Disney Announces the Return of Phineas and Ferb on Disney+
In a world where animation gets treated like garbage, two super-awesome boys make a triumphant return for a new generation. Phineas and Ferb, one of the best show’s that Disney’s ever created, is making a comeback on Disney+. And while some people might see this as nostalgia bait for 2000’s kids, I’m not going to complain. Phineas and Ferb was too much fun.
Make Every Day the Best Day Ever With Phineas and Ferb
If you didn’t grow up with it, here’s why you should be excited about Phineas and Ferb returning.
Debuting in 2007 before formally premiering in February, 2008, Phineas and Ferb was the brainchild of Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, two veterans from Rocko’s Modern Life. The premise is simple but flexible. Two brothers, Phineas and Ferb, spend their summer trying to have the best day ever, often via means that should be impossible for their age. Their older sister, Candace, keeps trying to bust them to their parents. Meanwhile, their pet platypus, Perry, is actually a secret agent who protects the city from the “evil” Dr. Doofenshmirtz. The two plots inevitably cross, with the latter erasing Phineas and Ferb’s exploits, much to Candace’s annoyance.
Airing on Disney Channel and Disney XD from 2008 to 2015, Phineas and Ferb was an absolute hit. I started watching Phineas and Ferb from the get-go, and it was one of the best cartoons Disney’s ever done. It was like watching every kid’s dream summer vacation come true, and the songs (there are dozens) found in almost every episode were among the best music Disney’s ever done. While I stopped actively following sometime after the first movie, only returning for the series final, I still had fond memories of Phineas and Ferb.
That, and I still like listening to the music every now and then. It’s really good!
A Bright Light in a Dark Time for Animation
Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh have continued to work at Disney over the years, giving us shows such as Milo Murphy’s Law and, most recently, Hamster & Gretel, though only Dan worked on that. Both have had their own fans, but Milo Murphy never got as big as Phineas and Ferb, and Hamster & Gretel is still new. Then we got this:
At the TCA 2023 Press Tour, Disney revealed that Phineas and Ferb would return with two new seasons on Disney+, each consisting of 20 episodes. In my own, personal opinion, the timing couldn’t be better for the world of animation.
The animation industry’s been going through some very rough times over the last year. The purging of shows on HBO Max; the repeated leaks; the cancellations of shows with no logical explanation. There’s controversy everywhere one looks, and it’s starting to get to fans of the medium. So, hearing that one of the best cartoons of the last few decades is coming back is a breath of fresh air. It’s the best thing I’ve heard about animation in months.
Some people might not see this as a good thing. Phineas and Ferb ended 8 years ago. However, the success of the 2020 film Candace Against the Universe proves that the show still has an audience. Plus, it’s return could lead to a crossover with Hamster and Gretel in the future. At the end of the day, though, do we really need an excuse to see more of Phineas and Ferb, Perry the Platypus, and Dr. Doofenshmirtz?
