Brennan, my almost five year old son, for whatever reason has discovered and fallen in love with Strawberry Shortcake. Watching him enjoying movies and TV shows that I loved as a child has been so much fun, however, I have a big bone to pick with all of these updated characters.
Let's look at the Strawberry Shortcake that I knew and loved. I loved her so much that I bought my mom a Strawberry Shortcake video tape for her birthday when I was four years old. (Okay when I say, "I bought" I meant my dad bought.) Now, she's "updated" and, well, really pretty! What about the younger looking Strawberry who was more like me as I was a child? I don't have any qualms with bringing back classic TV characters but why do we have to update them?
We have everything from Littlest Pet Shop (one of my sister's favorites) to the ever changing and popular Barbie. These characters are brilliant but in order for them to sustain popularity with today's kids perhaps they need a new look? Or maybe the new look is geared towards us, the parents, the keepers of those dollars? Whatever the case, there's one character that hasn't seemed to make a comeback in a new updated version and I have to admit that I'm happy about that. Who is it? It's my favorite, Rainbow Brite. She hasn't seemed to attract the attention of modern day toy makers and I'm more than okay with that. Look at her? She's so sweet! I've seen some "updated" versions of her and I don't know, she's way too grown up for my taste. Oh and don't even get me started on the horror that is Pluto, the star, not the planet.
What bothers me about the updating is that they’re doing it in such a gender-role way. Strawberry was like a doll – now she’s pretty.. pretty hair, pretty clothes, pretty voice, very girly, etc. Same with the Ponies. PONIES. Equal with that is the fact that they’re just getting more and more obnoxious. Louder! Brighter! More aggressive! More flashes! More colour! More attitude! The focus is less on learning lessons and having fun – a la He-Man and more and more teaches that you get rewarded for bad behaviour.
(He-Man was a favourite of mine – it has been updated. Terribly.)
I miss the old teenage mutant ninja turtles! The movie was on TV late one night & I was like a little kid glued to the tv I even woke up our 4 year old whose obsessed so he could see the real ninja turtles
Can’t say I am a fan of the new updated characters. Especially the Ponies… They’re just creepy! If it ain’t broke….. :)
Carebears got an update… And needless to say I am not pleased!
My daughter goes through fazes watching different shows. She watches my little ponies, strawberry shortcake, etc and then she will switch to ninjago, marvel cartoons, etc. I think she gets bored with these shows because there is no educational value whatsoever. The show that stick with her are Daniel Tigers neighborhood, she has picked up on a lot of important things from that show.
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