Polokus: Difference between revisions

'''Polokus''', also known as the '''Bubble Dreamer''',<ref>Jeux Vidéo, ''Exclusif Rayman Origins'', Gabrielle Shrager: "But also understand who is the creator of this world of dreams, the famous Bubble Dreamer, encountered in ''Rayman 2'' under the name of Polokus"<br />(French: "Mais aussi comprendre qui est le créateur de ce monde de revés, le fameux Bubble Dreamer, recontré dans ''Rayman 2'' sous le nom de Polokus")<br />[[:File:Jeux video page 47.jpg]]</ref> is a divine being and a major character in the [[Rayman (series)|''Rayman'' series]]. His makes his most notable appearances in ''[[Rayman 2]]'', ''[[Rayman Origins]]'' and ''[[Rayman Legends]]''. Said to be the spirit of the world, he created the [[Glade of Dreams]] and its inhabitants through the sheer power of his dreams. Unfortunately, his nightmares also have a life of their own: according to the manual of ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', during his [[First Bad Dream]], he spawned [[Jano]], introducing evil into the [[Glade of Dreams|Glade]] and presumably creating even more nightmarish enemies during his subsequent bad dreams. Legend tells that Polokus' wife was the [[Muse of the poets]], and that their children are the [[Teensie]]s.

In ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', Polokus is known as the Bubble Dreamer. He no longer wears his trousers, has a long ginger beard, similar to those of the [[Fakir]]s, and wears a pair of sunglasses that only reveals his white pupils. He has a [[bubble]]-blowing pipe, which he uses to convert his dreams to reality. At one point in [[Rayman Origins (early production)|the development]] of ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', the Bubble Dreamer was intended to appear in various forms throughout the game, such as a tree and a rock, with only the [[bubble]] pipe providing visual continuity between his avatars. However, this idea was ultimately dropped for reasons unknown; instead the Bubble Dreamer stays in [[the Snoring Tree]] for the entire game, and never changes his form. In the final game, it is not clear whether the Bubble Dreamer has shape-shifting abilities at all. His appearance in ''[[Rayman Origins]]'' lacks some of the defining characteristics of his appearance in ''[[Rayman 2]]'', such as the elongated arms, the short legs, the top hat, and the blue trousers with the golden belt buckle. However, a close examination reveals a general similarity between the two; in both forms, he is a pale, fat, amphibous creature, and the removal of his previous clothing in favour of a beard and umbrella can be dismissed as no more than a cosmetic change.

Polokus does not appear in ''[[Rayman 3]]'' and his absence is not explained, but it is possible that after ''[[Rayman 2]]'' he went back to sleep. His next appearance is in ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', where he is now known as the Bubble Dreamer. He has become a relaxed, jolly, whimsical being with a more childish attitude, and now dwells among his people. It seems that his more easy-going personality has filtered down to his creations, who are now much sillier and more carefree than they were in the earlier games. His appearance has changed: while still a fat, pale, amphibious creature, he no longer wears clothes, and he now has a long orange beard. He has become good friends with [[Rayman]], [[Globox]], the [[Teensie]]s and other characters. A magical instrument he uses to bring his dreams to life is seen for the first time: a wooden [[bubble]]-blowing pipe. [[Bubble]]s are introduced as a major motif which recurs throughout the game. It is revealed that the [[Electoon]]s are the stuff of Polokus' dreams and the substance of his world.

One day, the Bubble Dreamer and his creations are sleeping at [[the Snoring Tree]], their sound of their snoring annoys an irritable [[Granny]] who dwells deep in the subterranean [[Land of the Livid Dead (UbiArt games)|Land of the Livid Dead]]. She sends an army of [[Antitoon|Darktoons]], [[Psychlops]] and other nighmare creatures to invade the [[Glade of Dreams]] and put a stop to the heroes' snoring. The creatures capture [[Rayman]] and his friends, imprisoning them in [[cage]]s. [[Rayman]] soon escapes and pulls the Bubble Dreamer's beard, causing him to destroy his [[cage]] and free himself. [[Murfy]] appears, telling the heroes that in order to restore the Bubble Dreamer's memories (to make more playable characters appear), they should collect [[Electoon]]s. The Bubble Dreamer spends the rest of the game levitating inside [[the Snoring Tree]], sometimes acting crazy, pulling on his left eye, clucking like a chicken and detaching his head. Characters can pull on his beard to make him laugh and cause him to give a brief, whimsical description of the player's current character.

Char-bubble-dreamer.png|The Bubble Dreamer, as he appears in ''[[Rayman Origins]]''

RO Polokus Chamber.jpg|The Bubble Dreamer in the [[Snoring Tree]].

==In ''Rayman Legends'' and its spin-offs==

The Bubble Dreamer appears in ''[[Rayman Legends]]'' in a similar supporting role as he had in ''[[Rayman Origins]]''. The first cutscene features him discussing with [[Murfy]] of the current state of the [[Glade of Dreams]], noting the 100 year nap that [[Rayman]] and friends have fallen under, and the multiplication of the nightmares during this century-long snooze. To this end, he commands [[Murfy]] to awaken them, and set in motion the events experienced in the game.

The Bubble Dreamer resides in the [[Main Gallery]] throughout the rest of the game, usually sleeping unless the player jumps in front of him, which will cause him to give out information to the heroes, be that the location of missing [[Teensie]]s, or monitoring of the [[Online Challenges]].

The Bubble Dreamer's portrayal in this game may lean closer towards his first appearance in ''[[Rayman 2]]'', in that he seems to have lost his more childish and zany side shown in ''[[Rayman Origins]]'' and instead spends most of his time sleeping on a pedestal, like he did in ''[[Rayman 2]]''. Notably, his voice in the game's first cutscene is much deeper than his in-game voice clips, which are reused from [[Rayman Origins|the previous game]].

The Bubble Dreamer sports a new appearance in ''[[Rayman Legends Retold]]''. While his base design is similar to his appearances in the [[UbiArt Framework|UbiArt]] games, he now has a braided beard, glasses, and an eccentric, hipster-like appearance. He has a wise yet charming personality, almost like a mix of his ''[[Rayman 2]]'' and ''[[Rayman Origins]]'' depictions.

Rayman Legends Retold Bubble Dreamer.jpg|The Bubble Dreamer, as he appears in ''[[Rayman Legends Retold]]''.

*According to unused dialogue found in the files of ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', [[The Magician (Rayman Origins)|the Magician]] secretly despises the Bubble Dreamer for his silliness and decadence, and because he usually fails to protect his innocent creations from his nightmarish ones. [[The Magician (Rayman Origins)|The Magician]] constructs an army of [[Robot (Moody Clouds)|robots]] with which he hopes to overthrow the Bubble Dreamer and take control of the [[Glade of Dreams]], but he is thwarted by [[Rayman]], [[Globox]] and the [[Teensie]]s.

*During [[Rayman Origins (early production)|the development]] of ''[[Rayman Origins]]'', one of the known concept arts showed up the Bubble Dreamer smoking in a hookah, while the blowpipe made it to the final version. The hookah from the concept art was later used in the final version of ''[[Rayman Legends]]''.