'The Powerpuff Girls' reboot in 2016

A reboot of the beloved animated series "The Powerpuff Girls" will hit the small screens worldwide in 2016, Cartoon Network has announced. Created by Craig McCracken, the series centres on three sugar-coated superheroes whose mission in life alternates between going to school, fighting crime and winning at hopscotch.

The reboot will include an all-new television series produced by Cartoon Network Studios and a licensing program that will roll out across all regions.

"The original 'Powerpuff Girls' was a franchise phenomenon for Cartoon Network, paving the way for a new generation of innovative storytellers and enthusiastic fans worldwide. We're calling these girls back into action based upon an overwhelming demand for sugar, spice and Chemical X," Rob Sorcher, chief content officer, Cartoon Network, said in a statement.

"The Powerpuff Girls", which debuted in 1998, has earned two Emmy Awards along with five nominations, as well as countless animation honours throughout its 78-episode run. The series also inspired a feature film in 2003.

It is also among the top grossing Cartoon Network brands of all time, with more than US$2.5 billion in retail sales generated since its debut, and has endured as a global fashion brand with a range of apparel partners and fashion collections around the world.

"We can’t wait to unleash this unique brand of cute and chic into the Australia and New Zealand markets. While in Asia, this will further expand and complement our existing Powerpuff business, a licensing program which already enjoys great success across our markets,” Melissa Tinker, vice president of CNE in Asia Pacific.