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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.
Most Loved ‘Phineas And Ferb’ Episodes
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Phineas and Ferb is an extremely well-loved show that aired for eight years and had a total of four seasons. With hundreds of episodes, there are a few episodes that are well-loved by the community owing to their storyline, songs, and overall addicting plot, which the show is best known for. Here are some of the most loved Phineas and Ferb episodes.
“Rollercoaster” (S.1 Ep.1) “The Remains of the Platypus” (S.3 Ep.34)
The show’s premise revolves around two stepbrothers who have a whole summer ahead of them and want to do something exciting each day. The first season is shown in their backyard, wondering what they will do with over a hundred days of summer vacation. The boys get to work on creating the biggest rollercoaster their town Danville has ever seen.
Their sister Candace is a huge part of the show, and she makes her debut by being appalled at their invention and trying to get them in trouble. Perry the Platypus is also introduced as their pet, who is revealed to be a secret agent working to fight evil in secret.
“Phineas and Ferb’s Quantum Boogaloo” (S.2 Ep.25)
Although Phineas and Ferb is a generally light-hearted show, it often dips its toe into more profound, darker subject matters. In Quantum Boogaloo, the two brothers travel into the future. When future Candace sees them, she can’t resist the old urge to bust them. She goes back in time to the very first day of summer when they built a rollercoaster. When she successfully gets them into trouble and returns to the future, she finds that the future has turned into an apocalyptic dystopia riled by Doofenshmirtz, who is a typical human villain. Horrified, she goes back and undoes her mistake.
“Wizard of Odd” (S.2 Ep.56)
The Wizard of Odd episode is a spin-off from the classic Wizard of Oz tale, where Doofenshmirtz is the Wicked Witch. The show frequently delves into old classics and puts a modern twist on them by adding the original characters. These episodes act as a fun change of pace and plot from the usual ones where Phineas and Ferb are inventing things, and Candace is trying to bust them.
Final Word
Even though the program ended years ago, 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.