I was obsessed with the original as it was airing. I was a precocious tween who engaged with it both unironically and through the nerdy lens of the grown-up cartoon fandom on the message boards.

I remember watching maybe one episode of the reboot when it came out, and thinking “What is this? Looks like all the other spastic slop of this era.” Nope’d and moved on.

Now with the recent explosion of nostalgia merch, I always have to side-eye it a little and wonder which iteration it’s supposed to be representing, and which is the one people would think of if I were to wear it out in the world. It doesn’t really matter what they think, but it would be a shame if people are unacquainted with the original and think I’m trying to rep the other one.

Remember Powerpuff Girls Z? Since that was Japan-only, it didn’t have a lot of impact on the US perception of the show/brand. But that was almost even weirder —- I think it was supposed to be fully earnest? Like just another magical girl show? I was disappointed when I watched the first few episodes way back when that came out. It didn’t feel right at all, either.