Oh shit, son.
It's a completely new CG.

Oh look, a happy Hoppou. Let's fix that!
*sends fleet*

Looks really, really different than usual.
She no longer have the cute puffy cheeks or the kiddie eyes.

Has Hoppo finally grown up(and gone mad) from all the constant abuse?

I guess this settles it then, Hoppou does indeed have Seaport-like claws under her mittens. Heck, those mittens might even be just something put on her for her own safety.

Also, this looks like it was drawn by the other Akira artist rather than her usual one.

Keo said:

Looks really, really different than usual.
She no longer have the cute puffy cheeks or the kiddie eyes.

Has Hoppo finally grown up(and gone mad) from all the constant abuse?

More like she's just matured a bit. She was like... say, eight the first time around and now she's more like eleven.

Also Seaport must be popular since she has a doll of herself.

solisel said:

I guess this settles it then, Hoppou does indeed have Seaport-like claws under her mittens. Heck, those mittens might even be just something put on her for her own safety.

I don't see the claws. Those are Seaport-doll's.

DAS58 said:

I don't see the claws. Those are Seaport-doll's.

...ah, so they are. Even a tiny doll of her has huge claws.

Also, maybe part of the appearance difference is that this may be the first time in official art that we see her without a huge collar that can cover her chin.