Why Huggy Wuggy, a razor-toothed monster, is giving parents in UK sleepless nights
Think Annabelle was the scariest doll? Once you see Poppy Playtime's Huggy Wuggy, you'll reconsider. Launched in 2021, Poppy Playtime is a survival horror video game which features a tall and blue furry monster with razor-sharp teeth. This monster is called Huggy Wuggy. Its job: to give out free hugs 'till you breathe your last breath'.
(In case you're a millennial - or a boomer - who is thinking about Joey's Hugsy at this point, don't. Huggy Wuggy is nothing like the cute Hugsy.)
Here is a video of what the game looks like:
WHAT EXACTLY IS HUGGY WUGGY?
At first look, players see Huggy Wuggy pretending to be a statue on a pedestal while playing the game. But as soon as the player finds the key to turn the power back on in a room in the abandoned toy factory, and begins to return, Huggy is seen to be missing from his pedestal. While the player tries to reach the room, Huggy keeps following them through vents and other high places.
When the player reaches a dark corner or a dark place, Huggy appears from the shadows and chases them down in the tunnels. Every time a player misses reaching the end of the tunnel, Huggy snatches them up and kills them with his teeth. (thus the super sharp teeth and wide mouth)
The long-armed monster has been making appearences on both TikTok and YouTube. Huggy Wuggy is known to sing an extremely terrifying song... ironically called 'Free Hugs'. One chilling line goes: 'I will be there soon, sink my teeth in and you are consumed'. Huggy Wuggy continues, 'My teeth sharp and ready, in my grasp, yeah they're deadly.'
You can hear the song here:
The blue bear also invites people to 'lean in for a spine-breaking'.
BUY HUGGY WUGGY: In March 2022, a Huggy Wuggy plush toy was released by the game's creators, MOB Games. The toy is 17 inches in length and comes with embroidered stitching and even velcro paws. It is available to buy on Poppy Playtime website.
SO, WHY ARE PARENTS AND POLICE IN UK SO WORRIED: Children in the UK have been seen acting out the razor-toothed bear's actions in the school playground, which is why police and schools in the country are asking parents to keep children away from the game. As you can see, Huggy Wuggy means business (that is not really all that good).
Check out this video to know exactly how Huggy Wuggy 'chases' players in the game:
Chris Conroy, cyber protection officer for Dorset Police said, "There are videos people have made, songs people have made, and it's popping up all over YouTube and Tik Tok using this quite graphic imagery of this bear-like character with razor-sharp teeth."
Dorset Police also said, "The blue bear-like character has long arms and rows of razor-sharp teeth. Set in an abandoned toy factory, Huggy is a villain in the game who stalks the players from vents and unreachable places. Videos of the game are available to watch on YouTube, with other clips dedicated to Huggy in songs. One song includes the lyrics 'I could hug you here forever, till you breathe your last breath together'."
Teachers are worried about students imitating Huggy Wuggy the monster; a creature (and a game) that is changing the meaning of hugs.
Headteacher at Deal Parochial Church of England Primary School in Kent, Justine Brown said, "We are seeing children recreating a game on the playground with hugging and whispering nasty things. It is a very deceiving character, as hugs should be seen as something kind and loving, and because of its cute name, it can infiltrate firewalls and filters. Please be vigilant about what your children are watching."
Huggy Wuggy is being compared with the 2016 Killer Clown craze. A parent in the UK said, "All the children are talking about it and showing each other these videos, it has become a bit of a craze that is getting really popular. It's extremely concerning because this character is really sinister and frankly terrifying. It's almost becoming the online version of that Killer Clown craze."
(Back in 2016, the Killer Clown craze began when people showed up in evil clown costumes in out-of-place settings such as forests and near schools. The craze began in the US and quickly spread to Canada and the UK. During the time, reports suggested that the people dressed as killer clowns were trying to lure children to the woods. Movies like It took off on the Killer Clown craze.)
Although most sightings were a hoax, some clown-dressed people in the UK were found with "bladed articles".
SEASON 2: In early March 2022, Poppy Playtime went from being only a PC game to a mobile game, available on both Android and iOs. The game also released a trailer for its second season.
Check it out here:
It is not yet confirmed from an official source when the second season will be releasing.