22 Years Ago Today, Cartoon Network Banned an Episode of a Hit Series (But You Can Stream It Now)

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In the 1990s, Cartoon Network revolutionized television by starting to create its own original shows. For years, the channel had relied on older, reruned programs, but giving animators and writers creative freedom – allowing them to develop unique humor, styles, and characters – led to a wave of quirky, new cartoons that quickly became popular. Shows like Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow & Chicken, and The Powerpuff Girls emerged from this push for original content, attracting a new generation of animation fans.

Cartoon Network’s move to create more original shows wasn’t always smooth, particularly in the 1990s as cable TV pushed creative limits. This sometimes led to episodes being pulled from the schedule after just one airing, or never shown at all. A prime example of this happened on March 18, 2004 – 22 years ago today – when a new episode of The Powerpuff Girls aired only in Canada. Cartoon Network had banned it from being shown in the United States. The reason for the ban remained a mystery for a while, but it now seems rather silly.

Powerpuff Girls Got Experimental in Season 5 (And It Got Banned)

The Powerpuff Girls’ Season 5 episode, “See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey,” was a truly unique installment. Unlike most episodes, it was structured as a rock opera—a parody and homage to shows like Jesus Christ Superstar and Tommy. The entire story unfolds through song, with no regular spoken dialogue. It’s memorable for breaking the show’s usual format, but also because the songs themselves are surprisingly good and enjoyable. Plus, it features every villain the Powerpuff Girls have ever faced!

Okay, so this episode really got me thinking. Basically, Townsville is completely wrecked by all the villains, and the Powerpuff Girls are just overwhelmed. They make a desperate wish for help, and this little magic gnome shows up and offers to fix everything – but at a cost. He wants their powers! It felt like a classic superhero trade-off, you know? But things quickly got creepy. They did get a normal life, but it turned out the whole town was brainwashed, worshipping this gnome! It was seriously unsettling. They realized it wasn’t worth it, fought to get their powers back, and eventually sent the gnome packing, restoring Townsville to how it should be. It was a really clever twist on the usual ‘save the day’ formula.

Many fans thought a particular episode felt like a potential series finale, but the show’s creator, Craig McCracken, confirmed that wasn’t the intention. It’s understandable why people felt that way, though. The episode explored big ideas about the Powerpuff Girls’ abilities, their duties as heroes, and their desire for a life beyond just fighting crime. Its unusual style also would have made a fitting end to the series. However, viewers in the United States never got to see it, and the reason wasn’t what most people assume.

Powerpuff Girls Episode “See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey” Was Banned for a Reason You Wouldn’t Expect

As a longtime animation fan, I remember hearing about banned cartoon episodes from the ’90s – it wasn’t uncommon. The most famous case, for me, was a Pokémon episode that actually caused seizures in kids watching in Japan, sending hundreds to the hospital. Because of that, it never made it to American TV. So, when I heard about the Adventure Time episode, “See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey,” I initially figured it was pulled for the same reason – the episode is full of flashing lights whenever Gnomey uses his magic. But surprisingly, that wasn’t the issue at all!

In a 2016 Tumblr post, Craig McCracken explained why the episode was banned. He said Cartoon Network objected to what appeared to be crosses formed by the wreckage and a character resembling Jesus. McCracken clarified this wasn’t intentional and they were surprised by the ban. Looking at the images, it’s understandable how those interpretations could have been made, and why the network might have considered the imagery inappropriate for the time.

Due to the ban, this episode of The Powerpuff Girls never aired on Cartoon Network and was later removed from HBO Max. Fortunately, fans can still watch it! It was first available to American audiences on the “Complete Series” DVD, and now it’s available for purchase or free streaming on platforms like Tubi.

I was thinking about an episode of The Powerpuff Girls that aired 22 years ago today – it didn’t even originally air here in the US! It really struck me how frustrating it is when people try to censor art. It doesn’t just hurt the creators, it keeps audiences from enjoying something wonderful. It’s disheartening to see those same arguments happening all over again today with other media, but honestly, the fact that you can still easily find “See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey” online gives me hope. It feels like true art always finds a way to break through.

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2026-03-18 20:22