“Moooom, Phineas and Ferb are making a title sequence!” This iconic line that once preceded every weird but wildly entertaining episode of Phineas and Ferb is back again, bringing with it the nostalgia and excitement of another summer of animated fun. Disney recently released ten episodes of a new season, a full decade since the show last aired.
Phineas and Ferb has always been hilariously predictable, yet never boring. Every episode follows the two genius step brothers as they build impossible inventions with their friends, while their sister Candace does everything in her power to bust them. Simultaneously, their pet platypus, Perry, leaves home each day to lead a double life as a secret agent and thwart the “evil” Doctor Doofenshmirtz and his convoluted plans to take over the Tri-State Area. There are classic lines and moments that appear in every episode, like the boys’ invention disappearing in the most unlikely way right before Candace can show their mom, or Perry returning to the backyard just in time for Phineas to say “Oh, there you are Perry.”
There’s something comforting about the formulaic nature of the show, yet one could never call it monotonous. Writers Dan Povenmire and Jeff Marsh are excellent at keeping the show exciting, random, and cleverly funny so that it continuously captures audiences that range far past the usual demographic of an animated tv show. With its layered humor and creative twists, adults and children alike can find reasons to love Phineas and Ferb.
Like its predecessors, season five does not disappoint. It returns with the same time-tested plot formula, but throws in enough unexpected surprises to keep the show as entertaining as ever. The season begins differently from any of the others – with a scene taking place before school is out for the summer. Phineas, Ferb, and their whole backyard gang sit in a classroom on the last day of school, just barely finishing regaling their classmates with stories of the previous summer’s adventures. Soon, the group breaks out into song about their upcoming vacation, and the excitement begins like usual.
Although written to be a continuation of the original show, some small differences can be noticed when comparing the new and old seasons. The same beloved cast of characters is back again, but both Ferb and Jeremy’s voice actors have changed. Modern technology has reached the city of Danville, evident in Candace’s switch from a flip phone to a smart phone and Doofenshmirtz posting on social media. Some animation details were updated as well, such as the new use of zooming in, and a clearer, more modernized look. According to co-creator Jeff Marsh, they “changed Phineas — [and] gave him an extra stripe on his shirt.” However, the small changes aren’t distracting, and the show still retains its established fun-filled structure.
Some of the funniest and most refreshing moments of the show happen when the characters break the fourth wall, which happens several times throughout the new episodes. One case is when a psychiatrist, investigating Doofenshmirtz and Candace’s bizarre lives, exclaims that they sound like “The ridiculous plots of a children’s cartoon.” Other references to reality are not as obvious, and make it all the more entertaining to look out for.
Characters also frequently reference past episodes, like when a storyline was based on the seemingly insignificant detail from season three that Buford keeps life-sized molds of each character. The clever dialogue and connections from throughout the series are what make it so enjoyable to watch over and over again.
However, not everything about the new season was perfect. One aspect that didn’t rise to the standard of past seasons was the soundtrack. The citizens of Danville are known for their tendency to break out into show stopping musical performances mid-episode, but the new songs have felt repetitive and boring. Although it’s difficult to live up to some of the catchy tunes of past episodes that have been stuck in people’s heads for years, the attempt was disappointing.
The season also lacked creativity in regards to the boys’ backyard inventions and reasoning for making them. Sometimes, the ideas seemed like a less developed background detail to keep the boys in the story, like making a sandwich submarine for no particular reason, or building a giant bookshelf. Older seasons of Phineas and Ferb used to battle boredom in treehouse robots or travel to distant planets, but the new season didn’t put as much emphasis on their adventures. However, this change did have its benefits. Other characters that are normally pushed to the side by the boys’ fantastical creations had chances for their own personal storylines and some hilarious individual lines. It’s interesting to see the choices the writers make as they develop some of the less noticed characters. For instance, one episode follows Stacy, whose role was previously limited to just being Candace’s best friend, as she helps Perry and becomes a secret agent of her own.
Phineas and Ferb is a show that’s loved by many, and the new season didn’t fail to bring back the nostalgia and fun. After the rest of season five is released, a sixth season will follow, coming to a total of 40 more episodes to be enjoyed by both new and old fans. For now, there’s 49 days left of Westwood’s summer vacation before school comes along just to end it, and spending them watching new episodes of Phineas and Ferb is a must.