The Powerpuff Girls (2016 TV series)

This article is about the new series of the Powerpuff Girls. For the original series, see The Powerpuff Girls.
The Powerpuff Girls
Based on The Powerpuff Girls, by Craig McCracken
Directed by
Voices of
Narrated by Tom Kenny
Theme music composer Tacocat
Opening theme "Who's Got the Power?", performed by Tacocat
Ending theme "The Powerpuff Girls", lyrics and performed by Tristan Sedillo and Hannah Watanabe-Rocco
Composer(s) Mike Reagan
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 40 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Nick Jennings
  • Bob Boyle (co-executive producer)
Producer(s) Pernelle Hayes
Running time 11 minutes
Production company(s) Cartoon Network Studios
Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network Cartoon Network
Original release April 4, 2016 (2016-04-04) – present (present)
External links
Website

The Powerpuff Girls is an American animated television series based on Craig McCracken's The Powerpuff Girls (1998). Cartoon Network announced the series in June 2014. In 2015, they announced that the new series would feature new voice actors for the main characters. The series premiered on April 4, 2016, in the United States, along with Latin America and Brazil.

Plot

Further information: The Powerpuff Girls § Overview

The Powerpuff Girls, featuring Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, are three superheroes whose purpose is to reduce crime in between living a normal childhood.[1]

Production

Bubbles, Blossom and Buttercup as they appear in the series

Cartoon Network announced on June 16, 2014, that they had revived The Powerpuff Girls in a new series, which was to be produced by Cartoon Network Studios. In their 2015 upfront on February 19, the network announced that Nick Jennings would be its executive producer.[1] Bob Boyle, who previously has produced Clarence, has created Disney XD's Yin Yang Yo! and Nickelodeon's Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and also former producer and art director of the Butch Hartman's animated series The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom would also produce. Meanwhile, Craig McCracken, original creator of The Powerpuff Girls, would not work on the series, even though he gave the show his approval.[2]

Amanda Leighton, Kristen Li, and Natalie Palamides were announced as the new voice actors of the main characters—Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup[3]—replacing the original respective voice actors Cathy Cavadini, Tara Strong, and Elizabeth Daily.[2] However, Tom Kenny reprises his roles as the Mayor and narrator, while Tom Kane reprises his role as Professor Utonium.[4] In April 2016, Jennings revealed that the producers had considered bringing back the original voice actors for the new series, but decided that recasting the roles would infuse new energy.[4] After the network revealed multiple promotional images from the new series in June 2015, writers from news sites described the visual look as similar to the original series,[3] despite the 15th anniversary special Dance Pantsed, which was broadcast in 2014, featuring a different art style rendered in 3D.[2] Meanwhile, Roger L. Jackson returns as Mojo Jojo, and Jennifer Hale returns as Ms. Keane and Sedusa, but not as Princess.[5]

Episodes

Season overview

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 40[6] April 4, 2016 (2016-04-04) TBA (TBA)

Season 1 (2016)
No. Title [7] Written and storyboarded by Story by Original air date [8] U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Escape from Monster Island"Jaydeep Hasrajani and Grace KraftHaley Mancini and Jake GoldmanApril 4, 2016 (2016-04-04)1.51[9]
The Mayor needs rescuing from Monster Island; meanwhile, Blossom and Buttercup fight over who gets to attend a concert with Bubbles.
2"Princess Buttercup"Kyle Neswald and Benjamin P. CarowHaley Mancini and Jake GoldmanApril 4, 2016 (2016-04-04)1.51[9]
When Buttercup starts hanging with the wrong crowd, Princess Morbucks wishes to join the Powerpuff Girls.
3"The Stayover"Jaydeep Hasrajani and Grace KraftHaley Mancini and Jake GoldmanApril 5, 2016 (2016-04-05)1.31[10]
Recovering from a candy hangover, Blossom and Buttercup must locate Bubbles.
4"Painbow"Julia Vickerman and Diego MolanoHaley Mancini and Jake GoldmanApril 6, 2016 (2016-04-06)1.18[11]
A rainbow causes Townsville to become unnaturally happy.
5"Horn, Sweet Horn"Julia Vickerman and Diego MolanoEmily Brundige, Haley Mancini,
and Jake Goldman		April 7, 2016 (2016-04-07)1.26[12]
Donny the pony threatens Townsville after the Professor accidentally transforms him into a monster.
6"Man Up"Kyle Neswald and Benjamin P. CarowHaley Mancini and Jake GoldmanApril 8, 2016 (2016-04-08)1.56[13]
Buttercup adopts a New Age attitude after letting Man-Boy the villain escape in her anger. In order to defeat Man-Boy when he returns to take revenge, Buttercup aims to strike a balance between peace and struggle.
7"Bye, Bye Bellum"Kyle Neswald and Benjamin P. CarowSteve Szlaga, Haley Mancini,
and Jake Goldman		April 11, 2016 (2016-04-11)1.18[14]
The Mayor of Townsville overwork the girls after secretary Sara Bellum gives notice.
8"Little Octi Lost"Grace Kraft and Vi NguyenHaley Mancini and Jake GoldmanApril 12, 2016 (2016-04-12)1.21[15]
A lesson for Bubbles by Buttercup backfires.
9"Strong-Armed"Patrick McEown, Leticia Abreu Silva,
Alicia Chan, and Grace Kraft		Haley ManciniApril 13, 2016 (2016-04-13)1.17[16]
Bubbles fights the villainous Pack Rat using her robot cast covering a broken arm.
10"Power Up Puff"Roque Ballesteros, Kenn Navarro, Udomphorn Rau,
Corrine Wong, Clara Yan, and Joshua Zinman		Gina Ippolito, Haley Mancini,
and Jake Goldman		April 14, 2016 (2016-04-14)1.03[17]
Buttercup and Bubbles "level up" during a fight; Blossom ponders the extent of her own powers.
11"Tiara Trouble"Julia Vickerman and Diego MolanoHaley Mancini and Jake GoldmanApril 15, 2016 (2016-04-15)1.18[18]
A mysterious tiara curses Townsville's pageant of Beauty, Talent, and All-Around Flair.
12"The Wrinklegruff Gals"Andreas SchusterEmily Brundige, Haley Mancini,
and Jake Goldman		April 21, 2016 (2016-04-21)1.21[19]
In order to fit in with the big kids at their new school, the girls consume a potion that ages them, but it ends up turning them into senior citizens.
13"Arachno-Romance"Julia Vickerman and Diego MolanoJake GoldmanApril 28, 2016 (2016-04-28)TBA
The girls try to split up the Professor and his girlfriend.
14"Puffdora's Box"Jaydeep Hasrajani and Leticia Abreu SilvaHaley ManciniMay 5, 2016 (2016-05-05)TBA
Blossom unleashes evil spirits with her spring cleaning.
16"Frenemy"TBATBAMay 19, 2016 (2016-05-19)[20]TBA

Internet shorts
No. Title Original release date
S01"Who's Got the Power?"February 16, 2016 (2016-02-16)
An extended version of the new theme song.
S02"Air Buttercup"March 1, 2016 (2016-03-01)
Buttercup tries to shoot her garbage in the trash basketball style, but keeps failing.
S03"Bubbles' Beauty Blog but on Video"March 8, 2016 (2016-03-08)
Bubbles tries to make a beauty blog, but Buttercup and Blossom keep getting in the way.
S04"Run Blossom Run"March 15, 2016 (2016-03-15)
Blossom tries to rush to school, but faces many obstacles along the way.

Broadcast

Cartoon Network premiered the series in the United States on April 4, 2016,[21] which aired simultaneously on the Canadian Cartoon Network, Latin America Cartoon Network and Brazilian Cartoon Network.[22] The Powerpuff Girls premiered on Cartoon Network UK on April 25, 2016.[23]

Reception

The recasting of the main characters came to the sadness of Cavadini, Daily, and Strong—the latter of whom, on Twitter, called it "a stab in the heart".[2] She had announced after the upfront in February that this was a "strictly creative" decision by the network,[24] though in June of the same year said that the network had never contacted either her or Cavadini and Daily prior to the decision to recast.[2]

The series has received mixed reviews. Henry Solotaroff-Webber of The Badger Herald enjoyed the series, saying "Overall, this new rendition of a classic animated program is a triumph in my eyes. It recaptures much of what made the last show so important for kids to see while still thoroughly scratching a nostalgia itch for those looking to go back."[25] IGN gave the premiere episode "Man Up" an 8.0 out of 10, saying "While the new voice cast will take some getting used to, and the absence of Cathy Cavadini, Tara Strong and E.G. Daily is strongly felt, the show still manages to capture the essence of the Powerpuff Girls."[26] The Occidental Weekly lamented that the series "lacks the impeccable comedic timing and wit of the original" and called the voice acting "mediocre at best", while also criticizing the subpar writing.[27] Slate was critical of the show's "self-conscious" feminist overtones, and compared the show unfavorably to the original, particularly the second-season episode "The Powerpuff Girls' Best Rainy Day Adventure Ever".[28] Polygon criticized that the show lost what they considered made the original so special: "fighting seems like an afterthought, as if Cartoon Network wants to keep the Girls a safe distance from the fray", and that the show was a "step backward, not forward".[29]

"Horn, Sweet Horn" controversy

The first season episode "Horn, Sweet Horn" received scrutiny from the media after the episode's handling of transgender themes prompted criticism from LGBT viewers.[30] Sulagna Misra, writing for Fusion's official website, described the character Donny as an "interesting metaphor for transgender identity" but saw poor judgment in the choice to present the transformed character as a monster. She found the larger topic of identity reversed by making the plot so "convoluted" and preferred if the character's monstrous transformation had been a temporary gag instead.[31] Marie Solis of Mic also viewed the episode as a failed attempt to convey social issues, on par with the "Twisted Sister" episode from the 1998 Powerpuff Girls series, in which the main characters conjure up a mentally challenged and physically deformed sister.[32] Dorian Dawes of the magazine Bitch was extremely critical of the episode, calling its message questionable and dangerous in the wake of the House Bill 2 controversy. Dawes denounced the episode as irresponsible to the series' primary demographic and felt it was written solely to make the producers feel righteous about their inclusion of transgender themes.[33]

References

  1. 1 2 Staff writers (February 19, 2015). "Cartoon Network Unveils Upfront Slate for 2015–2016". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Hughes, William (June 9, 2015). "Powerpuff Girls Voice Actor Feels 'Stabbed in the Heart' by New Version". The A.V. Club. The Onion, Inc. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Gonzalez, Sandra (June 8, 2015). "The Powerpuff Girls Return Is Imminent: See the First Images". Mashable. Mashable, Inc. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Serrao, Nivea (April 4, 2016). "Here's What You Can Expect From The Updated Powerpuff Girls". TV Insider.
  5. ↑ Francis, Preston (May 5, 2015). "Interview with Voice Actor Tom Kenny". The Comic Book Cast. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  6. ↑ http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/powerpuff-girls-40-episodes-ordered-reboot-series/
  7. ↑ "The Powerpuff Girls Season 1 Episodes". TV Guide. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  8. ↑ "The Powerpuff Girls Episode Guide". Zap2it. Zap2it. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (April 5, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.4.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  10. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 6, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.5.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  11. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 7, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.6.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  12. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 8, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.7.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  13. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 9, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.8.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  14. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 12, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.11.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  15. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 13, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.12.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  16. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 14, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.13.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  17. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 15, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.14.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  18. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 18, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.15.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  19. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 22, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.21.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  20. ↑ http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/the-powerpuff-girls-frenemy/EP023789040034?aid=zap2it
  21. ↑ "'Powerpuff Girls' to make a comeback on Cartoon Network on April 4". Daily News & Analysis. Diligent Media Corporation. March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  22. ↑ http://www.cartoonnetwork.ca/tv/powerpuff-girls/
  23. ↑ "Cartoon Network UK April 2016 Highlights". RegularCapital.com. Turner Broadcasting System Europe (Press Release). Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  24. ↑ Berry, Peter A. (February 27, 2015). "The Powerpuff Girls Reboot: Original Voice Actors Not Returning". Design & Trend. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  25. ↑ Solotaroff-Webber, Henry (12 April 2016). "‘The Powerpuff Girls’ are back and ready to kick ass". The Badger Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  26. ↑ Yehl, Joshua (18 March 2016). "The Powerpuff Girls: “Man Up” Review". IGN. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  27. ↑ Gurewitz, Frida (13 April 2016). "A less than powerful Puff delight". The Occidental Weekly. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  28. ↑ Thurm, Eric (4 April 2016). "The New Powerpuff Girls Is So Self-Conscious About Its Feminism That It Forgets What Made the Original Great". Slate. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  29. ↑ Allegra, Frank (15 April 2016). "The Powerpuff Girls reboot loses what made the original so special". Polygon. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  30. ↑ Kiberd, Roisin (April 22, 2016). "The Tumblr fandom is outraged at the Powerpuff Girls reboot". Vice. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  31. ↑ Misra, Sulagna (April 13, 2016). "The Powerpuff Girls reboot lacks the sugar and spice of the original". Fusion. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  32. ↑ Solis, Marie (April 12, 2016). "Powerpuff Girls transgender pony wants to be a unicorn, becomes monster instead". Mic. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  33. ↑ Dawes, Dorian (April 18, 2016). "A joke in the Powerpuff Girls reboot is a sucker punch to trans women". Bitch. Retrieved April 23, 2016.

External links

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