In Honor of the Best Cartoon Dad Ever
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Professor Utonium is a character whose name is still frequently brought up as one of the greatest fathers in cartoon history.
While that is undoubtedly due to the brilliant writing, there is absolutely no question that it also owes a massive debt to the voice of Tom Kane.
His voice sounded incredibly calm, gentle, and rich with wisdom. It was a voice that softly leaned in to comfort the Girls whenever they did something wrong or when they were feeling down.
What remains strongly etched in everyone’s memory is the final scene of the famous episode, "Knock It Off."
"Well, old Dick may have gotten the formula right, but the one ingredient that he forgot... was love."
That episode itself is so dark that it makes you question if it's truly meant for a children’s cartoon. Yet, it is precisely because the Professor is right there, conveying his straight, unadulterated love to the Girls, that the narrative darkness, the villain's cruelty, and the sorrow of the mutated clones feel so profoundly magnified.
However, there is another performance by Professor Utonium that left a deep impression on me. It is from the episode "Stray Bullet."
Bubbles rescues a baby squirrel in the woods that has been gravely injured by an eagle, bringing it home to nurse it back to health. As she and her sisters excitedly brainstorm names for their new pet, the Professor steps in to have a very heavy, yet crucial conversation with the Girls.
He tells them that they don't know if the little squirrel will ever recover.
Instead of feeding them superficial reassurances like "It'll be fine" or "I'm sure it will get better" just to shield them from immediate sadness, he tells them the truth. He does this honestly, ensuring that if the worst should happen, the Girls wouldn't blame themselves.
I believe this scene beautifully showcases the Professor's genuine humanity—respecting the Girls as individuals capable of understanding, and guiding them to face the harsh reality of death despite their young age. What elevates this scene to a whole new level is, without a doubt, Tom Kane's performance.
As you may already know, Tom Kane, the voice behind the Professor, passed away recently.
The internet is flooded with voices mourning his loss. I also posted a video sharing the news, and so many fans have shared comments expressing their grief alongside immense gratitude for his incredible acting.
To my embarrassment, I didn't know this until recently, but alongside Professor Utonium, he also voiced HIM—the purest embodiment of evil within The Powerpuff Girls.
To simultaneously voice the ultimate figure of good who treats the Girls with absolute conscience, and the ultimate figure of pure evil who confronts them with sheer malice and sadistic joy... voice actors are truly incredible.
I have been deeply drawn to his acting and the character of Professor Utonium, deriving so much inspiration from them.
Bringing the Professor's Heart to PPGZA
Specifically, in Chapter 5 of PPGZA, I wrote a one-on-one conversation between the Professor Utonium and my own character.
Actually, in the pilot version of Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z (PPGZ), Professor Utonium didn't exist. A young boy character named Ken, who became his son in the final show, filled the scientist role.
However, upon seeing that, Craig McCracken reportedly told the animation team, "A father figure is indispensable to the PPG universe."
Thanks to that insight, Professor Kitazawa Utonium was added to PPGZ. I think it was a wonderful decision.
Now, a lot has happened leading up to the conversation between the Professor and my OC, Haine. Having suddenly been thrust into becoming a new PPGZ, she is bewildered and terrified.
Because of that fear, she rejects becoming a PPGZ and is, in turn, rejected by others. As she laments in utter confusion, not knowing what to do, Professor Utonium reaches out to her.
When writing this scene, the one thing I was intensely conscious of was that Professor Utonium would never disparage the other Girls.
Of course, he apologizes to Haine on behalf of Kaoru for what she initially said. However, I also wanted to show that he deeply understands why Kaoru reacted the way she did.
Because she is a straightforward character who treasures her comrades, it is completely natural for her to be harsh on a newcomer who shrinks away and gives up on facing monsters from the very start. Besides, having someone that terrified on the team puts everyone else in danger.
Even so, there is still a feeling that being that brutally honest with a newcomer in that situation wasn't entirely fair to Haine.
I believe Professor Utonium is the exact character who bridges that divide in the readers' hearts.
He is the anchor who brings these girls—who possess superpowers capable of saving the world—back down to earth (ground), treats them as regular girls, accepts their childish yet human emotions and actions, and guides them in the right direction.
And the final words in this panel are actually spoken by the Girls before. He is passing down the very words of the Girls from the PPGZ finale—who, even at the cost of losing their powers, reached the conclusion that they wanted to protect the people of the town and the entire world.
Seeking the Voice of the Original
When writing this dialogue, I pondered deeply: "What kind of words would the original Professor offer her?"
I really love the PPGZ version of the Professor too, but he can't quite match the sheer depth held by the original. (To be fair, the anime didn't really feature heavy conversations like this...😅)
When something this painful and sad happens, what would he say to comfort her?
Words that gently shift her perspective on the facts and the events that transpired. Words that remind her of the courage and the wonderful human qualities she holds within herself. Words that reassure her that no matter what happens, he is always on her side.
And words that help her connect with the Girls, even when she might be on the verge of closing off her heart.
I wrote this scene while rewatching the original cartoon and constantly reminding myself why the Professor is so vital to the Powerpuff Girls.
I am truly glad I was able to write this conversation.
Thank you, Tom Kane. You will be missed.
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