Phineas and Ferb are some of the most popular animated characters to date. Created for Disney, the comedy series first premiered in 2008, running till 2015. The program is about Phineas and his stepbrother Ferb Fletcher who are always up for a new project, annoying their little sister Candace.
Even though most projects are physically impossible considering their age but the brothers continue with what they do best. Since the series was a hit amongst children and even teenagers, let us revisit history and try to determine what made it so special.
Phineas and Ferb Cartoon Characters
The main characters involved in the series lived in a blended family. The concept was used to make the kids realize the importance of family, which is mostly ignored during upbringing. However, the creator of the show Marsh does not feel it is important to discuss the family’s background. The choice of using a Platypus revolved around the same concept.
The creators wanted to use an animal, which the kids could not force their parents to buy them at a local store. It also provided them the freedom to do anything they want with the character since not much was known about the animal back then.
Pitching and Pickup
The idea of Phineas and Ferb was not well-received by the executives at Nickelodeon. They thought that the concept was too complicated. After several attempts resulting in rejection, creators Povenmire and Marsh began to drift apart. Marsh went to London and began working on shows including Bounty Hunter and Postman Pat, while Povenmire began working on Family Guy and Spongebob Squarepants.
Although Povenmire was working on different projects but he always carried the portfolio of Phineas and Ferb. He pitched to networks like Cartoon Network and Fox Kids but the series was termed too complex.
Then, Povenmire pitched to Nickelodeon again, where the executives stated that the show was overly complicated.
Finally, after 16 years of trying, they pitched to Disney. The company did not accept the portfolio immediately but said that they would consider it. Povenmire thought it was just the end of negotiations and the portfolio would end in a trash can. However, Disney later surprised him by accepting the portfolio.
Reviews
The series has mostly received positive reviews. According to The New York Times, the concept was smartly used and wasn’t cheap. Plus, it played a crucial role in children’s programming while offering humor around every corner.
Perhaps the show’s biggest achievement is that it is liked by all ages. Apart from the kids, even grown-ups like watching the show. However, there are only positive reviews. The series shared several negative reviews mostly pertaining to lack of originality. Several critics argued that some jokes were ripped off from other shows. While others commented that the plot was too complex. Overall, it was safe to say that the program was a hit amongst the masses.
Final Word
Even though the program ended years ago but its popularity continues on YouTube and other popular TV channels. The creators did a splendid job ensuring that while the kids get a pretty good laugh out of each episode, they learn something valuable and important as well. As a result, the show might seem complicated to many but it managed to make a name for itself amongst different age groups.