Q&A with Powerpuff Girls creator Craig McCracken
Craig McCracken created the Powerpuff Girls as a student film that later became a Cartoon Network series. The three superpowered kindergarteners went on to become a media sensation. McCracken answered questions about the Powerpuff Girls as the show celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new special and marathon, airing Jan. 19, and a DVD release on Jan. 20.
Matt Price: Did you think “Powerpuff Girls” would be a big success? At what point did you realize “Powerpuff Girls” was going to be as big a deal as it has become?
Craig McCracken: I really had no idea. It started as a student film of mine when I was an animation student at Cal Arts. And, I got an opportunity to do a short at Cartoon Network in ’94. And I just made the show because I thought it would be entertaining and fun. I had no idea it would become a phenomenon. But I think it was maybe a year or 2 after the show premiered and some of the merchandise started coming out, and I started seeing it everywhere. On kids, or people referring to it in television or media or whatever. I started thinking, ok this is becoming a lot bigger than I ever anticipated. And that’s everybody’s dream, is that actually can happen. Any cartoonist wants to have some sort of character that resonates with worldwide audiences. But you never really think that’s really going to happen. So it was kind of surprising when it did.
DVD, special celebrate Powerpuff Girls
Three super-powered kindergarteners are turning 10. The Powerpuff Girls will celebrate their 10th anniversary with a Cartoon Network marathon and special on Monday, and the release of all 78 episodes on DVD on Tuesday.
Creator Craig McCracken said those working on the show were trying to entertain themselves as well, and he thinks that added to the show’s appeal.
“Even though ‘Powerpuff’ kind of gets labeled a kids’ show or a girls’ show, it was always made for all audiences, just like ‘Bugs Bunny,’” McCracken said in a recent phone interview. “We were just making ourselves laugh and trying to come up with entertaining things. I think people pick up on that sincere creative expression of just making fun cartoons.”
Super-powered sisters Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup will return for an all-new animated special, “The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!,” at 7 p.m. Monday. This will follow the marathon, which includes McCracken’s favorite episodes, airing from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The DVD will include all 78 episodes, and lots of extras, including the Christmas special, the special that airs Monday, and a new documentary.
After “Powerpuff Girls,” McCracken was the executive producer of another show, “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” which recently wrapped production. McCracken said he’s glad to be out from the grueling deadlines for a while. He’s working with Cartoon Network on the Cartoonstitute, a program to search out new potential animation projects. He also plans to work on a graphic novel.
“There’s something about doing your own comics or graphic novels or things like that, where it’s your drawings, your words,” McCracken said. “There isn’t the whole big crew and committee and getting stuff approved by everybody. It’s more like an intimate, direct approach to cartooning. I’ve been talking to some publishers and I’ve got some ideas that I want to explore in that medium.”
- by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Ricardo Montalban dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV’s “Fantasy Island,” died Wednesday morning at his home, a city councilman said. He was 88.
Montalban’s death was announced at a meeting of the city council by president Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. Garcetti did not give a cause of death.
“The Ricardo Montalban Theatre in my Council District — where the next generations of performers participate in plays, musicals, and concerts — stands as a fitting tribute to this consummate performer,” Garcetti said later in a written statement.
Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in “Fiesta.” He also starred with the swimming beauty in “On an Island with You” and “Neptune’s Daughter.”
A later generation knew Montalban as the faintly mysterious, white-suited Mr. Roarke, who presided over an island resort where visitors were able to fulfill their lifelong dreams. “Fantasy Island” received high ratings for most of its 1978-1984 span on ABC television and still appears in reruns.
In a 1978 interview, he analyzed the series’ success:
“What is appealing is the idea of attaining the unattainable and learning from it. Once you obtain a fantasy it becomes a reality, and that reality is not as exciting as your fantasy. Through the fantasies you learn to appreciate your own realities.”
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AP entertainment writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story.
Christian Kane sings, promotes “Leverage”
Christian Kane (“Angel”), from Norman, promotes his new show “Leverage” in Oklahoma City. Look for more from Kane in an article by Brandy McDonnell in Saturday’s Life section.
Third “Wolverine and the X-Men” trailer
See “Friends” for Thanksgiving
Over at TheWB.com, all nine of the Thanksgiving-themed “Friends” episodes are available to watch for free. From Joey’s maternity pants, to the trifle, to the turkey on the head, check out the holiday-themed humor. (Most of the Thanksgiving episodes hold up pretty well.)
– Matt Price
“Honeymoon in Metropolis”
Watch more Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman videos on AOL Video
Here’s one of the “Lois and Clark” episodes I was talking about, from season 1. Like the 1950s “Adventures of Superman,” “Lois and Clark” started out semi-serious with investigative journalism as an important motivator behind the show. Both series tended to get more goofy as time wore on.
In “Honeymoon in Metropolis,” Lois Lane, taking a rare night off, stumbles upon some shady dealings, which require her and Clark to masquerade as a honeymooning couple. This has several of the things that made “Lois and Clark” work — a sexy, clumsy scene involving Lois Lane (in a bathtub), Tracy-and-Hepburn-style banter between Lois and Clark; and plenty of Daily Planet interaction.
“Gamma Corps” cancelled; folded into “Avengers” cartoon
According to Marvel Animation Age, the in-development “Hulk: Gamma Corps” cartoon is being shelved. However, much of the work done there will continue as part of the upcoming “Avengers” cartoon. From the report:
Joshua Fine, Director of Animation Development for Marvel Animation, tells Marvel Animation Age that the Hulk: Gamma Corp animated series was in pre-production when the decision was made to fold the creative work being done there into the upcoming The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes animated series. Even though the creative team was well into pre-production of Hulk: Gamma Corps, with scripting underway, they saw the chance to tell bigger stories that reached far beyond Hulk’s universe.
“It became apparent to us that the creative work that was being done to bring Hulk’s world and his villains to life was too good to relegate to his universe alone, and would be much better suited as part of an full-on Avengers scenario,” says Fine.
Loeb, Alexander off of “Heroes”
According to Blog @ Newsarama, co-executive producers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander have been fired from “Heroes.” NBC is reportedly frustrated with the direction of the series, now averaging more than 9 million viewers an episode, down from 11.6 million last season.
– Matt Price
Tennant to step down as “Doctor Who”
The Associated Press reports that David Tennant will step down as the Doctor on “Doctor Who” in 2010. He’s starred since 2005.
From the AP:
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s best-known time traveler is ending his journey.
The BBC has announced that Scottish actor David Tennant will leave long-running science fiction series “Doctor Who” in just over a year.
Tennant has played the show’s time- and space-traveling alien hero since 2005. He will appear in a Christmas special and four hour-long episodes to be aired in 2009 and early 2010. But he said Wednesday that when the series returns for a full season in 2010, “it won’t be with me.”
“This show has been so special to me,” Tennant said. “I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”
“Doctor Who” was first broadcast in 1963 and is one of the BBC’s longest-running and most popular programs. Tennant is the 10th actor to play the title character, who has the power to regenerate in a new body.
Classically trained Tennant, 37, is currently starring in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
