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animation The REAL Problem with the Powerpuff Girls reboot


TheMisterManGuy

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So, at this point, it's clear people don't like the new Powerpuff Girls reboot. I can definitely see why. It's not awful, but it's painfully bland. People are complaining about memes, Ms. Bellum leaving, and that transgender episode. But I don't think many people are discussing the real problems with the show. The real problem with The Powerpuff Girls 2016, is that it tries to be everything to everyone, but fails to do anything particularly well. It took me a while to notice this, but yeah, this show's biggest problem is that it's trying to bite off more than it can chew.

 

Their first mistake was setting the show in the same continuity as the OG series. I would be fine if this was a sperate universe like Powerpuff Girls Z, but no, it's the same universe as the old show. Because of this, they have to explain a lot of the changes made to the show in universe, like how the girls got to a new school, why Miss Bellum isn't there, etc. I get why they did this, it's an attempt to make it authentic to the OG series, but I don't think reusing the same universe was the best approach.

 

This brings me to mistake #2, it tries way too hard to be the old series, yet it lacks the creative spark the old show had. They even go as far as to recycle plots from the old series. Again, I get they want to be as close as they can to the old show, but don't just copy-paste what's already been done if you do nothing unique with it.

 

Speaking of which, Sin number 3 is the new stuff they added. It's either dated, poorly done, or been there done that by other, much better Cartoons, or sometimes, all three at once. Look, cartoons like Steven Universe have tastefully handled serious topics like lesbian relationships. But just because Steven Universe can do it, doesn't mean you're capable of doing it. Same with the other things they try to do. I've already seen the Surrealism Adventure Time, the character interactions and sibling rivalry of Gravity Falls, the Superhero girl power of Star Vs the Forces of Evil, the topical modern day humor of We Bare Bears, the morals of MLP, the slice off life kid shenanigans of Harvey Beaks, even the whispering and visual gags have been done by Teen Titans Go! All of these have been done better by other current cartoons. If want to be a greatest hits collection fine, but don't just include every joke, style, and story technique of every current Cartoon known to man just because "I dunno, everyone else is doing it"

 

That brings me to the biggest problem, this show lacks a clear identity. Add I mentioned before, it's trying to be everything to everyone, but it ends up pleasing nobody. As a result, the show lacks a clear vision. As bad as TTG! is, it at least had a clear focus for what it wants to do. This doesn't. What we instead get is a nutered mess that can't decide if it's a reboot, sequel, reimagining, or its own thing. It's basically just the old PPG, but with less action, comedy, and creativity.

 

So that's what's REALLY wrong with PPG 2016. On it's own, it's an average, if bland and unpolished series. But as a reboot, it feels like a hollow imitation with nothing else going for it. As for how the show can improve? The answer is super easy, just be yourself. Don't try and be the old show, and a mash up of current Cartoon trends at once, tell your own stories, trail your own path, take the characters in the direction you want to take them in. Yeah, that's a big risk, but hey, you would at least end up with a much more interesting show. PPG Z did it, and while I can't say it's a good series, it's at least different.

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