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Huggy Wuggy
Huggy Wuggy
Poppy Playtime character
First game	Poppy Playtime (2021)

Huggy Wuggy is a character from the 2021 horror game Poppy Playtime, developed by Mob Entertainment. He serves as the game's main antagonist.

Appearances

Huggy Wuggy appears in Poppy Playtime as the game's main antagonist, who was one of the toys created in the now-abandoned toy manufacturer Playtime.^[1] In the first chapter, the player encounter him as a large statue display on the center who disappeared after the power has goes out and restores. Suddenly while the player is in the factory's "Make-a-Friend" section, Huggy appears and chases them into the vents before the player send him falling to his death to the bottom of the factory.

Huggy Wuggy has received multiple pieces of merchandise, including plushes, figures and more.^[2]

Concept and design

Huggy Wuggy is the mascot of the fictional company Playtime Co. which he is depicted by his blue fur, and razor-sharp teeth with a wide smile in a terrifying way.^[3]

In an interview with The New York Times, Zach Belanger stated that his idea behind Huggy Wuggy was to "create something entirely new", and that his technique of making him terrifying was by making him larger than everything on screen.^[4]

Reception

Huggy Wuggy has become an iconic character by critics.

Huggy Wuggy has been the subject of controversies involving young children. Dorset Police in England and the Lafayette County, Wisconsin Sheriff's Department both released a statement to parents regarding the character on March 22, 2022,^[5] and April 7,^[6] respectively, claiming that due to the character's name, various videos were not being blocked by firewalls. Snopes writer Jordan Liles confirmed that while there had been reports from parents within the United Kingdom, the police had incorrectly claimed that the character sang songs, despite said songs being fan-made and not appearing in-game. Snopes had also said that inappropriate videos involving the character were not available for younger users on TikTok and YouTube Kids, with spokespersons for each platform confirming so.^[5] Similarly, a primary school in Adelaide also warned parents about the game, specifically adaptations of it and violent songs featuring the character.^[7]

In furthermore, Huggy Wuggy has been the subject of merchandising piracy. Magdalene J. Taylor of The New York Times stated that the character has joined the ranks of unavoidable knockoff toys and trinkets marketed to toddlers, teens and adults worldwide however, she stated that the people who sell the plush of the character don’t seem to know exactly of who he is however, they know he’s popular with children around four to nine-year-old. She also stated that there has been unlicensed plushes sold online which doesn’t differentiate them with the character. Drake Vogl, a licensing assistant at Mob said that "by November, there were already knockoff Huggy dolls" which it took the company five months from the game’s release to develop its own licensed products, giving other manufacturers ample opportunity to distribute unlicensed merchandise.^[4]

References

^ Rousselle, Christine (9 March 2023). "What is 'Huggy Wuggy,' the 'sinister'-looking toy popping up for sale on streets of NYC?". Fox News. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
^ "話題のホラーゲー『Poppy Playtime』国内初の公式グッズが予約開始！"こわかわいい"、ポップな仕上がりに". インサイド (in Japanese). 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
^ Dickson, Ej (2022-04-09). "Parents Are Freaking Out Over Huggy Wuggy, a Janky Blue Bear With Razor-Sharp Teeth". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
^ ^a ^b Taylor, Magdalene J. (February 17, 2023). "The Terrifying Plushie Taking Over Gift Shops Everywhere". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
^ ^a ^b Liles, Jordan (6 April 2022). "Huggy Wuggy Police Warning Prompts Misleading Rumors About TikTok and YouTube Kids". Snopes. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
^ Tornabene, Juliana (7 April 2022). "'Huggy Wuggy'-inspired videos brings on warning from Lafayette Co. officials". WMTV. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
^ Keane, Daniel (13 July 2022). "Viral video game character's 'sinister' side triggers warning to parents". ABC News. Retrieved 9 April 2023.

List

[1] Rousselle, Christine (9 March 2023). "What is 'Huggy Wuggy,' the 'sinister'-looking toy popping up for sale on streets of NYC?". Fox News. Retrieved 20 March 2023.

[2] "話題のホラーゲー『Poppy Playtime』国内初の公式グッズが予約開始！"こわかわいい"、ポップな仕上がりに". インサイド (in Japanese). 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

[3] Dickson, Ej (2022-04-09). "Parents Are Freaking Out Over Huggy Wuggy, a Janky Blue Bear With Razor-Sharp Teeth". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-03-17.

[:0-4] Taylor, Magdalene J. (February 17, 2023). "The Terrifying Plushie Taking Over Gift Shops Everywhere". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-16.

[:snopes-5] Liles, Jordan (6 April 2022). "Huggy Wuggy Police Warning Prompts Misleading Rumors About TikTok and YouTube Kids". Snopes. Retrieved 7 April 2022.

[6] Tornabene, Juliana (7 April 2022). "'Huggy Wuggy'-inspired videos brings on warning from Lafayette Co. officials". WMTV. Retrieved 9 April 2022.

[7] Keane, Daniel (13 July 2022). "Viral video game character's 'sinister' side triggers warning to parents". ABC News. Retrieved 9 April 2023.

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