The Powerpuff Girls

The Powerpuff Girls have had a few reboots and reimaginings over the years. Unfortunately, they always seem to miss the heart and soul that made the original 1998 run so incredibly endearing. The familial story of Blossom, Buttercup, Bubbles, and Professor Utonium set against a top-notch rogues gallery blends sharp social commentary with quick wit to create something special.

Across six seasons, the show takes us through the trials and tribulations of Townsville. It is an upside down but kindhearted slice of Americana viewed through the rainbow tinted glasses of three girls just trying to find their place in a crazy world.

Whether it is dealing with chirping squirrels, newly learned profanity, or battling the super intelligent Mojo Jojo, the girls tackle every obstacle with style. Mojo Jojo is a top tier big bad who relies on hyper exposition and extremely verbose circular reasoning. Usually busy cleaning up the bumbling Mayor's mistakes, the girls navigate a world with hidden meanings and innuendo sprinkled everywhere. It is brilliant social commentary masquerading as a child's cartoon.

The character design is intentionally disjointed and sloppy. It brilliantly lampoons the classic Hanna-Barbera style with no articulated fingers, simple legs, and giant eyes that take up half the face. Yet, the girls have more emotion and expression than anything those vintage cartoons ever pulled off back in the day. By relying on extreme animation tactics and wild visual tropes rather than technical accuracy and realism, the show ages gracefully. Unlike some classic Disney animation that shows its age, this stylized approach gives an endearing quality to the show that perfectly matches the unique attitudes of the characters.

What certainly is not flattened is the writing. The Powerpuff Girls does something most modern kids shows get completely wrong. Shows often dumb things down to make them accessible. Not here. You take what you can from the episode. Missing a joke does not cause any less enjoyment, but getting it adds icing on the cake. Kids get the comic silliness, and adults get the subtle satire. It is a win win.

The true heart of the show is Professor Utonium's love for his daughters. It serves as a perfect analogy for the chaos of parenthood. He is accidentally thrown into a world he was not completely ready for. He is often overworked and distracted, yet he is always willing to make time for his girls. He set out with one intention, and it ultimately led to something else entirely. Falling into the role of a devoted and loving father figure is something any parent strives for, even if things do not always go according to the blueprint. Watching it now with an eight year old gives the show a totally different weight than watching it back in the day.

The strong morals, the quick pacing, and the clever wit mix perfectly with the awesome fight choreography. This makes the show still feel incredibly fresh today. It refuses to rely on time dated pop culture references like other (long in the tooth) shows. There is also a lot of hidden adult humor in there that flies completely over the kids' heads, while still delivering cute and simple visual gags the little ones will pick up on instantly.

The show's ultimate secret is that it respects children enough to tell them the truth wrapped in bright colors and quirky comedy, like trailblazer shows Boy Meets World and Clarissa Explains It All. It also trusts adults enough to leave the rest subtle. Absolutely no one is talked down to.