From the mind of Dan Povenmire, the creator of "Phineas and Ferb", comes a new Disney Channel animated show “Hamster & Gretel”, which focuses is on a young teenager and her hamster who gain superpowers. Learning the dark secrets of the city, they try to make it a safer place. Having recently premiered, “Hamster and Gretel” is new but preserves the tone audiences have been familiar with for decades.  

Dan Povenmire has been a creative mind behind some of the most iconic shows. Early involvement at Nickelodeon brought series like “Rocko’s Modern Life”, “SpongeBob SquarePants”, and “Catdog” to life. As a creator, his biggest hit is undoubtably “Phineas and Ferb”, a wildly popular Disney Channel original that ran for 4 seasons between 2007 and 2015 and earned Povenmire two Emmy Awards. The show focused on two stepbrothers, Phineas and Ferb, who spend each day of their summer vacation doing something more crazy than the last, all while their big sister Candace tries to ruin the fun. Another memorable aspect of the show was Perry the Platypus, a secret agent who always quarrels with Dr. Doofenshmirtz (voiced by Povenmire himself).  

The show took off with its musical numbers and parodies of pop culture, and the concept caught the imagination of its audience. The show was insightful and responsible for teaching an entire generation what the plastic on the end of a shoe is. IYKYK. 

But one of the aspects that made it so popular was its ability to also be funny to adults. Capturing a universality to also be appealing to older audiences is hard for a children’s show. The wit used throughout is a testament to the writers. Besides being funny, it was engaging and informative. There was never a dull moment on the show. 

Since the end of “Phineas and Ferb”, Povenmire has made a resurgence on TikTok. From answering questions to debunking fan theories and doing the famous Dr. Doofenshmirtz's voice, he has become a notable face of something people hold dear to their hearts. Through the platform, a closer look into his life relates much of what you find in his shows -- wholesome fun. His time on TikTok has brought “Phineas and Ferb” back into the minds of those who loved it years ago. 

As of now, it is unclear whether “Hamster and Gretel” will be able to live in the same light, although it seems everything Povenmire touches young audiences love. It will be no surprise if this new show manages to do the same, though it may be hard for everything to live up to the things from the past. “Phineas and Ferb” hit a generation and continues to be a popular show for young kids. It is something that feels timeless. 

“Hamster and Gretel” can be found on Disney Channel on Saturday mornings. To catch up on “Phineas and Ferb”, you can stream it on Disney+.