| The Powerpuff Girls | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Craig McCracken |
| Showrunners |
|
| Directed by | Craig McCracken[1] (seasons 1–4) |
| Voices of | |
| Narrated by | Tom Kenny |
| Theme music composer |
|
| Opening theme | "The Powerpuff Girls (main theme)" |
| Ending theme | "The Powerpuff Girls (end theme)" (performed byBis) |
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 78[a](list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Craig McCracken (2001–2005) |
| Producer | Chris Savino (2003–2005) |
| Running time | 22 minutes (overall) 11 minutes (segments) 44 minutes ("'Twas the Fight Before Christmas") |
| Production company | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Cartoon Network |
| Release | November 18, 1998 (1998-11-18)[3] – March 25, 2005 (2005-03-25)[3][4] |
| Related | |
The Powerpuff Girls[c] is an American animatedsuperhero television series created byCraig McCracken forCartoon Network. The show centers onBlossom,Bubbles, andButtercup, threekindergarten-aged girls withsuperpowers. They live in the fictional city of Townsville with their father and creator, a scientist named Professor Utonium, and are frequently called upon by the city's mayor to help fight nearby criminals and other enemies using their powers.
While attending his second year atCalArts in 1992, McCracken created a short film,Whoopass Stew!, about a trio of child superheroes known as the Whoopass Girls, which was only shown at festivals. Following his hiring by Hanna-Barbera, McCracken changed its name toThe Powerpuff Girls and produced the series' pilot for theirWhat a Cartoon! series, which premiered during theSpace Ghost Coast to Coast episode "1st Annual World Premiere Toon-In" on February 20, 1995. After a second episode, "Crime 101", aired on January 28, 1996. Network executives gave McCracken the greenlight for a full series, which debuted as aCartoon Cartoon on November 18, 1998.
The Powerpuff Girls aired on Cartoon Network for six seasons, three specials, and afeature film, with the final episode airing on March 25, 2005. A total of 78 episodes were produced, in addition to the two pilots, a Christmas special, the film, a tenth anniversary special, and a special episode incomputer animation. Various spin-off media include ananime, three CD soundtracks, a home video collection, comic books, aseries of video games, a2016 reboot series, and anupcoming reboot series, as well as various licensed merchandise. The series has been nominated for sixEmmy Awards, nineAnnie Awards, and aKids' Choice Award during its run.
The show revolves around the adventures of three kindergarten-aged girls with an array of varioussuperpowers: Blossom (pink), Bubbles (blue), and Buttercup (green). The plot of an episode is usually some humorous variation of standardsuperhero andtokusatsu shows, with the girls using their powers to defend their town fromvillains and giantmonsters. In addition, the girls have to deal with the normal issues that young children face, such as sibling rivalries, loose teeth,[8] personal hygiene,[9] going to school,bed wetting,[10] or dependence on asecurity blanket.[11] Episodes often contain hidden references to older pop culture (especially noticeable in the episode "Meet the Beat Alls",[12] which is a homage tothe Beatles). The cartoon always tries to keep different ideas within each episode with some small tributes andparodies thrown in.[13]
The show is set mainly in the city of Townsville, USA. Townsville is depicted as a major American city, with a cityscape consisting of several major skyscrapers. In his review ofThe Powerpuff Girls Movie, movie critic Bob Longino ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution said, "the intricate drawings emanate1950s futuristic pizzazz like aDavid Hockney scenescape," and that the show is "one of the few American creations that is both gleeful pop culture and exquisite high art."[14]
| Season | Segments | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | ||||
| 1 | 24 | 13 | November 18, 1998 (1998-11-18) | May 26, 1999 (1999-05-26) | |
| 2 | 26 | 13 | June 25, 1999 (1999-06-25) | June 30, 2000 (2000-06-30) | |
| 3 | 22 | 12 | July 28, 2000 (2000-07-28) | February 9, 2001 (2001-02-09) | |
| 4 | 12 | 11 | April 14, 2001 (2001-04-14) | May 18, 2002 (2002-05-18) | |
| 5 | 25 | 14 | December 6, 2002 (2002-12-06) | April 9, 2004 (2004-04-09) | |
| 6 | 27 | 15 | April 16, 2004 (2004-04-16) | March 25, 2005 (2005-03-25) | |
| Specials | N/a | 3 | December 12, 2003 (2003-12-12) | January 20, 2014 (2014-01-20) | |
As depicted in the opening sequence of each episode, the Powerpuff GirlsBlossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup were created by Professor Utonium in an attempt to create the "perfect little girl" using a mixture of "sugar, spice, and everything nice". However, he accidentally spilled a mysterious substance called "Chemical X" into the mixture, creating three girls and granting them superpowers, including flight,superhuman strength, superhuman speed, superhuman senses, limited invulnerability,x-ray vision, red heat vision, energy projection, space survivability, and thermal resistance. In the original concept, the accidental substance wasa can of "Whoopass", which was replaced by "Chemical X" in the television show.[15]
The three girls all have abnormally large eyes inspired byMargaret Keane's art,[16] and stubby arms and legs, and lack of noses, ears, fingers, flat feet, toes, and necks. McCracken preferred them to look more symbolic of actual children rather than going for a "realistic" look, meaning fewer body parts were needed.[17] Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup normally wear dresses that match the colors of their eyes with black stripes, as well as white stockings and blackMary Janes. They individually represent body, mind and spirit,[18] and despite being the same age, they adopt the characteristics of the oldest, middle and youngest child.[19] The closing theme song offers a nutshell description of their personalities:Blossom, commander and the leader. Bubbles, she is the joy and the laughter. Buttercup, she is the toughest fighter.
During Craig McCracken's first year in the character animation program ofCalArts,[22] he wanted to produce an animated short film based on a wrestler-type character he made named "El Fuego". In June 1991, he drew three girls with large eyes, visually inspired by the paintings ofMargaret Keane,[16] on a small sheet of orange construction paper as abirthday card design for his brother. Looking for some "diversity and balance" in the drawing, he had created a blonde, a redhead, and a brunette.[23] He liked how "cute" they looked and turned them into superheroes, thus replacing the aforementioned wrestler.[5][24] The following year, the girls starred on McCracken's animated shortWhoopass Stew! The Whoopass Girls in: A Sticky Situation.[25] Initially, McCracken wanted to animate all fourWhoopass Girls shorts, but only one was produced.[5] McCracken's shorts were selected to be shown atSpike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation in 1994.[25][26]
While he was working on2 Stupid Dogs in 1992, McCracken'sWhoopass Girls short was picked up for a series by Cartoon Network. The nameWhoopass was dropped for inclusion as part of theWhat a Cartoon! animated shorts showcase. McCracken explained that Cartoon Network executives believed no one would make a children's show with the word "ass" in it, so the title changed toThe Powerpuff Girls and the "can of whoopass" was renamed "Chemical X".[5] McCracken's new short, titled "Meat Fuzzy Lumpkins", premiered during theSpace Ghost Coast to Coast episode1st World Premiere Toon-In on February 20, 1995; the episode, written byMatt Maiellaro, had McCracken humorously present the short while wearing an elaborate swimsuit in front ofSpace Ghost, after "winning" as pre-determined by Cartoon Network.[27] Despite this, the short was not as popular asDexter's Laboratory, a project McCracken and former classmateGenndy Tartakovsky (who also directed many episodes ofThe Powerpuff Girls) worked on together; being the most popular of the shorts,Dexter's Laboratory was the first to be greenlit by the network.[5][28] Furthermore, McCracken's cartoon did not do well with a test audience composed by 11-year-old boys; "They were saying, 'This is stupid, little girls can't be heroes'", he recalled in 1999. They also found the girls' designs to be disturbing, which caused McCracken to panic and attempt to redesign them in a more realistic style.[29] However, Cartoon Network executiveMike Lazzo convinced McCracken to stay true to his original vision, and allowed him to produce a secondPowerpuff Girls short titled "Crime 101", which aired onWhat a Cartoon! in early 1996. VeteranABC announcerErnie Anderson, who narrated the pilot episodes and died of cancer in 1997, was replaced byTom Kenny when it became a series.[30]
Following the second short, Cartoon Network picked upThe Powerpuff Girls for a regular animated series. McCracken said that the show did not go through a large development process, but he was advised to change the name of the three main characters to Pink, Blue and Green, since the network executives found it hard to differentiate them by Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup.[31] Instead, he put together a bible for the show, explaining the essential aspects of the characters.[31]The Powerpuff Girls series debuted on November 18, 1998, and was the highest-rated premiere in Cartoon Network's history at the time. During its run, the series consistently scored the highest rating for an original series each week for the network across a wide range of demographics—from young children to adults.[15][32] In October 2000, Cartoon Network credited the series for its Friday night prime timeratings win among cable networks.[33] By the end of 2000, merchandising based on the series encompassed a whole variety of products, including T-shirts, toys, video games, lunchboxes, and dishware.[15] Concerning the show's success, Craig McCracken has stated, "I thought it would get on Cartoon Network and college kids would watch it and there would be a few random T-shirts out there in therave scene or in record shops. But I had no idea that it would take off to this extent."[15]
A theatrical film based on the show,The Powerpuff Girls Movie, was also commissioned in 2000 and was released on July 3, 2002. The production of the film marked the series' switch fromtraditional cel animation to thedigital ink and paint technique. Initially, McCracken had wanted to stick to the traditional method, feeling that computer animation still lacked the "visceral feeling" of cel animation, and that he and his team were "purists" of the medium.[34] All of the original episodes were hand-drawn and produced at the Korean studioRough Draft Studios,[35] and the cost per each episode was $500,000.[36]
Following the series' fourth season, the closing ofHanna-Barbera Productions and the death of its executiveWilliam Hanna in 2001, along with the muted reception toThe Powerpuff Girls Movie, McCracken left the series to focus on developing his next animated series for the network,Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, leavingChris Savino to take his place while production ofThe Powerpuff Girls was moved toCartoon Network Studios.[5] The show's last original run episode was on March 25, 2005; in all, six seasons were made.[37] Cartoon Network had offered to give McCracken and Savino a seventh season of the series, but they believed six was enough, and that the series had run its course.[5]
James L. Venable, Thomas Chase, &Steve Rucker composed the opening theme of the series, and Scottish bandBis performed the ending theme song,[38] as played during the credits. The opening theme uses a sped-up drum break sample of "Funky Drummer" performed byClyde Stubblefield.[39]
In August 2008, McCracken revealed on hisDeviantArt account, as had been announced in that year's Comic Con, that he was working with Cartoon Network on a new half-hourThePowerpuff Girls special to celebrate the series' tenth anniversary.[40] Titled "The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!", it aired on the Pan-Euro Cartoon Network on November 29, 2008, during the Powerpuff Girls Birthday Marathon, and in the United States on January 19, 2009, as part of its 10th anniversary marathon. Originally an idea for season 4, the special was meant to be the final episode of the series, but Cartoon Network was against giving their series a definitive ending at the time.[41] Unlike all the previous episodes, the special was animated usingAdobe Flash at Cartoon Network Studios.[42] It also provides a glimpse of Sara Bellum's face as aneaster egg, which at the time could be captured with aTiVo digital video recorder.[43]
On January 28, 2013, aCGI special titledPowerpuff Girls: Dance Pantsed was announced to premiere that year, though it was later delayed to January 20, 2014.[44][45] FormerBeatleRingo Starr promoted the special on Cartoon Network singing a new original song "I Wish I Was a Powerpuff Girl" with previews leading up to the airdate. Ringo also voiced a new character namedFibonacci Sequins in the episode.[46] The special was directed by Dave Smith, who directed episodes for the series in the past, and featured the original cast members reprising their roles.[47] ThisPowerpuff Girls special marked the first time that series creatorCraig McCracken had no input.[48] The episode's plot has Mojo Jojo kidnap Fibonacci along with an opera singer and a badger. The girls rescue all of them, and the Powerpuff Girls defeat Mojo yet again. Not deterred, he then goes on to invent an evil video game called "Dance Pants R-EVILution" (a parody of the video gameDance Dance Revolution) to take over Townsville.[49]Common Sense Media gave the special 3/5 stars citing the "tasteful update of the original animation style" however recommends it for older kids around the age of 7.[50] Geeked Out Nation gave the show a B rank and described it as "...a good special with the return of the characters that many of us grew up [with]", while they said that the special has few flaws.[51]Den of Geek gave the special a 2.5 out 5 said "The Powerpuff reboot needs those paddles to jump-start it. I want more. But I want better."[52]
In a 2000Entertainment Weekly review, Marc Bernardin complimented the show on its "spot-on pop-culture acumen" and "unparalleled sense of fun", giving it a warm welcome from earlier "lame" superhero cartoons that he grew up with.[53]Peter Marks ofThe New York Times noted the show's use of adult humor and pop culture references, declaring it "the sort of playful satire that can appeal as much to a viewer of 37 as 7."[54] Joly Herman ofCommon Sense Media described the show as a "cute, highly stylized series [that] thrills the senses with its strange characters, funny situations, and lots of lowbrow humor". She went on to say, however, that the show does go from innocent to violent in no time and that there is not much protecting young viewers against the violent undertones.[55] Robert Lloyd of theLA Times said that the series might be "transgressive" based on little violence, but "also cute."[56] In another review, he had called it "perfectly drawn, perfectly written and perfectly voiced."[57]
The show began airing at the height of the "Girl power" trend in entertainment media.[58][59] The Powerpuff Girls were often compared to the likes ofSailor Moon,Lara Croft, andBuffy the Vampire Slayer, who are also strong and heroic female leads.[58][59] Craig McCracken argued that he did not create the show to fill a gap in the market encompassed by the "Girl Power" slogan, but that its true vehicle was "good, strong characters" that made for good storytelling.[60] However, he did believe that it gained momentum from being considered a "girl power" cartoon, and that it became successful among boys and girls for the inclusion of action scenes.[61][62] Terrence Briggs ofAnimation World Network noted that, "at the very least,Powerpuff Girls works as an interesting comic deviation from the more sexual presences" of other fictional heroines.[58]
TV Guide chose the Powerpuff Girls as No. 13 in a list of the 50 Greatest cartoon characters of all time.[63]IGN ranked the series 18th in its Top 25 Primetime Animated Series of All Time list in 2006.[64]Entertainment Weekly gave it the number one spot in its list of "10 Best Cartoon Network Shows" in 2012.[65]
The Powerpuff Girls has won three Primetime Emmys, two Annie Awards, and including those five wins, has been nominated a total of sixteen times for various awards.
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television Production[66] | Craig Kellman(for "Uh Oh Dynamo") | Nominated |
| Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television Production[66] | John McIntyre(for "Mommie Fearest") | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production[66] | Tara Strong (as Bubbles) | Nominated | ||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)[67] | Craig McCracken, John McIntyre,Amy Keating Rogers,Jason Butler Rote, andGenndy Tartakovsky(for "Bubblevicious/The Bare Facts") | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television Production[68] | Chris Savino(for "Dream Scheme") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation[69] | Don Shank(for "Twisted Sister/Cover Up") | Won | |
| Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less)[69][70] | Robert Alvarez, Craig McCracken, John McIntyre,Randy Myers, Amy Keating Rogers, and Genndy Tartakovsky(for "Beat Your Greens/Down 'N Dirty") | Nominated | ||
| 2001 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music Score an Animated Television Production[71] | James L. Venable, Thomas Chase, andSteve Rucker(for "Meet the Beat Alls") | Won |
| Outstanding Individual Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television Production[71] | Don Shank | Won | ||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)[69][72] | Robert Alvarez,Lauren Faust, Craig McCracken, John McIntyre, Amy Rogers, and Genndy Tartakovsky(for "Moral Decay/Meet the Beat Alls") | Nominated | |
| Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Cartoon[73] | The Powerpuff Girls | Nominated | |
| 2002 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Character Design in an Animated Television Production[74] | Paul Rudish(for "Members Only") | Nominated |
| 2003 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Character Design in an Animated Television Production[75] | Andy Bialk(for "Save Mojo") | Nominated |
| 2004 | Annie Awards | Character Design in an Animated Television Production[76] | Chris Reccardi(for "West in Pieces") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or More)[77][78] | Robert Alvarez,Lauren Faust, Juli Hashiguchi, Craig Lewis,Craig McCracken, John McIntyre,Brian A. Miller,Randy Myers,Amy Keating Rogers,Chris Savino, James Tim Walker(for "'Twas the Fight Before Christmas") | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation[69] | Frank Gardner(for "West in Pieces") | Won |
| 2014 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation[79] | Cartoon Network Studios(for "Dance Pantsed") | Won |
| 2015 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[80] | Dave Tennant, David P. Smith, Chris Mitchell, and Will Mata(for "Dance Pantsed") | Nominated |
| Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production[80] | Kevin Dart, Chris Turnham, Jasmin Lai, and Elle Michalka(for "Dance Pantsed") | Nominated |
The Powerpuff Girls Movie was released in the United States on July 3, 2002, byWarner Bros. Pictures.[81] The movie, a prequel to the series, tells the story of how the Powerpuff Girls were created, and how Mojo Jojo became a supervillain.[82] The movie received a rating of 63% atreview aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, as well as some criticism for the violence involved.[83][84] In all, the movie grossed $16 million worldwide with an $11 million budget.[85]
In April 2005, plans for a Japaneseanime series based on the series,Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z, were announced to be produced byToei Animation.[86] The series premiered in Japan the following year with 52 half-hour episodes, airing each Saturday from 2006 to 2007. It was made as a way to exploit the popularity thatPPG was having on Japanese satellite television; however, in order to broadcast it on a channel likeTV Tokyo, it had to be produced locally.[87]
Powerpuff Girls Z deviates from the original series in terms of genre and animation style.[88] It features junior high school students Momoko Akatsutsumi (Hyper Blossom), Miyako Gotokuji (Rolling Bubbles), and Kaoru Matsubara (Powered Buttercup) as the titular girls.[89]
McCracken toldNPR'sTalk of the Nation that he had little involvement in this version: "I said, well, as long you keep that core foundation the same, feel free to reinterpret or re-imagine it in a way that you feel is going to better play in your marketplace [...] once we did the initial development on it, I kind of gave them my blessing and said, you guys can go off and make this show [...] I was really just there in the initial conception of it."[90]
Delta Express promoted the series by having aBoeing 737-232 jet painted with a speciallivery featuring the characters Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup on its exterior.[91] The plane's inaugural flight was held atLogan International Airport inBoston, Massachusetts, on July 17, 2000.[92] It was approved to serve in 21 airports.[93] In 2002 the aircraft was repainted with a differentPowerpuff Girls theme to promoteThe Powerpuff Girls Movie.[94]
On August 24, 2020, a live-action television series based onThe Powerpuff Girls was announced to be in development atThe CW. According toVariety, it would depict Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup as "disillusioned twentysomethings" resentful at losing their childhood to fighting crime and faced with the choice of reuniting "when the world needs them more than ever." The project, produced byWarner Bros. Television Studios, was being written by Heather Regnier andDiablo Cody, who were also serving as executive producers withGreg Berlanti,Sarah Schechter and David Madden.[95] Craig McCracken was not involved; however, he declared his liking of Berlanti's superhero shows and admitted he was "curious" to see what they would do with their adaptation.[96]Genndy Tartakovsky, who directed and produced several episodes of the original show, also expressed a similar sentiment, suggesting that the idea was "strong" and could work if there's "good people attached to it".[97][98]
A pilot was officially ordered on February 9, 2021, and Maggie Kiley was hired as the director.[99]Variety later reported thatChloe Bennet,Dove Cameron and Yana Perrault were cast as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup.[100][101] On March 30, 2021, following the title change toPowerpuff,Donald Faison was cast in the role of Professor "Drake" Utonium.[102] On April 1, Nicholas Podany was cast as Joseph "Jojo" Mondel Jr., the son of Mojo Jojo.[103] On April 7, production on the pilot began.[104] On April 9,Robyn Lively was cast as Sara Bellum andTom Kenny was confirmed to be reprising his role as the Narrator from the original series.[105] On May 24, The CW announced that the pilot would be reworked off-cycle, with the cast and crew remaining on board.[106] The script was later leaked to overwhelmingly negative reviews on social media.[107]Mark Pedowitz, the head of The CW, stated that the script would be largely rewritten.[108] On August 11, Bennet dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts.[109] In May 2022, it was said to be in "some stage" of redevelopment.[110] However, on May 18, 2023, The CW announced that the series had been cancelled by its new majority owners,Nexstar Media Group, and that the rights had been returned to Warner Bros.[111] On July 5, it was reported that the series was no longer in development at Warner Bros. Television.[112] On March 6, 2025, a full-length trailer of the series' pilot was leaked by Lost Media Busters on YouTube.[113][114] It was later taken down by Warner Bros. Entertainment that same day.[115]
In 2001,Warner Bros. Consumer Products deemedThe Powerpuff Girls their flagship brand, given the success of the show's merchandise.[116] The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association (LIMA) named it License of the Year at their 2001 awards ceremony.[117] The array of products was so extensive in 2002 that, according to Janan Sheria of theDayton Daily News, even people without cable television could recognize the Powerpuff Girls.[118] The franchise made nearly $1 billion in retail sales by 2002, according to Cartoon Network.[119]
Beginning in 1999,Trendmasters made Powerpuff Girls dolls, playsets, and action figures, aimed primarily at girls ages 6–11.[120] Craig McCracken and Genndy Tartakovsky were initially involved in the conception of these toys.[121] From August 21 to October 1, 2000,Subway promoted the series with four toys in theirkids' meals.[122] A set of six kids' meal toys was available as part of an April 2001Dairy Queen promotion, which also included a sweepstakes offering thePowerpuff Girls VHSBoogie Frights.[123]Jack in the Box released sixPowerpuff Girls toys in July 2002 as a tie-in forThe Powerpuff Girls Movie.[124] On February 10, 2003,Burger King began a four-week promotion featuringThe Powerpuff Girls andDragon Ball Z toys as well as special codes to redeem online for Cartoon Network'sCartoon Orbit.[125] In the United Kingdom the characters of Buttercup and Mojo Jojo were given away inKellogg's cereal boxes as part of the Cartoon Network Wobble Heads in 2003.[126]
From 2000 to 2006,DC published a series of seventy comics based on the television show.[127]Golden Books also published a series ofPowerpuff Girls-themed activity books and storybooks, including one written and illustrated by Craig McCracken, titledBig, Terrible Trouble?.[128] Around 400,000 total units of these books had been sold by 2001.[129] From 2013 to 2017,IDW Publishing published a range of comics based on the series. In 2014, that company published avariant cover which showed aged-up versions of Powerpuff Girls withbreasts and dressed inlatex. The cover was designed by an artist working for Cartoon Network who was "thinking of it more along the lines of 'female empowerment' than the kind of thing you guys are talking about". Cartoon Network said in a statement: "We recognise some fans' reaction to the cover and, as such, will no longer be releasing it at comic book shops."[130]
On October 12, 2023,Dynamite announced a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to create a new line of comics based on various properties, includingThe Powerpuff Girls.[131] The first issue was released in July 17, 2024.[132]
Three CD soundtracks were officially released for the series. The first, titledHeroes & Villains, features original songs about thePowerpuff Girls characters by a number of artists, including thenew wave groupDevo,Bis,The Apples in Stereo andFrank Black.[133]Mark Mothersbaugh, who originally sought out to be the series' composer, produced the album along withBob Casale, his bandmate of Devo.[134] The album did well, topping theBillboard's children's music chart for six weeks.[13] Another album titledThe City of Soundsville features electronica-style character themes and also did well with critics.[135][136] The third album, titledPower Pop, features a more teen-oriented variety of pop songs. This third and final album was considered a "big disappointment" and was not received as well as the previous albums.[137] The British girl groupSugababes also released a song called "Angels with Dirty Faces" to promoteThe Powerpuff Girls Movie. The song received generally positive reviews from critics and peaked at number seven on theUK Singles Chart.[138][d] The music video hearkens to "Nano of the North", an episode from the fourth season ofThe Powerpuff Girls,[139] in which each Sugababes member portrays a Powerpuff Girl.[139]
A crossover parody ofThe Powerpuff Girls and2 Broke Girls was done in the second season of Cartoon Network's TV seriesMAD, known as "2 Broke Powerpuff Girls". The episode, which aired on January 30, 2012, is of Bubbles and Buttercup, who are broke and work for "Him" in a diner after the show got placed on permanenthiatus.Tara Strong (Bubbles) andTom Kane ("Him") reprised their roles here.[140] TheMAD episode with the parody ranked #26/30 for the week with 1.903 million viewers.[141]
Several video games were made for this show all being action in genre.The Powerpuff Girls: Bad Mojo Jojo, released on November 14, 2000, follows Blossom as she tries to beat Mojo Jojo.[142] The game was called "simple and boring" byGameSpot and was a failure critically.[143][144]The Powerpuff Girls: Paint the Townsville Green, another game released in November 2000, follows Buttercup as she fights crime.[145]The Powerpuff Girls: Battle HIM follows Bubbles in her fight against HIM and was released in February 2001.[146]The Powerpuff Girls: Chemical X-traction was released in October 2001, where the girls battle enemies in a variety of settings in order to reclaim Chemical X and track down Mojo Jojo, who fed the material to all the villains in Townsville.IGN gave the game a positive review while giving thePSone version a 2.0/10 bad review.[147][148]The Powerpuff Girls: Relish Rampage was released in November 2002. All three girls are playable in a 3D world, and the game received mixed reviews.[149]The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo A-Go-Go released in 2001 centers around the name of the Powerpuff Girls' mission to stop Mojo Jojo and his minions. The game received mixed reviews.[150][151]The Powerpuff Girls: HIM and Seek was released in 2002 where the girls battle their variety of enemies through Townsville while on a scavenger hunt. The game received mostly positive reviews.[152]PC games were also made for the series. These include:The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo Clone Zone,The Powerpuff Girls: Princess Snorebucks,The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo's Pet Project, andThe Powerpuff Girls: Gamesville.[153][154][155][156] The girls, with a skin that changes them to The Rowdyruff Boys, are featured in theplatform fighterMultiVersus.[157]
Tartakovsky CalArts.
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