Movie
Description
Poupelin is a fairy who appears in the anime film Sailor Moon SuperS: The Movie as one of the servants of Queen Badiane. He functions as the leader of the fairies tasked with gathering children for her and has the most direct contact with her among her followers. He is also the older brother of Perle, a fellow fairy whose loyalty to their shared mission becomes strained over the course of the story.
In terms of background, Poupelin is a hummingbird fairy who was recruited by Queen Badiane under the promise that the children of the world would be led to a dream world where everyone would be happy and safe. She told him and the other fairies that children would never grow up and would never be harmed as long as they stayed with her. In reality, Badiane planned to place the collected children into Dream Coffins and drain their dream energy to power the Black Dream Hole, a growing void at Marzipan Castle intended to engulf the Earth. Believing in her promise, Poupelin carried out his role as a collector of children, traveling in a flying gondola.
Personality-wise, Poupelin is enthusiastic and energetic in pursuing his mission. He presents a cheerful and confident manner, playing music and directing his efforts with zeal. Despite acting as an antagonist, he is not portrayed as cruel at heart. He states that he simply wishes children would never have to become adults, and his actions stem from his trust in Badiane's promises rather than from malice. This sincerity makes him distinct from a straightforward villain, and his conduct contrasts with the growing doubt shown by his younger brother.
Poupelin's defining ability is his magical pipe, which he plays to produce a tune known as Three O'Clock Fairy. This melody hypnotizes children and causes them to follow him in a trancelike state, leaving their homes and boarding his gondola. He first uses this power on the children of a German town and later on the children of Tokyo. He also commands small blue creatures called Bonbon Babies, which he sends to attack the Sailor Guardians, and he can create illusions, such as the gingerbread house that deceives them during a confrontation. He is capable of direct combat as well, engaging Tuxedo Mask in a fight. When Sailor Uranus destroys his pipe with the Space Sword, Poupelin loses his power and transforms into a blue hummingbird, flying away in that form.
His role in the story centers on the worldwide disappearance of children caused by the fairies' actions. In Tokyo, Chibiusa falls under the spell of his pipe along with other children, but she is brought back to her senses by those close to her. Poupelin then battles the Sailor Guardians, first with the Bonbon Babies and then through his gingerbread house illusion, until Tuxedo Mask arrives to break the spell. When Perle appears and opposes the fairies, Poupelin becomes angry and cannot understand why his younger brother would turn against him. He nevertheless succeeds in carrying Chibiusa and the other children to Marzipan Castle. During the final confrontation there, he joins the fairies Banane and Orangeat in attacking the Sailor Guardians, but the destruction of his pipe ends his participation in the battle.
His key relationships include Queen Badiane, whom he serves loyally and communicates with most directly; his younger brother Perle, whose conscience and friendship with Chibiusa place him in opposition to Poupelin; and his fellow fairies Banane and Orangeat, with whom he works as a team. His development is tied to the collapse of his beliefs: the mission he thought would protect children is revealed to be a scheme to consume their dreams, and his brother turns away from him. With his pipe broken and his purpose undermined, his story ends when he retreats in the shape of a small bird. His youthful appearance includes green hair and red eyes, and his name recalls an old French word that could refer to a child, fitting for a character whose stated wish is to keep children from growing up.
In terms of background, Poupelin is a hummingbird fairy who was recruited by Queen Badiane under the promise that the children of the world would be led to a dream world where everyone would be happy and safe. She told him and the other fairies that children would never grow up and would never be harmed as long as they stayed with her. In reality, Badiane planned to place the collected children into Dream Coffins and drain their dream energy to power the Black Dream Hole, a growing void at Marzipan Castle intended to engulf the Earth. Believing in her promise, Poupelin carried out his role as a collector of children, traveling in a flying gondola.
Personality-wise, Poupelin is enthusiastic and energetic in pursuing his mission. He presents a cheerful and confident manner, playing music and directing his efforts with zeal. Despite acting as an antagonist, he is not portrayed as cruel at heart. He states that he simply wishes children would never have to become adults, and his actions stem from his trust in Badiane's promises rather than from malice. This sincerity makes him distinct from a straightforward villain, and his conduct contrasts with the growing doubt shown by his younger brother.
Poupelin's defining ability is his magical pipe, which he plays to produce a tune known as Three O'Clock Fairy. This melody hypnotizes children and causes them to follow him in a trancelike state, leaving their homes and boarding his gondola. He first uses this power on the children of a German town and later on the children of Tokyo. He also commands small blue creatures called Bonbon Babies, which he sends to attack the Sailor Guardians, and he can create illusions, such as the gingerbread house that deceives them during a confrontation. He is capable of direct combat as well, engaging Tuxedo Mask in a fight. When Sailor Uranus destroys his pipe with the Space Sword, Poupelin loses his power and transforms into a blue hummingbird, flying away in that form.
His role in the story centers on the worldwide disappearance of children caused by the fairies' actions. In Tokyo, Chibiusa falls under the spell of his pipe along with other children, but she is brought back to her senses by those close to her. Poupelin then battles the Sailor Guardians, first with the Bonbon Babies and then through his gingerbread house illusion, until Tuxedo Mask arrives to break the spell. When Perle appears and opposes the fairies, Poupelin becomes angry and cannot understand why his younger brother would turn against him. He nevertheless succeeds in carrying Chibiusa and the other children to Marzipan Castle. During the final confrontation there, he joins the fairies Banane and Orangeat in attacking the Sailor Guardians, but the destruction of his pipe ends his participation in the battle.
His key relationships include Queen Badiane, whom he serves loyally and communicates with most directly; his younger brother Perle, whose conscience and friendship with Chibiusa place him in opposition to Poupelin; and his fellow fairies Banane and Orangeat, with whom he works as a team. His development is tied to the collapse of his beliefs: the mission he thought would protect children is revealed to be a scheme to consume their dreams, and his brother turns away from him. With his pipe broken and his purpose undermined, his story ends when he retreats in the shape of a small bird. His youthful appearance includes green hair and red eyes, and his name recalls an old French word that could refer to a child, fitting for a character whose stated wish is to keep children from growing up.