Whatever happened to Strawberry Shortcake?
Strawberry Shortcake is unrecognisable to me. It seems that she’s had more revamps than Madonna.
I caught a look at the updated doll of my childhood in the shop the other day and she looks, well, too grown up. Too sassy. Too knowing.
My husband (who, if allowed, would have our daughters sent to a nunnery in rural France as soon as they hit their teens) said, “Strawberry is looking too much like a Bratz for my liking”.
This is what Strawberry Shortcake should look like (pictured is my vintage 1981 doll and puzzle) – cute, innocent and child-like.
My Strawberry Shortcake "blow kisses" doll and puzzle from 1981.
This is the 2009 update of Strawberry:
New look Strawberry Shortcake 2009
Just look at the subtle reincarnations over the past decade. She has become a little bit older looking with each revamp.
The "Noughties" reincarnations of Strawberry Shortcake. A little bit older-looking each makeover!
There was even this 2006 look where Strawberry’s jaw could rival Rumer Willis’s (daughter of Bruce and Demi) and she has a strawberry tattoo on her back (wildly inappropriate I think! Maybe the Peculiar Purple Pieman branded her?).
This 2006 look didn't work.
Strawberry Shortcake's Tattoo. Who gave adult consent to get this? The Peculiar Purple Pieman?
Why do companies have to mess with the toys that we loved as kids? They seem to be too “s-xed up” under the guise of being concerned with being more contemporary or health-focused. According to an article in the New York Times (June 11, 2008) “Beloved Characters as Reimagined for 21st Century”:
“…American Greetings worked for a year on what it calls a “fruit-forward” makeover. Strawberry Shortcake, part of a line of scented dolls, now prefers fresh fruit to gumdrops…and spends her time chatting on a cellphone instead of brushing her calico cat, Custard…”
So, she’s no longer the chubby little cutie we 1980s kids grew up to love. Strawberry Shortcake is now thinner and hipper thanks to her ditching the cakes and desserts and eating more fruit. (Word is she’s dumped her friends who aren’t associated with fruit. Bye, bye Angel Cake, Ginger Snap, Peppermint Fizz and Coco Calypso!)
Where’s the fun and innocence in that?
December 1, 2009
Tags: 1980s, marketing, toys Posted in: Uncategorized
32 Responses
Wow, Strawberry Shortcake has changed a lot. I’m not even familiar with these new looks.
A nunnery yes! But not in France – that would probably be like a double negative making a positive! I would love for my sons to got to be stuffed away in a West Point Academy School until they were 24!
Luckily, I have boys – and GI Joes are manyly dudes! However, if one came with a tatoo, I’d throw it away! I’d call the company and complain if I were you!!!
I loved the chubby cutie! Have you seen the grown up Dora—they need to leave well enough alone!
Stopping by from SITS–congrats on being #1=)
SERIOUSLY! It really is sad to me. Look at the size of her head compared to her totally skinny body. No wonder young girls have so many body image problems! They’re being indoctrinate earlier and earlier!
Visiting from SITS. Congrats on being #1
Wow, Strawberry Shortcake sure has changed… love that line about the Peculiar Purple Pie man.. haha! I am NOT in love with her new tatoo…
If its not broken, don’t fix it… what were they thinking?!?!
Have a great day!!
PS: sorry about your foot… hope you get better soon!!
O wow! She *is* looking like a Bratz doll! :-/
It is a sad day when they mess with Strawberry Shortcake! I think innocence is such a beautiful thing. Very disheartening! LOVE the idea of the nunnery! : )
I so agree with you! At least Barbie still looks like Barbie. Sorry about your foot. Rest a lot! O yes, over from SITS and greetings from South Africa.
This is ridiculous! My daughter was never into Strawberry Shortcake, so I hadn’t noticed the changes or paid attention.
The irony of this is that kids in the 1980s were much thinner and healthier than kids now. I never ate cake because of a doll, anyway.
The Great Strawberry Shortcake Caper « An Unexplored Wilderness - December 2, 2009
[...] found this blog this morning that tells the whole story in words and pictures. It’s appalling, but worth [...]
A tattoo on a doll! What?! This is too much. Anyhoo I hope your leg heals soon. Came over from SITS. Congrats on being first on roll call.
That’s too crazy – I hadn’t seen the “new and improved” Strawberry Shortcake until now! That chin was hilarious, no doll deserves that kind of chin! That tattoo business is ridiculous, too, I can’t believe they did that. Then again, I can’t believe that someone thought that Bratz were a good, wholesome role model for girls, either, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Stopping by from SITS, saw you roll call first and read about your leg, so I wanted to wish you a speedy recovery!!
I’ve never heard of that – but all dolls seem to be getting older and skinnier.
Mostly I came across to say sorry about your foot!
Hello from SITS.
I set a goal to check out 62 blogs today and you are NUMBER 1.
And I too am very saddened to see that messed up wacked up rendition of sweet Strawberry Shortcake.
How very sad.
Although, the tat is kinda fun though! Just slightly.
Have a wonderfully fun Wednesday!
You’re so right – what a difference! So sorry you broke your foot, have a nice feet up day blog hopping!
That is NOT Strawberry Shortcake! Why did they do that to her?
…stopping by from SITS…
Steph @ Stick It in the Fridge
pleasestickitinthefridge.blogspot.com
You are so right! Thanks for stopping by to say hi!
~Lanie
Good grief! My kids are older so I had not noticed the transformation in this doll. And the tattoo? Yuck!
Stopping by from SITS!
I used to have a strawberry shortcake light switch, it was awesome!
A tatoo???? I missed that one.
I LOVED Strawberry Shortcake when she first came out. I remember having Strawberry Shortcake shoes when I was 4.
I have to say that things like this make me glad that I only have a pack of boys and no girls!
Yeah… I miss my childhood Strawberry Shortcake. This new one annoys me.
Wow..I was telling my daughter about her last night. So sad that they are changing these wonderful icon dolls to become so messed up! Hope your feeling better!
Dropping by from SITS!
I totally agree. I remember when my niece who is 22 now was 8 years old and was totally obsessed with Strawberry Shortcake.
That was 14 years ago in mid 90′ and the SS was still sweet and innocent looking…those were the days.
Sorry to hear about your foot….
Seriously??? A tattoo? Oh no. Little girls are growing to grow up to be foolish teenagers like I was and get a tattoo and in a very inconveinent place that they totally regret. Ever see what happens to a lower ab tattoo when you get preggers? Not pretty. Ah ha ha
Have you seen Dora? She looks like a Bratz doll!
I loved Strawberry Shortcake. If they touch Rainbow Brite we’re going to have some problems. I do have to admit, I had a Strawberry Shortcake doll when I was a kid and I shaved the back of her head to give her a little edge! I knew she had it in her.
Popping in from SITS!
xx
Cristina
Hello! Stopping by from SITS. So sorry to hear about your foot. Have a relaxing day!!
Popped in from SITS to say hi! I was a Strawberry Shortcake fan…and now she’s ruined, just like My Little Ponies. Is nothing sacred?!?!?
I am visiting from SITS. Why oh why do they have to mess with these toys? I loved Strawberry Shortcake as a child. I agree that they tend to s*x ‘em up a bit when they make them over. I much prefer the original. Have you seen what they did to Holly Hobby? It blew my mind!
I cant believe the one with the tatoo. So gross. You are so right about all this. I remember when the BRATZ dolls came out I was so shocked that anyone would even buy them for thier daughters.
visiting from SITS
Oh my goodness! I didn’t realize how much she had changed. She looks a little seductive… The dolls now are so disappointing in comparison to what they used to be.
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
I knew Strawberry Shortcake was changing…but I had no idea she was looking stripper age these days…AND WHEN DID SHE GET A TATTOO! It makes you wonder if there was anyone in the marketing and design meeting who raised their hand and at least said “ummmmmmmm……shouldn’t we think about this again?”
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