The Powerpuff Girls (2016 TV series)
A reboot of the classic superhero series.
The Powerpuff Girls is an American superhero animated sitcom developed by Nick Jennings and Bob Boyle for Cartoon Network, serving as a reboot of the original series created by Craig McCracken. It follows Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, three superpowered girls created in a lab by Professor Utonium, who protect the city of Townsville from evil. The series premiered on April 4, 2016, and ended on June 16, 2019, lasting three years.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Adventure
- Slapstick
- Action
- Comedy
- Slice of life
- Animated sitcom
- Superhero
- Based on
- The Powerpuff Girls, Craig McCracken
- Developer
- Nick Jennings; Bob Boyle
- Voices
- Amanda Leighton
- Kristen Li
- Natalie Palamides
- Tom Kane
- Tom Kenny
- Roger L. Jackson
- Narrator
- Tom Kenny
- Theme music
- Tacocat
- Opening theme
- "Who's Got the Power?" (performed by Tacocat)
- End theme
- "The Powerpuff Girls" (lyrics and performed by Tristan Sedillo and Hannah Watanabe-Rocco)
Facts from the source article.
Production
In June 2014, Cartoon Network announced a new series rebooting The Powerpuff Girls, produced by Cartoon Network Studios. The network revealed in February 2015 that Nick Jennings, an art director from SpongeBob SquarePants and Adventure Time, would serve as executive producer. Bob Boyle, who had produced Clarence and created Yin Yang Yo! and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, also produced the reboot. Original series creator Craig McCracken did not work on the new show; he explained on Twitter that his contract with Disney Television Animation prevented his involvement. The main characters were recast: Amanda Leighton voiced Blossom, Kristen Li voiced Bubbles, and Natalie Palamides voiced Buttercup, replacing the original actors. Tom Kenny returned as the Mayor and narrator, Tom Kane reprised Professor Utonium and Him, Roger L. Jackson returned as Mojo Jojo, and Jennifer Hale came back as Ms. Keane. In April 2016, Jennings stated that producers had considered keeping the original voice actors but ultimately decided recasting would bring fresh energy to the series.
Broadcast
The 2016 Powerpuff Girls series first aired on Cartoon Network in the United States and Canada on April 4, 2016. Across the Asia-Pacific region, it launched on April 9, followed by Italy on April 21, Germany on April 23, and Africa on April 30. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Cartoon Network began airing it on April 25, with CITV picking it up on November 7 and Boomerang on October 17, 2016. Australia saw its Cartoon Network debut on April 9, with additional broadcasts on 9Go!. The Philippines received the English-language version on Cartoon Network on May 2, 2016, while free TV aired a Filipino/Tagalog dub on 5 (now TV5) starting October 15, 2016. CNN Philippines also broadcast the Filipino dub as part of its morning block from September 1, 2018. Boomerang in the United States and Latin America began showing the series on November 1, 2016. The Middle East got it on Cartoon Network Arabic on April 29, 2016. India aired it on Cartoon Network in both 2016 and 2017, including on Cartoon Network HD+. Mainland China broadcast the series on Haha-Toonmax TV.
Reception
The series was met with mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and fans. Henry Solotaroff-Webber of The Badger Herald enjoyed the series, calling it a triumph that recaptures much of what made the original important. IGN gave the premiere episode "Man Up" an 8.0 out of 10, noting that while the new voice cast takes getting used to, the show captures the essence of the Powerpuff Girls. The Nerdist gave the first two episodes a 4.5 out of 5, suggesting that fans of the original would love the new episodes. Screen Rant gave a positive review, stating that although the revival does not quite hit the mark of the original, it is an excellent addition to the franchise. Collider gave it 4 stars, calling it a solid cartoon worth viewing on its own merits. The Occidental Weekly lamented that the series lacks the comedic timing and wit of the original, calling the voice acting mediocre and the writing subpar. Slate criticized the show's self-conscious feminist overtones and compared it unfavorably to the original. Polygon criticized that the show lost what made the original special, with fighting seeming like an afterthought, and called it a step backward. Jessica Swartz of Inverse said new viewers might not know who the villains are, and called it a mediocre cartoon. Shelby Watson of The All State praised the voice acting but criticized the focus on domestic lives over crime-fighting and called the animation catastrophic.
Merchandise and media
The reboot has seen two Region 1 DVD releases, six Region 2 DVD releases, and two Region 4 DVD releases, all in 16:9 aspect ratio. A toy line by Spin Master was announced before the series premiered, with toys released in 2016 and 2017, including 2-in-1 playsets. A McDonald's Happy Meal promotion ran from June 14 to July 5, 2016, in the United States, featuring mini action figures, rings, and collectibles. Two Lego sets were released on August 24, 2018, in the United States and United Kingdom. In April 2016, a line of comic books by IDW Publishing was announced for July 2016. Cartoon Network released five mobile games: "Flipped Out", "Glitch Fixers", "Mojo Madness", "Ready, Set, Monsters", and "Monkey Mania"; the latter two are free, while the former is $2.99, all available on Apple App Store and Google Play. A pair of Powerpuff Girls-themed packs for Lego Dimensions were released on September 12, 2017, including a Team Pack with Blossom and Bubbles figures and a Fun Pack with a Buttercup figure, adding a new open-world area and battle arenas.
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