After debuting in the theatrical film Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius in 2001, the super-intelligent, sundae-haired Jimmy Neutron, voiced by incoming Supa-Star Debi Derryberry, went on to become one of the most popular characters under Nickelodeon’s ‘Nicktoons’ banner.

The character subsequently starred in a spin-off TV series that ran for three seasons, a trilogy of crossover specials with fellow Nicktoon The Fairly OddParents, and a number of Nicktoon video games and theme park attractions.

Jimmy often leads him and his friends into zany adventures that could only ever happen in a cartoon, and his genius brain places him on a different intellectual level than most people. For these reasons, it would seem, at surface value, that Jimmy Neutron could be difficult to relate to. Dig a little deeper, however, and it becomes apparent that this is a misconception.

Here are a few examples of Jimmy Neutron actually being one of the most relatable Nicktoons.

WE’VE ALL BEEN THE NEW KID AT SOME POINT

While trying to comfort her usual rival after they have been captured by the evil alien Yolkians in the film, Cindy Vortex informs Jimmy that she had been the smartest kid at their school before he came along. This suggests that the Neutrons have not always lived in Retroville, or at least that Jimmy has not always attended the same school as Cindy. This means that Jimmy was probably the ‘new kid’ in school sometime before the movie. While not confirmed outright in the movie, Jimmy is eager to impress cool kid Nick by sneaking out at night to go to Retroland.

Like Jimmy, we’ve all been the new kid at some point, whether it be in school, or an extracurricular activity. Some may even have similar feelings as an adult starting a new job. The best thing to do, in all cases, is find your people, as Jimmy does with Carl and Sheen.

JIMMY RESISTS DOING HIS CHORES.. AND FACES THE CONSEQUENCES

On a couple of occasions during the television series, Jimmy Neutron attempts to avoid doing his chores, usually by coming up with some sort of high-tech shortcut. In the series’ very first episode, When Pants Attack, he places a chip inside his pants so they will put themselves in the washing hamper, and in a later episode, creates clones of himself to do his chores for him. Both situations go awry. The microchipped pants begin attacking people, and one of the clones turns evil, becoming a recurring antagonist.

We all have chores we’d like to put off, but really, it’s best to get them done before they get on top of you.

JIMMY GETS EMBARRASSED BY HIS PARENTS, BUT LOVES THEM ANYWAY

Many of us have probably experienced feeling embarrassed by our parents as a child or teen, and Jimmy Neutron is no different. This is particularly prevalent when it comes to his father, the well-meaning but often simple-minded Hugh. Fearing Hugh will embarrass him during a Father’s Day talent show, Jimmy invents a device to give him a cooler personality. This soon backfires when the new, cool Hugh no longer has time for Jimmy. Missing his father, Jimmy begins working to change Hugh back.

Parents may embarrass us at times, but as Jimmy learns, their love is all that really matters.

JIMMY LEARNS THAT THERE ARE NO CHEAT CODES FOR GROWING UP

In an early season two episode, Jimmy, Carl, and Sheen covet an M-rated video game. Jimmy uses his newest invention to age himself and his friends to age 18 so they can purchase it, but of course, the device malfunctions, going too far and aging them into senior citizens. As they set out to fix the problem, the three boys find themselves regretting wishing their childhoods away.

There is not a single person alive who was not told at some point that they would have to wait until they were older. However, it is often one’s youth that is looked back on as the best time.

JIMMY LEARNS THAT IT IS OKAY TO NEED HELP

In Win, Lose and Kaboom!, the movie-length special that closes out the second season of the show, Jimmy decodes a message from outer space, after which he and his friends are kidnapped and forced to compete on an Intergalactic Reality TV show against teams from three other planets. Only one team can win, while the losing three will have their planets destroyed. Jimmy believes that he can win alone with his intellect, but his brain alone is not enough, resulting in Team Earth losing the first two challenges. It is only when he seeks help from his friends, utilising each person’s strengths, that the team is able to save their own planet along with those of the other competitors.

We may like to think we can handle difficult situations on our own, but if not, then there is no shame in asking for help.

LOVE CAN CREEP UP ON YOU

Anyone who watched the original Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius film or the following TV series will remember that Jimmy Neutron and Cindy Vortex have a complicated relationship. They tease one another and constantly bicker, but on the other hand, Cindy is usually Jimmy’s greatest ally in dire situations. Over the course of the series, Jimmy and Cindy go from rivals, to frenemies, to slightly better friends, until surprisingly, they realise that they actually like each other quite a lot. In the final few episodes, they take their first tentative steps into puppy love.

Jimmy Neutron is not the only person to have found love in an unexpected place, and sometimes, that love is all the stronger for having grown from nothing.

Share your favourite Jimmy Neutron moments with Supa-Star Debi Derryberry at Supanova in Sydney (22-23 June), and Supanova in Perth (29-30 June) in 2024!