The ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Are Back! Here’s Why You Should Be Excited
Get ready for a second helping of sugar, spice and everything nice. Everyone’s favorite trio of crime-stopping cuties are coming back to save Townsville from the destruction and doom of a caped, mutated, badly Japanese-accented monkey.
Cartoon Network has announced a 2016 reboot of “Powerpuff Girls,” which aired 78 episodes from 1998 to 2004. While we don’t know any plot details of the series as of yet, the network has already unveiled the girls’ new makeover.
The first photo of the revamped trio isn’t too drastically different — they still sport their signature color schemes, hairdos, and bulging eyes. But they’re tweaked slightly with thinner outlines and a bit of a rounder demeanor.
The network also revealed the voice talent behind the new trio, with Amanda Leighton as Blossom, Kristen Li as Bubbles, and Natalie Palamides as Buttercup. Tom Kenny is also slated to return as the Narrator/Mayor.
In case you need a refresher, the PPG’s blasted into the world thanks to Professor Utonium’s lab experiment gone awry. He accidentally soured his concoction for “the perfect little girls” by adding a dose of Chemical X to the mix of sugar, spice, and everything nice. “And thus, the Powerpuff Girls were born!”
As is the case with all reboots, this is bound to be a touchy subject for loyal “Powerpuff” fans who grew up with the original series (like yours truly). But as long as the emphasis on girl power and sisterhood is kept intact, the girls’ imminent return is a good thing — certainly we can all agree that more female superheroes are always welcome in pop culture.
Sure, they’re just kids, meaning their fighting style — while effective at defeating Princess Morebucks, Fuzzy Lumpkins, and, of course, Mojo Jojo — is kinda chirpy. And OK, fighting crime in a dress, stockings, and Mary Janes may not be the most practical thing in the world. But it was also realistic, considering they’re just young girls, and that’s entirely appropriate based on their audience.
Beyond that, the original show had a lot of important messages about sisterhood that hopefully the reboot will keep intact. Each girl had her own distinct personality — Blossom is the undisputed leader, Bubbles is the contagiously joyful one (who can still throw a mean punch, thankyouverymuch), and Buttercup is the most aggressive, tomboyish one. Some of their villains tried to break them apart, but they were most powerful when they were together, and they knew that.
Bottom line: As long as Cartoon Network doesn't abandon the girl power sentiment of the original series — and doesn’t do anything too modern, like give the girls animated iPhones — we should all jump back on the PPG train.