Rainbow Brite

Rainbow Bright may be widely ridiculed and joked about these days, but it was, and remains one of the best children's show of the 80's.

I may be one of 4 guys who will openly admit to liking this show, and I take no shame in that. Rainbow Bright had something magical about it that captured my imagination as a kid. The plot, music, and production may seem very laughable by today's standards, but for those of us that remember this time period, it brings back very special memories. The things I always loved about the show (and still do) was it's sense of adventure and fun, and Murky & Lurky's oddball attempts to try and outsmart Rainbow and the Kids. All of the episodes had something fun and creative to them, and to a young kid it was gateway to a world of adventure. Call me crazy, but I just love everything about this show, the music, the animation, the girlish plots, you name it!

This beloved 80's children's' show is the epitome of formulaic, and like Rainbow Brite's horse Starlight is a one-trick pony with practically no character development. This was my favorite Children's show as a toddler, and it remains one of my all time favorite Children's' shows now that i am 28. It is the a shining jewel of innocence, good doing and magic. What it lacks in innovation it makes up for with a universal and eternal set-up: the battle to keep our lives bright and full of color and ward off "the pits." When we boil down the complexities of our lives, in essence are our lives any less formulaic? What it lacks in depth of character and development of character, it makes up for in pristine idealism and purity of heart; our lives are full of complexities, but in these times were unshakable rocks like religion are not favored as they once were, rainbow brite fills in as a non-denominational example of love and joy; to develop her character beyond that would eat away at the idealism and integrity of what Rainbow Brite is. At the beginning of the season, the show seemed to start of with real-world examples of how to keep your life bright (for instance the episode where she meets Brian, her human friend), but quickly fell into a generic battle to save Rainbow Land from various color-stealing forces. If the show had found a way to continue providing real world examples of keeping our lives bright, or provided a more firm metaphorical basis for the threats against Rainbow Land, perhaps this beloved show would have had a deeper genius than simply being beautiful and of pristine spirit. There is obscure depth in Rainbow Brite, but regrettably, like the color crystals mined by the color sprites, it must be unearthed by the viewer. Stay bright, Rainbow Brite!

I had one friend who liked this and a little sister that loved it...so I won't give it 1 Star on the belief that they saw something in it that I didn't at that age.

However, I will use the same argument now, to trash it, that I did when I was a little kid in the 80s.

"She's a color protector! She protects color! That is the stupidest thing on earth! Mom and Dad used to be in black and white and they're fine!"

OK, maybe I wasn't the absolute brightest kid in the world but...I still think i had a valid point.

I loved Rainbow Brite all through childhood, I loved the colours, the characters and the music. I wish it hadn't died away, and that it was easier to find now-a-days.

My best friend recently picked up this movie at a garage sale. I was so sprung, i hadn't seen any Rainbow Brite since i was little. This was one of the movies that I would watch repeatedly until my mom had to return it to the video store. Watching it now reminds me of how great a cartoon Rainbow Brite really was. This show taught me my colors, orange and yellow were hard to remember when i was a youngin'. They always had a little lesson in there too...about friendship, responsibility...whatever. I wanted to BE Rainbow for halloween until i was like 13.

Finally Rainbow Brite is back on TV, and it's about time. Now little kids all over can know the magic of color crystals, starlight, and the sprites.

if only they'd bring back fraggle rock, my little pony, and care bears.