Lizzie McGuire follows the adventures of a typical 14-year old surviving adolescent along with her animated alter ego. On the exterior, Lizzie tries hard to navigate the turbulent years of junior high. She copes with the ever-changing cliques at school, keeps up with what’s in and what’s out, and deals with a well-meaning mom, who’s over-eager to help make her daughter’s transition into womanhood as smooth as possible.

Sassy, sarcastic and sensible, Lizzie’s animated self is part guardian and part mischief-maker. As the real Lizzie appears calm and collected in situations dealing with everything from parental embarrassment to troublesome younger brothers, her animated self pops up with some keen observations, killer comebacks and catchy phrases that offer some relief. And because she’s animated, she can get so embarrassed she melts and so mad she explodes (literally).

Though the real, flesh-and-blood Lizzie and her animated alter ego never talk to each other, Lizzie does get some tangible support from her best-friends-for-life, Miranda and Gordo. Together they muddle through high school meltdowns and stick by each other through classroom crises and the struggle for popularity or at the very least, a little recognition.