Popplio debuted in Pokemon Sun and Moon in 2016 as the Water type starter of the Alola region, alongside Rowlet and Litten. Based on a sea lion performer, it evolves into Brionne and then Primarina, and appeared widely in the Sun and Moon anime with Lana as a partner. Its game cry became a shareable short clip as Pokemon soundboards and starter edits spread on social video, and fans still use it to tag cute, bubbly or proudly showy moments tied to the character.