Happy happy joy joy
Aug. 14th, 2010 06:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spottoThis long overdue rant/wall-of-text about PPG/PPGZ...
I'm not actually in a "HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY" mood, that's just today's Writer's Block question LJ always has on the front page. :X
I think if you go back about three years in this blog, you'll see some entries mentioning or perhaps even ranting/discussing/summarizing PPGZ, otherwise known as Powerpuff Girls Z; however, I never really put too much thought or emphasis on the anime or anything. So today I will! First I must discuss the original first because the original is the best.
The PPG was a large part of my childhood. There were tons of other shows I watched as a kid, including Looney Toon classics such as Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs. I also watched Pokemon, Digimon, and various other shows my generation was so fond of, but I think, like many other females, and probably males because lots of boys watched it too, that PPG was the childhood show of mine. And why not? As Cartoon Network's most successful and popular series at the time, the show was just a blast to watch. I can remember always sitting down in front of my TV, watching as many PowerPuff episodes as I could. My favourite was Bubbles, if only because I too was the youngest child in the family, and I really liked innocent, cute, adorable, stuffed-animal (and real animal) loving characters.
It only made sense then, when we first got our first computer, that I eventually surfed the web for anything PPG. In fact before my own alias of Spot, I called myself Bubbly because of how much I loved the character. Before fanfiction.net, there was this huge site-- an archive of fanworks of the three girls. This felt like the time before the storm, rarely were there RRB fanfics on that website, and everything felt simple. A lot of the stories appeared to be fan-written episodes, while others were more indepth, tapping into other mediums that we rarely see the PPG take part in.
Easily the most memorable fanfiction I ever read was one of utter horror and tragedy, called Immortality Syndrome, written by a fantastic writer who (despite my own fanfiction being pretty awful at the time) actually reviewed my story on ff.net. Granted then there were only a handful of fanfictions for this show back in the early days of 2003, but it still felt special.
Now at this point I was about 12 years-old, and I was completely fascinated by this tale of utter tragedy, the aspect of having to kill your own siblings for the sake of the world, the sheer torture one Bubbles Utonium went through, throughout that epic saga for the bittersweet, yet still victorious ending. Of course, soon enough that phase went back and my interests changed, but this was definitely one memorable cartoon.
I recall when the PPG movie was coming out, I kept bugging everyone I knew to come watch it with me in the theatres. No one wanted to go. I hardly knew anyone who also enjoyed PPG as much as I did. Perhaps they thought the premise was too girly (and if they did, they also completely missed the pop-culture humour and absolutely ingenious writing at times. The fanbase consisted of a lot of boys too.) Nonetheless, I was pretty heartbroken to not have gone to the movie. Yes, I could've gone myself, but I was 12 at the time, even 11...and incredibly utterly shy. I just didn't like going out alone during those times. I suppose today it's a different story.
Anyway, when I first saw the movie it was when it was shown on TV a few years later. I had heard that the movie was a box-office failure, but when I saw it on TV, I found it remarkable, a perfect movie for a perfect series. Some might say it's basically another episode of the PPG, just made longer, but I will never understand those opinions. How is the creation of these superheroines just another episode!? Also it wasn't simply a bland story of "THEY WERE CREATED AND THEN THEY SAVED THE WORLD" no, there was ridicule, manipulation, trust. I heard some critics gave it a thumbs down because it was too violent.
WHAT. HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN AN EPISODE OF PPG BEFORE!?
I guess they would call the show itself too violent as well, but it was not anymore violent than a standard episode of PPG. They are superheroes, they fight for justice. People who do bad things get punched in the face. In fact, arguably the most violent episode of all of PPG was the one THAT WON AN EMMY. This same episode had blood (red blood mind you, as well as a few other colours, but Bubbles certainly bleeds red), decapitated body parts being impaled into throats, a dog getting beat up! The movie was no way as violent as this episode.
This show is for kids!?
I suppose I shouldn't dabble on the movie for too long, but I found it an amazing movie that fit the PPG very well. Moments of heartwarming, moments of funny, and moments of awesome. The entire package.
Anyway, then life goes on.
BUT JAPAN HAS OTHER IDEAS.
PPG was not only popular in the States, it was popular in the world...particularly Japan. If you think about it, the PPG was pretty much some sort of satire of Japanese animation, with their giant eyes, their giant robot, the evil diabolical monkey wtih a Japanese accent...
So, some person living in Japan did not want the PPG to end just yet, no! They decided that the Powerpuff Girls, already with a cartoon, a comic, and a movie, required AN ANIME! I don't know if this person decided this because they actually loved PPG, or thought that since it was so popular, an anime of the PPG would rake in lots of cash, either way the end product was something that looked a lot more stereotypically anime than the original ever was.
Maybe because it was an anime.
The decision to remove the family and turn it into friendship is often one nitpicked about by original Powerpuff purists. Of course the biggest issue I believe was the personaltiies. They are all different. HOW IS THIS THE PPG!? D:
First, let's start with Blossom. Known as the leader and the most righteous of the Powerpuff Girls, she is intelligent and the most mature, acting like everyone's big sister, or at least trying to. She obviously has flaws, like being bossy, or not being as morally good as she could be...
But! Momoko is none of those qualities, except maybe the leader part, and that's only later on. (At first she simply insists she is the leader without anything to back her up, but eventually leader-like qualities surface that cement her to become the true leader). She's not stupid, but she's also not smart, not flaunted to be super intelligent or anything like that. In fact, Momoko has become a childish, boy-crazy, heromaniac with an unrivalled sweet tooth.
Reminds me of America.
Mature does not describe her at all, but she still has the one thing Blossom was always known for, leadership. There are times when the team is in trouble, and she thinks of something to save the day! Or maybe I watched episode 46 too much, but either way...
Momoko feels incredibly different, perhaps the most different of the PPG. I do wonder why they went with this route for her character, but I imagine a personality like Blossom's not being the most welcomed in Japanese culture, but what do I know? With any luck maybe she is the most popular in Japan... (She certainly isn't ahead of anybody in those popularity polls here, so...)
Bubbles on the other hand, was the child of the...children. She acted like a, well...normal five-year-old. One you expect a five-year-old to act like, really. She was the innocent one, the littlest one, the naive one, the somewhat out-of-this-world one. (The number of times she makes the others narrow their eyes, facepalm, or roll their eyes is pretty amazing) and well, what else could I say? Her emotions are always to the extremes.
Miyako does share some qualities with Bubbles. Supposedly she too is innocent (but there are a few times where the girls cover their eyes from something perhaps gross or inapproriate, but there you see Miyako, peeking through...hmmm) and sometimes naive (particularly episode 2, when she's naive to the max....)
But, somehow Miyako becomes the most mature. Well, I wouldn't say most mature definitely, there could possibly be a tie with Kaoru, but definitely moreso than Momoko. She also is somewhat ditzy and rather girlish (though, Momoko is quite girlish as well.)
I mean I have no STRONG favourites among the PPGZ or even the PPG, but I will say I always did prefer original Bubbles over, or actually better wording would be I was the least satisfied with the transition from Bubbles to Miyako. I mean, she had the best episodes in the series (IMO) but her character was not my favourite, unlike Bubbles.
And now for Buttercup! Cue NOTHING but PRAISE.
Buttercup, being a middle-child had to compete with the perfect and intelligent Blossom and the cute and pure Bubbles. So, to stand out and get some attention, she becomes the toughest, meanest fighter, one who would rather think with her fists than think with her...head. There are several episodes depicting that she too, has a sensitive, childish side not often seen, but otherwise she is mostly this.
Kaoru, being a middle-child had to compete with the attractive, boyish older brother of hers and her...uhm, younger brother. So, to blend in and not be overlooked, she becomes a tomboy and apparently doesn't have very much feminine influence on her life. There are however, several episodes that hint that she too, has some sort of a girly side if pushed enough to be seen, but otherwise she is mostly this.
Now I know three years back I had a Momoko icon and absolutely loved Blossom, but now I think my favourite is Kaoru, and apparently I'm not alone. as Kaoru is DEFINITELY the most popular PPGZ in...PPGZ. (Just like Bubbles was the most popular PPG in PPG) Ah, how I wish I was of the minority, but since I am not that means I'm pretty satisfied with the series.
You see in Japan they seem to be fond of the character who thinks the other characters are stupid and lame, but secretly they respect them. This does not have to apply to say, a loving relationship where a character believes this person they know is stupid but secretly loves them, but the term (and I likely butchered the definition) for this is tsundere. When Kaoru is introduced, she wants no involvement with Momoko and Miyako (who became fast friends) and feels very uncomfortable around them when they talk about girly things like boys and clothes and such. (And just a sidenote, this is probably the biggest reason I'm not fond of teenage PPG fanfics because...they talk about girly things like boys (RRB) and clothes and stuff. I know realistically Bubbles probably would be something like that grown up, but I'm too stubborn with my childhood image of child-like Bubbles. :C)
So not only is she somewhat of a straight-man, she too is more mature than before. Although she can still blow up in anger, she seems more relaxed than the original Buttercup. However, of all the girls I think Buttercup and Kaoru are the most similar, despite the differences.
I think this ED shows Kaoru's personality quite well:
Notice how the other two are like hyper and happy and she's just relaxingly strolling along. She also, IMO, gets the "saddest"-sounding song of the EDs, so yeah. Momoko's ED has her as an emo too but the song isn't as sad (Love the song still though, it's even on my MP3 player). Miyako on the other hand doesn't need to be emo on her ED, but still heartwarming. :D
I think the biggest difference between Kaoru and Buttercup is that Buttercup is sometimes mean (of course, she doesn't truly mean it, jerk with a heart of gold and all) but Kaoru is really compassionate and nice, even though sometimes it feels reluctant.
And now the anime itself. Well, violence certainly has been toned down but it feels like a shoujo anime now, with a transformation sequence every single episode and many individual issues that drive the episode. Monster-of-the-week episodes (which are seemingly 50% Mojo...) dictate the entire span of the anime, but there are many character-developing episodes and others that continue continuity.
Obviously there are disappointments, for example PPGZ Mojo while somewhat silly and amusing is much more pathetic than ever, compared to the ever diabolical and definitely evil Mojo Jojo of the original. When the PPGZ turn into kids, Mojo keeps stalling in trying to kill them (with a bloody frying pan too, unlike Mojo Jojo who would have a giant destructo beam or something >_>) Also Mojo lives in this horrible run-down abandoned house while Mojo Jojo lives in a magnificent observatory on top of a volcano with some of the best view yet!
The RRB also were disappointments. You know, I don't really mind the whole PPG/RRB scene, (if only 90% of all PPG fanfics weren't that!) and maybe it makes sense in some way, but PPGZxRRB DOES NOT WORK. AT ALL. First of all they make the RRB more pathetic (like Mojo!) in that they don't really have any cool superpowers or whatever, unless you count smelly socks and boogers and whatever as powers, and really they just go around acting like 8-year-old brats. They act like children while the PPG act like preteens, so it feels like the age-gap is too wide and ALSO it's like pairing an older-sister with their bratty, annoying, and disgusting younger brother. RRB in PPG are cool. RRBZ fail.
And there are obvious disappointments like the Amoeba Boys and the Gangreen Gang, but I don't really care as much because I don't really like those characters too much in the original in the first place, so...
But, other villains were done pretty well I think. Him isn't as creepy or scary in the Anime, but he's still an awesome villain nonetheless. The Princess also felt a lot more developed in the Anime then the original ever was, and Sedusa also has a lot more depth, and also a cute human-counterpart, so yeah! I have absolutely no opinion on Fuzzy Lumpkins.
As far as side characters go, I miss the utter retardedness of Original PPG Mayor, and Miss Bellum seems somewhat bitchy in the Anime. Ms. Keane seems really weird, while the Professor I don't really care for as much because he's just a scientist now, not a father. (Okay he's a father to Ken, but eh...I will always miss the heartwarming father-daughters stories of the original PPG)
But, if we brush ALL that aside...the show was actually quite amusing. I must admit I did end up dropping it at some point in the second season, but I eventually finished it. There were a lot of retarded monster-of-the-week episodes that felt like a waste of animation and work, while other episodes felt really well done, and a lot of people wish more of the show was like that. The music is pretty good too, but I say that about everything, so... (I WANT THE BUBBLES' THEME AHHHH) Yeah, Miyako had the best episodes and the best image song and the best theme and the best ending...well, maybe emo Kaoru is better, but I found her ending really nice too. Yet somehow she's my least favourite PPGZ (however, not saying I dislike her or anything. Like I said I mostly like them all equally, no strong favourite but Kaoru is the one in the lead)
Also, chibi-bunny Bubbles steals your soul.
Oh right, and one more thing...a show with a bunch of females as the lead cannot go on without...THE YURI. Yes I found out about MiyakoxKaoru, sue me. (I DON'T KNOW WHY I NEVER FOUND OUT ABOUT IT THREE YEARS AGO) I never really thought about it before but there are actually quite a lot of hints throughout the anime o_O. Buttercup made that diving save on Bubbles (well, Miyako at the time I think...I forget) where they both fell on the wet, rainy concrete. (Actually one big reason there may be so many hints is because of the emphasis that Momoko/Blossom is the main MAIN character so the other two are always, like together in shots while the one who is main is always standing there in the front, solo like an independent main character SHOULD be...)
They also were dance partners (a slow-dance, I think...or at least something like that...the theme of the episode was disco so I have really no clue) were put in the same bed/rank thing (Momoko got the couch/seats part) when they were unconscious. During episode 46 (I should stop watching this episode so much) because Blossom is supposed to SAVE THEM AND BE HERO they're like, down and out in the broken, crumpled pavement with Bubbles all unconsious-like, and Buttercup makes some sort of hopeless last ditch attempt to brace themselves for the horrible impact (is she holding her head? I have no clue it's so low quality lol) and uhm, well how about the fact that Miyako ADMIRES Kaoru, with the blush and the cupped hands and everything. "You're so awesome! *o*"
Not to mention, if you think about it in SAILOR MOON terms....well, I don't even have to finish that. Notice how Blossom becomes that geeky-hero obsessed maniac for food and it portrays Miyako and Kaoru as the super-cool people. One acting very boyish and masculine while the other is the feminine, popular counterpart chased by males (If you haven't gotten it yet, recall the harmonic music and flower petals that flock around two characters in a very canon-relationship in Sailor Moon, always portrayed as 50x cooler than the main characters, with one acting very boyish and masculine while the other is the feminine, popular counterpart chased by males...)
Anyway, to summarize, PPGZ is a huge difference from PPG, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It had elements of nostalgia with the names and villains, but something fresh as well, incorporated into a magical-girl sentai-like form, and while by all means it wasn't absolutely amazing, the anime was still fun.
Besides, I enjoyed the Sailor Moon Live-Action, I actually WATCHED all of the Negima Live-Action, so I can take all these new twists and turns towards my favourite childhood things!
...well, except this. *shudders*
This was Spotto, over and out. :X
I'm not actually in a "HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY" mood, that's just today's Writer's Block question LJ always has on the front page. :X
I think if you go back about three years in this blog, you'll see some entries mentioning or perhaps even ranting/discussing/summarizing PPGZ, otherwise known as Powerpuff Girls Z; however, I never really put too much thought or emphasis on the anime or anything. So today I will! First I must discuss the original first because the original is the best.
The PPG was a large part of my childhood. There were tons of other shows I watched as a kid, including Looney Toon classics such as Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs. I also watched Pokemon, Digimon, and various other shows my generation was so fond of, but I think, like many other females, and probably males because lots of boys watched it too, that PPG was the childhood show of mine. And why not? As Cartoon Network's most successful and popular series at the time, the show was just a blast to watch. I can remember always sitting down in front of my TV, watching as many PowerPuff episodes as I could. My favourite was Bubbles, if only because I too was the youngest child in the family, and I really liked innocent, cute, adorable, stuffed-animal (and real animal) loving characters.
It only made sense then, when we first got our first computer, that I eventually surfed the web for anything PPG. In fact before my own alias of Spot, I called myself Bubbly because of how much I loved the character. Before fanfiction.net, there was this huge site-- an archive of fanworks of the three girls. This felt like the time before the storm, rarely were there RRB fanfics on that website, and everything felt simple. A lot of the stories appeared to be fan-written episodes, while others were more indepth, tapping into other mediums that we rarely see the PPG take part in.
Easily the most memorable fanfiction I ever read was one of utter horror and tragedy, called Immortality Syndrome, written by a fantastic writer who (despite my own fanfiction being pretty awful at the time) actually reviewed my story on ff.net. Granted then there were only a handful of fanfictions for this show back in the early days of 2003, but it still felt special.
Now at this point I was about 12 years-old, and I was completely fascinated by this tale of utter tragedy, the aspect of having to kill your own siblings for the sake of the world, the sheer torture one Bubbles Utonium went through, throughout that epic saga for the bittersweet, yet still victorious ending. Of course, soon enough that phase went back and my interests changed, but this was definitely one memorable cartoon.
I recall when the PPG movie was coming out, I kept bugging everyone I knew to come watch it with me in the theatres. No one wanted to go. I hardly knew anyone who also enjoyed PPG as much as I did. Perhaps they thought the premise was too girly (and if they did, they also completely missed the pop-culture humour and absolutely ingenious writing at times. The fanbase consisted of a lot of boys too.) Nonetheless, I was pretty heartbroken to not have gone to the movie. Yes, I could've gone myself, but I was 12 at the time, even 11...and incredibly utterly shy. I just didn't like going out alone during those times. I suppose today it's a different story.
Anyway, when I first saw the movie it was when it was shown on TV a few years later. I had heard that the movie was a box-office failure, but when I saw it on TV, I found it remarkable, a perfect movie for a perfect series. Some might say it's basically another episode of the PPG, just made longer, but I will never understand those opinions. How is the creation of these superheroines just another episode!? Also it wasn't simply a bland story of "THEY WERE CREATED AND THEN THEY SAVED THE WORLD" no, there was ridicule, manipulation, trust. I heard some critics gave it a thumbs down because it was too violent.
WHAT. HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN AN EPISODE OF PPG BEFORE!?
I guess they would call the show itself too violent as well, but it was not anymore violent than a standard episode of PPG. They are superheroes, they fight for justice. People who do bad things get punched in the face. In fact, arguably the most violent episode of all of PPG was the one THAT WON AN EMMY. This same episode had blood (red blood mind you, as well as a few other colours, but Bubbles certainly bleeds red), decapitated body parts being impaled into throats, a dog getting beat up! The movie was no way as violent as this episode.
This show is for kids!?
I suppose I shouldn't dabble on the movie for too long, but I found it an amazing movie that fit the PPG very well. Moments of heartwarming, moments of funny, and moments of awesome. The entire package.
Anyway, then life goes on.
BUT JAPAN HAS OTHER IDEAS.
PPG was not only popular in the States, it was popular in the world...particularly Japan. If you think about it, the PPG was pretty much some sort of satire of Japanese animation, with their giant eyes, their giant robot, the evil diabolical monkey wtih a Japanese accent...
So, some person living in Japan did not want the PPG to end just yet, no! They decided that the Powerpuff Girls, already with a cartoon, a comic, and a movie, required AN ANIME! I don't know if this person decided this because they actually loved PPG, or thought that since it was so popular, an anime of the PPG would rake in lots of cash, either way the end product was something that looked a lot more stereotypically anime than the original ever was.
Maybe because it was an anime.
The decision to remove the family and turn it into friendship is often one nitpicked about by original Powerpuff purists. Of course the biggest issue I believe was the personaltiies. They are all different. HOW IS THIS THE PPG!? D:
First, let's start with Blossom. Known as the leader and the most righteous of the Powerpuff Girls, she is intelligent and the most mature, acting like everyone's big sister, or at least trying to. She obviously has flaws, like being bossy, or not being as morally good as she could be...
But! Momoko is none of those qualities, except maybe the leader part, and that's only later on. (At first she simply insists she is the leader without anything to back her up, but eventually leader-like qualities surface that cement her to become the true leader). She's not stupid, but she's also not smart, not flaunted to be super intelligent or anything like that. In fact, Momoko has become a childish, boy-crazy, heromaniac with an unrivalled sweet tooth.
Reminds me of America.
Mature does not describe her at all, but she still has the one thing Blossom was always known for, leadership. There are times when the team is in trouble, and she thinks of something to save the day! Or maybe I watched episode 46 too much, but either way...
Momoko feels incredibly different, perhaps the most different of the PPG. I do wonder why they went with this route for her character, but I imagine a personality like Blossom's not being the most welcomed in Japanese culture, but what do I know? With any luck maybe she is the most popular in Japan... (She certainly isn't ahead of anybody in those popularity polls here, so...)
Bubbles on the other hand, was the child of the...children. She acted like a, well...normal five-year-old. One you expect a five-year-old to act like, really. She was the innocent one, the littlest one, the naive one, the somewhat out-of-this-world one. (The number of times she makes the others narrow their eyes, facepalm, or roll their eyes is pretty amazing) and well, what else could I say? Her emotions are always to the extremes.
Miyako does share some qualities with Bubbles. Supposedly she too is innocent (but there are a few times where the girls cover their eyes from something perhaps gross or inapproriate, but there you see Miyako, peeking through...hmmm) and sometimes naive (particularly episode 2, when she's naive to the max....)
But, somehow Miyako becomes the most mature. Well, I wouldn't say most mature definitely, there could possibly be a tie with Kaoru, but definitely moreso than Momoko. She also is somewhat ditzy and rather girlish (though, Momoko is quite girlish as well.)
I mean I have no STRONG favourites among the PPGZ or even the PPG, but I will say I always did prefer original Bubbles over, or actually better wording would be I was the least satisfied with the transition from Bubbles to Miyako. I mean, she had the best episodes in the series (IMO) but her character was not my favourite, unlike Bubbles.
And now for Buttercup! Cue NOTHING but PRAISE.
Buttercup, being a middle-child had to compete with the perfect and intelligent Blossom and the cute and pure Bubbles. So, to stand out and get some attention, she becomes the toughest, meanest fighter, one who would rather think with her fists than think with her...head. There are several episodes depicting that she too, has a sensitive, childish side not often seen, but otherwise she is mostly this.
Kaoru, being a middle-child had to compete with the attractive, boyish older brother of hers and her...uhm, younger brother. So, to blend in and not be overlooked, she becomes a tomboy and apparently doesn't have very much feminine influence on her life. There are however, several episodes that hint that she too, has some sort of a girly side if pushed enough to be seen, but otherwise she is mostly this.
Now I know three years back I had a Momoko icon and absolutely loved Blossom, but now I think my favourite is Kaoru, and apparently I'm not alone. as Kaoru is DEFINITELY the most popular PPGZ in...PPGZ. (Just like Bubbles was the most popular PPG in PPG) Ah, how I wish I was of the minority, but since I am not that means I'm pretty satisfied with the series.
You see in Japan they seem to be fond of the character who thinks the other characters are stupid and lame, but secretly they respect them. This does not have to apply to say, a loving relationship where a character believes this person they know is stupid but secretly loves them, but the term (and I likely butchered the definition) for this is tsundere. When Kaoru is introduced, she wants no involvement with Momoko and Miyako (who became fast friends) and feels very uncomfortable around them when they talk about girly things like boys and clothes and such. (And just a sidenote, this is probably the biggest reason I'm not fond of teenage PPG fanfics because...they talk about girly things like boys (RRB) and clothes and stuff. I know realistically Bubbles probably would be something like that grown up, but I'm too stubborn with my childhood image of child-like Bubbles. :C)
So not only is she somewhat of a straight-man, she too is more mature than before. Although she can still blow up in anger, she seems more relaxed than the original Buttercup. However, of all the girls I think Buttercup and Kaoru are the most similar, despite the differences.
I think this ED shows Kaoru's personality quite well:
Notice how the other two are like hyper and happy and she's just relaxingly strolling along. She also, IMO, gets the "saddest"-sounding song of the EDs, so yeah. Momoko's ED has her as an emo too but the song isn't as sad (Love the song still though, it's even on my MP3 player). Miyako on the other hand doesn't need to be emo on her ED, but still heartwarming. :D
I think the biggest difference between Kaoru and Buttercup is that Buttercup is sometimes mean (of course, she doesn't truly mean it, jerk with a heart of gold and all) but Kaoru is really compassionate and nice, even though sometimes it feels reluctant.
And now the anime itself. Well, violence certainly has been toned down but it feels like a shoujo anime now, with a transformation sequence every single episode and many individual issues that drive the episode. Monster-of-the-week episodes (which are seemingly 50% Mojo...) dictate the entire span of the anime, but there are many character-developing episodes and others that continue continuity.
Obviously there are disappointments, for example PPGZ Mojo while somewhat silly and amusing is much more pathetic than ever, compared to the ever diabolical and definitely evil Mojo Jojo of the original. When the PPGZ turn into kids, Mojo keeps stalling in trying to kill them (with a bloody frying pan too, unlike Mojo Jojo who would have a giant destructo beam or something >_>) Also Mojo lives in this horrible run-down abandoned house while Mojo Jojo lives in a magnificent observatory on top of a volcano with some of the best view yet!
The RRB also were disappointments. You know, I don't really mind the whole PPG/RRB scene, (if only 90% of all PPG fanfics weren't that!) and maybe it makes sense in some way, but PPGZxRRB DOES NOT WORK. AT ALL. First of all they make the RRB more pathetic (like Mojo!) in that they don't really have any cool superpowers or whatever, unless you count smelly socks and boogers and whatever as powers, and really they just go around acting like 8-year-old brats. They act like children while the PPG act like preteens, so it feels like the age-gap is too wide and ALSO it's like pairing an older-sister with their bratty, annoying, and disgusting younger brother. RRB in PPG are cool. RRBZ fail.
And there are obvious disappointments like the Amoeba Boys and the Gangreen Gang, but I don't really care as much because I don't really like those characters too much in the original in the first place, so...
But, other villains were done pretty well I think. Him isn't as creepy or scary in the Anime, but he's still an awesome villain nonetheless. The Princess also felt a lot more developed in the Anime then the original ever was, and Sedusa also has a lot more depth, and also a cute human-counterpart, so yeah! I have absolutely no opinion on Fuzzy Lumpkins.
As far as side characters go, I miss the utter retardedness of Original PPG Mayor, and Miss Bellum seems somewhat bitchy in the Anime. Ms. Keane seems really weird, while the Professor I don't really care for as much because he's just a scientist now, not a father. (Okay he's a father to Ken, but eh...I will always miss the heartwarming father-daughters stories of the original PPG)
But, if we brush ALL that aside...the show was actually quite amusing. I must admit I did end up dropping it at some point in the second season, but I eventually finished it. There were a lot of retarded monster-of-the-week episodes that felt like a waste of animation and work, while other episodes felt really well done, and a lot of people wish more of the show was like that. The music is pretty good too, but I say that about everything, so... (I WANT THE BUBBLES' THEME AHHHH) Yeah, Miyako had the best episodes and the best image song and the best theme and the best ending...well, maybe emo Kaoru is better, but I found her ending really nice too. Yet somehow she's my least favourite PPGZ (however, not saying I dislike her or anything. Like I said I mostly like them all equally, no strong favourite but Kaoru is the one in the lead)
Also, chibi-bunny Bubbles steals your soul.
Oh right, and one more thing...a show with a bunch of females as the lead cannot go on without...THE YURI. Yes I found out about MiyakoxKaoru, sue me. (I DON'T KNOW WHY I NEVER FOUND OUT ABOUT IT THREE YEARS AGO) I never really thought about it before but there are actually quite a lot of hints throughout the anime o_O. Buttercup made that diving save on Bubbles (well, Miyako at the time I think...I forget) where they both fell on the wet, rainy concrete. (Actually one big reason there may be so many hints is because of the emphasis that Momoko/Blossom is the main MAIN character so the other two are always, like together in shots while the one who is main is always standing there in the front, solo like an independent main character SHOULD be...)
They also were dance partners (a slow-dance, I think...or at least something like that...the theme of the episode was disco so I have really no clue) were put in the same bed/rank thing (Momoko got the couch/seats part) when they were unconscious. During episode 46 (I should stop watching this episode so much) because Blossom is supposed to SAVE THEM AND BE HERO they're like, down and out in the broken, crumpled pavement with Bubbles all unconsious-like, and Buttercup makes some sort of hopeless last ditch attempt to brace themselves for the horrible impact (is she holding her head? I have no clue it's so low quality lol) and uhm, well how about the fact that Miyako ADMIRES Kaoru, with the blush and the cupped hands and everything. "You're so awesome! *o*"
Not to mention, if you think about it in SAILOR MOON terms....well, I don't even have to finish that. Notice how Blossom becomes that geeky-hero obsessed maniac for food and it portrays Miyako and Kaoru as the super-cool people. One acting very boyish and masculine while the other is the feminine, popular counterpart chased by males (If you haven't gotten it yet, recall the harmonic music and flower petals that flock around two characters in a very canon-relationship in Sailor Moon, always portrayed as 50x cooler than the main characters, with one acting very boyish and masculine while the other is the feminine, popular counterpart chased by males...)
Oh, where was I.
Obviously it'll never be canon, but sometimes it feels like the people behind this Anime purposely put all this in there, some sort of mindgame, despite that episode where Kaoru has a crush on some wrestler or the well-loved Miyako/Takaaki episodes...it's almost like they're trying to tell us something in the most subtle way possible...Anyway, to summarize, PPGZ is a huge difference from PPG, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It had elements of nostalgia with the names and villains, but something fresh as well, incorporated into a magical-girl sentai-like form, and while by all means it wasn't absolutely amazing, the anime was still fun.
Besides, I enjoyed the Sailor Moon Live-Action, I actually WATCHED all of the Negima Live-Action, so I can take all these new twists and turns towards my favourite childhood things!
...well, except this. *shudders*
This was Spotto, over and out. :X
