Polluters better watch out, as Popeye the Sailorman has partnered with the Angry Birds for a tournament supporting ocean cleanup efforts.
The partnership between Popeye rights holder King Features and Angry Birds developer Rovio Entertainment will see a tournament hosted to support The SeaCleaners, an ocean cleanup organization.
Created in 2016 by Franco-Swiss skipper Yvan Bourgnon, The SeaCleaners acts for the long-term conservation of the oceans and the reduction of plastic pollution. The organization develops actions both at sea and on land. Their innovative solution is called The Manta, which will be the first deep-sea vessel capable of collecting and mass-treating floating ocean waste before it becomes fragmented.
Running from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, the tournament contains 24 Popeye-themed levels of competition alongside in-game ocean conservation messaging from The SeaCleaners.
Throughout the seven-day tournament, players will be tasked with stopping Bluto and the piggies from polluting while collecting plastic waste in the game.
As players advance through the game, they will learn unique and eye-opening facts about how our oceans are impacted by waste. For example, according to The SeaCleaners, every year between nine and 12 million tons of plastic waste is tipped into the ocean. To combat this, the organization advises players in the game to avoid single-use plastic by choosing reusable bags and bottles and plastic-free packaging.
”Rovio is delighted to team up with The SeaCleaners and Popeye to do our part for ocean conservation,” said Heini Kaihu, chief sustainability officer at Rovio. “Combining compelling games content with this very important message is a meaningful way of impacting our environment. We have a large audience through our games, and if we can contribute to increasing the respect and safety of our planet, we want to take that opportunity. The Angry Birds may be angry, but they want to use their powers for good!”
The SeaCleaners will also host a giveaway where players will have the chance to win Bird Coins that can be used to purchase items in Angry Birds Friends such as power-ups, Mighty Eagles, avatars and more. For a chance to win, players will be invited to answer four questions about plastic pollution, which can be found on The SeaCleaners’ website. Winners will be chosen at random the week after the tournament concludes.
“The fight against plastic pollution is a collective battle,” said The SeaCleaners president Yvan Bourgnon. “We are extremely proud and grateful to Popeye and Rovio for their commitment. Raising awareness about the dangers that threaten the ocean is part of our mission.
“What better vehicle for this than Angry Birds Friends, an incredibly popular game around the world? And what better spokesperson than Popeye, a timeless sea hero whose values we share? We feel privileged to be able to count on them!”
Popeye, the iconic, spinach-eating sailor and clean ocean advocate, is owned by King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters.
Popeye first announced his representation of The SeaCleaners, an organization that focuses on long-term and worldwide preservation of the ocean, in 2020, joining its fight against plastic pollution and raising awareness of its ocean conservation efforts. This partnership continues Popeye’s commitment to sustainability and ocean conservation.
“Popeye is thrilled to join Red and the other Angry Birds on their mission to save the ocean from polluting piggies,” said Beth Nock, brand marketing director, King Features. “This exciting partnership unites two incredibly popular character brands, providing fans with entertaining game play, while promoting a great cause.
“The SeaCleaners’ ocean clean-up technology is unprecedented, and we are grateful that the Angry Birds have joined forces with Popeye to shine a light on their impactful work.”
Most recently, King Features debuted Popeye’s newest eco-conscious partnership, the Popeye Sail Club, developed in partnership with Pick A Pier and Blue Flag to be the most advanced, rewarding and sustainable boating club in the world. In recent months, Popeye also launched sustainability-focused fashion collections with partners such as United Colors of Benetton, Original Marines, Brava Fabrics and À La Garçonne.
Launching on Monday, Jan. 31, the Angry Birds Friends x Popeye tournament is available in 13 different languages including English, Spanish, German and more. Angry Birds Friends is available in the App Store and Google Play.