Directed by Mary McStuffins | ||
Created by Those Characters From ClevelandAmerican Greetings Theme music composer Andy Street, Judy Rothman Rofe Opening theme "Straw Buh-buh-buh-buh-berry Shortcake" Performed by Jessica Harmeyer | ||
Strawberry Shortcake is an American animated series produced by DIC Entertainment. As of July 2009, there are 44 episodes (including 4 two-part episodes), plus one short and one movie. None of the original voice actors returned to reprise their roles; instead, fresh talents were recruited to fill in the roles. Also, while the sun can be seen with a face various times through the series, it does not narrate the story or interact with the characters like the original Mr. Sun.
Contents
Release information
20th Century Fox began releasing the series direct-to-video beginning in March 2003. The first few episodes were released on both DVD and VHS, and bundled with certain toys; later episodes are DVD-only. They are also available on VideoCD through various fourth party licensees in South-East Asia and in certain other markets. The series can also be seen on select TV outlets worldwide (most notably Disney Channel Asia and Tiny Pop UK), as well as on the KEWLopolis time slot on CBS in the US since September 2007 (prior to that, they were aired on select syndicated TV channels, most notably on The CW affiliates in certain areas in the US).
The first four videos contain only one story but run for twice the length of subsequent episodes. In the North American TV markets these four episodes are broadcast as edited 30 minute versions. In international markets, however, these are broadcast as two-parters, doubling the episode count to eight. Subsequent videos in the series have two 22-minute episodes per disc.
In certain markets, the episodes are presented individually on the TV broadcasts but appear on the DVDs as "compilations" in which Strawberry recounts the featured adventures using her "remembering book". This is especially true for the fifth DVD onwards that is released in the North American, European and Australian market. The same market also presents the first four DVDs as expanded versions of the TV broadcasts (e.g., in the US and Canada, where the TV airings of the first four episodes of Strawberry Shortcake are known to be edited for time instead of being split into a two-parter). Other markets present the DVD releases as an uninterrupted version in the case where the TV episode is aired unedited as a two-parter (as aired in certain markets worldwide - particularly the Asian market. Disney Channel Asia airs the first four episodes as two parters.), while the subsequent episodes are presented as separate stories as seen on TV sans ads. As of July 2009, 20 volumes (plus one volume for the movie) have been released.
Shorts and PSAs
A five-minute Strawberry Shortcake short, "Growing Better All the Time", is available exclusively in the Care Bears: Daydreams DVD (released October 14, 2003) as a bonus feature. Numerous scenes from the short were used in the 2000s (decade) series' second opening sequence, and the song from the short was released on the "Strawberry Jams" CD.
Apart from that, a Public Service Announcement for the ASPCA was produced and aired in the US. The PSA features Strawberry Shortcake talking about the basics of pet ownership.
Cast
Episodes
This is a list of all the episodes released to date, including placeholders for episodes known to exist but whose title is as of the moment unknown (i.e. the title is not shown on the start of the program). Also, it should be noted that some episodes are released under different names in different regions. This will be listed down as alternative titles if available. The episodes are classified as E/I - educational content - in the US.
Throughout the series, the theme song has been changed a total of 3 times, the voice of Custard the Cat was changed from Sarah Koslosky to Anna Jordan and the voice of Huckleberry Pie was changed to Daniel Canfield from James Street due to the latter's death in a skateboard accident. In most cases, the word "very" in the show is pronounced as "berry", but this rule is not always followed.
Beginning of Year 4 episode Big Country Fun, the artwork style of the characters was changed. The design style of the artwork leaves an impression that the characters have aged into teenagers. This illusion of the aging of the characters was further backed by the fact that Strawberry Shortcake was seen applying for a job and later driving a car in Big Country Fun. Honey Pie and the other fillies were relegated to the role of background characters, with the character of Honey Pie Pony not having spoken since the Meet Apricot/Let's Dance episode. She was implied to have moved to Ice Cream Island permanently in the book The Friendship Trip, which featured the Year 4 characters, logically explaining why she appeared less in the series for the season.
Video releases
Below are a list of videos released to date. In the US, up until World of Friends, the videos were released on both VHS and DVD. However, subsequent video releases after World of Friends were DVD only.
These videos are released on DVD by Twentieth Century Fox in the US and Europe as well as Magna Pacific in Australia and New Zealand, and on VideoCD by Innoform Media in South East Asia and the Far East.
Game Boy Advance Video
Majesco has also released Strawberry Shortcake episodes as a Game Boy Advance Video cartridge:
Strawberry Shortcake Volume 1Relaunch
Strawberry Shortcake was relaunched in 2009 under the title Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures.