The series revolves around the adventures of a carp named Bubbles (or Popo), looking for the Dragon King to revive his grandmother after the latter was turned into a bubble by the evil Mage Snake. Along the way he meets some new friends.
All the episodes can be found here
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The series provides examples of:
- And the Adventure Continues: In the end, Popo, Aoqi, Turtoise and Little Beauty jump over the dragon gate and beat the Mage Snake, with Popo reuniting with his grandmother. Some time later, it is revealed that one of Evil Snake’s poison fangs still exists, prompting the heroes to go on another adventure, promising to their friends that they’ll back soon.
- Berserk Button: The Mage Snake hates when his status as a dragon is called into question.
- Big Bad: The Mage Snake, who starts the conflict of the whole story and relentlessly pursues Bubbles.
- God Guise: The Mage Snake pretends to be a dragon with the help of the dragon horn and shiny skin.
- Secret Test of Character: In the final episode, Popo reaches the dragon gate after being separated from his friends, with the voice urging him to jump over dragon gate on his own before it rises up beyond his grasp. Popo refuses and calls out to his friends. Voice congradulates him on passing the test, and reunites him with his friends while revealing the true dragon gate.
- Snakes Are Sinister: Surely you didn't expect a snake called "Evil Snake" to be good, did you now?
- Suicidal Cosmic Temper Tantrum: After being humiliated by the heroes one too many times and failing to acquire dragon scales, the Mage Snake decides to activate the great volcano and destroy the whole world.
- Our Dragons Are Different: The Dragon King is portrayed as a classical Chinese dragon and a god-like entity. Subverted with the Mage Snake, who only pretends to be a dragon.
- You Have Failed Me: Ray, the Mage Snake's cousin, gets swallowed by the latter after he fails to catch Bubbles and his friends.
