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American Morning

'The Powerpuff Girls' Power to be Reckoned With When it Comes to Little Girls

Aired July 09, 2002 - 09:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: It may not have been number one at the box office this past holiday weekend. In fact, it barely cracked the top 10. However, "The Powerpuff Girls" are nonetheless a big power to be reckoned with when it comes to little girls, not to mention little boys.

CNN's Jeanne Moos explains.

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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you don't know the difference between a powder puff and "The Powerpuff Girls," let our experts enlighten you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALES: Blossum, Buttercup and Bubbles.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They fight evil. They're little.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are three little girls that kick butt.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll kick your butts tomorrow.

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MOOS: "The Powerpuff Girls" have been kicking butt on TV for almost four years now.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three mutant superheroes saving the world before bedtime.

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MOOS: Their creator, Craig McCracken, was in school studying animation when he dreamed them up.

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CRAIG MCCRACKEN, CREATOR, "THE POWERFUFF GIRLS": Three cute, little girls beating up villains is much more interesting than some big muscle guy.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALES: Not so fast, boys.

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MOOS: They went on to become a huge hit on the Cartoon Network, spawning merchandise ranging from sleeping bags to plates, and now they have made it to the big screen.

(on camera): Do they always look this mean?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When they're fighting.

MOOS: And do you like that they are girls?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALES: Yes.

MOOS: Why?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This way, everything isn't always based on boys.

MOOS (voice-over): But get this, the Cartoon Network says the number of boys watching outnumbered the girls last year, 56 to 44 percent.

(on camera): Why do you like Buttercup?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because she fights good.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a lot in common.

MOOS: You and buttercup do? Like what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm hardheaded.

MOOS (voice-over): Kids have had drilled into their heads the story of how Professor Utonium combined substances in his lab to create "The Powerpuff Girls."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From sugar, and spice and everything nice, and chemical X.

MOOS (on camera): And what's chemical X?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know.

MOOS (voice-over): "The Powerpuff Girls" have even made it into the museum of TV and radio, where Craig McCracken's original student film is being screened.

Back then, they were not called "The Powerpuff Girls."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thus, "The Whoop Ass Girls" were born.

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MOOS: But that was a little too much whoop for the Cartoon Network.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thus, "The Powerpuff Girls" were born.

MOOS (on camera): And which one do you like best?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Blossom.

MOOS: Why?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because she's the leader and she's pink.

MOOS (voice-over): Every kid has a favorite.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ah, my favorite is Bubbles.

Did we say kid?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like Bubbles because she is so cute.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like Buttercup because she's tough.

MOOS (on camera): You know, there's a slight resemblance.

(voice-over): "The Powerpuff Girls" have adult fans and adult inside jokes. For instance, these beat-all episodes filled with Beatle references.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help! we need somebody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Listen, do you want to know a secret?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, Jude.

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MOOS (on camera): Do you sometimes pretend you're a Powerpuff Girl?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

MOOS: How do you do that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I pretend I'm flying.

MOOS: The movie didn't soar its first weekend; it came in ninth at the box office. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rats!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: Whoops, they got their butts whooped. Better dust themselves off.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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