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Strawberry Shortcake

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This article is about the American Greetings character and franchise. For other uses, see Strawberry shortcake.
Strawberry Shortcake
First appearanceGreeting cards published by American Greetings
Created by
  • Barbi Sargent (creator)
  • Fran Kariotakis (finished art)
Voiced byRussi Taylor (Reboot Specials)
Sarah Heinke (2003 series and The Sweet Dreams Movie)
Anna Cummer (Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures and Sky's the Limit)
Tracey Moore (Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures, singing voice)
Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld (WildBrain Spark series)
Amy Smart[1] (Robot Chicken)
Cree Summer (Drawn Together)
April Stewart (South Park)
Tara Strong (Honda)
Ana Sani (Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City)
In-universe information
Full nameStrawberry Shortcake
GenderFemale
FamilyApple Dumplin’
Custard
Pupcake
Aunt Praline
Granberry Jam
OriginThe World of Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake is a cartoon character used in greeting cards published by American Greetings. The line was later expanded to include dolls, posters, and other products featuring the character and an extended cast of friends and pets. In addition, the franchise has spawned television specials, animated television series and films. The franchise is currently owned by the Canadian children's television company WildBrain and American brand management company Iconix Brand Group[2][3] through the holding company Shortcake IP Holdings LLC.

History

The character of Strawberry Shortcake was originally created by Barbi Sargent, who was then working as a freelance artist for American Greetings. The character first appeared on a Laurel Valentine's Day Greeting card in 1972–1973. At the time, the character was simply called Girl with a Daisy or Strawberry Girl and was depicted holding a daisy while wearing an orange bonnet with a strawberry print on it. Rex Conners, American Greetings' staff art director, knew this card was very popular and determined that this was due to the strawberry motif.[4] He requested Barbi to create four cards with a "strawberryish" outfit for the Mega Test Market. Sargent completed the assignment in early July 1977, sending American Greetings four full-color leader cards depicting the Strawberry Shortcake character in full color ("Leader cards" are used by American Greetings for consumer test purposes). These tests marked the first time that the public saw Strawberry Shortcake in her new design, which received a positive reception.

In the late 1970s, further Strawberry Shortcake concept art was drawn by Muriel Fahrion, an illustrator working in American Greetings' Juvenile & Humorous card department.[4] Fahrion then designed a subsequent 32 characters for Those Characters From Cleveland (American Greetings' toy and licensing design division). Later characters that were added to the line were designed by Cindy Mayer Patton and Janet Jones. Artwork for the series was done by a number of different freelancers, though the majority was painted by artist Frances Kariotakis. Lynn Edwards served as the editor of the line, helping to develop the characters and storyline.

The Strawberry Shortcake line of characters each had their own fruit or dessert-themed name with clothing to match the fruit or dessert-themed name, and they each had a dessert- or fruit-named pet. Like the Strawberry Shortcake doll, all the other characters' dolls had hair scented to match their dessert theme. The characters lived and played in a magical world known as Strawberryland.

In 1979, toy manufacturer Kenner Products licensed the character and released the first Strawberry Shortcake doll.[5] At the time, Strawberry Shortcake resembled a typical rag doll, complete with freckles, a mop of red yarn curls, and a bonnet with strawberry print on it. To reflect this, the toy was a rag doll, designed by Muriel Fahrion and made by Susan Trentel, Fahrion's sister.

During the 1980s, Strawberry Shortcake became popular with young girls throughout the United States. At the time, there were many related products, such as sticker albums, clothing, bedding, a video game by Parker Brothers entitled Strawberry Shortcake Musical Match-Ups for the Atari 2600,[6][7] etc. Several TV specials were made featuring the characters, one each year between 1980 and 1985, by which time the characters' popularity had waned. Kenner produced no new dolls or toys thereafter.

In May 1983, following a court case, copyrights to Strawberry Shortcake were granted to Barbi Sargent from American Greetings Corporation.[8] Later on, Barbi returned the copyrights to American Greetings so that they could continue with the success of the Strawberry Shortcake franchise.

American Greetings manufactured Strawberry Shortcake Christmas ornaments, which are included in the Clara Johnson Scroggins collection, one of the world's largest ornaments collections.[9]

In 1991, THQ tried reviving the franchise by producing an updated line of Strawberry Shortcake dolls. Strawberry and five of her classic friends each got a makeover with new clothes, hair, and eyes. However, the line saw only modest success and lasted just a year.

In 2002, the franchise was revived again, this time with a revamped look by a different designer. Many strong licensing deals were made. A television series with new home video releases was produced. Soundtracks for the episodes were also released.

Bandai (along with KellyToy) was granted the manufacturing rights of the Strawberry Shortcake dolls and toys. For the first time in almost two decades, new video games were launched, produced by The Game Factory for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Educational CD-ROMs for the PC were also produced.

In 2006, Playmates Toys picked up the rights to manufacture and sell Strawberry Shortcake figurines. The line they produced was named "A World of Friends". A full-length feature film, Strawberry Shortcake: The Sweet Dreams Movie, premiered in 2006 and was released on DVD in February 2007. Playmates Toys lost the manufacturing rights to Hasbro, which began releasing new Strawberry Shortcake–themed toys beginning in the fall of 2009, after American Greetings rebooted the franchise.[10] Hasbro lost the manufacturing rights to The Bridge Direct in early 2014.

In February 2015, Iconix Brand Group acquired the rights to Strawberry Shortcake from American Greetings for $105 million.[11][12]

In 2017, DHX Media acquired Iconix's entertainment brands, including Strawberry Shortcake and majority ownership of Peanuts, for $345 million.[2][3] It was finalized on June 30.[2]

1980s

Characters

1980s toys

  • Strawberry Shortcake
  • Berry Bake Shoppe
  • Snail Cart (with Escargot The Snail)
  • Carrousel
  • Berry-Shaped Carry Case
  • Flitter-Bit the Butterfly
  • Garden House (Gazebo)
  • Big Berry Trolley
  • Berry Merry Worm (Philbert Wormly III)
  • Berry Happy Home
  • Maple Stirrup and the Oatsmobile
  • Blow Kiss Baby Doll

1980s television specials

Main article: List of 1980s Strawberry Shortcake television specials

From 1980 through 1985, television specials featuring Strawberry Shortcake were produced annually.

The 1980 and 1982 specials were animated by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson and Toei Animation, while the 1983, 1984 and 1985 specials were animated by Nelvana. The 1981 special was a unique case, animated by Perpetual Motion Pictures of New York.

2003 relaunch

Characters with their pets and home

Main article: List of 2003 Strawberry Shortcake characters

A major revamping took place at the characters' relaunch. Both Pupcake and Custard now belong to Strawberry Shortcake. In Pupcake's place, a new pet, Shoofly Frog, was introduced as Huckleberry Pie's pet, and Apple Dumplin' was relaunched as Strawberry Shortcake's sister. Also, Strawberryland is now divided into "districts" like Cakewalk, Orange Blossom Acres, Huckleberry Briar and Cookie Corners.

Strawberryland Fillies

The 2003 revival of the franchise introduced fillies to the franchise. Each of the fillies is tied down to a character, with the main filly, Honey Pie Pony, being the only one able to talk and have a pet. However, when Playmates took over the dolls' rights from Bandai, they decided to scrap the existing fillies and introduce new ones, but the removal has not spread beyond the scope of the toy line.

2003 TV series

Main article: Strawberry Shortcake (2003 TV series)

In 2003, the Strawberry Shortcake franchise was given a huge relaunch by DIC Entertainment, and with it, a direct-to-video/TV series was produced, 19 years after the last special. The series reflected the changes in the direction of the franchise and has the primary focus on being an educational program. 44 episodes were produced, including four 45-minute specials. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released the series worldwide on VHS and DVD.

2005 live-action TV series

An Argentine live-action TV series of the franchise was shown on El Nueve in 2005, with Laura Anders as Strawberry Shortcake, Camila Offermann as Angel Cake, Luz Luccarini as Ginger Snap and Alan Ferraro as Huckleberry Pie, produced and directed by Paula Venditti and Jonathan Hofman, with 36 episodes.[13][14]

Theatrically released feature films

2006 film

Main article: Strawberry Shortcake: The Sweet Dreams Movie

In October 2006, the first Strawberry Shortcake film, The Sweet Dreams Movie, was released in select cities by Kidtoon Films. The series villains, the Purple Pieman and Sour Grapes, who were notably absent from the TV series, are re-introduced in the film. However, Sour Grapes is re-introduced as Purple Pieman's sister in materials related to the Sweet Dreams Movie. It was released on DVD on February 6, 2007, and has also been aired on networks and released on DVD and VideoCDs worldwide.

2009/10 relaunch

Main article: Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures

In June 2008, American Greetings announced that Hasbro had won the license from Playmates, and with it, they would relaunch the series again. The extensive relaunch involved numerous large redesigns and a reboot of the franchise's universe. The relaunch began in the Summer of 2009, with the release of a CGI movie, The Sky's the Limit, with Anna Cummer voicing Strawberry Shortcake. A TV series, Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures, debuted on October 10, 2010, on Discovery Family. 65 episodes were produced.

Merchandise of the relaunch began appearing in mid-2009. In 2016, IDW Publishing began releasing an ongoing Strawberry Shortcake comic series written by Georgia Ball, with art by Amy Mebberson. Both Ball and Mebberson identified as fans of the 1980s series,[15] with Ball drawing inspiration from girls with "doubts and challenges but their friends back them up and support them."[16]

The main characters of the show are Strawberry Shortcake, Lemon Meringue, Orange Blossom, Raspberry Torte, Plum Pudding, and Blueberry Muffin. Cherry Jam, a new character made for the series, is introduced in the second season. Huckleberry Pie was reintroduced in the third season as a recurring character, while Sweet and Sour Grapes (no relation to the villainess character) debuted in Series 4, alongside the return of Apple Dumplin'.

At The New York Toy Fair in 2014, it was learned that the toy-making license for Strawberry Shortcake had passed from Hasbro to a company called The Bridge Direct, makers of Pinkie Cooper and The Jet Set Pets dolls. The product shown appeared to retain the designs of the 2009 Strawberry Shortcake relaunch and included several series of dolls featuring pets, doll furniture, and musical instruments.

2018 web series

In May 2018, DHX Media and its subsidiary, WildBrain, debuted a new 2D animated series of Strawberry Shortcake on YouTube and YouTube TV produced by WildBrain Studios. The series features the return of Raisin Cane and the Purple Pieman to the series.

The cast for that series features Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld as Strawberry Shortcake, Amanda Barker as Orange Blossom, Dylan Jones as the Purple Pieman, Kaylin Lee Clinton as Raisin Cane, and Laurie Hymes as Sour Grapes.

2021 relaunch

In May 2016, the Iconix Brand Group and DHX Media (now WildBrain) disclosed that the development of a fifth version is in-the-works, after the franchise's acquisition in 2016.[17]

The series was scheduled for three seasons, totalling 39 episodes, although no cast, crew, or release date was announced, and would have used 3D computer animation similar to the 2009 series.[18]

This was later retooled,[19] and on September 9, 2021, WildBrain announced a newly refreshed Strawberry Shortcake with a new look and redesigns for the characters. A 2D-animated web series from WildBrain Spark Studios titled Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City, began airing on YouTube on September 18, 2021, with 40 episodes planned for the first season, with a second already in development. A series of CGI-animated 45-minute specials produced by WildBrain Studios is also currently in development, landing on Netflix in 2023.[20] The series was released on Netflix in April 2022.[21] It premiered on Tiny Pop in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2022.[22]

The central cast of this incarnation features Strawberry Shortcake, Custard, Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, and returning character Lime Chiffon.[23]

Media

Soundtracks

Main article: List of Strawberry Shortcake albums

Kid Stuff Records released albums based on the character in the early 1980s. After the 2003 revival, Koch Records has issued soundtrack CDs containing music from the TV series and DVDs, as well as one for the movie. Additionally, a CD was released along with a piano book.

Video games

Main article: List of Strawberry Shortcake video games

The first Strawberry Shortcake video game was produced in 1983 for the Atari 2600. No further games based upon the franchise were produced until 20 years later, in 2003, with Strawberry Shortcake: Amazing Cookie Party for PC. Since then, games have been published for the Game Boy Advance, Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PC, and Mac. A standalone plug-and-play game based on Konami's Dance Dance Revolution franchise was also produced. In addition, mobile apps for the iOS[24] and Android platforms have been released.[25]

Controversy

Penny Arcade

In 2003, the webcomic Penny Arcade posted an "advertisement" for an imaginary computer game, American McGee's Strawberry Shortcake—a parody of the actual computer game American McGee's Alice, a twisted and violent take on Lewis Carroll's works. American Greetings took offense to the parody and issued a cease-and-desist letter, to which the authors begrudgingly complied[26] - but not without making their indignation very clear.[27] A follow-up strip cites bad timing as a contributing factor to the situation,[28] Holkins and Krahulik were not aware that American Greetings was about to relaunch the Strawberry Shortcake line at that time.

Some argue that Penny Arcade's case was not covered under the fair use doctrine because the use of the characters, in this case, was for satire;[29] they claim that fair use only protects the unauthorized use of copyrighted characters in parodies of the original material, and that satire and parody are totally different concepts. Others, however, take the view that parody and satire are equally protected by law.[30] Penny Arcade did not intend to offend American Greetings in the comic, but instead American McGee and McFarlane Toys, who collaborated to create a toy line based on a twisted version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The poster also mocked American McGee's game, American McGee's Alice, a game with a dark and twisted take on Lewis Carroll's books, Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

Various animated television shows, including Futurama (episode "Saturday Morning Fun Pit"), Drawn Together, Robot Chicken, The Fairly OddParents, ("Channel Chasers"), and South Park ("Imaginationland Episode II") have since also parodied or satirized Strawberry Shortcake in various ways.

On June 20, 2008, Cookie Jar Entertainment announced its intention to merge with DiC Entertainment,[31] who holds the rights to the Strawberry Shortcake animated series. The merger was completed on July 23, 2008.[32] On the same day as the finalization of the merger, Cookie Jar Entertainment announced further intentions to acquire the Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears franchises from American Greetings itself.[33] The deal was expected to finalize on September 30, 2008. However, up until April 2009, there was no further word on the status of the acquisition.

In March 2009, it was announced that Cookie Jar delayed the acquisition in December 2008 due to difficulty in financing it. It was also revealed that Cookie Jar offered US$195 million for the franchise. Due to the situation, American Greetings has put the franchise back on sale. It was also announced that French company MoonScoop has expressed interest and offered US$95 million for the franchise, US$100 million less than what was offered by Cookie Jar. Cookie Jar has announced intentions to compete against MoonScoop's bid, however. Cookie Jar had until the end of April 2009 to counter MoonScoop's bid.[34]

This led to various lawsuits between Cookie Jar, American Greetings and MoonScoop. American Greetings emerged as the victor of the case and retained ownership of the brands.[35] However, Iconix Group has expressed interest in buying the Strawberry Shortcake brand from American Greetings in February 2015 for US$105 million, 10 million more than that was offered by Moonscoop. The deal apparently closed successfully.[36]

References and footnotes

  1. ^ Smart was replaced by Carlee Baker in the Season 7 episode "El Skeletorito" and then Dana Daurey in the same season's episode "Up, Up, and Buffet".
  2. ^ a b c "Charlie Brown and Strawberry Shortcake sold for $345M US to Halifax company". CBC News. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b "DHX Media Acquires 'Peanuts' in $345 Million Purchase of Iconix". Variety. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Who's Red and Sweet and Filthy Rich? Strawberry Shortcake, Toyland's Newest Tyke-Coon".
  5. ^ Coopee, Todd (29 January 2018). "Then & Now: The 35-year Evolution of Strawberry Shortcake". ToyTales.ca.
  6. ^ "AtariAge - Atari 2600 - Strawberry Shortcake Musical Matchups (Parker Brothers)". AtariAge. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  7. ^ "AGH Atari 2600 Review -- Strawberry Shortcake Musical Match-Ups". Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Sargent v. American Greetings Corp., 588 F. Supp. 912 (N.D. Ohio 1984)".
  9. ^ Kelly, Katy (24 Dec 1992). ""Holly Jolly Hang-Ups: Ornaments Aplenty Light Up Her Life"". USA Today.
  10. ^ "AG Properties Press Release announcing the change of licensor".
  11. ^ Atkinson, Claire (3 February 2015). "Strawberry Shortcake is new 'it' girl for Iconix". New York Post. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  12. ^ "Snoopy Owner Iconix to Buy Strawberry Shortcake for $105M". ABC News. Associated Press. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  13. ^ Graña, Dolores (2 June 2005). ""Frutillita", puro atractivo visual". La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Frutillita y Barney, de la tele al Teatro". Infobae (in Spanish). 18 May 2005. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  15. ^ "FCBD Interview: Georgia Ball & Amy Mebberson Talk About Strawberry Shortcake #0". Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  16. ^ Keith, Jed (2016-06-23). "Writer Georgia Ball on Fun & Friendship in STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE - Freaksugar". Freaksugar. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  17. ^ Vlessing, Etan (17 May 2016). "'Strawberry Shortcake' to Return to TV in New Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  18. ^ Reid, Regan (17 May 2016). "DHX & Iconix cook up new Strawberry Shortcake series". Kidscreen. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Mike Vogel on Twitter". Twitter. 2021-10-14. Archived from the original on 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  20. ^ "WildBrain refreshes Strawberry Shortcake".
  21. ^ "Netflix takes a slice of Strawberry Shortcake". KidScreen. November 23, 2021.
  22. ^ "Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City Heads to the U.K." March 2022.
  23. ^ "WildBrain refreshes Strawberry Shortcake". KidScreen. September 9, 2021.
  24. ^ Raymundo, Neil. "iOS Gets a Strawberry Shortcake Card Maker Dress Up Game". ToonBarn. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  25. ^ Dredge, Stuart. "Strawberry Shortcake makes Berry Best Friends with iOS and Android". Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  26. ^ "Penny Arcade - Comic - Tart As A Double Entendre". Penny Arcade.
  27. ^ "Penny Arcade - Comic - Read It Before They Take Legal Action". Penny Arcade.
  28. ^ Holkins, Jerry; Krahulik, Mike (June 15, 2011). "Reprise". Penny Arcade. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  29. ^ "Penny Arcade - News - One Day Only". Penny Arcade.
  30. ^ "firstamendmentcenter.org: Arts & First Amendment in Speech".
  31. ^ "Cookie Jar Entertainment announcement of the intention of merger with DiC". cookiejarentertainment.com. June 20, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  32. ^ "Announcement of the closure of the merger". cookiejarentertainment.com. July 23, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  33. ^ "Cookie Jar Entertainment's announcement of the intention to buy the franchise off American Greetings". cookiejarentertainment.com. July 23, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  34. ^ "Deal for Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears revived - BusinessWeek". BusinessWeek. March 30, 2009. Archived from the original on April 10, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  35. ^ "American Greetings wins case against Moonscoop over Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears". cleveland.com. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  36. ^ "Sweet deal: Iconix buys Strawberry Shortcake brand". kidscreen.com. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
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