TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Strawberry Shortcake

Go To

Rainbow Pomeranian Lover from Central Illinois (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded)
Pomeranian Lover
#1: Mar 16th 2012 at 5:38:08 AM

I noticed that we didn't have a topic for discussing the Strawberry Shortcake series, so I thought I would make one. It's a series I've liked, mainly because of my fascination with "weird names" so I like their Edible Theme Naming. I've seen many of the earliest episodes, a few of the second series, and have a bunch of the movies from the newest series. One interesting thing I remember about the earliest series is that pretty much anyone who spoke with an English accent spoke almost entirely in Stock British Phrases, possibly because the scriptwriters were trying too hard to make sure that viewers knew the character was supposed to be "English" or whatever the Berry Land equivalent was.

Bunai Space Bunny from Jupiter Since: Oct, 2010
Space Bunny
#2: Mar 16th 2012 at 8:03:56 AM

Saw all three versions. Watching the current one as well, though it is a bit odd to go from so many characters from the 03 version, to simply five for the 09 version. That and the personality swapping. tongue

Rainbow Pomeranian Lover from Central Illinois (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded)
Pomeranian Lover
#3: Mar 16th 2012 at 10:01:44 AM

Personality swapping? You mean Plum Pudding, comparing her newest incarnation to the first one, or someone else?

Speaking of Plum Pudding, I think it's Fridge Brilliance that they made her be the brainy one in the first stories, because one of the early models of atomic structure was called the "plum pudding" model. While in real life, that was meant to be literal, if they have atomic theory in Strawberry Land, perhaps it could be that Plum Pudding was the one who came up with their theories, so it could be named after her/him in that universe.

Bunai Space Bunny from Jupiter Since: Oct, 2010
Space Bunny
#4: Mar 16th 2012 at 2:50:10 PM

More of a change then.
Raspberry '03 athlete, compared to Raspberry '09 fashionista. Plum '03 brainy to Plum '09 athlete. Strawberry is now more laid back, when previously she was just as adventurous as Orange Blossom.

Psychopulse A berry clever person from Illinois Since: Aug, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
A berry clever person
#5: Mar 16th 2012 at 3:22:57 PM

I liked the 2003 version, mainly because of the art style. I also was going to collect some of the books to study the art style more.

Don't Press Your Luck too many times in life. You'll just get whammied.
Bunai Space Bunny from Jupiter Since: Oct, 2010
Space Bunny
#6: Mar 16th 2012 at 4:13:24 PM

I have four activity books of '03 SBSC smile it's a cute style. I hope I can find more of them, but largely thanks to fans, many of the color pages are online.

edited 16th Mar '12 4:14:11 PM by Bunai

Psychopulse A berry clever person from Illinois Since: Aug, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
A berry clever person
#7: Mar 16th 2012 at 4:49:31 PM

I'm actually looking for the following story books from the 2003 series:

  • Strawberry Shortcake Sleeps Over
  • Strawberry Shortcake's Field Trip
  • Strawberry Shortcake Berry Patch Tea Party
  • Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Treats Carnival
  • Strawberry Shortcake Goes Camping
  • Strawberry Shortcake's Tropical Treasure Hunt

If anything, I actually liked the fact that she was a cute tomboy. Which reminds me-was there ever a name for the style that had people tie shirts around the waist?

Don't Press Your Luck too many times in life. You'll just get whammied.
Bunai Space Bunny from Jupiter Since: Oct, 2010
Space Bunny
#8: Mar 16th 2012 at 5:07:47 PM

Depending on the location, some corner stores usually have books of previous series. lol my Rite Aid still has G3 books, birthday cards, and stickers. Which reminds me, I need to snag some of that stuff.

I don't focus too much on getting story books of series, mostly because the stories sort of veer off from the animated series. But at least the pictures are cute.

Chariot King of Anime Since: Jul, 2014
King of Anime
#9: Mar 16th 2012 at 5:40:30 PM

I'm trying to get into the most recent show. Only problem is finding episodes online.

Rainbow Pomeranian Lover from Central Illinois (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded)
Pomeranian Lover
#10: Mar 16th 2012 at 8:03:48 PM

@Psychopulse: I'm not sure what that style would be called. Maybe we could make something up, like "shirt belt" or "jacket belt" since usually people do that with a jacket because it's a way of carrying your jacket with you when it's too warm to wear it.

Has there ever been any interesting/good fanfics for this series? I looked on FF.net but there were only a few fanfics even listed, including one that was basically the author having a monster kill the title character because he/she hates the show.

edited 16th Mar '12 8:05:09 PM by Rainbow

Psychopulse A berry clever person from Illinois Since: Aug, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
A berry clever person
#11: Mar 17th 2012 at 8:30:41 PM

[up] I was a little curious...

Anyway, I've seen an episode or two of the current series. It didn't catch my interest, though...

Don't Press Your Luck too many times in life. You'll just get whammied.
Bunai Space Bunny from Jupiter Since: Oct, 2010
Space Bunny
#12: Mar 18th 2012 at 10:11:27 PM

Why would tying a jacket around your waist have its own style name?

Chariot King of Anime Since: Jul, 2014
King of Anime
#13: Mar 19th 2012 at 1:16:05 AM

Anyone mind telling me where I can find full episodes of the newer version?

Psychopulse A berry clever person from Illinois Since: Aug, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
A berry clever person
#14: Mar 19th 2012 at 11:04:42 AM

[up]Aside from the Hub's official website and iTunes, I don't know.

[up][up] I've seen it a lot, especially during the 90's.

Don't Press Your Luck too many times in life. You'll just get whammied.
Chariot King of Anime Since: Jul, 2014
King of Anime
#15: Mar 19th 2012 at 5:41:24 PM

Unfortunately the Hub only has clips and not full episodes.

MoeDantes cuter, cuddlier Edmond from the Land of Classics Since: Nov, 2010
cuter, cuddlier Edmond
#16: Mar 20th 2012 at 11:39:51 AM

I have a two-year-old niece who absolutely loves the new version on the Hub. Sometimes I watch it with her while waiting for Ponies to come on. Not great, but at least the music is nice and it's not quite as bland as the 1990s version. I especially get a kick out of how every one of the girls acts like they've got UST between them, except for Strawberry who carries this impression that she's so above it all. No wonder she's the alpha female of their little group.

I watched the 1980s version as a kid, but nowadays the only episode I can enjoy is the Berrykins one (the series finale, ironically). I do wish the Peculiar Purple Pedophile would return in some form or other though.

visit my blog!
FreezairForALimitedTime Responsible adult from Planet Claire Since: Jan, 2001
Responsible adult
#17: Mar 20th 2012 at 6:28:17 PM

Which was the version who had a villain themed around kohlrabi?

Because even as a kid, I remember thinking that that was the weirdest vegetable to base a bad guy around. I was like the only kid to know what kohlrabi was out of anyone I knew, and even then, it was strange to me.

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada
Rainbow Pomeranian Lover from Central Illinois (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded)
Pomeranian Lover
#18: Mar 21st 2012 at 4:31:19 AM

It was the first 1980's series, and it wasn't a villain themed around kohlrabi (or at least I don't remember there being one). What happened was in the story where Strawberry went to Big Apple City for the cooking contest, the Pieman's recipe was kohlrabi cookies.

FreezairForALimitedTime Responsible adult from Planet Claire Since: Jan, 2001
Responsible adult
#19: Mar 21st 2012 at 2:22:46 PM

Gotcha. Foggy memories and all that.

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada
Psychopulse A berry clever person from Illinois Since: Aug, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
A berry clever person
#20: Dec 13th 2012 at 9:04:59 AM

I started a Character Sheet. I've been trying to add tropes to it but my knowledge is only limited to the 2003 version.

edited 13th Dec '12 9:05:29 AM by Psychopulse

Don't Press Your Luck too many times in life. You'll just get whammied.
Topazan from San Diego Since: Jan, 2010
#21: Dec 14th 2012 at 9:00:12 PM

I never watched it growing up, probably because I was too late for the 80s version and too early for the others, but when I happened to see some of the 2003 version, it caught my interest. I have a weird soft spot for Sugar Bowl cartoons.

There's just a charming sweetness and innocence to this series that doesn't feel forced. The 2003 version was my favorite, haven't seen much of the 80s version but it seems ok, I'm less of a fan of the current one. Something about the characters' figures bothers me, too Hollywood or something. The characters act less like kids, the pacing can be slow, and the stories are rather mundane.

One thing I've always felt was odd about the show is they never really explain why There Are No Adults. They're not only a One-Gender Race with one token exception, but a one age race. I remember seeing one episode where they kept telling the viewer to ask an adult before trying to cook anything, then proceed to not do that.

Robbery Since: Jul, 2012
#22: Dec 16th 2012 at 11:26:30 AM

Strawberry Shortcake is an interesting figure in American animation history. Technically speaking, the first animated series to be based on a toy was a Hot Wheels series back in the '60's, which didn't last long because the FCC passed a rule banning cartoons based on toys (the whole "half-hour commercial" bit). By 1980 the had loosened that rule somewhat, and Strawberry Shortcake, created by American Greetings and appearing as a line of toys and other licensed products, became the first animated program based on a toy (or more specifically, in this case, licensing line) since the FCC decided to allow it. Most folks think He-Man gets this distinction, but Strawberry Shortcake beats him by a few years (as does Pac-Man, a series during which so many companies wanted to buy ad space that they had to make it's commercial breaks longer).

JMQwilleran Let's Hop to It! Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Singularity
Let's Hop to It!
#23: Dec 16th 2012 at 11:55:55 AM

I'm a big fan of the 2003 series and have been rewatching it recently on an On-Demand service called Kabillion that I get with my cable. I haven't really gotten into the new series, though I have been meaning to check it sometime in more detail, though I have the feeling my reaction will be the same as the poster above.

The animation is very nice to look at in the 2003 series and the songs are wonderful, a delight to listen to.

For those that are interested in a collector's item, I recommend the "Cooking Up Fun" DVD, which comes with a sticker sheet, cookbook and the packaging has some sort of smell to it - I think cinnamon. Only about $10 on Amazon, though apparently you have to watch who you buy from if you want to make sure you get the extras.

edited 16th Dec '12 11:58:12 AM by JMQwilleran

Bananaquit Since: Jan, 2001
#24: Dec 16th 2012 at 1:00:28 PM

When I was a kid, this was seen as the “ultimate girly” cartoon. My best friend at the time (we’ll call him “Nathan”) and I got calls from a couple of our prank-ier friends trying to get us to watch it, clearly in an attempt to mock us, later (i.e.: “Ha ha, you watched a girls’ show!).

“Nathan’s” experience was similar to mind, he said he turned to it, watched a bit of the Purple Pieman, rolled his eyes and changed the channel. That’s about what I saw of it, popped into the room while my sister was watching it and then left.

In retrospect, it’s rather cool that Flo & Eddie did the music to some of the early specials. Nowadays, I mainly associate SS with this ridiculous, So Bad, It's Good musical number (don’t hold Flo & Eddie responsible for this):

BagofMagicFood Since: Jan, 2001
#25: Dec 16th 2012 at 1:13:19 PM

I only saw one Strawberry Shortcake special, an early one I think was called "Pets on Parade" that my family got from the library; the tape also had a reading of some Strawberry Shortcake book at the end. I remember the Purple Pieman and Sour Grapes were doing some kind of cheat to make it look like their pets could sing, or something. The Pieman was funny because he was so pathetic, Strawberry could drive him off just by reciting "berry" puns. (Did you know that "berry" sounds like "very"? Then let me remind you!)

I don't know if I want to get into the series again, since I probably wouldn't be able to stop picturing Minnie Mouse upon hearing Russi Taylor's voice.


Total posts: 70
Top