The Powerpuff Girls (1998)

Creator: Craig McCracken

Air Dates: November 18th, 1998 - March 25th, 2005 (7 years)
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 78 (136 segments)
Episode Time: 22 minutes (two 11 minute segments) 

The Powerpuff Girls was a cartoon that ran on Cartoon Network during the late 90s and early 2000s. It was created by Craig McCracken while he was attending California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), but it was originally called "The Whoop-Ass Girls". Of course, he had to change the name when Cartoon Network wanted to put it on the air. 

The show got it's start in 1995 on TV when Cartoon Network aired two pilot episodes on their "What A Cartoon" block, which is what they used to air pilots for their cartoons. Other cartoons got its start there, like Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, and others. Then later in 1998 Cartoon Network made it into it's own show, and it has been very popular ever since. I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves cartoons. 

The show is about three kindergarten-aged girls who were born with super powers. As the opening theme for the show explains, Professor Utonium wanted to create the "perfect little girl" by mixing sugar, spice, and everything nice in his lab. But, as he was mixing, he accidentally spilled Chemical X into the concoction, and "thus, the Powerpuff Girls were born!" (Of course, a later episode reveals what really caused that "accident")

Blossom is the "commander and the leader", and my personal favorite character in the show. She's the one in pink with the big red bow, which symbolizes her status in the group. She's usually the one to answer the Powerpuff Girls' hotline. She's the smart one of the group and looks up to intelligent, independent female figures, like her kindergarten teacher, Ms. Keen, and the Ms. Bellum, the mayor's assistant.

Bubbles is "the joy and the laughter". The cute one of the group. She's the one in blue with the blonde pigtails. She's loves coloring, animals, and all things cute. She has a favorite stuffed octopus named Octi and she can speak Squirrel. 

Many times she feels outshined by her much tougher sisters, but she has constantly shown that she's just as tough as them (see episode "Bubblevicious"). 

And then there's Buttercup who is "the toughest fighter". She's the one in green with the short black hair. She's the tomboy of the group. She's usually the first one to jump into battle and believes brawn wins over brains, while Blossom believes the opposite. While she is the toughest of the group, she does have her softer moments (she is still a 5-year-old girl, after all).

Professor Utonium is the one who created them and he treats them like his children (which they basically are). Even though the girls usually call him "Professor" instead of "Dad", he's still basically their father. He is a single parent and takes care of the girls on his own,

 There's also many other supporting characters like their teacher, Mayor Mayor (yes, his name is Mayor, and he loves pickles), Ms. Sara Bellum, and all the various villains that don't know when to quit.

The show ended in 2005, but recently Cartoon Network has been working on reviving the show and they announced the revival a couple years ago. The new series is expected to air this spring. The only downside is that Craig McCracken won't be behind it, and it it won't have the original voice actors for the girls. But, at least Tom Kenny will return as the Mayor and Narrator. I will still check it out, but it'll be hard not to compare it to the original. But, it looks like these little girls will continue to fight crime and save the world before bedtime.

This was my favorite cartoon when I was a kid. I pretty much watched it every time it came on, especially when there was a new episode. I own the box set, so I can watch it any time I want, now. Just hearing the beginning of that theme song just brings back memories. It would be really cool to see this generation of kids enjoy this awesome cartoon. One thing I think Cartoon Network can do is have a marathon of episodes from the original cartoon leading up to the premiere of the new one. That would be cool to see. Just to see it air on TV again before it passes the torch to the new one.

PowerPuff Girls Complete Series DVD Box Set