C. M. Rubin: The Global Search for Education: Women - Part 3
The Adulterous Behavior 30% Of People Won't Admit To
Rainbow Brite has recently gotten a sexy new makeover courtesy of Hallmark (who originally introduced the little-girl superhero back in 1984). Now, the former dolls, which used to look kind of like Trolls but squatter, are far more recognizably Barbie-ish: Their waists are tiny, their heads are relatively smaller, and puffed sleeves have been replaced by flared shoulders. At least they got to keep their kicky knee-high rainbow boots -- which are still flats, thank goodness!
In all fairness, Rainbow Brite's image isn't exactly pure and virtuous. (Just look at how many sexy Rainbow Brite Halloween costumes there are.) However, in the new version, the protectorate of the world's colors is no more distinguishable from your typical Bratz doll. And the male Color Kids have apparently been deemed too fabulous for inclusion; Rainbow is now only accompanied by her friends Moonglow and Tickled Pink. Where art thou, Buddy Blue and Red Butler?
But worst of all, after 20-odd years, everyone's still Caucasian as a Kenny G concert. Which wasn't a huge deal in the 1980s, but in the '00s, a pretty big aberration. Guess brown and black aren't colors Rainbow's too worried about.
Keep reading to watch an 11-second jolt of Rainbow Brite nostalgia.
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Friday 16 October
By BHEsMommy
I agree. I would buy my daughters a vintage Rainbow Bright but not this new one.
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Friday 16 October
By Kiku
I was'nt old enough to remember Rainbow Brite in their glory...(born in '91) but I had a rainbow brite doll and book, and I always thought it was sweet and cute. I still have them. I would'nt be so eager to purchase the new dolls or anything...I agree though, I like the older drawings better.
I like anime...but I think that we should be careful not to cross it with classic American Cartoons..but think this...some of the first anime (especially in the 70s and 80s) were produced for American shows, its just changed over the decades.
This was an interesting article to read
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Friday 16 October
By Grumpy Bear
I'm as horrified as the next person, but I wish you could be a little more careful with the details! Patty O'Green is not one of the male characters, and Indigo had brown skin way back in the 80s. The points you made are valid, but your supporting data is flawed.
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Friday 16 October
By Allyson
Why does race always have to come into a conversation, an editorially written piece of news, and every toy that comes out? Rainbow Brite's white. So what! This thinking is what keeps America divided!
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Friday 16 October
By Salad
"Disappointing" new makeover? I'll tell you why they got a makeover. Five years ago they rereleased Rainbow Brite PRECISELY the way she was in the 80s -- and she ended up in the clearance bin. Little girls don't want to be "cute" anymore, and it has nothing to do with being sexual. "Cute" is now considered for babies; only a preschool show can get away with being cutsey. Kids would rather have something that's representative of their older brother and sister, those "cool, hip" teenagers that they admire so much. And that's not a sign of the times - that's the way it's always been. Every kid wants to grow up.
And how is it disappointing? The author seems pretty mad that she's in a tank top instead of a long-sleeved tee. Sure, it's not quite the Rainbow we remember. But it's far from being "Scantily-clad Brite and the Sex Toys". In fact, she's remniscent of Lady Lovelylocks and the Pixietails. Is that such a bad thing?
The reason they didn't rerelease the boys (yet! Strawberry Shortcake also took a long time to rerelease a great deal of her friends!) is also overwhelmingly obvious. Boy Dolls + Rainbow Clothing = "I DON'T WANT MY CHILD PLAYING WITH A GAY RIGHTS DOLL! LET'S SUE!"
Although I do prefer the original, the redesign still does her justice, and with time, who knows? Maybe they'll rerelease the rest of her friends as well. And perhaps they'll do it tastefully this time. (I see the Rainbow Sprites are left intact. Whatever happened to the bushwoolies, Hasbro?)
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Friday 16 October
By tammy patterson
I just wanted to point out that not all of the Rainbow Brite color kids of the 80's were caucasian as this author is claiming. Apparently she never watched Rainbow Brite. I loved Rainbow Brite and is was a lot better than some of the cartoons they have on today like Totally Drama Island. At least Rainbow Brite taught kids how share and be considerate of other people and it definitely did NOT have any sexual inuendos like so many of the childrens shows today.
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Saturday 17 October
By Otaku-sempai
If you look at the accompanying illustrations, you can clearly see that at least one of the 1980s "color kids" wasn't white. The article's author either never saw the illo or wasn't paying attention.
Friday 16 October
By Rick
Seriously...... if things didn't evolve we'd all still be wearing what we had when we found this country. What about Barbie.... she's had a hundred different looks. I grew up with the ninja turtles..... they have even updated that look, and they aren't even wearing clothes. Or He-man, he was only wearing underware and tights. The point is, people just want to complain. No one wants to monitor their children themselves they want the toy industry to do it for them, or television to play the right programing for their kids, hell they even want fast food to be healty HA. I think this is a very tastefull re-fresh of the doll but If you don't want your children playing with these toys.... DON'T BUY THEM.
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Friday 16 October
By Rayna
First of all, Rainbow Bright was the best! Second of all, I am so tired of this racial S***...They are white, so what!!! Are you for real...let me ask all of you...why is it ok to have a BET, Black History Month, and every other form of BLACK...but if we were to come out with a white history month or a tv channel made specifically for white people, we would be racist, prejudice and everything else...I have a lot of black friends and am completely not racist...what ever happened to being equal and not seeing color...
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Saturday 17 October
By Lovely Leo
I agree leave us our memories! Stop trying to reinvent everything.
Saturday 17 October
By Amanda
I completely agree. I have thought this for years. And to add to your comment: Starz, has a black channel, StarzBlack, Dedicated to showing only movies that feature black people, There is also a Channel called BET, Black entertainment television. I honestly don't see anything wrong with celebrating your history, for any race or nationality, or even religion. To each his own. But If there was a white history month, or a Starz White channel, or a "WET" channel just for white people, there would be riots. Race should not even be a factor. Really what does it matter? We are all people.
As far as the Rainbow Brite remake, I grew up in the 80's, She was one of my favorite shows, along with scooby doo. I do not like the rainbow brite overhaul, I don't think it is overly sexy, but different, to the point that it will probably flop. Now kids don't care about toys like that, It's all about the technology. And there were definitly kids of color in the rainbow brite friends. i copied this link from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Brite There is clearly pictured Indigo with Brown/ Black skin color/
Friday 16 October
By Kris
Ok Rainbow Brite was hands down my favorite cartoon when I was a kid. Had the dolls, wore the costume 3 years in a row for halloween, etc.
Yes most of the kids were "white" but Indigo was dark skinned. I always thought she was indian or middle eastern (look at her outfit compared to the other color kids). Of course all this was in 1986 when I was 8 and my perspective may be off! Also wasn't shy violet asian? She had more almond eyes than the other kids and to be even more stereo-typical she was the "smart" kid.
;-)
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Friday 16 October
By Kris
I wonder if her nemesis will still be Murky and Lurky?
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Sunday 18 October
By Rev. Beau
Yes, bring back the original! Bring back the original Coke, Jesus, and Michael Jackson, too! The new and improved version of most anything proves to be a disaster time and again. Look at George Bush #2!
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Friday 16 October
By Dolly Pop
Why do these toy makers feel the need to "modernize" a vintage doll like Rainbow Brite? The doll is an icon for a reason...it needs no modern "improvements". Not everything has to change with the times.
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Friday 16 October
By Dolly Pop
I am vey tired of hearing race brought into everything. What is wrong with Rainbow Brite being Caucasian? Big deal. Plenty of little Africian American girls probably loved her just the same....that is until their parents told them not too. Adults teach bigotry. If it such a deal now why not introduce a different line of multi-racial Brites? After all rainbows come in all colors.
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Friday 16 October
By Michelle
You know I read your response to the rainbow brite page and I completely 100% agree with you. If they are going to bring her back why not make her all color's like you said rainbows have many color's. After all they have those little baby dolls and barbies that are black. In the mean time there might not be that much or very litle rasism, Maybe none if parent tech there children that black, white, tan, red, No matter the skin color, hair color, religon, or color of eyes or the gender of soemone. We all cry when hurt, we all bleed when poked and we all laugh when tickled. Were not any different than each other just or personalities. If The lord wanted us all to be the same he would have made us all that way.
Friday 16 October
By crys
I am so sick of seeing people "make over" children's toys to be skinnier and "prettier." Rainbrow Brite is not supposed to look like an anorexic supermodel. She was a little kid, and little kids have chubby faces and babyfat. It's ridiculous that every toy has to be made over to look like Barbie, when we know that Barbie is a completely unrealistic portrayal of women. We have girls starting to have eating disorders at younger and younger ages. If you wonder why, look at what our media and even toy manufacturers are pushing on young girls. It's not telling children that obesity is ok by instilling a healthy body image in them. It's protecting them and their health. Bring back the cute Rainbow Brite and the chubbier My Little Pony. Keep Dora as a smart, vivacious, cute girl. This is really getting ridiculous.
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Friday 16 October
By Sarah R
I agree 100% I am sick of seeing all these toys aimed towards little girls that give them the idea that they are suppose to be stick thin with big boobs and wear next to nothing. What happened to little girls being just that, little girls? I for one will not be purchasing my daughters any of these modernized toys, nor will I allow them to think that those images are "normal".
Friday 16 October
By Sarah R
WHAT? They are ruining one of my childhood memories. Can't they just leave things be? Rainbow Brite does not need sexed up.
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