The Awful Reworking of the 80s I Remember
I don't know what it is about the toy industry and children's entertainment industry that feel it necessary to update the characters of my childhood and re-release them, but it is starting to become obnoxious. These characters do not need improvement, and the so called improvements they are making are not helpful. Characters like Holly Hobby and Strawberry Shortcake were given an old fashioned attire that allows them to become classic. Both wore a pinafore in a time when children were not. In the 80s, their clothing was not trendy, but children did not need them to dress trendy to like them. Why do the children of today need them to look trendy? Is personality not enough anymore? Why is having an individual style that does not match up with mainstream mean it requires updating?
I am not saying that I want this generation to not have these wonderful characters. I am simply saying that new characters should not be created and marketed under an old name because it is recognizable. Give them Strawberry Shortcake as Strawberry Shortcake should be, and give them this jeans and a t-shirt wearing red-head under a different - because they are certainly not the same girl.
Strawberry Shortcake Before
The biggest thing about Strawberry Shortcake was that she loved strawberries and her friends. She dressed in the colors of a strawberry, with strawberry patterns on the fabric. Everything about her was strawberry. She even smelled like strawberries (ask anyone with a Strawberry Shortcake doll as a kid). She had a passion, as did each of her friends. She had an identity. 
Strawberry Shortcake - After
The obvious focus of this character is HERSELF - not strawberries or her friends. She is dressed in girly girl pink - not the red of a strawberry. She wears no green the color of the strawberry's stem. She sports a super short denim skirt that you could never carry a big strawberry wearing. She has only one strawberry in her costume - the least needed to maintain the name. She even comes with a hairbrush, for her long wavy hair. And, how long do you think it took her to get her bangs like that?Her voice has also lost its innocence. It is hard to explain it, but her new voice sounds like a teenager who like so needs to get out of the valley.
This character is not Strawberry Shortcake. It is a Mary-Kate and Ashley doll with hot-pink hair.
Strawberry Shortcake
- StrawberryShortcake.com
- A look at the new strawberry shortcake and all her friends.
Do you like the new Strawberry Shortcake?
Holly Hobby Before
She didn't have a lot of money. She didn't have expensive things. She didn't wear designer clothing. But, she had a kind heart and always found the beauty in the simple things.She wore brown boots and a patchwork pinafore. Even in her time, she was not in style. She was not a show-off, and she was not a trend-setter. She found her bliss in nature...in a flower or a kitten.
Holly Hobby After
This is not just an "updated version" of Holly Hobby, it is exactly the opposite of Holly Hobby. Holly Hobby was never about clothes or the style. Holly Hobby would never be seen in such a brass "look at me" pose for the camera. She was quiet, modest, and humble.This character is not Holly Hobby. This is some other random cartoon rendering attempting to make money calling herself Holly Hobby, and trying to gain good graces from the grandmothers who want Holly Hobby in a child's life. This is no Holly Hobby. This is cartoon identity fraud.
Do you like the new Holly Hobby?
Holly Hobby Costumes
Holly Hobby
Holly Hobby Items
Strawberry Shortcake Toys
Strawberry Shortcake Berry Scooter
Better than Bratz, but still no Strawberry Shortcake.
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 07/11/2009) 
Classic Strawberry Shortcake Plush Doll (12in)
The jeans aren't even cute.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Playmates Strawberry Shortcake Playdate Pal Strawberry Shortcake Doll
This is not Strawberry Shortcake's hair?!?!?
Amazon Price: $106.95 (as of 07/11/2009)
Berry Beautiful 12" Soft Doll - Strawberry Shortcake
Since when did Strawberry Shortcake take up dance?
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Strawberry Shortcake: The World of Strawberry Shortcake & Strawberry Shortcake in Big Apple City
There it is...the pinafore!
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Strawberry Shortcake
Compare for yourself
The Bit the Dust Tape Part 3
Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry shortcake (BETTER VERSION)
Your Opinion
Do you think today's toys encourage kids to grow up too fast?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes; they need to tone it down.
Hannah says:
mini skirts, latest fashion, make up. It's teenage style aimed
at children. Why make dolls like teenagers??? The old dolls
from the 80's were not in 80's fashion, but we all loved them
and children looked respectful wearing copy cat clothes. I
would be horrified to find my 5 year old in a copy cat outfit of most of todays dolls!
Posted March 03, 2009
Evelyn_Saenz says:
Today's toys are advertisements to get kids buy things. Children need time outdoors, time to play with friends, and time to make up their own games.
Posted February 17, 2008
No; it's all in good fun.
Kudos to My Little Pony !!!
My Little Pony Re-Release
My Little Pony Original 1983 My Little Pony Collection 1
Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 07/11/2009)
Kudos to My Little Pony for re-releasing My Little Ponies EXACTLY AS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY. This is a re-release of the original 1983 set of ponies.
My Little Pony Original 1983 My Little Pony Collection 2
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
What about Rainbow Brite?
Guestbook
mimsd wrote...
Amen! I just went to make a new lens today about the 80s toys that I love. There are some new Rainbow Brite toys out there now on Amazon. They've messed her up too.
Posted February 22, 2009
enslavedbyfaeries wrote...
I couldn't agree more! My sister and I grew up with Strawberry Shortcake and Holly Hobbie. My girls were lucky enough to have inherited my little sister's complete collection of original Strawberry Shortcake dolls so I was ecstatic when the classic cartoon finally became available on DVD. It's awesome to see it again and hear the sweet songs and voices from so long ago. I highly recommend it to anyone who loved it as a kid. Now if only they would bring back the Strawberry Shortcake cereal... that would be berry, berry nice!!
Posted January 15, 2009
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
For such a great lens I'm sending you virtual Star Games and Activities. You might like to check out What ever happened to RECESS?. I can hardly wait to read the rest of your lenses.
Posted February 17, 2008
blondeheroine wrote...
THANK YOU! I hate the new Strawberry Shortcake! She's BORING. Give me the real thing or give me nothing. :p
Posted February 16, 2008
tshirtfort wrote...
Nice Lens. I find it so disturbing that all the toys of today have to look like those disturbing skanky even though I am age 5 Bratz dolls.
Posted February 08, 2008
