2014 Rainbow Brite Character Review (Appearance)

Hi Color Kids,
The new Rainbow Brite character designs have been slowly coming out all week! Today, the last Color Kid was posted and I couldn't help but want to review them!

A year ago before the show came out I actually did some soul searching regarding "if the color kids were re-designed, what could they be like?"

In the original 1980's British Audio books the Color Kids were given different accents, Patty O'Green was honestly Irish for example. So I thought that based on their names, what were some subtle changes they could do to provide different nationalities to each kid.

So I did a break down of the nationalities : NOTE: THESE ARE MY OWN THEORIES. THESE ARE NOT FACT
 Red Butler: Southern American
The name is very much a parody of "Rhett Butler" the male lead in Gone with the Wind. A character made famous by "Clark Gable". I thought it would be interesting if Red could actually be a southern gentleman. Though you will have to be careful with the "Red neck" comparison..har har.

 Lala Orange: French
Lala was always given "French" features, such as wearing a Beret, and being so fashion forward. Even her name "Lala" is very much like: "oh là là":  french phrase for surprise meaning "Oh my," "Oh, dear", or "oh no".
Why couldn't she be French?

 Canary Yellow: ?????
Canary was another "blonde" character like Rainbow. But the characteristics of the character weren't very defined, other then her liking to dance and having a very "sunny" personality. Someone suggested to me she could perhaps be Russian, because of the blond hair being such a characteristic in the culture and her being a Ballet dancer.

 Patty O'Green: Irish
Patty's name really speaks a lot to being "Irish", Her cute pigtails and freckles on her cheeks.

 Buddy Blue: Spanish
Buddy was always very Sporty, but his personality often reminds me of a soccer player, and Soccer  is the most popular sport in Spain.

 Indigo: Indian or African
The original Indigo was dark skinned, but I have seen Fan Art that makes her "India Indian", This can be traced to the fact that Indigo Dye was first mass produced in India, but her costume seems to be inspired by Arabian/Genie costumes or harem pants.
However, she can also be considered African, because Africa is also close to the Asian areas that inspired the color.
Like I said , I've seen in fan art, both ways.

 Shy Violet: Asian
Shy Violet's "bun" hair style, knee high socks, and shoes reminded me of Asian school girls. Asian schools have a dress code which includes such things. Primary/Elementary (age 6-12). She is a very "smart" character too.

Planeteers!

When I brought this up to a friend they said "Oh! So it's Captain Planet and the Planeteers!"

This made me laugh.

Anyway, the kids were released and here is what they look like! (See right)
I was surprised to see Shy Violet with those almond eyes! It was like they read my mind! That is how I really knew I wasn't the only one who had the thoughts about these characters.

Now weather or not the other characters are anything like I mentioned above, I have no idea. They probably have nothing in common with my theories, but I think Shy Violet, the one who has the most dramatic change in appearance is really sweet looking.

"Stereotypes"
A stereotype: a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

I don't want to make something positive and turn it negative by including characteristics that can be considered stereotypical and mean. Some races and cultures may feel honored to be included! On the flip-side you are also going to have people angry over such a stereotype. And to those people I don't understand.

Shy Violet can still be smart and sweet no matter what "nationality" she is.

Now, there is a hint that Monday, October 27th there will be more surprises! I can't wait! Will we see the Dark Princess?  who knows! I don't!

Until then,
Remember, the power is yours!
RAINBOW POWER!

Rainbow Brite is BACK!

Hi Color Kids.

If you haven’t heard yet, I wanted to let you all know about the NEW Rainbow Brite Animated show! After 30 years our favorite color sparkler is back with an all new look and fun adventures on Feeln. It's a video streaming services featuring family friendly programming.

The new trailer for the new Rainbow Brite was released last week. And I have to admit I was afraid at first. I was scared because I actually liked what I saw and I felt I was betraying the first Rainbow by liking it. I love the original Rainbow Brite. She has been a part of my life for decades and she holds a special place in my heart. Several times in the past they have tried to replace her for a new generation and it hasn't worked. I have hopes for this new Rainbow.

In the beginning of the Trailer she is hyper and joyful and her happiness is infectious!

They have kept her young and fun and I think kids today will love her!

The new Rainbow is not mine, and I love my Rainbow, but I am also loving this new one. I've thought about it a lot since the release and I have concluded that I am not betraying her, my childhood or my fandom! Those memories are safe in my heart. There is a Rainbow in my heart, painted there decades ago, and it can't be replaced. But I think the new generation deserves their own Rainbow.

I know she is different, but kids today are different. I don't expect them to be the same as I was growing up. I was born in a time before the internet, and things are different. I have nieces and nephews that are nothing like me when I was a kid and I'm GLAD. I want them to be just as happy as I was if not happier, and that means things change. But as things change that doesn't mean we forget about the past.

This new Rainbow Brite show has shown us several things from the original show, not continuing it, but remaking it for a new generation. I see my Rainbow Brite in this new show. So far we've seen a new color castle with color kids, sprites, Starlite, Rainbow Brite and Brian! The Key to Rainbow Land, the pits, etc.

In fact in a previous episode of the Brite Cast I said: the new show needed to remember the original, and needed to include things the old generation would like for it to be successful. My exact words were “I'm hoping they will keep us in mind, because it is our generation that is teaching the new generation and if we don't like its not going to be shown.”

I DID NOT say that meant they had to remake the original show in the same style. I think the new show has included everything I had hoped they would. They are remembering us, honoring us, and this makes me excited.

Yes, the new Rainbow Brite does speak differently but kids today do speak differently. From “OMG” to “SELFIES! The 80s slang things were awesome, rad, rude, and it made that era fun.

History has a way of repeating itself. For example when I was in High School I was wearing vintage clothing my parents wore. When I go to the stores now I see the fashions I used to wear when I was about 10 or 12 years old. I never thought I would see the generation where my childhood would be repeated. But it also reminded me how my parents may have felt about my generation re-hashing theirs. Still its not a bad thing.

In relation to cartoons, there were cartoons rebooted in my childhood, even your childhood that were popular in decades before for us: For example: Let me bring up two of the most popular characters in history.

Bugs Bunny:

Mickey Mouse:

Too large a comparison? Then lets look at Garfield.

These are characters you love and have a special place in your heart, but they didn't always look like you remember them.

And that is just what makes a generation. It doesn't erase the generation that came before, but in enriches its history.

Rainbow Brite deserves another chance. She has waited so long and I want to give her this chance, not for me, but for every kid I know who I know will love this Rainbow.

The New Rainbow Brite airs online November 6^th 2014 on Feeln.com

Feeln offers streaming family friendly programming for $4.99 a month or $47.99 a year.

You can also see more of the new Rainbow Brite on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr. And of course Feeln.com

Also tune in to Brite Cast, theRainbow Brite Podcast featuring myself and Katy Cartee Haile of RainbowBrite.Net

Have a Rainbow Day!