The Powerpuff Girls is an American animated television created by Craig McCracken for Cartoon Network. It originally aired on Cartoon Network as a pair of pilot shorts on the series What a Cartoon!, with the first premiering on February 20, 1995. With the success of these pilots, The Powerpuff Girls was picked up by Cartoon Network as a full series, which aired from November 18, 1998 to March 25, 2005, running for six seasons and 78 episodes. Reruns of the series continued to air on the network until February 8, 2014. In December 2021, one time return this show, because Christmas specials.
A reboot of the series officially premiered on April 4, 2016 and ended on June 16, 2019.
Plot
The plot of the series follows three super powered little girls, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, who were accidentally created by Professor Utonium during a science experiment to create the perfect little girls. The girls are often summoned by the Mayor of Townsville to stop any threats the town faces.
History and Production
During Craig McCracken's first year in the character animation program of CalArts, he created a series of short cartoons based on a character called "No Neck Joe". In June 1991, he created a drawing of three girls on a small sheet of orange construction paper as a birthday card design for his brother.
The following year he included the three girls as the main characters of his short film Whoopass Stew! The Whoopass Girls in: A Sticky Situation. Initially, McCracken wanted to animate four Whoopass Girls shorts, but only one came to be. McCracken's shorts were selected to be shown at Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation in 1994.
While working on 2 Stupid Dogs in 1993, McCracken's Whoopass Girls short was picked up for a series by Cartoon Network. However, the name Whoopass had to be dropped for the channel to include it as part of its new What a Cartoon! animated shorts showcase mostly because the name Whoopass sounded inappropriate because it was pronounced whoop ass. The Whoopass Girls then became The Powerpuff Girls, and the "can of whoop ass" was renamed "Chemical X". McCracken's new short, entitled "The Powerpuff Girls in: Meat Fuzzy Lumpkins", aired as part the network's World Premiere Toon-In on February 20, 1995.
Characters
Main article: The Powerpuff Girls/Characters
The Powerpuff Girls: Bubbles (left), Blossom (middle), and Buttercup (right)
As depicted in the opening sequence of each episode, the Powerpuff Girls were created by Professor Utonium in an attempt "to create the perfect little girls" using a mixture of "sugar, spice, and everything nice". However, he accidentally spilled a mysterious substance called "Chemical X" into the mixture, creating, instead of the "perfect little girl", 3 girls (each possessing one of the above elements dominating her personality), and granting all three superpowers including flight, super strength, super speed, near invulnerability, x-ray vision, super senses, heat vision, energy projection, invisibility, and control over lightning.
- Blossom (voiced by Cathy Cavadini) is the tactician and self-proclaimed leader of the Powerpuff Girls. Her personality ingredient is "everything nice", her signature color is pink, and she has long red hair with a red bow and a heart-shaped hairclip that can be seen from behind. She was named for having spoken freely and honestly to the Professor shortly after her creation as shown in the Powerpuff Girls Movie. She is often seen as the most level-headed, and composed member of the group and also strong and determined. Her unique power is freezing objects with her breath as seen in the episode "Ice Sore".
- Bubbles (voiced by Tara Strong in the series and by Kath Soucie in the What a Cartoon! episodes) is the cute and sensitive one. Her personality ingredient is sugar, her signature color is blue, and she has blonde hair in two pigtails. Bubbles is seen as kind and very sweet but she is also capable of extreme rage and can fight monsters just as well as her sisters can. Her best friend is a stuffed octopus doll she calls "Octi", and she also loves animals. She exhibits the ability to both understand multiple languages and communicate with various animals (squirrels, cats, monsters), and her unique power is emitting supersonic waves with her voice.
- Buttercup (voiced by E. G. Daily) is the toughest of the three. Her personality ingredient is spice, her signature color is green, and she has short black hair in a flip. She is a tomboy who loves to get dirty, fights hard and plays rough; she does not plan and is all action. Buttercup is the only Powerpuff Girl without a unique super power (aside from being able to curl her tongue as shown in the episode "Nuthin' Special"). But often is shown being much stronger than her sisters. For example, she often takes on many monsters her self and defeats them all. McCracken originally wanted to name the character "Bud" until a friend suggested the name Buttercup.
Series Overview
| Season | Episodes: | premiere: | finale: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilots | 4 | 1992 | |
| What a Cartoon! shorts | 2 | February 20th, 1995 | January 28th, 1996 |
| 1 | 13 | November 18th, 1998 | May 26th, 1999 |
| 2 | 13 | June 25th, 1999 | June 30th, 2000 |
| 3 | 13 | July 28th, 2000 | April 6th, 2001 |
| 4 | 12 | April 14th, 2001 | December 13th, 2002 |
| 5 | 12 | September 5th, 2003 | April 9th, 2004 |
| 6 | 15 | April 16th, 2004 | March 25th, 2005 |
| Specials | 3 | December 12th, 2003 | January 20th, 2014 |
Appearances in other media
Cameos and references in other Cartoon Network shows
Mojo Jojo has made a cameo in the Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends three part TV movie, House of Bloo's.
A poster of The Powerpuff Girls appeared in the Courage the Cowardly Dog episode, The Ride of the Valkyrise.
The billboard with the Talking Dog appeared in the second episode of Samurai Jack.
The three girls made a cameo appearance in the Evil Con Carne episode, Ultimate Evil.
Professor Utonium appeared in The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy episode, My Fair Mandy when the characters ends in the world of The Powerpuff Girls.
The three girls made a brief cameo in the Codename: Kids Next Door and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy crossover special, The Grim Adventures of the KND where the three of them were popping out of the Delightful Reaper.
Miss Bellum appeared in the Chowder episode, The Hot Date. Bubbles' head appeared in the episode, The Heist.
Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup's names were listed on a list in the Steven Universe and Uncle Grandpa crossover episode, Say Uncle.
Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup also appeared in the Uncle Grandpa episode "Pizza Eve" in the Grampies and their 2016 designs.
Buttercup and the Talking Dog appeared in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode, Crossover Nexus. Buttercup appeared as one of Ben Tennyson's transformations into different Cartoon Network characters while the Talking Dog appeared as one of the Cartoon Network heroes that were summoned and defeated by Strike.
The series was acknowledged in the Cartoon Network 30th Anniversary video in October 2022.
Home Media
VHS volumes:
- Bubblevicious (May 30, 2000)
- Monkey See, Doggie Go (May 30, 2000)
- Birthday Bash (November 7, 2000)
- Dream Scheme (November 7, 2000)
- Twisted Sister (April 3, 2001)
- Boogie Frights (April 3, 2001)
- Meet the Beat-Alls (October 23, 2001)
- The Powerpuff Girls Movie (November 5, 2002)
- 'Twas the Fight Before Christmas (October 7, 2003)
DVD volumes:
- Powerpuff Bluff (November 7, 2000)
- Down 'n' Dirty (November 7, 2000)
- The Mane Event (April 3, 2001)
- Meet the Beat-Alls (October 23, 2001)
- The Powerpuff Girls Movie (November 5, 2002)
- 'Twas the Fight Before Christmas (October 7, 2003)
- The Powerpuff Girls and Friends (May 6, 2014)
Season DVDS:
- The Complete 1st Season (June 19, 2007)
- The Complete Series - 10th Anniversary Collection (January 20, 2009)
- The Complete Series (re-release) (May 21, 2024)
Digital media:
All six seasons are available on iTunes and Amazon Prime.
The series is available to watch on HBO Max and released on Max on May 23, 2023.
The Powerpuff Girls was available on Hulu along with other CN shows until October 1, 2022.
The series was released on Netflix in the US on April 2023. And the rest of the world (excluding Canada, Ukraine and the United Kingdom) on September 26th 2023 [only the first two seasons].
Trivia
- This is the first series Craig McCracken created. The creator of this show would later create another series for Cartoon Network, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, whose characters make cameo appearances in The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!
- The Powerpuff Girls was the last animated series to be produced at Hanna-Barbera Productions, 3 years before it's closure in 2001.
- The episode, "Feel Me, See Me, Gnome Me", was omitted from US broadcasting due to a sequence containing flickering strobe effects shown in a background, as Cartoon Network feared this would induce epileptic seizures in some audiences. However, it did manage on the Complete Series DVD in 2009.
- However, the season one episode "Mime for a Change", prior to "Feel Me, See Me, Gnome Me", had a similar effect briefly showing different colors flashing on Blossom during the sequence "Love Makes the World Go Round". Decades later, the image is edited by slowing down the speed to avoid these issues.
- This was the first Cartoon Network series to premiere during the Powerhouse era.
- A seventh season was originally planned but never happened because franchise creator, Craig McCracken, said that six seasons was enough.
Gallery
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Related series
- Powerpuff Girls Doujinshi - A Webcomic Anime-styled crossover created by Bleedman (Vinson Ngo).
- PPGZ or simple Demashitta! Powerpuff Girls Z - A Rebooted Anime version of The Powerpuff Girls set in Japan. The anime is co-produced by Cartoon Network Japan and Aniplex with a Twist of Magic and was animated and produced by Toei Animation, featuring character design by Miho Shimogasa (Cutie Honey Flash, Ultra Maniac). As production occurred in Japan, Craig McCracken, the original creator of The Powerpuff Girls, was not directly involved with the project. This is the only incarnation of the franchise that seldom received an official release in North America.
- The Powerpuff Girls (2016) - The reboot series, which ran from 2016 to 2019, and received a negative reception.
Scrapped Live action adaptation
On August 24th, 2020, it was announced that a live action adaptation of The Powerpuff Girls was in development at The CW. It would feature Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup being "disillusioned twenty somethings" who lost their childhood to crime fighting.
On February 9th, 2021, a pilot of the series was greenlit.
On May 24th, 2021, The CW announced that the pilot would be re-worked off-cycle. The script was leaked on the internet and received negative feedback, it was later confirmed that the script would be rewritten. On May 18, 2023, it was announced Powerpuff was scrapped.[1]
References
This show has a wiki of its own: The Powerpuff Girls Wiki.
| 1957 | Ruff and Reddy |
| 1958 | The Huckleberry Hound Show • Yogi Bear • Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks |
| 1959 | The Quick Draw McGraw Show • Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy • Snooper and Blabber |
| 1980 | Drak Pack • The Flintstone Comedy Show • The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang • The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show |
| 1981 | Laverne & Shirley in the Army • Space Stars • Teen Force • The Kwicky Koala Show • Trollkins • The Smurfs |
| 1982 | The Flintstone Funnies • Mork and Mindy: The Animated Series • The Little Rascals • Pac-Man • Jokebook • Shirt Tales • The Gary Coleman Show |
| 1983 | The Dukes • Monchhichis • The New Scooby and Scrappy Doo Show • The Biskitts • Lucky Luke |
| 1984 | Snorks • Challenge of the GoBots |
| 1985 | Paw Paws • Yogi's Treasure Hunt • Galtar and the Golden Lance • The Berenstain Bears • The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo • The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible |
| 1986 | The New Adventures of Jonny Quest • Pound Puppies • The Flintstone Kids • Foofur • Wildfire |
| 1987 | Sky Commanders • Popeye and Son |
| 1988 | A Pup Named Scooby-Doo • The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley • The New Yogi Bear Show • Fantastic Max |
| 1989 | The Further Adventures of SuperTed • Paddington Bear |
| 1990 | The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda • Tom & Jerry Kids • Wake, Rattle, and Roll • Rick Moranis in Gravedale High • Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone |
| 1991 | The Pirates of Dark Water • Yo Yogi! |
| 1992 | Fish Police • Capitol Critters • The Addams Family |
| 1993 | Droopy, Master Detective • The New Adventures of Captain Planet • 2 Stupid Dogs • SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron |
| 1995 | Dumb and Dumber • What a Cartoon! |
| 1996 | Cave Kids: Pebbles & Bamm Bamm • The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest • Dexter's Laboratory |
| 1997 | Johnny Bravo • Cow & Chicken • I Am Weasel |
| 1998 | The Powerpuff Girls |
| 2000 | Johnny Bravo |
| 2001 | The Powerpuff Girls • Time Squad • Samurai Jack • Grim & Evil |
| 2002 | Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law • Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? |
| 2003 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy • Evil Con Carne • Star Wars: Clone Wars |
| 2004 | Megas XLR • Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends • Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi |
| 2005 | The Life and Times of Juniper Lee • Camp Lazlo • My Gym Partner's a Monkey • Ben 10 |
| 2006 | Squirrel Boy • Class of 3000 |
| 2007 | Out of Jimmy's Head • Chowder • Transformers: Animated |
| 2008 | Ben 10: Alien Force • The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack |
| 2010 | Adventure Time • Ben 10: Ultimate Alien • Generator Rex • The Cartoonstitute • Regular Show • Tower Prep • Sym-Bionic Titan • Robotomy |
| 2011 | The Problem Solverz • Secret Mountain Fort Awesome |
| 2012 | Level Up • Ben 10: Omniverse |
| 2013 | Incredible Crew • Uncle Grandpa • Steven Universe |
| 2014 | Clarence • Black Dynamite • Over the Garden Wall |
| 2015 | We Bare Bears • Long Live the Royals |
| 2016 | The Powerpuff Girls • Mighty Magiswords |
| 2017 | Ben 10 • OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes |
| 2018 | Apple & Onion • Craig of the Creek • Summer Camp Island |
| 2019 | Victor and Valentino • Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart • Infinity Train • Primal • Steven Universe Future |
| 1993 | The Moxy Show |
| 1994 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast |
| 1995 | What a Cartoon! |
| 1996 | Dexter's Laboratory • Big Bag |
| 1997 | Johnny Bravo • Cow and Chicken • I Am Weasel |
| 1998 | The Powerpuff Girls |
| 1999 | Ed, Edd n Eddy • Mike, Lu & Og • Courage the Cowardly Dog |