Corrupting My Childhood

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.