Choo Choo
Jul 4, 1987
The Popples are making a train station. This marks the last appearance of Mike and Putter.
The College Of Popple Knowledge
May 16, 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.
No Bizness Like Popple Bizness
Mar 28, 1987
When the kids were away, the Popples decide to make a video for them.
Barn Hoopla
May 30, 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.
Lemonade Stand-Off
Apr 11, 1987
Billy and Mike are holding a lemonade stand for everyone, unfortunately, there was no one there. Meanwhile, the Popples tried to help them.
Rock Around The Popples
May 9, 1987
Mike is taking his tuba to a music store, when out of the blue, the Popples are joining him too!
Fixer-Upper Popples
May 2, 1987
The Popples are trying to fix things, but the things they tried isn't getting too well.
The Repair Shop
Jun 20, 1987
Bonnie is taking the doll to the repair shop, unfortunately, the Popples are visiting too! This episode marks the last appearance of Puffball and Potato Chip.
Private Eye Popples
Jun 13, 1987
The Popples are pretending to be detectives, and things were very wonky here, but it was sure fun, until Mike and Penny returned.
Poppin' at the Zoo
Jul 18, 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.
Popple Cheer
May 23, 1987
Bonnie is on cheerleading duty, when out of the blue, the Sports Popples are there to give her a hand. This episodes marks the first appearance of the Sports Popples, but this episode only features T.D., Big Kick, Dunker, Net Set and Pitcher.
Decatha-Pop-A-Lon Popples
Jun 27, 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.
