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- This article refers to the doll; there is also a dessert from which the doll got its name.
Strawberry Shortcake is a female doll popular with children. Originally created as a greeting card by American Greetings, the doll consists of a girl whose hair is colored strawberry red and has been perfumed to smell like strawberries.
This character has been very popular among little girls and now collectors. To quote a fan She is the best doll in the whole world and little girls everywhere love her!.
She was first released in 1980, then relaunched in 1991 and 2002.
The early 1980s line consisted of a series of dolls with fruity dessert-themed names with colored and scented hair to match. Each doll also came with a pet. The characters lived and played in a magical world known as Strawberryland.
In Strawberryland, nobody ever dies or even gets sick. Locks are illegal, there are no thieves, everything is free, and you get Christmas presents whether you're naughty or nice. Also, it is illegal to give punishment. There is, however, two villans: the The Peculiar Purple Pieman of Porcupine Peak and Sour Grapes, who hate everything that is good and jolly.
The 1980s Strawberry Shortcake frenzy led to the production of thousands of products, including, dolls, video games, sticker albums, clothes, etc. Several videos and DVDs were made featuring Strawberry and her friends.
1980s characters
- Strawberry Shortcake (with Custard the cat)
- Huckleberry Pie (with Pupcake the dog)
- Apple Dumplin' (with Teatime turtle)
- Blueberry Muffin (with Cheesecake the mouse)
- Lemon Meringue (with Frappe the frog)
- Raspberry Tart (with Rhubarb monkey)
- Lime Chiffon (with Parfait Parrot)
- Angel Cake (with Soufflé the skunk)
- Orange Blossom (with Marmalade the butterfly)
- Butter Cookie (with Jelly Bear)
- Apricot (with Hopsalot the Bunny)
- Cherry Cuddler (with Gooseberry Goose)
- Mint Tulip (International friend from the Netherlands, with Marsh Mallard the duck)
- Crepe Suzette (International friend from France, with Eclair the poodle)
- Cafe Ole (International friend from Mexico, with Burrito the donkey)
- Almond Tea (International friend China, with Marza Panda)
- Lem and Ada (Twin International friends the United Kingdom, with Sugarwoofer the dog)
- Plum Puddin' (with Elderberry Owl)
- Peach Blush (with Melonie Belle the lamb)
- Banana Twirl (with Banana Berrykin)
- The Peculiar Purple Pieman of Porcupine Peak (with Captain Cackle the berry bird) villain
- Sour Grapes (with snake Dregs) villain
- A few characters were never available as dolls but appeared in comic books or movies. These characters were: Raisin Cane with pet Durt the worm, Tea 'n Honey, and Baby Needs a Name (later named Lullaberry Pie). Lullaberry has a pet "monster", resembling a dragon, named Figboot.
1980s toys
- Berry Bake Shoppe
- Garden House (Gazebo)
- Berry Cycle
- Carrousel
- Big Berry Trolley
- Flitterbit Butterfly
- Berry Merry Worm
- Berry Happy Home
- Maple Stirrup Oatsmobile
- Snail Cart
2002-2005 characters
Responding to a new generation, American Greetings relaunched the Strawberry Shortcake in 2002 with a new look for the modern girl. In 2005, she is still going strong and her cast of friends is growing. A few original characters were relaunched with different pets and relationships. There are also a few international friends.
- Strawberry Shortcake - with pets Custard and Pupcake
- Apple Dumplin'- with pet Apple Ducklin'
- Ginger Snap - with pet Chocolate Chipmunk
- Angel Cake - with pet Vanilla Icing the lamb
- Orange Blossom (who is African-American) - with pet Marmalade butterfly
- Huckleberry Pie - with pet Shoofly frog
- Blueberry Muffin - with pet Cheesecake mouse
- Rainbow Sherbet - with pet Triple Treat Toucan
- Seaberry Delight - with pet Kiwi Sea Turtle
- Coco Calypso - with pet Papaya Parrot
- Peppermint Fizz - with pet Cola Chameleon
This line also included a series of Filly Friends:
- Honey Pie - Strawberry Shortcake's Filly
- Orange Twist - Orange Blossom's Filly
- Milkshake - Angel Cake's Filly
- Cookie Dough - Ginger Snap's Filly
- Spumoni - Coco Calypso's Filly
- Cherry Vanilla - Peppermint Fizz's Filly
- Butter Pecan - Rainbow Sherbet's Filly
- Pistachio - Seaberry Delight's Filly
- Blueberry Sundae - Blueberry Muffin's Filly
- Huckleberry Hash - Huckleberry Pie's Filly
- Lemon Ice - Lemon Meringue's Filly
- Raspberry Ripple - Raspberry Torte's Filly
Released in 2005-2006 by Playmates:
- Raspberry Torte - with pet Rhubarb Racoon
- Lemon Meringue - with pet Sourball Skunk
- Crepe Suzette - with pet Eclair Poodle
- Tea Blossom - with pet Marza Panda
- Frosty Puff - with pet Freezer Pop Penguin
- Tangerina Torta - with pet Banana Bongo (not out yet)
- Strawberry Shortcake - with pet Custard
- Blueberry Muffin
- Rainbow Sherbet
- Angel Cake
(None of the Playmates 6.5 inch dolls actually come with their pets. The pets are just animated characters in the cartoons and drawings.)
2002-2006 cast
Strawberry Shortcake - Sarah Heinke
Angel Cake - Rachael Ware
Orange Blossom - DeJare Barfield
Ginger Snap - Samantha Triba
Huckleberry Pie - Daniel Canfield and James Street
Honey Pie Pony - Hannah Koslosky
Spring - Camillie Schmidt
Apple Dumplin' - Katie Labosky
Peppermint Fizz - Rebbeca Noddle
Pupcake - Nils Haaland
Custard - Anna Jordan
Blueberry Muffin - Joan Gerber and Anna Jordan
Seaberry Delight - Abigail Leib
Rainbow Sherbet - Laura Grimm
Licorice Whip - Jerry Longe
2006 Film
On June 15, 2006, an article in Animation Magazine * revealed that a feature-length CG Strawberry Shortcake film was scheduled to open in theaters in October of 2006, accompanied by heavy merchandising by American Greetings. The film, entitled "Sweet Dreams," was written by experienced sequel-author Carter Crocker.
American McGee's Strawberry Shortcake
- Note: possibly mature content mentioned in the section ahead.
In 2003, webcomic Penny Arcade published a poster for an imaginary computer game, American McGee's Strawberry Shortcake, a reference to 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 - but not without making their indignation very clear [http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2003/04/27.
This brief attriction is likely to have caused a damage far beyond what the removed piece could have done by itself; given the comic's immense popularity, American Greetings made itself look to many eyes as, much like Mattel, overzealous in the protection of their properties, to the point of being capable of trampling artistic expression and the fair use doctrine (which allows the unauthorized use of copyrighted characters in parodies).
External links
- Strawberry Shortcake - official site
- Mint Tulip's Garden Tea Party - fan site
- Huckleberry Briar - fan site
- Strawberry Shortcake Convention
- Points of Articulation - toy web site
- Strawberry Shortcake Paradise - fan site
"Strawberry Shortcake"