Synopsis
That "cute little doll with the strawberry smell" got her own set of animated specials in the early 1980's. Airing a new program every spring from 1980 to 1985, Strawberry Shortcake and friends spread good sweets and good cheer to boys and girls (okay, mostly girls) around the world.
The character of Strawberry Shortcake came from the ever-reliable American Greetings division known as Those Characters From Cleveland, the same people responsible for such other cuties as the Care Bears and the Popples. What set the Strawberry Shortcake doll line apart from its furry cousins was the pleasant fruity scent wafting off of each doll's head—strawberry for Shortcake herself, blueberry for Blueberry Muffin, and so on. Each doll also had an animal sidekick—S.S. had kitty Custard, Lime Chiffon had Parfait Parrot, Huckleberry Pie had Pupcake, and on down the sweet fruity line.
The cartoon version carried over every aspect but the smell itself. Mr. Sun provided the narration, and the villain was always The Peculiar Purple Pieman of Porcupine Peak ("Ya-ta-ta-ta-ta-tata, ya-ta-ta-ta...TAH!"), who terrorized Strawberry Land with the help of his henchwoman, Sour Grapes.
The first springtime special, The World of Strawberry Shortcake, introduced the various berries—Straw, Huck, Blue and Rasp—along with mister nastiness himself, the Pieman.
In 1981, Strawberry Shortcake in Big Apple City pitted the title heroine against the Pieman in a big-city bake-off. Naturally, the Pieman wasn't above a few underhanded tactics, but no power on earth can stop the lovin' goodness of homemade strawberry shortcake.
Strawberry Shortcake: Pets on Parade, which premiered in April of the following year, had the gang involved with an annual pet show. First prize was a shiny new tricycle (guarded by Strawberry Shortcake herself), a tempting target for the greedy Pieman.
The Pieman and Sour Grapes sank to a new low in 1983's Strawberry Shortcake's Housewarming Surprise. Not only did the meanies crash Shortcake's housewarming party, but they set their sights on stealing the girl's most prized recipes.
In 1984's Strawberry Shortcake and the Baby Without a Name, Strawberry, Plum Puddin', and Peach Blush made a dangerous trek to rescue the imperiled Baby Without a Name from the clutches of the Pieman and Sour Grapes.
The final special aired in 1985, Strawberry Shortcake Meets the Berrykins. Coinciding with the introduction of the new "Berrykins" toys, the special had the Pieman and Sour Grapes (will they never learn?) kidnapping the berry-shaped tykes in order to make perfume. Naturally, the good-natured Strawberry Shortcake and friends came to the rescue.
With only five specials to her credit, Strawberry Shortcake remains one of the most beloved characters of 80's kid culture. Apparently, the recipe for friendship never changes.
Release History
1980 syndicated
Sub Categories
animated
Studio
MAD, Those Characters From Cleveland, Nelvana, Murikami-Wolf-Swenson, Perpetual Motion
thanks to Yesterdayland for the synopsis, for more of your childhood memories go to yesterdayland.com
