Relationship between the Ice Climbers

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> *This article refers to the relationship between the Ice Climbers. For the individual characters, see Ice Climbers (Popo and Nana). For the game, see Ice Climber.*
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This article discusses the **relationship** between the **Ice Climbers** (Popo and Nana), the titular main protagonists of *Ice Climber*, published by the Nintendo Entertainment System on 1985. This has began as an obscure and controversial analyzation since the Ice Climbers' first side story in *Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!*, also known as *Game & Watch Literature Club Plus!* by **MickMick247**, "Icy Self-Love."

## Synopsis

Although *Ice Climber* did not give precise details about Popo and Nana, their subsequent appearances in the *Super Smash Bros.* series have somewhat elaborated on their relationship.

Initially, three specific instances in *Super Smash Bros. Melee* hinted at them being in a romantic relationship. Firstly, the opening movie features Popo and Nana high-fiving each other, with a small heart emerging from where their hands meet. Secondly, the Japanese title of Event 21: Ice Breaker roughly translates to "Those Who Interfere People's Romance." Thirdly, the aforementioned opening movie also features Nana saving Popo from a helpless fall from dissolving ice after the latter steps on it while climbing a mountaintop, which is also the first time Popo and Nana have friendly interaction with each other and when their sense of relationship officially begins.

However, a subsequent translation of the Ice Climbers' Smabura-Ken page revealed that the creator of the *Super Smash Bros.* series (Masahiro Sakurai) confirmed that their relationship is platonic by saying, "By the way, Popo and Nana are a childhood friends-like boy-and-girl pair. The "more than friends, but less than lovers" kind." Much like Sakurai's explanation, the Ice Climbers' trophy in *Melee* after completing Classic Mode forgoes any romantic undertones, and instead simply mentions that "they're rarely seen apart."

   Despite Sakurai's aforementioned explanation, issue 152 of *Nintendo Power* seemingly lost his comment in translation and instead referred to Popo and Nana as siblings. Following this, *Super Smash Bros. Brawl* reaffirmed Sakurai's stance on the relationship both in-game and in supplemental material. The Ice Climbers' Smash Bros. DOJO!! page refers to them as friends in two instances while detailing their special moves.

In addition, Solid Snake's codec conversation regarding the Ice Climbers depicts Mei Ling mentioning that Popo and Nana have a "blood bond", which is a long-standing custom practiced around the world that involves two unrelated people swearing loyalty to one another.

However, the Ice Climbers' relationship is reglated back to siblings in **MickMick247**'s website, as the club members of the Literature Club refer them as siblings in the artist's comics. Since because Popo and Nana have been together for a considerable lifetime, **MickMick247** considered them a "brother-and-sister" pair instead of foregoing romantic undertones in his website.

## References

1. ↑ Source Gaming, Melee Ice Climber site.
2. ↑ "Who are the Ice Climbers?" *Nintendo Power*, issue number 152, January 2002, pg. 24
3. ↑ Smash Bros. DOJO!! - Ice Climbers