The Popples was
part of the 90-minute cartoon block Kideo TV, which also
contained The Get-Along Gang, Ulysses 31, and Rainbow Brite.
Based on a series of toys created by American Greeting Cards,
these tiny, magical creatures had arms, legs, and heads that,
when contracted and stuffed into the pouches on their backs,
looked like little balls of fluff. Their name was derived from
the popping sound made when the Popples sprang back to their
normal shape.
In the cartoon, preteens Bonnie and Billy, whose attic the
Popples occupied, were the only two who knew of the existence
of the little pastel furballs. The show never had any
villains, but that didn't stop the good-natured Popples from
creating their own inadvertent havoc. When the children went
somewhere the Popples usually tagged along and ended up making
a mess when adults weren't around to see . . . but they always
managed to clean up their mishaps before they were discovered.
Seemingly small and helpless, the Popples were actually well
equipped to handle whatever situation they encountered simply
by drawing any item they needed from the pouches on their
backs.
Whenever the Popples needed more help than their gadgets
could give, they asked for assistance from the tykes in the
home audience. Soon, an animated child's hand would magically
appear, successfully helping the Popples out of their mess.
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