The World of Strawberry Shortcake

First of all, I did not grow up watching or even being familiar with Strawberry Shortcake, so this review is 100% objective. I watched this TV special for the very first time last night, at the age of 34, and was absolutely blown away by how marvellously it still holds up. There is nothing the least bit forced or strained about the innocence and cuteness and wholesomeness of the title character and her friends - it is all very genuinely and purely presented, which cannot be said for the crassly commercial Rainbow Brite franchise from the 80s (which was an attempt to ride on the coat-tails of Strawberry Shortcake). I was also very surprised at how exceedingly eerie and creepy the Peculiar Pie Man was - a far cry from many of the generic cartoon villains of that era, and also a villain who fits most organically into THE WORLD OF STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE while still instilling a legitimate sense of menace and dread in the hearts of children. I love how it's the supernatural forces of goodness that take on physically "monstrous" forms here to help the heroine and her ensemble, while the villain's monstrousness is essentially internal - children are reminded that looks can be deceiving, which is a lesson that resonates all the more in our current age of fake social media. The MISE-EN-SCENE is absolutely exquisite here, with an ambience that evokes the traditional nursery rhyme landscape that children are (or at least used to be) familiar with, while ingeniously incorporating American Greetings' own innovations. There is a very authentic, home-grown sensibility to this franchise, in its original form, which again stands in stark contrast with the blatantly manufactured nature of Rainbrow Brite.

I am shocked at how there are no other positive reviews here - I would have expected a more loyal fanbase for Strawberry Shortcake, but I suppose the world has unfortunately grown so horribly cynical that the majority of people cannot appreciate the innocence and charm and 'old world' values which are encapsulated and represented here. My heart genuinely went out for Strawberry Shortcake and her friends when the Peculiar Pie Man tricked them and victimized them, and the resolution of the terrible conflict was emotionally satisfying. Yes, this may be a whimsical world at the end of the day, but the characters themselves ring true - with palpable hearts and souls. It does not feel like merchandise being shoved down children's throat.

The World of Strawberry Shortcake is a light, fun, bouncy, simple-but-not-too-simple introduction to the her world. In this one, it's Strawberry Shortcake's birthday, but the party is almost ruined by the Purple Pieman, who gives Strawberry Shortcake a "magic" watering can, which quickly reveals it's water pouring to be uncontrollable, flooding Strawberryland, all for the sole purpose of the pieman getting the entire berry supply of Strawberryland.

I think the first three Strawberry Shortcake specials by Murakami Wold and Swenson & Toei are the best ones, and that the Nelvana ones are the weaker ones; this one has catchy songs in it, the writing by Rankin/Bass veteran Romeo Muller is well done, the voice acting from everyone involved is great, and the animation, while not on a big budget, is still charming and pleasing to the eyes. The special also runs at an even pace too, which I can't say about the Nelvana specials, which seem quite a bit slower.