The Powerpuff Girls first appeared in Cartoon Network’s What a Cartoon! program in 1995.
The characters were introduced in the short “The Powerpuff Girls in: Meat Fuzzy Lumpkins,” which was part of the network’s showcase for original animated shorts. This appearance came before the regular television series premiered in 1998.
The anthology gave emerging creators an opportunity to present short-form concepts that could later become full series. Craig McCracken’s concept developed through this process, eventually receiving a recurring broadcast series and a feature film.
The 1995 debut is often confused with the show’s 1998 series premiere. Both dates are important: 1995 marks the characters’ appearance in the anthology, while 1998 marks the beginning of the original standalone television series. The student film came earlier still.