Captain Planet still inspires planeteers with his inspiring words
The animated series was a hit and inspired generations of young people who are now changemakers for the planet. (Credit: Captain Planet Foundation via FOX Weather
“By your combined power, I am Captain Planet!”
This is the tagline for one the most original superheroes of recent history.
Captain Planet was the main character in the animated series “Captain Planet & the Planeteers”, but the show had a far greater impact than the television screen.
It ignited a movement for decades that inspired generations of young people and made them feel empowered to make a difference in their communities.
An origin story of a hero
Captain Planet, an eco-superhero (Captain Planet Foundation).
“I think a big part of why ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’ had such a lasting impact is because the things that were relevant at the time of the show’s initial airing are still relevant to this day,” said Robin Okunowo, the program coordinator at Captain Planet Foundation, a nonprofit based on the animated series “Captain Planet and the Planeteers.”
Okunowo claims that Captain Planet’s idea began to emerge in the late 1980s.
At the time, media entrepreneur Ted Turner was championing possible ways to protect the environment— and one of which involved creating a cartoon hero for the environment.
FILE – Ted Turner, philanthropist, and Barbara Pyle, founder of Captain Planet Foundation, attend the Captain Planet Foundation Annual Benefit Gala at the Georgia Aquarium on December 9, 2011, in Atlanta. (Ben Rose/WireImage)
“He looked over to his producer, Barbara Pyles, and said, ‘Make me this eco superhero.’ So, Barbara Pyles went ahead and created ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’,” Okunowo said.
“The show was a good observation on some of those anxieties at the time. People started to have more open discussions about environmental issues that were affecting them.
The original series
Captain Planet, after the five Planeteers summoned. (Captain Planet Foundation).
The show’s 1990 premiere featured a central character with glass-blue skin, and a bright teal mulet.
Okunowo stated, “Captain Planet certainly is a very special superhero.”
He represents five main elements — earth, fire, wind, water and heart — and he’s summoned by five young people called Planeteers, who each represent one of the five elements.
Okunowo said that each Planeteer was a native of a different continent. “This demonstrated how diverse groups can work together, bring together their passions in someone like Captain Planet to truly become a champion of the environment.”
Each of the Planeteers with their five elements play a crucial role in saving the environment. Okunowo is the exception.
She said that Captain Planet and the Planeteers had something unique. “The additional element of heart was what made them special.” “That’s the special thing about Planeteers, in part, because there’s an extra step not only to understand the natural elements, but also the empathic ones.”
Captain Planet Foundation
At a Captain Planet Foundation event, young people learn how to solve problems for the planet. (Captain Planet Foundation).
The original series ran from 1990-1991. The sequel, “The New Adventures of Captain Planet”, was launched. The series helped inspire change in many communities.
Okunowo says that the show’s creators discovered that viewers were excited by Captain Planet’s work, and that he inspired younger generations to engage in environmental activism.
Turner and Pyle founded a non-profit based on the animated series to harness and channel this energy in 1991. The Captain Planet Foundation (CPF), is an organization that works with young people in order to make a difference for the environment.
CPF runs a variety of programs. Their newest program, the Planeteer Alliance was launched in February 2022.
Captain Planet and The Planeteers (Captain Planet Foundation).
Okunowo stated, “The Planeteer Alliance stands out from other youth programs because it has that community component.” “The Planeteer Alliance is just that — an alliance of young changemakers who are coming together and saying, ‘We all care about addressing climate change at this moment, and this is how I’m doing it in my community.'”
CPF reports that over 1.6 million children participated in their programs over the past 30 year. They have funded 3,300+ projects which have had an impact on 10.5 million youth.
Go, Planet!
The unique superhero left a lasting impact. (Captain Planet Foundation).
“I think Captain Planet, the superhero of itself, is a metaphor for ‘by our powers combined’ in understanding that the power is yours,” Okunowo said.
“And when you work in a community that summons their power, it is the superhero movement and you feel like an superhero because you have so much potential to make a difference.”
More information on FOX Weather.