Poppy Playtime has a big cast of characters across its first three chapters, and we're here to break down their motivations, past, and lore so you can catch up on the wider story.
On this page, we'll cover the leader of the Smiling Critters, DogDay.
Spoiler Warning!
Be aware that there will be spoilers for the third chapter below.
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DogDay | |
First Appearance | Chapter 3: Deep Sleep |
Status During The Events of Poppy Playtime? | Alive |
Toy or Human? | Toy |
DogDay
The plucky leader of the Smiling Critters and one of the Bigger Bodies experiments living in Playcare, DogDay was a friend to the orphans and one of the main toys standing up against the rule of the Prototype.
However, when we meet DogDay, he's definitely not in the best shape. Strung up in a prison cell in the PlayHouse, we discover that DogDay was tortured and mutilated by Catnap, and has remained his prisoner ever since.
But why was DogDay mercilessly attacked by Catnap? And what's his history before resisting the Prototype's rule in the years following the Hour of Joy?
The History of The Smiling Critters
In the late 80s, Playtime attempted to launch their most ambitious brand yet: The Smiling Critters. Assembling a bunch of marketable toys with their unique personalities, the company figured the plushes would be hit new products.
DogDay was the leader of this group. He was depicted as a brave, reliable pup who would look after all his friends no matter what.
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We get a good idea of DogDay's role in the group during the episode of the Smiling Critters cartoon shown during the cold opening of Chapter 3. The rest of the critters are terrified because of a storm outside, including DogDay. However, as the leader, he tries to reassure them, even if he is mortified by the storm. Eventually, Catnap shows up and uses his Red Smoke gas to knock the gang out, allowing them to sleep through it.
Directly after the final shot of the cartoon, which sees Catnap sitting in the darkness watching the viewer while the critters sleep, we immediately cut to a news report. In it, the broadcaster explains that the Catnap doll had to be recalled after parents realized it was giving their children horrific nightmares. Catnap's red smoke wasn't just a trait of the cartoon character, but it had wormed its way into the toys as well.
The ensuing controversy was terrible for Playtime. Catnap was removed from the lineup and the company attempted to scrub him completely from the marketing, but it didn't matter. The factory's reputation was knocked and their profits were dipping. The Smiling Critters fiasco was a huge issue for the company at the time and a key factor in its decision to found the Bigger Bodies Initiative.
DogDay is Brought to Life
Following the creation of the Bigger Bodies Initiative, the cast of the Smiling Critters, including DogDay, were eventually brought to life in Harley Sawyer's experiments.
It's unclear exactly what role DogDay filled at the Playcare, although it seems he and the rest of the Critters helped manage the kids and act as their friends. Little else is known about them until after the events of The Hour of Joy.
It seems the majority of the Smiling Critters and DogDay resisted the rule of the Prototype, but one of their members did not. Catnap had formed a bond with the Prototype after it had saved his life and he viewed it as a god. Due to the Critters resisting the Prototype's rule, he killed all of them except DogDay, although his fate was much more severe...
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DogDay's Fate
In Chapter 3, the player enters the prison cells below the PlayHouse and comes across DogDay hanging in a cell. He's been tortured and mutilated by Catnap and is perching on the brink of death.
DogDay acknowledges that he knows who the protagonist is, calling them "Poppy's Angel," before revealing that he's been left here for resisting the Prototype. According to DogDay, Catnap's nigh-on religious love for the Prototype meant he hunted down any that opposed his rule.
As the Smiling Critters' leader puts it, "that thing... Catnap. The Prototype is his god, and this is what he does to heretics." Following the exchange, DogDay tells the player to flee as a bunch of tiny Smiling Critters plushes invade his body and begin puppeteering him.
They force him to crawl after the player, who manages to escape, leaving the husk of DogDay behind. Although it seems like DogDay being turned into a monstrous puppet would've killed him, there is a chance that he somehow survived the ordeal and was taken back to his cell. Perhaps he'll return in a later chapter, but until then, we'll just have to wait and see.
Looking for more Poppy Playtime guides? Check out these pages:
- Walkthrough
- Poppy Playtime Lore Explained
- Poppy Playtime Characters
Up Next: Poppy Playtime Multiplayer
Top Guide Sections
- Walkthrough
- Poppy Playtime Lore Explained
- Poppy Playtime Characters
- Poppy Playtime Multiplayer
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Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1
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OverviewWalkthroughPoppy Playtime Lore ExplainedPoppy Playtime Characters