Toon Zone Talkback - "Powerpuff Girls" Season 1 on DVD: Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

[Dorks UNITE!!23]

This is the talkback thread for "Powerpuff Girls" Season 1 on DVD: Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=17589).

What A awesome cover it is indeed.

http://news.toonzone.net/images/2007-06/splash-ppglg.jpg (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=17589)

[Darklordavaitor]

Wow. Sounds impressive, even though I probably won't get it, since I'm a guy. However, when I go to Best Buy today to get volumes 3 of Animainacs and Pinky & The Brain, if by some miracle, I see Craig McCracken or any of the voice actors there, I'll buy it just to get their autograph. Extremly unlikely, I know, but just incase, I'll bring a pen.

[Arek]

Wow. Sounds impressive, even though I probably won't get it, since I'm a guy. However, when I go to Best Buy today to get volumes 3 of Animainacs and Pinky & The Brain, if by some miracle, I see Craig McCracken or any of the voice actors there, I'll buy it just to get their autograph. Extremly unlikely, I know, but just incase, I'll bring a pen.
What does being a guy have to do with anything? What an asinine comment.
Gender has nothing to do with PPG at all. Sure, it was supposed to appeal to females, but that does not mean that males didn't watch it. Hell, I remember hearing that a HUGE amount of males loved Sailor Moon, which also happens to be a show aimed at a female audience.

I will openly admit that I liked the Power Puff Girls. Apparently it is something to be ashamed about, but I feel no shame what so ever.

And hell, if you are embarrassed or something, just use the excuse that you are buying it for your "niece" that may or may not exist :p.

[Dorks UNITE!!23]

Yeah, what's to be embarressed about? I like the Gummi Bears, and I'm a GUY, AND Sailor Moon and W.I.T.C.H.!

[Darklordavaitor]

What does being a guy have to do with anything? What an asinine comment.
Gender has nothing to do with PPG at all. Sure, it was supposed to appeal to females, but that does not mean that males didn't watch it. Hell, I remember hearing that a HUGE amount of males loved Sailor Moon, which also happens to be a show aimed at a female audience.


It's not that I'm ashamed, it's that what would people, mostly my friends there, think of me with it in my hands? If I see at least 1 guy my age buy it, I'll put it under consideration.


And hell, if you are embarrassed or something, just use the excuse that you are buying it for your "niece" that may or may not exist :p.

I use that one too often. ;)

[J. B. Warner]

It's not that I'm ashamed, it's that what would people, mostly my friends there, think of me with it in my hands? If I see at least 1 guy my age buy it, I'll put it under consideration.

Letting popular opinion dictate your life is a surefire path to self-destruction.

I'll probably make an effort to buy this once I get sufficient funds. As a Craig McCracken fan, I've always wanted to study "The Powerpuff Girls" at length, but I haven't had much of a chance before. If it's anything like "Foster's", I get the sense that I'll be in for quite a bit of fun.

[HG Revolution]

If it's anything like "Foster's", I get the sense that I'll be in for quite a bit of fun.

Its even better than Fosters, and that is saying something.

I'm gonna pick this up as soon as I get the chance. Now we just need a Dexter's Lab boxed set.

[Darklordavaitor]

Letting popular opinion dictate your life is a surefire path to self-destruction.

That is true, but I'm willing to make an exception this once.


I'll probably make an effort to buy this once I get sufficient funds. As a Craig McCracken fan, I've always wanted to study "The Powerpuff Girls" at length, but I haven't had much of a chance before. If it's anything like "Foster's", I get the sense that I'll be in for quite a bit of fun.

You won't be disappointed, then. They're both on par for me, but I give Foster's the slight edge due to the fact that PPG's is a good cartoon in a wave of great cartoons, while FHFIF is a good cartoon in a wave of mixed cartoons.

[J. B. Warner]

That is true, but I'm willing to make an exception this once.

Why? Is your fear of being mocked so great that you're willing to sacrifice your interest in the show in order to maintain other people's opinions of you?

[Duke]

It's not that I'm ashamed, it's that what would people, mostly my friends there, think of me with it in my hands? If I see at least 1 guy my age buy it, I'll put it under consideration.
Bah. If they think that about PPG of all things, they need their heads screwed back on.

Of course, this is coming from a guy whose DVD shelf could be seen from the hallway of his college dorm when my room door was open, and sitting there on the edge of one of the shelves was the much-more-girly Cardcaptor Sakura DVDs.

[Darklordavaitor]

Why? Is your fear of being mocked so great that you're willing to sacrifice your interest in the show in order to maintain other people's opinions of you?

Sounds silly, yes, but I also put the fact that I'm already spending $60 today anyway, and I'm normally too cheap to spend that much. Why add another $20.

[Bubblegum Girl]

I'm tempted to get the Season 1 DVD collection cause I'm an old school Powerpuff Girl fan. ;)

[Wanted]

I'll probably cop it in a month or two, maybe in August along with Samurai Jack. Those special features sound really nice, though (not that I watch most special features more than once, anyway).

[Dogasu]

This is coming out today? I didn't have a clue...I'll definately be picking this up when I get paid on Thursday...

[Neo Ultra Mike]

Originally posted by HG Revolution
Its even better than Fosters, and that is saying something.

It defintley started out a lot better then Foster's, but the thing is that PPG lost a huge load of steam around Season 3/4 when the plots started getting more sitcomy and less superherioic (espically stuff like "Getting Twiggy With It" and "Helter Shelter") and then when they had a barrage of 22 minute episodes instead of 2 eleven minute segments, which defintley had it's fair share of misses ("Knock It Off", "Superfriends"). Foster's improved a pretty good deal in it's 3rd and 4th season and a got into a good enjoyable groove while PPG's started slipping, espically around season 5 when Craig left the show and it's quality declined even more so while Foster's stays the course at season 5.

Although in it's early stages PPG is a lot better then Foster's and it's DVD is a lot more enticing. I might just get it to see the Whoopass girls shorts and behind the scenes look at the "President's Day Nightmare" Space Ghost ep where the girls first premiered. Heh who knew that 10 years ago McCracken would of revolutionized Cartoon Network with TWO top selling cartoons, one
of which is still going (and the other's still kind of going in anime form, though not for much longer).

[danreyes1]

I know I'll be picking it up. Just as much for the "Cartoon Network's better days" nostalgia as for the cartoon itself.

[YoshiAngemon]

I'll pick it up next week, when I go to get Battle Revolution and The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3!

[desi]

I am dealing with the same problem as Darklordavaitor, except I know it's not a girly show (just like Spongebob is not a kiddie show), but most friends of mine think the opposite.

[J. B. Warner]

I am dealing with the same problem as Darklordavaitor, except I know it's not a girly show (just like Spongebob is not a kiddie show), but most friends of mine think the opposite.

Honestly, who the heck cares? If your friends are going to mock you for the TV shows you watch, then they have no business being your friends in the first place. If you're that self-conscious about being seen in public with this DVD, then just buy it through Amazon or something.

[rggkjg1]

picked this up since this isn't being re-run like crazy on cartoon network anymore. i wish it had more than 13 episodes. i hope future sets will combine 2 seasons in one set. unless they need room for bonus featurettes or something.

ps, im a guy and no one ever raised an eyebrow at me or said anything while the show was on the air.

[Kevin the Geek]

I got my copy of this DVD set in the mail yesterday, and watched the extras and all the episodes on disc 1.

Here's my thoughts from what I've seen on this set so far.

The pilots and animatics would have to be my favorite extras on this set.

In the pilots, Bubbles seems to be voiced by the same person who does the voice of Lil from Rugrats.

I think that Fuzzy Lumpkins' design in the pilot "Meat Fuzzy Lumpkins" looks better than his design in the show.

The animatics show interesting early designs for Him and Mojo Jojo.

In the last animatic, it looks like the original concept of the Dynamo was to be a form that the girls would create when they combine with each other.

The promos featured on this set were pretty interesting.

I'll probably be watching the episodes that are on disc 2 later today.

To conclude my thoughts, I have to say that this DVD set is amazing, and that anyone who likes The Powerpuff Girls should own this set.

Let's hope that this set sells well so that season 2 and beyond can be released on DVD in the future!

[Leviathan]

Since my Birthday is coming up soon, I'm gonig to put that on my wishlist.

It sounds like they were able to restore the original openings to the WAC Powerpuff shorts, which is great in itself (especially considering the state most of the other shorts are airing on Boomerang as I type), and it sounds like the Whoopass pilot doesn't have the censorship done onto it on one of the Single DVD's.

Anyway, this sounds like a great set. I hope Johnny, Cow and Chicken, and Dexter aren't too far behind on CN's DVD roster..

[Darklordavaitor]

After coming back from Target a few hours ago, there was only 1 copy of the DVD left there. I don't know about you, but I smell season 2!

[Booncy]

It defintley started out a lot better then Foster's, but the thing is that PPG lost a huge load of steam around Season 3/4 when the plots started getting more sitcomy and less superherioic (espically stuff like "Getting Twiggy With It" and "Helter Shelter") and then when they had a barrage of 22 minute episodes instead of 2 eleven minute segments, which defintley had it's fair share of misses ("Knock It Off", "Superfriends"). Foster's improved a pretty good deal in it's 3rd and 4th season and a got into a good enjoyable groove while PPG's started slipping, espically around season 5 when Craig left the show and it's quality declined even more so while Foster's stays the course at season 5.


The Powerpuff Girls certainly did NOT lose steam around the 3rd season. Not with the hit Emmy-award winning episode "Meet The Beat Alls" ending that season (along with a bunch of really good episodes throughout that season). It was around the beginning of season 4 in April 2001 (after "Get Back Jojo" aired) when the hiatus began in the USA that The Powerpuff Girls lost steam. Had the rest of season 4 been aired during the '01-'02 season (like it did in Canada) instead of around the summer of 2002 to promote the movie then maybe the series' popularity would've died down around late 2002 IMO. Also had the movie been better promoted it would've done better, and boosted the show's popularity. Despite the hiatus though I'm still a dedicated PPG fan, and I still consider seasons 1-4 the classic good seasons. Seasons 5-6 however when Craig left the show to work on Fosters is when the show's plots became more sitcomy and less superherioic. PPG's last two seasons were equivalent to Gargoyles (season 3): The Goliath Chronicles. Hopefully Craig will do what Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman did, and continue on the show through comics in order to make up for the crap loyal PPG fans had to put up with during seasons 5-6.

But back to the topic at hand. I just recieved my copy of the DVD, and I'd have to say that I'm very impressed with it. I liked Craig's little message that he put on the inside cover case saying that he had no idea there'd be a season 1 DVD, let alone a show period after his ideas initially got rejected for being a bit too "weird". I also liked seeing many of the old promo's from the Extras section of the DVD. I remember being 10 years old at the time & seeing those same promo commercials lead up to the premiere of the show. That was a great feeling of nostalgia for me :). What I found most interesting from the Extras section was the other Whoopass Girls shorts that Craig made. Him's early design looks cool, he almost looks exactly like he is in the actual show except he's more feminine looking with a tail and demon ears. I also liked how the woman in the short called Him by his true name (which is The Devil; as if PPG fans didn't know that already). Mojo's early design looks similar to how he looks on the show too, except in the short he has beady eyes which makes him look older (IMO) & he's referred to as Doctor Mojo - interesting. According to Craig in the raw Space Ghost interview Mojo was to be considered (and still technically is) one of the hardest villains that The Powerpuff Girls ever faced. I always assumed when I saw how obedient Mojo was towards Him in "Telephonies" back in it's original airing that Him was supposed to be one of the hardest villains (and the main villain) that the girls would face, and then Mojo 2nd. I guess Mojo becoming a main recurring villain after season 1 wasn't coincidental, and was indeed part of Craig's plan for the show. I also like how Mojo's original origin story was simple & separate from the girl's origin story. And finally based on the "Monster Trouble" Whoopass short, and Buttercup's own promo I can easily assume that she was originally going to get the ice breath power. Makes sense since her character doesn't feel that special compared to her sisters.

[Caswin]

and then when they had a barrage of 22 minute episodes instead of 2 eleven minute segments, which defintley had it's fair share of misses ("Knock It OffWould you believe that's one of my favorites?

[Deadman]

i may just have to get it.

[launchpad25]

It sounds like they were able to restore the original openings to the WAC Powerpuff shorts, which is great in itself (especially considering the state most of the other shorts are airing on Boomerang as I type)Sounds great since i prefer the 'What A Cartoon' rock music over the 'Cartoon Cartoon' mombo music.

In the pilots, Bubbles seems to be voiced by the same person who does the voice of Lil from Rugrats.
Kath Soucie did Bubbles' voice on the 'What A Cartoon' shorts.

[Dorks UNITE!!23]

Sounds great since i prefer the 'What A Cartoon' rock music over the 'Cartoon Cartoon' mombo music.

Kath Soucie did Bubbles' voice on the 'What A Cartoon' shorts.



When Boomerang said about airing the WAC shorts, it's the elements of the shorts.

Hey 78 posts, just like CN's magic number!

[Silverstar]

In the pilots, Bubbles seems to be voiced by the same person who does the voice of Lil from Rugrats.That's because she was. Kath Soucie provided the voice of Bubbles in the shorts; Tara Strong took over for the series.

FTR, Kath also voiced Phil on Rugrats, as well as their mom, Betty. She was also Fifi La Flume and Li'l Sneezer on Tiny Toon Adventures, she was Bea on Mighty Max and also voiced Janine Melnitz on The Real Ghostbusters, to name only a few of her other gigs.

[Darklordavaitor]

That's because she was. Kath Soucie provided the voice of Bubbles in the shorts; Tara Strong took over for the series.

FTR, Kath also voiced Phil on Rugrats, as well as their mom, Betty. She was also Fifi La Flume and Li'l Sneezer on Tiny Toon Adventures, she was Bea on Mighty Max and also voiced Janine Melnitz on The Real Ghostbusters, to name only a few of her other gigs.

Plus Maddie Fenton of Danny Phantom fame. :D

[launchpad25]

That is true, but I'm willing to make an exception this once. You won't be disappointed, then. They're both on par for me, but I give Foster's the slight edge due to the fact that PPG's is a good cartoon in a wave of great cartoons, while FHFIF is a good cartoon in a wave of mixed cartoons.For me, i give 'The Powerpuff Girls' a slight edge over 'Fosters' due to it's fast pased action, and intense fight scenes. Still, they're both good shows in they're own way.

[weirdojace]

After remembering that this was finally out, I rushed out to Target to find only ONE copy left. Looks like a good sign to me...

I'm disappointed by the lack of commentaries, but it's great to see these episodes in DVD quality. Oh and the packaging is brilliant.

Can't wait for season 2...

And now my question is when season 5 comes out, will they actually put "See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey" on it? If they do, I'll buy it just for that even though the rest of that season sucks.

[Marvin Tikvah]

Picked this up a couple of days ago. I was wondering how strange I'd look buying it but my little sister was with me so any awkwardness could then be immediately phased out.

I really enjoyed the old bumbers and promos included in the set, since it brought back old memories, of a time when CN wasn't trying to cater exclusively to children.

I never actually knew which episodes were Season 1, so it's nice to get them all in a set. And it includes some of my favorites, mainly the ones centered around Bubbles.

Hopefully Season 2 will be out by December.

[launchpad25]

Just picked up the set, and so far, i'm lovin' it. While the episodes are just as fun, and entertaining as they were when the girls (and Cartoon Network) were at their peak, the extras are definately where it's at. The original 'Whoopa** Stew' short from the 'Main Event' DVD is here, but more complete, and without the censorship bleeps. The picture quality on this film looks realy good with it's bright, and cheery colors. It's also nice to see the original 'What A Cartoon' shorts in their original form.:cool: The animatics are also neat, and show how characters like Him, and Mojo originaly looked before the show made it to air. (Mojo looked kinda elderly, and Him's face looked more cat-like.) The CNN newsclip at the Hanna-Barbera Studio (before it became Cartoon Network Studios, and the old building at 3400 Cahuenga Blvd. became LA Fitness) is a real treat for animation buffs like myself. Bill Hanna, and Joe Barbera appear at the start of this clip, and we see Craig, and Van Partible (Johnny Bravo) at work. In adition to the 'Space Ghost Coast To Coast' episode, we see the raw interview that Craig did in preperation for the show. A fun treat for those who want to know how celeberties prep themselves to be interviewed by an animated superhero in Atlanta. While i didn't have Cartoon Network in '98, the original promos for the show's premiere were real neat from a historical perspective, and a sad reminder of what Cartoon Network use to be. Overall, this is a must buy for 'Powerpuff', and cartoon fans alike.

[Jamie Badminton]

What a fantastic set; I just recieved mine this morning and it's wonderful to own the episodes in such awesome quality. The Whoopass Girls bonus animatics and original What a Cartoon shorts are just excellent; this is top draw treatment for a top draw show.

I've been watching the sales rank on Amazon for this and the figures have been worryingly low compared to other WB animation releases (Averaged around 400ish during the first week and dropped into the 1000s sharpish). I think we shouldn't take it for granted that PPG Season Two is in the bag, and make sure we don't wait too long to support this release. The chances of seeing Dexter's, Cow and Chicken and Johnny Bravo likely ride on this set's success and the numbers registered seem lower than Huckleberry Hound Volume 1 achieved at the moment (which we pretty much know isn't being awarded a volume two).

I know Amazon sales rank isn't a definitive indicator of overall sales, but I just thought it was worth bumping this thread up again as a prompt - don't let a set we've waited so long for get lost in the shuffle. You seriously won't regret buying this collection if you are even a slight PPG fan!:)

[Narfcake]

It was around the beginning of season 4 in April 2001 (after "Get Back Jojo" aired) when the hiatus began in the USA that The Powerpuff Girls lost steam. Had the rest of season 4 been aired during the '01-'02 season (like it did in Canada) instead of around the summer of 2002 to promote the movie then maybe the series' popularity would've died down around late 2002 IMO.

Agreed that the lack of new episodes killed some of the momentum. The over-merchandising of 2001 that yielded to PPG stuff in clearance bins through 2002 didn't help either.


Also had the movie been better promoted it would've done better, and boosted the show's popularity.
Blame WB for that one. Seriously ... the movie was produced for about $11 million, yet the total cost was billed as $25 million. I don't think much of anyone even saw $14,000 worth of promotions for the movie, let alone $14 million worth.

Coincidentally, the movie premiered 5 years ago in theaters today, July 3 (2002).

[Duke]

Blame WB for that one. Seriously ... the movie was produced for about $11 million, yet the total cost was billed as $25 million. I don't think much of anyone even saw $14,000 worth of promotions for the movie, let alone $14 million worth.
Which is rather funny since they had about 30 different promos for the movie.

[DarthGonzo]

Which is rather funny since they had about 30 different promos for the movie.

But I never saw them anywhere but on Cartoon Network.

[Narfcake]

But I never saw them anywhere but on Cartoon Network.
I don't think it was shown anywhere else! (Again to WB ... where was that budget for promotions spent?!) Several of my friends wouldn't have known that the movie even came out had I not told them about it.

I threw a PPGM decal that Atlanta sent me on the back of my car around that time. It's pretty sad to think that such was prolly about the most off-air advertising that was done for the movie, y'know.

Oh, and to any guy "afraid" to purchase the DVD set because you think it looks too girly ... grow up. Males make up a larger PPG audience/fanbase than females, actually, so what's wrong to admit that you like it?

[J. B. Warner]

But I never saw them anywhere but on Cartoon Network.

And I seem to recall that the promos took up entire commercial breaks. I have vivid memories of watching Cartoon Network around the time of the movie's release, and - I'm not exaggerating - literally every commercial was either for The Powerpuff Girls Movie or for a product that was promoting it.

[Duke]

I don't think it was shown anywhere else! (Again to WB ... where was that budget for promotions spent?!)
On networks like MTV and VH1. You know, PPG's target audience. :P