Strawberry Shortcake Scent of ‘80s Success

Though Strawberry Shortcake was very popular in the 1980s she was actually created in the 1970s. The character owned by American Greetings was originally used in greeting cards. The original design was created in 1977 by Muriel Fahrion while she was working as an illustrator for American Greetings. She designed 32 characters for Those Characters From Cleveland, American Greetings’ toy group. After Strawberry Shortcake started gaining popularity Cindy Mayer Patton and Janet Jones designed characters that were added to the classic line.

Strawberry and her friends drew immense popularity for girls in the 1980s. Each one was individualized by having their own fruit and dessert themed name and matching clothes as well as similar themed pets. Her friends Raspberry Tart, Huckleberry Pie, Apple Dumplin, Plum Puddin’ were all introduced in 1980 along with her enemy the Peculiar Purple Pie Man.

From 1980 to 1984 the characters were introduced into a toy line. Since each character had a signature fruit and dessert designation the dolls were made with hair that matched the fragrances of their specific theme. Not all of the characters had their own dolls. T.N. Honey, Raisin Cane, and Baby Needs-a-Name were not produced as toys.

In addition to the immensely popular doll line, American Greetings licensed the characters for clothing, stickers, sleeping bags, a Parker Bros. video game called Strawberry Shortcake Musical Match-Ups for the Atari in 1983, Berry Bake Shoppe, Big Berry Trolley, Flitter-Bit the Butterfly, Berry Merry Worm, Garden House, Berry Shaped Carry Case, Carrousel, Maple Stirrup and the Oatsmobile, and Berry Happy Home.

The characters were also featured in TV specials that ran from 1980 to 1985. The 1980 and 1982 specials were animated by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson and Toei Doga, 1981 was done by Perpetual Motion Pictures of New York, and 1983-1985 were animated by Nelvana.

Strawberry Shortcake and her friends reappeared in the early 2000s with an updated look and updated toyline. The characters of Strawberryland were issued a new TV series, new pets, a film, soundtracks, and plenty more toys.