I’m surprised Cartoon Network decided to remake and bring back the “Powerpuff Girls.” After their infamous statements in 2013 that their cartoons are aimed for boys and boys only, I’m not too sure what the reasoning is behind bringing back their very entertaining series about the three heroic young girls fighting crime in Townsville. I know, it’s all about the dollar at the end. They want money, and will only invest in series that make money. But when they basically told girls to go bake cookies, and stop watching the network last year, “Powerpuff Girls” is an odd show to re-invent and bring back for a new generation. I almost expected “Foster’s Home” or “Johnny Bravo” to be their target remakes.
The new “Powerpuff Girls” retains just about everything that fans loved about the original series. The entire voice cast is back, the girls are dressed the same, The mayor is still wacky, and Mojo Jojo is still the main baddy. The main baddy is still Mojo Jojo, so for the main baddy of the program there is only Mojo Jojo! The problem with the series is that while it looks like the traditional flat 2D animation, it’s really just more crappy CGI. You can clearly see the motion blur whenever there’s a large action scene, or even slight motions like Blossom brushing the hair from her head. Thus the entire episode looks like one giant cut scene from a “Powerpuff Girls” game for the XBox 360. To wit, everything appealing about the show is also gone. The bold colors, striking palettes of reds and blues, the hilariously sharp animation that garnered immense laughs, and the personalities of the girls, it’s all lost in hazy bland computer animation.
“But when Professor dances, his movements are so lifelike!” Yes, because I watched “Powerpuff Girls” all those years for the lifelike animation and realism. All of the charm, wit, and comedy from Craig McCracken’s original show is missing in favor of a more toned down and fast paced version of the girls. True, it’s much better than “comedy” like “Annoying Orange,” but it’s just not the Powerpuff Girls. It’s Cartoon Network taking a page from Nickelodeon and re-inventing popular heroes from the nineties. But while Nickelodeon aced “TMNT” by sticking to what makes them so lovable, the new crew behind the series misses the point of why the original show is still so popular. I want the show to continue, but with much bolder vibrant colors, a lighter tone, better comedy, and a much firmer grasp on female empowerment. There’s room on the playground for everyone, and Cartoon Network should really aim for girls if they want this reboot to be successful.
“The Powerpuff Girls” were a hallmark of the nineties, with an excellent and funny series, and I hope this reboot manages to recapture the magic, soon. The new models for the girls aren’t bad, I just want them to quit trying to aim for grit and gloom, and embrace the inherent happy and wacky atmosphere McCracken’s show did unapologetically. This isn’t Christopher Nolan’s “Powerpuff Girls,” you know. That said, I hope this series is revived with a great new run, if the Cartoon Network doesn’t fuck it up or sabotage it as they’ve done with most of their series since 2002. “Danced Pantsed” is a good effort, but in desperate need of improvement. I might not follow the series if it comes back for another run, but if they lighten the mood and inject more comedy, I may eventually rejoin the girls. That said, it was fun to hear Catherine Cavadini, Tara Strong, and E.G. Daily return. Gotta love those talented women.
Now airing on Cartoon Network. Check Local Listings.