Carter
Minneapolis, MN

I dread the upcoming 2009 restart based on what I’ve heard about the changes they were going to do. I’ve heard they were going back to staying true to the 80s version. I heard they were going to make the characters fairy sized. All this is speculation from wikipedia, but nothing about this restart excites me. Despite being a guy, I must admit to being a big fan of the 2003 version.

I originally didn’t want to be so keen on the show until I had no choice but to watch network cartoons after losing cable. I chose Kewlopolis because it seemed to have the most sane shows. I saw one episode and nodded my head. “That was berry sweet” to coin a cliche. Then came the episode that hooked me. The episode about the great friendship festival. Slowly I began to realize something. This is Arthur with girl clothes. The more I studied the characters, the more I saw in them the traits of real children, not hand drawn cliches and stereotypes from the marketing world. The 2003 version was the kind of show that much of the animation world seems to have forgotten, wholesome shows with great lessons for kids big and small but not at the expense of writing. Yeah the girls wore jeans most of the time. One character is a tomboy. One character likes to read books. So? The 2003 version showed us kids of all different kinds and the friendships between them. The show was about diversity and important life lessons. One particularly strong episode talks about greed.

This new version worries me. Somehow I don’t think we’ll get the same educational value. She doesn’t seem to have an identity anymore. Rather she seems like every other generic cartoon cutie I’ve seen since the 80s. In fact she reminds me of anime!

como

antes

la Rosita Fresita
esta bonita

asi como esta

pero

por que la quieren cambiar

otra vez

pero

eso si no cambien a pOCOYO

Y WOW WOW WUBBZY

NUNCA

http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o414/longhorncheer43208/Raggedy20An n-rr.jpg

i think that every bodys opioyon (i dont know how 2 spell that) matters and @ hudson i agree with u u r very aware of the now wich is a quality we all should have. i may not watch SBSC but i think we should listen 2 katrina (PS katrina u rock)

imean i have seen wayyyyyyyy worse like a 12 year old girl @ my dance studio trying 2 go 2 subway wearing a bra over her shirt
*barf*

but i really dont like that thay replaced custard with a cellphone

i mean poeple could be saving the earth with that money

and in regards to “ted” i am homescooled and i dont dress like that so u can take that back.

anyway i like both old and new they r not that bad…..but really i am a cat (and animal) lover and i am agianst that cellphone thing for sureeeee

this is my opinyon

~cat, age 11

15 yr old shrink :3 lol

-the annoyed 14 year old
shesh grow up adults……..

There is the old Strawberry Shortcake from the 80′s (as depicted above)

A newer version that is ADORABLE!!! See here: http://www.agkidzone.com/strawberryshortcake.action

But even the newer version looks NOTHING like the above “makeover” which looks like a 10 year old “Little Mermaid” in a pink outfit!

To those that say that the new one is great and have even seen all the new shows, do you mean the new one in the link above, or the makeover one to the right? They are VERY different!!! Please compare and make sure that you are discussing the correct image…

And can anyone tell me if the current one in the link IS the most current and all this banter is over nothing? Is the above image to the right really scheduled to be released?

Before I discovered that there could be more than one “new” version, I wrote the following in regards to the image that is on the right at the top of this page and NO disrespect to the image in the above link as she is an adorable “makeover” (although some of the other characters are a bit… overdone).
http://www.agkidzone.com/meet_strawberry.action

* * * * * * * * *

O.K…. I hope that what I bring to this conversation will clear up a few things on both sides of the fence… To those that are calling her a “slut” and also to those who say that there is “nothing” wrong…

It is NOT that she looks like a “slut”… it’s the need to make her “pretty” in a mini teenager sort of way. Cute isn’t good enough anymore…. cute is babyish even for 5 year olds these days… and that is what’s sad.

To those that are upset about the revamp and are nostalgic about the original, deep down inside what is really bothering you is that her image is being dumbed down to that of being just a pretty picture of strawberry loveliness as opposed to being fun and adventuresome… but then again, that’s just the VISUAL image. One poster indicated that the new character is still sweet, just less whiny… that’s a good thing right? I vote yes!

And although the original is a bit hokey and needed an update, your frustration is understandable as being “pretty” with hints of sexy (it’s the hair people!) is what is driving sales. She is suppose to be a kid and her hair is gorgeous! I mean… come on!

Many on here have said, “What’s wrong with letting her look like a girl for god sakes!” Well, it’s not about not wanting little girls to ever be “girl-ie” what it’s about is our “modern” society (via marketing, via society?) not wanting little girls to a kids. Is is o.k. for girls to run and play and get their hair messy? Not the new and “improved” Strawberry Shortcake!… Or so it seems….

Although, just VISUALLY speaking, compare the two: Which one is cute, and which one is… pretty? Which one looks ready for adventure and which one is…. waiting for a boy? It’s subtle….but definitely there (look how she sits!) and the kids DO know the difference and that is why the old doll doesn’t appeal to “today’s” girls… as they are learning more and more every day that looking pretty is better… above EVERYTHING ELSE.

Trading the sweets for fruit? O.K….

But a cell phone? Really? If this is indeed true (as “Kab” said that it is not) she might as well be “boy-crazy” and a “shop-a-holic” as well! And this is the same reason that people are miffed over the whole Dora thing too…..And have you seen what they have done to Holly Hobbie? She is unrecognizable! Go here: http://www.agkidzone.com/hollyhobbie.action

And to those that say that all they are doing is keeping up with the times… that should be of a concern to you too… have you even stopped to think about what kind of times we are in? Someone on here said,

“…..are you guys FaReal? What are we a Muslim country now? Can dolls not wear short sleeved shirts? I see your problem with short skirts, thats understandable, but this ‘new’ shortcake looks pretty modernized”

But no one is saying that all women should be “modest” … but we aren’t talking about women are we… we are talking about little girls… innocent children. Since when has being “modernized” equate to a standard of beauty? It has become increasingly trendy to push little girls to grow up fast… innocence does not sell anymore…Why is that? Are we afraid that we will have to actually look after them? Are we trying to make them grow up fast so that we won’t have to worry? But be careful… Most grown-up women know all to well that beauty is a false sense of power… So why are we grooming our little girls into the same trap?

Being “Pretty, sassy, and COOL” is being pushed harder and harder on our girls at younger and younger ages… and many moms give in because they are too afraid to say no out of fear that their daughters won’t “like” them…. or they encourage it because it’s important to start the brainwashing as early as possible so that they will grow up into desirable M.I.L.F.’s…

There is nothing wrong with admiring beauty and having a Barbie or two…but there should be a variety of images for young girls (especially the younger ones) and I’m not saying that girl dolls have to look ugly… but there must be creative ways to promote a positive image without having to rely on beauty. Personally, I think that the revamp that they did 10 years ago was great.

Although “Kab” has a good point: “The show (on CBS) and the movies have good messages (i.e. don’t assume a person is a certain way by the way she looks) and Strawberry Shortcake is not the whiny piece of fluff she was originally. Yes, I have seen some of the original Strawberry Shortcake shows and couldn’t STAND the whining voice and she cried over every little thing. The updated Strawberry is an exceptional role model for young girls.”

I have to admit, I have not seen the shows and therefore in that regard, I am guilty. So I’m VERY glad to know that the shows have improved and that the character is strong…. I just wish that the image matched.

Please be aware of what kind of VISUAL messages are being pushed on our youth, particularly our girls.

If you found any or what I am trying to convey as slightly enlightening PLEASE go here:

http://www.packaginggirlhood.com

Thank you.

P.S. The posters that suggested that she get boobs were most likely being sarcastic as in to say, “They already turned he into a tart (their opinion, not mine) so why not go all the way…..” and that’s called….sarcasm.

BTW….I’m 37….. Oooooo……….

P.S. It doesn´t mean I don´t think the old strawberry shortcake was for little kids. I didn´t stop watching it till I was 11!!!My bedcover sheets and my curtais were all strawberry shortcake themed!!! I took them off before my 12th birthday though…Maybe they´ll do what there doing with dora…jaja itll be named Strawberry Shortcake grows up jaja lol!!!

And, what on earth have people done to Dora anyway? My sister ADORES Dora (pun intended) and I would hate to let her watch the new Dora. And Barbie with tattoos? Well, that just speaks for itself.

Look, we dont need to have this generation’s cartoon role models showing off a waiste smaller than the neck of a beer bottle and cell phones. Because all we will have when they grow up is a bunch of insecure teenagers who think they arent good enough for anything an starve themselves so they can be tiny too. Good lord, where has this country gone?

-A concerned eight grader

….and did i mention that im only 14?!!?

Sonic

From this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/Sonic_1991.png

To this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d0/Sonic.png

Crash

From this:

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/crashban/images/7/7b/Chcrashtwin.jpg

To this:

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/crashban/images/0/04/Crash_Render.jp g

Nobody complained about that (except the fans maybe, but who cares about them) Sonic aged and changed and is still loved by non-ignorant gamers. Not so sure if Crash aged, but he changed AND GOT TATOOS and is still the silly, wacky, loveable bandicoot we all know. Dora, Strawberry Shortcake, and Barbie will be too. And really parents, when you look at it this way you should realize it’s not that big of a deal. Your kids aren’t going to grow up and get tatoos or give tatoos just because they saw it on a toy. It’s up to you to guide your kids in the right direction. And yes I’m pretty sure it’s gonna take some time to get used to these new looks, but it also took time to get use to the new Pokemon TV Show voice actors. After I heard there was gonna be new actors on the show I felt just like you feel now and traded in all my Pokemon games because I gave up on it, but then I gave the show a chance on day and realized they improved from the last time I saw them. All I’m saying is stop complaining about these new things and get used to them because Nickolodeon, Mattel, and whoever makes Strawberry Shortcake aren’t going to change their minds. The fans of The Pokemon TV Show tried to change the show’s creators minds about the voice actors, but did that work? No. And we may have just been kids at that time, but fans have just as much rights as you adults. I hope my little talk has persuaded you to change your minds about this. Au revoir!

IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE TOY, DON’T BUY IT!!!!

If your kids get a fit just do what my mom did to me, grab me by my shirt and give me threat to “beat my behind so hard I won’t be able to sit down for 2 weeks”. And really, what’s wrong with Dora’s new look? Everyone’s got to grow up and look different at sometime in their life. Take the famous video game icons Sonic the Hedeghog and Crash Bandicoot. Sonic grew up and got a different design

you really wouldnt understand.
this is their childhood.
this is what they grew up with.

you honstily cant exspect them to compleatly change a beloved childhood hero because companies think
“shes not pretty”

strawberry shortcake WAS beautifull the way she was.
and theres absolutly no reason why they should chage her.
if its a good show,
kids shouldnt worry about how the main charater looks.

As for changing up Mickey… ummm… this wouldn’t be the first time. Anybody out there remember black and white Mickey who just had dots for eyes? That what he looked like when I was little and I sure didn’t want to watch him. Whenever that black and white cartoon came on I changed the channel to something colorful that pandered to my 6 year old brain.

I don’t think chane is bad at all. In fact, I think its kind of cool to see my childhood classics re-created in modern times. I hope they do Rainbow Bright next. Or Lady Lovely Locks

Not Only That,
But It Sends A Massege To The Yonger Kids Saying That Inorder To Be Cool,
They’ve Got To Look Like That.
And Inorder To Get Along In Life..
They’ve Got To Be Pretty

This Will Probbly Lead To Poor Self Esteem,

But In Reality,
Beautie Can Come From Anything, Anywhere, And Anyone,

I wasnt Old Enugh To Enjoy The Awsomeness Of Strawberry Shortcake,
but I Have Got To Exsperence The Reruns,
And From What I Saw,
She Was Awsome The Way She Was.

Dont Fix What Isnt Broken.