First look: Future is now for 'Phineas and Ferb'

Phineas and Ferb fans will soon get to see a new side of their favorite cartoon characters — specifically, their post-pubescent years.

A new episode airing on Disney XD Feb. 9 (8:30 p.m. ET/PT) catches up with Phineas, Ferb, Isabella and others 10 years into the future when the gang are all teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. Phineas is deciding between two colleges when he's hit with a personal bombshell: Isabella has been harboring a crush on him since they were little kids, a fact that has been obvious to everybody but Phineas. With love on the line, their pals work to get the two to confess their feelings for one another before she goes away for school.

And for those wondering about Dr. Doofenshmirtz, he has his own issues, namely a midlife crisis.

The Phineas and Ferb episode also has a cool fan tie-in: The character designs for the animated teenagers were inspired by those of Ashley Simpson, a 25-year-old Canadian artist and loyal viewer who showed her artwork to the cartoon's creators, Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, at San Diego Comic-Con two years ago. They in turn hired Simpson to work on the futuristic episode after coming up with a suitable story line.