It's been 10 years since Cartoon Network introduced us to the most adorable super-heroines this world has ever seen? Apparently yes, since the network is celebrating the anniversary of The Powerpuff Girls in a few weeks. Course, this makes me feel older than I am and poses the question of who sped up time over the last few years. Whoever you are, I have extended a certain digit in your direction.

Back to the original premise of this post. Cartoon Network will be celebrating the tenth birthdays of Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup (who were born on November 18th, 1998) with a brandy-new special titled The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!! on January 19th at 8 pm. This will be the first new episode of the series since its original run ended on CN and it was moved to the ethereal Boomerang in 2008. Prior to this premiere, the network will run a 14-hour marathon featuring the favorite episodes of show creator Craig McCraken.

If that isn't enough for you PPG fans, Warner Home Video will be packaging all 79 episodes of the series in a 6-DVD boxed set to be released on January 20th. The Complete Powerpuff Girls Anniversary Collector's Set will also feature the newest episode of the series, the PPG movie, and The Whoop Ass Girls: A Sticky Situation featurette, which was the original concept for the cartoon. The price will be a fairly manageable sixty bucks.

I was a semi-fan of the series when it originally aired on Cartoon Network. As my daughters grew up, I realized that PPG was a very good example on how women can empower themselves. Much better than, say, iCarly and Hannah Montana today. Oh, The Powerpuff Girls had their promotional ties, like the live-action shows I mentioned, but it wasn't nearly as oppressive as what girls can buy today. It's more commercialism than entertainment when it comes to today's female-oriented kids programs.

And now, I will step down from my soapbox.

[Information via Cynopsis]