Sugar, spice and everything nice may have created the perfect little girls, but it took quite a few talented people behind the scenes to bring Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup to life.
This November, many of them are getting back together.
“The Powerpuff Girls” creator Craig McCracken will reunite with members of the original cast and creative team for “The Heroes of Townsville,” a special one-night celebration of the beloved Cartoon Network series taking place Saturday, November 7 at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, California.
Presented by Saturday Morning Cartoons United in partnership with McCracken, the evening will be hosted by actor and voice artist Eric Bauza and feature animation, live music, exclusive merchandise, themed photo opportunities and plenty of familiar faces from Townsville.
And perhaps most importantly, the celebration is doing some good outside of Townsville too.
A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit Starlight Children’s Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing joy, comfort and connection to seriously ill children and their families. Additional proceeds will support Saturday Morning Cartoons United, a nonprofit focused on celebrating legacy animation while bringing communities together through shared cultural experiences.
For anyone who grew up racing home to watch “The Powerpuff Girls,” however, the reunion itself is going to be difficult to beat.
Catherine Cavadini, Tara Strong and E.G. Daily—the original voices of Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup respectively—will participate in a special panel alongside Emmy-winning animator, writer and producer Lauren Faust, who was part of the original show’s creative team. Longtime animation executive and producer Linda Simensky will moderate the discussion, with additional “Powerpuff Girls” guests expected to be announced.
The nostalgia won’t stop with the voices behind the girls either. Scottish indie-pop trio BIS, who created and performed the original “Powerpuff Girls” end theme, will give a rare live performance during the event.
For a series remembered as much for its distinct style, music and wonderfully strange villains as its three pint-sized superheroes, bringing together talent from across the original production makes this considerably more than simply sitting down and watching a few old episodes again. It is an opportunity to hear from the people who helped make Townsville such a memorable place in the first place.
The evening will also make room for something new. Jen Nguyen and Mary Ramos’ independent animated short “Magical Meow Meow” will receive a special presentation as part of the program, giving an emerging piece of animation a place alongside the celebration of an established classic.
There is something rather fitting about that combination. “The Powerpuff Girls” originally ran from 1998 through 2005, following three kindergarten-aged superheroes who somehow had to balance being little girls with routinely saving Townsville from Mojo Jojo and an increasingly bizarre assortment of threats. Decades later, Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup remain instantly recognizable to adults who grew up with them while continuing to find younger fans.
Now some of the people responsible for creating those childhood memories are coming together again, this time using a little of that Powerpuff power to support children and families through Starlight Children’s Foundation.
“The Heroes of Townsville” takes place Saturday, November 7 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California, with additional guests and programming still to be announced.
Because even after all these years, Townsville apparently still needs its heroes.
Fortunately, Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup are reporting for duty.