My birth wasn’t the only momentous occasion that changed this world for the better in 2007. That was also the year that Phineas and Ferb, a hilarious animated series created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, originally aired on the Disney Channel.
Phineas and Ferb was a staple of my childhood, and I’m sure many other kids my age can say the same. For those not familiar, it’s an amazing show that centers around step-brothers Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher and their dedication to making the most of each and every one of their 104 summer days. They do this by building fun and imaginative inventions with their friends, while their sister Candace tries her hardest to “bust” them by trying (and failing) to show their mom what Phineas and Ferb are up to.
At least, that’s who the show centers around for half of each episode. For the rest of the runtime, Phineas and Ferb focuses on their pet Perry the platypus and his secret double life as Agent P: a fedora-clad agent tasked with stopping Dr. Doofenshmirtz—an “evil” inator-builder with the fashion sense of a pharmacist and the most tragic backstory ever put to screen—from taking over the Tri-State area. Both sides of this show are important, adding in interesting jokes, lessons, and perspectives that all together make Phineas and Ferb the unique and enjoyable viewing experience that it is. And that’s not including the many, many, many wacky side characters that each bring a special voice and humor to the show.
If that brief description piqued your interest, and if a semi-aquatic, egg-laying mammal of action (dooby dooby doo-ba) doesn’t intrigue you, then nothing will. I highly recommend watching all 4 seasons of Phineas and Ferb (and all additional TV specials and movies) as soon as possible. They are the pinnacle of television. In fact, if you haven’t yet, I want you to do it right now. Why are you still wasting time reading this article? You can read the rest when you’re done. Now shoo. Shoo.
Finished? Good. Loved it and are now completely obsessed with it? Me too. I was tired of writing this article with the assumption that the person reading it may be uninformed and have terrible taste. But now, everyone is ready and eager to watch season five (and eventually season 6, which has also been confirmed!) of Phineas and Ferb, premiering June 5 this summer on Disney Channel. Based on the trailer, it follows the same formula it always has, complete with the same jokes, musical numbers, and number of summer days, so I personally can’t wait to watch it.
I consider Phineas and Ferb to be one of the greatest shows of all time. It’s funny, heartfelt, imaginative, and it’s what first got me interested in engineering. And if this new season is even just 0.001% as good as the original four, it’s sure to be great. Although you have way less than 104 days of vacation to work with, you can still find the time this summer to enjoy the new season of Phineas and Ferb. Do yourself a favor and watch it!