Badass Millennial Series Everyone Pretended Was Just For Girls Now Streaming For Free

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 23 seconds ago

For geeks of a certain age, there’s a sublime, nostalgic pleasure in revisiting the cartoons of your childhood. Watching an episode or two is a powerful way to micro-dose those days when life was so simple, and the future was full of endless possibilities. Outside of anime, probably the most influential cartoon of my generation was The Powerpuff Girls, which transformed three little ladies into the ultimate superhero team of the ‘90s. With slick character designs, smooth animation, and hilariously tongue-in-cheek writing, this show effectively served as a watershed moment for American animation.

Over the years, there have been failed attempts to recapture the old magic, including a disappointing anime adaptation (Powerpuff Girls Z) and a (mercifully) canceled live-action show. Decades later, it seems like it might be impossible for any new series to capture the unique energy and attitude that made the earlier show so special. Fortunately, you can return to the glory days of this Emmy-winning animation at the touch of a button, because The Powerpuff Girls is now streaming for free on Tubi!

Catching Lightning In A Bottle

The Power Puff Girls was created by Craig McCracken, the visionary creator who had previously worked with fellow legendary animator Genndy Tartakovsky on Dexter’s Laboratory. Originally, McCracken conceived of a slightly more adult show. His crimefighting trio originally went by the name “The Whoopass Girls” in an old short, and they got their powers from a can of whoopass. Cartoon Network was interested in the show, but they required McCracken to change the name to the more family-friendly Powerpuff Girls.

During early screenings for his first short, test audiences (mostly comprised of preadolescent boys) really hated the show and hated the characters’ designs. Fortunately, McCracken (with encouragement from Cartoon Network exec Mike Lazzo) stuck to his guns, keeping the original look of the Powerpuff Girls. The show ultimately became a primetime hit for Cartoon Network, winning three Emmys and fully solidifying itself as a foundational part of Millennial pop culture.  

Unforgettable Characters, Unforgettable Art

It’s a good thing that Craig McCracken kept the original look of our titular trio because the art style of The Powerpuff Girls is instantly iconic. At its heart, the art of this show provides a hilarious visual juxtaposition. With their wide eyes and expressive faces, the titular trio looks like they might be trying to sell Girl Scout cookies in an idyllic suburban community. Instead, they are superheroes who serve as the first, last, and only line of defense for Townsville, a bustling ‘berg that is always being attacked by everything from killer kaijus to snarling supervillains.

Fortunately, the design of Townsville is as bold and bright as the design of the Powerpuff Girls. It’s also filled with other stylishly designed characters, including the diminutive mayor and his Amazonian assistant, the mad monkey Mojo Jojo, and the Rowdy Ruff Boys, the Girls’ evil counterparts. Each character design is unique, giving the entire cartoon cast a vibrancy and vividness that brings them to life before they have even said a word.

From Broccoli To Beatles

Fortunately for fans, The Powerpuff Girls was more than just a pretty face. The show boasted some of the smartest writing in animation history, and episodes often subverted our expectations in the funniest possible way. For example, one episode has the girls refusing to eat broccoli. But when Townsville is invaded by broccoli aliens, the Powerpuff Girls eat their enemies, using cannibalism to drive away an extraterrestrial invasion. Another episode features a mime sucking color from the world who learns his lesson at the end, but this doesn’t keep the girls from beating him up and tossing him in jail. 

The list goes on, really. My favorite “meta” episode is “Meet the Beat-Alls,” which has the Powerpuff Girls’ most infamous villains form a super group whose name is a reference to the Beatles. In fact, the whole episode is filled with winking nods to the most famous band in musical history. “Meet the Beat-Alls” may be the best example of the show’s greatest strength: that it provides all the colorful action and silly humor kids want while throwing in insanely clever writing that only their parents can really appreciate.

Take it from me: rewatching The Powerpuff Girls is effectively Chicken Soup for the Millennial Soul. Everyone who grew up watching this killer cartoon is overworked, underpaid, and trudging through life on nothing but caffeine and vibes. Returning to Townsville is a way of returning to a simpler time, reliving the best days of your childhood as you relive the glory days of American animation.

Plus, there’s no time like the present to share this awesome animation with your own children. Do you want to get them away from YouTube brain rot, or maybe you’re just sick of Bluey reruns? Fear not, fair reader: The Powerpuff Girls is only a click away. Even better, you can watch it for free on Tubi, proving once more that nostalgia is just about the only thing that hasn’t grown more expensive!

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