Entertainment
Badass Millennial Series Everyone Pretended Was Just For Girls Now Streaming For Free
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
For geeks of a certain age, there’s a sublime, nostalgic pleasure in revisiting the cartoons of your childhood. Watching an episode or two is a powerful way to micro-dose those days when life was so simple, and the future was full of endless possibilities. Outside of anime, probably the most influential cartoon of my generation was The Powerpuff Girls, which transformed three little ladies into the ultimate superhero team of the ‘90s. With slick character designs, smooth animation, and hilariously tongue-in-cheek writing, this show effectively served as a watershed moment for American animation.
Over the years, there have been failed attempts to recapture the old magic, including a disappointing anime adaptation (Powerpuff Girls Z) and a (mercifully) canceled live-action show. Decades later, it seems like it might be impossible for any new series to capture the unique energy and attitude that made the earlier show so special. Fortunately, you can return to the glory days of this Emmy-winning animation at the touch of a button, because The Powerpuff Girls is now streaming for free on Tubi!
Catching Lightning In A Bottle
The Power Puff Girls was created by Craig McCracken, the visionary creator who had previously worked with fellow legendary animator Genndy Tartakovsky on Dexter’s Laboratory. Originally, McCracken conceived of a slightly more adult show. His crimefighting trio originally went by the name “The Whoopass Girls” in an old short, and they got their powers from a can of whoopass. Cartoon Network was interested in the show, but they required McCracken to change the name to the more family-friendly Powerpuff Girls.
During early screenings for his first short, test audiences (mostly comprised of preadolescent boys) really hated the show and hated the characters’ designs. Fortunately, McCracken (with encouragement from Cartoon Network exec Mike Lazzo) stuck to his guns, keeping the original look of the Powerpuff Girls. The show ultimately became a primetime hit for Cartoon Network, winning three Emmys and fully solidifying itself as a foundational part of Millennial pop culture.
Unforgettable Characters, Unforgettable Art
It’s a good thing that Craig McCracken kept the original look of our titular trio because the art style of The Powerpuff Girls is instantly iconic. At its heart, the art of this show provides a hilarious visual juxtaposition. With their wide eyes and expressive faces, the titular trio looks like they might be trying to sell Girl Scout cookies in an idyllic suburban community. Instead, they are superheroes who serve as the first, last, and only line of defense for Townsville, a bustling ‘berg that is always being attacked by everything from killer kaijus to snarling supervillains.
Fortunately, the design of Townsville is as bold and bright as the design of the Powerpuff Girls. It’s also filled with other stylishly designed characters, including the diminutive mayor and his Amazonian assistant, the mad monkey Mojo Jojo, and the Rowdy Ruff Boys, the Girls’ evil counterparts. Each character design is unique, giving the entire cartoon cast a vibrancy and vividness that brings them to life before they have even said a word.
From Broccoli To Beatles
Fortunately for fans, The Powerpuff Girls was more than just a pretty face. The show boasted some of the smartest writing in animation history, and episodes often subverted our expectations in the funniest possible way. For example, one episode has the girls refusing to eat broccoli. But when Townsville is invaded by broccoli aliens, the Powerpuff Girls eat their enemies, using cannibalism to drive away an extraterrestrial invasion. Another episode features a mime sucking color from the world who learns his lesson at the end, but this doesn’t keep the girls from beating him up and tossing him in jail.
The list goes on, really. My favorite “meta” episode is “Meet the Beat-Alls,” which has the Powerpuff Girls’ most infamous villains form a super group whose name is a reference to the Beatles. In fact, the whole episode is filled with winking nods to the most famous band in musical history. “Meet the Beat-Alls” may be the best example of the show’s greatest strength: that it provides all the colorful action and silly humor kids want while throwing in insanely clever writing that only their parents can really appreciate.
Take it from me: rewatching The Powerpuff Girls is effectively Chicken Soup for the Millennial Soul. Everyone who grew up watching this killer cartoon is overworked, underpaid, and trudging through life on nothing but caffeine and vibes. Returning to Townsville is a way of returning to a simpler time, reliving the best days of your childhood as you relive the glory days of American animation.
Plus, there’s no time like the present to share this awesome animation with your own children. Do you want to get them away from YouTube brain rot, or maybe you’re just sick of Bluey reruns? Fear not, fair reader: The Powerpuff Girls is only a click away. Even better, you can watch it for free on Tubi, proving once more that nostalgia is just about the only thing that hasn’t grown more expensive!
The Powerpuff Girls SCORE
Entertainment
BookCon 2026: Authors Rachel Reid, Stephanie Archer talk hockey romance and how it could change the sport for the better
With the fervor of Heated Rivalry, there’s a fierce desire among book readers for even more hockey. On Sunday, April 19, at BookCon, the “You Had Me at Hockey: A Look at One of Sports Romance’s Hottest Genres”, authors Rachel Reid (Heated Rivalry, Game Changer), Emily Rath (Pucking Around), Ngozi Ukazu (Check Please), Stephanie Archer (The Wild Card), and Kate Cochrane (Wake Up, Nat & Darcy) were joined by moderator and fellow author Bal Khabra (Collide) to discuss the rise and continued success of hockey romance.
Khabra kicked off the panel, asking just how hockey became so popular. Ukazu joked that it was as if the genre “escaped containment,” like when the Omegaverse went mainstream, while Reid described the mystery around hockey, saying, “what [the players] are doing seems impossible.” Archer also added that the sport itself is exceptionally hard on the body, and the celebrity around players, especially in Canada, is fun to play with.
But there’s more to the genre’s success than the tropes. “It has to be said,” Rath argued, “that the cornerstone of why this is so popular in publishing is racism.” She went on to say that straight, white women’s voices dominated the romance genre for so long, pointing out that hockey is also the whitest sport. Among major league sports, the NHL is the most predominantly white. In 2022, ESPN reported that 83.6% of league players and staff were white, compared to the NFL, where 25-27% of players are white, or the NBA, where white players make up 17.5% of the league.
Mashable Top Stories
Zooming into the genre, the authors also spoke about the writing process. They dove into the deeper aspects of their work, even the smut. Rath said, “I think the least sexy thing you can ever do is write a sex scene.” A similar sentiment came up during Reid’s Saturday panel, where she described using the sex scenes to further the emotional arc. When readers ask authors if they can skip the spice, Archer says of her own books, “No, you can’t skip the sex scenes. You’re missing so much character development if you don’t go on the journey with them.”
The panel turned to the future, too. Many of the authors write BIPOC and queer representation into their novels, in a genre that often centers on whiteness and homophobia. “We’re writing the world as we want it to be,” Rath said.
Reid has found that there is progress toward a future that these authors and their readers want to see, saying that the NHL is interested in working with them. “People on the inside, they really want to work toward change and want to make this happen.”
With the hockey fandom at an all-time high, there’s a whole team behind these authors ready to drive change.
Entertainment
Save on gas (and everything else) with a $15 BJ’s membership
TL;DR: Score a one-year BJ’s membership for $15 (reg. $60) and save up to 20¢/gal. on gas through April 30 — just in time for spring shopping and road trips.
Credit: BJ’s Wholesale Club
The warmer weather tends to sneak up fast, and so do those grocery bills and gas receipts. A one-year membership to BJ’s Wholesale Club is one of those simple upgrades that can make everyday shopping feel a little more manageable.
You can currently grab a Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal for just $15 (reg. $60) through April 30, which opens the door to savings across groceries, household essentials, and even your weekend cookout prep.
Mashable Deals
Let’s start with the obvious, though. Gas prices. Members already get everyday savings at BJ’s Gas, but during this promo window, you’ll get an extra 15¢ off per gallon stacked on top of the usual 5¢ discount — bringing your total to 20¢ off per gallon through April 30.
Inside the club, it’s all about stretching your dollar further. BJ’s is known for offering competitive pricing on national brands, plus a wide selection of fresh produce, meats, bakery items, and deli favorites. Whether you’re planning a backyard BBQ, stocking up for a party, or just trying to cut down on weekly grocery runs, buying in bulk can help simplify things.
Mashable Trend Report
There’s also something to be said for convenience. Fewer trips to the store, more options in one place, and access to seasonal items that make spring and summer feel extra special.
Get a one-year Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal® for just $15 (reg. $60) and enjoy an extra 15¢ off per gallon at any of the 199 BJ’s gas stations through April 30.
Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through April 19.
Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order. Prices subject to change.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
This $43 bundle quietly upgrades your entire PC experience
TL;DR: This rare Microsoft bundle deal gives you a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro for only $42.97 (reg. $418.99) through May 17.
$42.97
$418.99
Save $376.02
Looking for an affordable way to make your old PC feel new again? If you don’t have the funds to buy a brand new computer, don’t worry. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license and Windows 11 Pro Bundle is the next best thing, offering your computer a total upgrade for only $42.97 through May 17.
Don’t count out your dusty old PC. This Microsoft bundle is here to give it a total facelift for less than $50. It kicks off with a lifetime license to some of the brand’s most popular tools — Microsoft Office, which you’ll pay for once and enjoy without any subscription fees.
Mashable Deals
You’ll get permanent access to a suite of eight helpful apps with Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows. It includes staples that have been around for decades, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You’ll also get newer favorites like Teams, OneNote, Access, and Publisher.
Once you’ve loaded the apps onto your device, you can upgrade your OS to Windows 11 Pro. It’s an operating system made for modern professionals, with tools that support your workflow. Enjoy a more powerful search experience, improved voice typing, a seamless interface, snap layouts, and much more.
You can rest easy knowing Windows 11 Pro takes your cybersecurity seriously. You’ll have biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and advanced antivirus defenses to keep your data secure.
Mashable Deals
Show your PC some love with the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro bundle for only $42.97 (reg. $418.99) now until May 17.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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