Plup artgirls are one of the more specific and intriguing corners of competitive gaming fan culture. The phrase most often refers to the artists who create fan art inspired by Justin “Plup” McGrath, the legendary Super Smash Bros. Melee player known for his Samus, Sheik, and Fox. It is not an official group, a formal collective, or a single style. Instead, it is a loose online label for the illustrators, animators, and comic makers who turn Plup’s gameplay, personality, and community moments into visual stories.
Searching for Plup artgirls usually means you want context: where the term came from, what the art looks like, and how to find or support the people behind it. The phenomenon sits at the intersection of esports, anime-inspired character design, internet humor, and grassroots fandom. Understanding it helps explain why a professional Smash player can become a muse for digital artists just as easily as a protagonist from a fighting game or an animated series.
What Are Plup Artgirls?
At its core, Plup artgirls describes a fan-art niche within the Super Smash Bros. community. The “artgirls” part is affectionate internet shorthand for the many women, nonbinary creators, and LGBTQ+ artists who have made Plup a recurring subject in their work. These artists may draw Plup realistically, stylize him as an anime hero, place him in humorous scenarios, or use his in-game characters as symbols of his legacy. The label is informal, and no one needs to apply for membership.
The term also carries a bit of irony and self-awareness. In gaming spaces, female and queer fans are often overlooked even when they drive a huge amount of creative output. Calling attention to “Plup artgirls” can be a playful way of acknowledging that influence. It is not a monolith. Some artists are tournament regulars, some are professional illustrators, and some simply post a sketch after a memorable set. What connects them is an appreciation for Plup as both a competitor and a character.
Origins in Competitive Smash and Fan Culture
Super Smash Bros. Melee has always had a strong DIY creative culture. Before modern social media, fans traded signatures, made forum banners, and uploaded early fan art to personal sites. As Plup rose from a Samus specialist to one of the best players in the world, his story became part of Melee lore. Tournament upsets, long rivalries, and memorable pop-offs gave artists plenty of emotional moments to illustrate. The phrase “Plup artgirls” grew naturally out of that environment, especially on Twitter and Tumblr, where Smash fans mixed competition talk with fandom humor.
The label also reflects a broader shift in esports. Fans no longer follow only brackets and results. They follow personalities, streams, catchphrases, and friendships. Plup’s dry wit, calm expression, and occasional explosive reactions made him an appealing subject. Artists could capture the contrast between his stoic demeanor and the high-speed chaos of Melee. In that sense, Plup artgirls are part of a larger movement in which players become characters and tournaments become story arcs.
Why Plup Inspires Artists
Plup’s gameplay is visually expressive. His Sheik is precise, his Fox is technical, and his Samus carries the weight of an older era. Artists can build compositions around needles, shines, missiles, and edgeguards. His clutch recoveries and creative punish games provide built-in drama. Even a simple portrait can reference his controller grip, his headphones, or the glow of a CRT monitor. These details give illustrators a rich vocabulary without needing to invent much from scratch.
His personal story adds another layer. Plup’s career spans years of adaptation, from being known as a Samus loyalist to becoming a top Fox player and a major threat in multiple matchups. Rivalries with players like Hungrybox, Leffen, and Mang0 have produced iconic sets that fans revisit constantly. For artists, that history is emotional fuel. A drawing of Plup after a big win can feel like a portrait of perseverance, not just a picture of a guy in a gaming chair.
The Art Style and Community Around Plup Artgirls
There is no single Plup artgirl style, and that is part of the appeal. You will find anime-inspired portraits with soft shading, bold comic panels with exaggerated expressions, pixel art that mimics retro game sprites, and painterly pieces that look like tournament posters. Some artists focus on likeness, while others push toward symbolism. A common thread is energy: the sense that the artwork is reacting to a real moment in Smash history, whether it is triumphant, tense, or absurd.
The community around this art is similarly varied. It overlaps with Smash Twitter, Discord servers, Twitch streams, Tumblr blogs, Instagram accounts, and portfolio sites. Artists share works-in-progress, ask for critique, open commissions, and collaborate on zines or charity projects. Fans who are not artists still participate by liking, sharing, and commissioning. This ecosystem keeps the niche alive between major tournaments and gives new creators a way to join in.
Visual Tropes and Character Design
Certain visual tropes show up again and again in Plup fan art. Plup might be drawn alongside Sheik’s needles, Fox’s reflector, or Samus’s arm cannon. He might appear as an anime protagonist, a fighting game character select portrait, a Pokémon trainer, or a calm strategist in a hoodie. Artists often use color to evoke Melee’s stages, tournament lighting, or the blue glow of a GameCube controller. These choices make the art instantly readable to fans who know the scene.
The “artgirl” label generally refers to the creators rather than requiring the subject to be female. Still, some artists experiment with gender-bent or alternative versions of Plup as a creative exercise. Others design original characters inspired by his playstyle or persona. That range keeps the niche from becoming repetitive. One illustration can be a serious tribute to a championship run, while the next can be a silly comic about a missed rest or a bad roll. The flexibility is what allows the community to keep producing fresh work.
Platforms, Hashtags, and Sharing Etiquette
Most Plup artgirl activity happens on social platforms where images travel quickly. Twitter and X remain central for real-time reactions during majors, while Tumblr is still home to long-form fan art posts and reblogs. Instagram and Pixiv attract artists who want a cleaner portfolio presentation. Discord servers often serve as private workshops where creators exchange references, feedback, and commission details. Twitch streams can also become impromptu art streams when a major tournament is running.
If you want to explore or support this scene, etiquette matters. Always credit the original artist when sharing, and never repost work without permission. Respect boundaries around mature content, personal information, and harassment. If an artist opens commissions, treat it like any professional service: ask about rates, usage rights, and deadlines. The healthiest fan-art communities are built on mutual respect, not just viral attention. Supporting creators through likes, shares, and paid commissions helps ensure the niche keeps thriving.
Plup artgirls may have started as an inside joke among Smash fans, but it has grown into a meaningful creative corner of esports culture. It shows how a player’s legacy can move beyond brackets and into sketchbooks, tablets, and digital galleries. Whether you are an artist looking for your next subject or a fan who simply enjoys seeing Melee interpreted through illustration, there is plenty to discover. Pick a favorite set, open your drawing app, or leave a kind comment on a piece that catches your eye. The next great Plup artwork might be only one post away.