Editorial: There's Something About Kimmie
This editorial was originally written on April 8th, 2005. "Kim
Possible" is produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, in association
with the Disney Channel.
In the spring of 2002, my family had to move to a new house (for reasons
I won't go into here), roughly 15 minutes away. That distance was just
enough to move us into another county, and thus, a cable system with
different channel arrangements. Probably the best thing was the fact
that in this new system, Disney Channel was part of the basic cable
package. And thus led to my introduction to that network for the first
time, with current programming that was new to me and classic programming
I remembered back from the days when 'The Disney Afternoon' was alive and
well in syndication.
Around the time Disney Channel first entered my life, I also began seeing
previews of a show called "Kim Possible." A show about a normal teenage
girl who's a cheerleader by day and a crimefighter by night. Her motto?
"She can do anything." I was intrigued. An animated series about a
cheerleader, and one that would limit the commonly known stereotypes
associated with them? I was there!
It was also around that time that I was beginning to believe that my
heart had become fully entranced by Japanese animation and that American
animation had nothing left to offer me. Thanks to this show and "Teen
Titans" (which I think debuted in the same month), the U.S. proved me
wrong... it still had plenty of life in it.
On that fateful day... June 17, 2002... I was only able to see the first
of the three episodes that premiered on debut night. My mom tried to
berate me for a watching a 'girls' show.' Which in some essences, it is.
And despite some minor dialogue snafus, there was enough action and
comedy in this show that I decided to stick around and give the show a
few more episodes to find it's center. Little did I know that the next
time I watched KP in action... I was completely hooked!
There is plenty that can be said about the show. Original creators Mark
McCorkle and Bob Schooley (who had worked together on the Buzz Lightyear
TV series) brought us the idea behind Kim Possible and her fellow
sidekick Ron Stoppable, and all of their characteristics and quirks as
well. The spectacular writing stuff found ways to make the episodes
enjoyable to viewers of all ages without dumbing it down or providing
lame already-heard-it jokes... 98% of time, that is. The superstar
voice actor cast... if you were familiar with Disney, practically every
VA in the main cast has had success with another Disney TV series. And
they all fit their characters well, and brought them to life stupendously!
The animation itself was an homage to the spy shows of the '60s and '70s,
and it really fit this show to a T.
My only initial gripe was the fact that this wasn't a full-blown action
show, but an action-comedy hybrid. I've grown past that, and I'm glad
the show turned out the way it did. Not that it wouldn't have been
successful had it been a full-out action series like, say, "Gargoyles."
But considering all of the ingredients that went into making the show,
it would've worked no matter what format Disney wanted to pursue.
It's too bad that "Kim Possible" now comes to an end with the premiere
of Disney Channel's first ever original animated movie, "Disney's Kim
Possible Movie: So the Drama." It has been a wild and unforgettable
ride, because I've become so attached to these characters, especially
Kim, who reaffirms my love for animated redheads... who tend to be
pretty, intelligent, and can kick butt! Despite a few unaired episodes
left to air, you'll be glad to know when Kim Possible and her crew
disappear off the airwaves, they will always hold a special place in
my heart.
Never has an American animated show made me do what I hadn't done in
years. Go out and buy all the DVDs of the show. Go and get the
soundtrack. Go get the action figures. My Kim and Ron figures protect
my DVD collection, don't ya know?
There's no girl on TV right now who could take Kim's place in the
void she and her friends and enemies are about to leave in my TV viewing
schedule. And if trends hold, there won't be for many years to come.
But one thing's for sure... it won't bother me one bit. Because as Kim
would probably say... leaving her superstar status behind is...
So not the drama!
- Freedom Fighter
"Disney's Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama" premieres tonight at 8
p.m. EST on Disney Channel, with a special encore immediately afterwards,
as well as encores Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. EST. "Kim Possible"
currently airs every day at 5:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. EST.
"Kim Possible" also joins Toon Disney starting this Monday, April 11th,
2005. "So the Drama" will also have two airings there on that day.
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