Le superchicche

Even though it takes many elements from many genres, "The Powerpuff Girls" show is like nothing I've ever seen before. These little girls have more heart and more hustle than any other superheroes, and when trouble strikes, these three little superheroines don't waste time with the philosophical speeches of the "SuperFriends" or the inane transformation sequences of "Sailor Moon." The Powerpuff Girls are always ready for action, and when trouble strikes they stop only to ask permission to leave the classroom - and only if there is time.

Besides plenty of action, the show has superb, though often subtle, character development: a happy but lonely Professor Utonium creates three super-powered girls, to whom he gives love, support, and discipline. However, he occasionally reveals his concern about the dangers of their crime fighting, his feelings of loneliness and burden about being a single parent, and even buried anger from his childhood.

The girls have distinct personalities as well: Blossom, the self-appointed leader, is very smart for her age and has an ego to match; Buttercup is a tomboy who cannot wait until she is old enough to go out after dark; and Bubbles behaves like a normal five-year-old girl, coloring, singing, and trying to keep the peace. Our adorable heroines experience the friction that most siblings do, but their love and fight against evil keep them together.

Also, the supporting characters, including both the good citizens and the villains, have complex yet consistent personalities. The kind mayor's assistant and evil Mojo Jojo are as interesting and complex the Powerpuff Girls themselves. Even if a scene begins with a random monster attacking the city, you can be sure that there is more to the story, and another piece of the relationship puzzle will be put in its place before the show is over.

Of course, the episodes are extremely funny and uplifting, and the only thing this show does not have is the built-in toy advertising. The writers and artists borrow elements from shows and movies that we children of the sixties enjoyed. Besides their own original story lines, they have cleverly parodied "Star Wars," the classic step-mom fairy tales, and everything from James Bond to Japanese monster films. Whether the subject is exciting, sad, or scary, you will always find the humor and the warmth.

The show does have a few minor drawbacks: sometimes the "cartoon violence" is a bit excessive, and I recommend that young children do not watch this show - it is rated for children eight-years-old and older. There are sometimes inconsistencies between shows or even in the same episode, but these are minor, and I should not complain because it is a cartoon after all.

Overall, "The Powerpuff Girls" is an excellent television show that leaves its audience feeling good. All of the characters are well developed, and the girls themselves are as believable as kindergarten superheroines can be. With their love, willingness to fight for good, and ability to take action instead of whining, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are truly the role models for the twenty-first century.

I've got all four (as of Feb '01) tapes of the PPG. And you want to know something? It's one of the best investments I've ever made!

Okay, look. I'm 34 years old, and I know some of you cynical, self-important nay-sayers may be trying to tell me that I shouldn't do this kind of thing, but hey-- I didn't vote for Al Gore, so you can just go back to daydreaming about what YOU think should be while still searching for the missing chads!! In the meantime I'll keep enjoying one of my so-called "guilty pleasures" and laughing my keyster off while doing it!

You know, I rarely ever use the word "cool" to describe something, but when I caught an episode of "The Powerpuff Girls" on Cartoon Network a while back (I don't remember the episode), I became immediately, and hopelessly hooked on what I think is, without a doubt, the COOLEST cartoon to come along since "The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show". Plus it gives me and two of my nieces some common ground. They're big fans, too!

The whole show is extremely well put together-- the retro animation, the storylines, the voices, the sound effects, and especially the incidental music. And say what you want about the fantasy violence, but the majority of the episodes convey a good message, and that's even better.

Who is my favorite PPG, you may ask? Well, hands down... it's Bubbles! And here's why: For one thing, she doesn't take things quite as seriously as Blossom and Buttercup. She is able to appreciate the simpler and more beautiful things in life without getting too bogged down as her sisters normally do. Sure, she may seem absent-minded at times, but she does have a penchant for finding the occasional needle in the haystack without really trying. And when you get down to the brass tacks, she can hold her own in a fight... which she MUCH MORE than proves in "Bubblevicious", one of my favorite episodes!

In closing, my fellow addicts, I say to you now... THIS is OUR Chemical X! Take it in... enjoy it! And believe me... you are much better off BUYING the videos!

This show is one of the reason why I would usually choose Cartoon Network over Nickelodeon has a kid. Sure, Nickelodeon had Jimmy Neutron, Spongebob Squarepants, the Fairly OddParents, My Life as a Teenage Robot, Chalk Zone, Oh Yeah Cartoons, and Ren and Stempy; however, Cartoon Network had some of my favorite all time shows like Ed Edd 'n Eddy, The Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo, Megas XLR, Teen Titans, Hanna Barbera classics like the Jetsons; the Flintstones; Wacky Races; Josie and the Pussycats; Scooby Doo; etc. , the Looney Tunes, and programming blocks like Toonami; Cartoon Cartoons; Carton Cartoons Fridays; etc. Speaking of those programming blocks, I also preferred the bumpers Cartoon Network would use with them; for example, Toonami had Tom (who was the successor to Moltar).

But, on to the point, the Powerpuff Girls was a big part of my childhood. I admit I was embarrassed to watch or speak of the show in public, but I grew past that. So yeah, if you haven't seen the original Powerpuff girls, you should check them out.

P.S. Mojo Jojo is the best villain in the show. He's right next to Princess Morbucks, the Rowdyruff Boys, and that Powerpuff Girls collector (you know the one in that single episode).

With so much adult appeal, hilarious visual gags and storys, this kind of anime spoof by the animators of Dexter's Laboratory is one of the year's best cartoons. Creator Craig McCracken (2 Stupid Dogs, No Neck Joe, Dexter's Lab) is a genius. The show is certainly not for very young children - in some fight scenes, the characters actually bleed! A no-no for babies - a bonus for adult anime fans or fans of The Simpsons, Ren & Stimpy and South Park. Again, like in Dexter's Laboratory, there's a clever combination of 50s American style and 90s Japanese anime style. If this show was on at prime time on a free to air network (not just on cable) it would be so popular with all! There would be T-shirts, toys, merchandise galore! The makers of the show would be rich, rich, RICH!!! $$$$$$$$ This show rules! I love it! Do you?

The Powerpuff Girls was one of those shows you really couldn't tell who it it was supposed to appeal to, boys or girls. But I'd go with both.

The action-packed and funny superhero side of the show was well balanced with a more heartfelt and sad side in episodes like "Twisted Sister" which touches upon tough topics of being disabled. It's admirable when kids shows do that.

The Powerpuff Girls show is also loaded with both funny, scary and likable characters with their own memorability. The girls themselves have their own personalities like the leader, the tough one and the innocent one, but without being one-note characters. The character called "Him" is perhaps the scariest villain in the show with a airy and echoing voice and the ability to posses people and control their minds. He is the center of the scariest missions the girls go on in the show in my opinion. But every villain like Mojo Jojo, Princess, The Ganggreen Gang and the list goes on is just so memorable!

My favourite among the many inhabitans of the fictional city of Townsville has to be The Mayor. He's so charmingly dumb, but has so many funny moments, but there are many other funny characters who'll also crack many smiles for different reasons.

The animation is pleasently colourful and special with character design focusing on both round and pointy features. Its simplicity often made me think about the beauty of it being that way. Sure, it's not detailed like for example The Last Airbender, but that's what makes it great, it's doing its own thing.

I love this show and I'll reccomend it to everyone as good entertainment without being all dumb fun but quite clever. Mostly for kids, but worth a watch for adults just for the fun and if you love animation like I do.