Once Upon a Townsville is the seventeenth episode of the 2016 Powerpuff Girls series. It originally aired on Cartoon Network in the United States on May 26, 2016.
Synopsis[]
A princess falls from a fairy tale realm and into Townsville, dead set on finding her prince, much to the girls' annoyance, when they're forced to save her from self-inflicted peril. But when her goal turns into greed the Girls are more annoyed than ever.
Plot[]
Inside a magical fairytale realm, a princess is being chased by a fire-breathing dragon. As the princess calls for her prince, she accidentally falls down a magic well, which transports her to the city of Townsville, where the Powerpuff Girls notice her in a fainted state. However, the dragon also appears in Townsville, but the girls are able to fight it off. As they inspect on the fallen princess, they realize she is alive, and after a kiss with Buttercup, the princess introduces her to the girls as Princess Bluebelle. She explains to the girls about the dragon and explains that she is waiting for her prince to save her.
Despite a rap number about independence (Princess B Tough), the girls continuously rescue Bluebelle from danger she tries putting herself in. At a tower, she berates the girls for not understanding she's supposed to be a damsel in distress rescue by a charming prince. It is then the dragon reappaears & takes the girls, irritating Bluebelle as she takes on the dragon herself. Once the dragon is dealt with, Prince Charming arrives late due to traffic (he was actually playing a video game). Bluebelle leaves the scene, with Bubbles doing a musical number of her own before the episode ends.
Songs[]
Characters[]
Major Characters[]
Minor Characters[]
- Dragon
- Blue Lava Lady
- Forest Animals
- Prince Charming (debut)
- Henry (debut)
Trivia[]
- This episode uses yet another variant of the original episode outro screen in which the book closes to reveal the animated pulsating hearts on the back cover the book. The pulsating hearts do not fill up the screen at all as they are trapped in a book cover. The Narrator is also heard saying "No singing! And so, once again, the day is saved, thanks to....", before singing "The Powerpuff Girls!" loudly and in a sing-song tone. He quickly then says "Whoops! I sang."
- This episode has a parody of several Disney Princesses:
- Princess Bluebelle has a striking resemblance of Cinderella. Her glass shoes are also a reference to the princess.
- A pixie has a striking resemblance of Tinkerbell.
- Tangled - Princess Bluebelle long hair is similar to Rapunzel. The iguana is based on Pascal, Rapunzel’s pet chameleon.
- Sleeping Beauty - When Bluebelle is unconscious in the bench.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - An evil witch selling poisoned apples and Bluebelle attempting to eat one. The "est. 1937" in the sign of the stand is a reference to Walt Disney's Snow White, which was released in 1937.
- Enchanted - Bluebelle singing with the animals and being transported to Townsville from a well.
- Beauty and the Beast - When Bluebelle sings, remember the song in the village
- However, both have "Belle" in their names.
- Aladdin - The way Bluebelle's hair is tied up bares a resemblance of Princess Jasmine's hairstyle.
- The Little Mermaid - Bluebelle's bangs are slightly similar to Princess Ariel's.
- The title card is a parody of the Disney logo used since 1985, with the city buildings representing the castle, and an arch-shape over all the buildings.
- Despite the hate it got from fans (mostly due to the direct lip-to-lip kissing scene), it was an Emmy nominee.
- Prince Charming has the same name as the prince from the Cinderella franchise.
- The Girls rapping is brought up again since "Escape from Monster Island".
- Bubbles' musical number at the end of the episode was ad-libbed by her voice actress, Kristen Li.
- This episode aired sixteen years after the original series episodes "Twisted Sister" and "Cover Up".
- The scene where Bluebelle mistakenly kisses Buttercup has been criticized by fans of the show.
- The bunny makes Bubbles' hairstyle look very similar to Princess Morbucks'.
- The part where the iguana is doing Blossom's hair is vaguely reminiscent of the plot of the Powerpuff Girls Z episode "Hoppily Ever After".
- This is the second time that the show uses live-action stock footage.
- This episode is included on the The Powerpuff Girls: The Last Donnycorn (V2) DVD.
- Running gag: Bluebelle forces to keep herself in danger while the Girls rescued her.
- Irony: Bluebelle going through so much trouble for her prince to be rescued, but she learned she loved being a princess and doesn't need a prince to be saved.
- Moral: Be independent. Learn to live by yourself. When time comes, you have to do it on your own.
Errors[]
- When Blossom pulled her hair away from the iguana, it turns red like her bow for a frame.
- When Bluebelle is about to kiss Buttercup, the stick Buttercup holds clips to her gown.
- After she is kissed, Buttercup's stick is gone.
- Bluebelle have her dress after she look back at Prince Charming.
Awards and Nominations[]
- 2016 Emmy Awards - Outstanding Short Form Animated Program Nominee