Rainbow Brite: Everything You Didn't Know | SYFY WIRE

Rainbow Brite was, undoubtedly, one of the most memorable/weirdest cartoons of the 1980s. Yet it only ran 13 episodes. So why the impact? Journey with us to Rainbowland.
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More About Rainbow Brite: Rainbow Brite, also known in Japan as Magical Girl Rainbow Brite is a media franchise by Hallmark Cards, introduced in 1983. The animated television series of the same name first aired in 1984, the same year Hallmark licensed Rainbow Brite to Mattel for a range of dolls and other merchandise. A theatrical feature-length film, Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer, was released by Warner Bros. in 1985. The franchise was rebooted in 1996, 2003, 2009, and then again in 2014 through Hallmark's online on-demand streaming video service, Feeln.A line of new merchandise sold only by Hallmark online and in its shops debuted in 2015.
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About Everything You Didn't Know:
Who voiced Agents J and K on the Men in Black cartoon? Oh yeah… there was a Men in Black cartoon! Go deep (and we do mean deep) into your favorite TV series of yesteryear… and the ones you may have never heard of (like, at all).
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SYFY WIRE is a fan-first genre news and editorial destination dedicated to covering science fiction and nerd culture across TV, Film, Books, Comics, space and technology with up-to-the-minute news, in-depth analysis and content that drives conversation and debate.
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Rainbow Brite: Everything You Didn't Know | SYFY WIRE
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[@garryglissmeyer9751]

Whoa! :-) that's the worse my name has ever been pronounced! I may have led the early Creative team in developing Rainbow Brite, from concept to testing, to selling Mattel, NBC , and working with DIC and their creative team in doing the animation... but I brought Cheryl Cozad on board very early, and to oversee, manage the artwork needed to fully develop Rainbow, Rainbow Land, and all the characters with their "look", and adapting them for licensing to various companies' products usage. As the saying goes, she "Did the heavy lifting"... GG Santiago did get the honors for the final appearance of Rainbow and her outfit; Cora Oliver oversaw the artists doing the hundreds of interpretations for licensing application; artist Rich Rudish was key, especially with the "horse" (he knew horses!), and Rich was sent to Hollywood to oversee and ensure DIC, the animation house, stayed true to Rainbow Brite's look, character; Mary Loberg, Hallmark writer, is the name to be recognized as the person developing the early storyline, Rainbow's purpose, and "plot,"; Dan Drake, Director of Copy & Editorial. Lanny Julian was heading the Business side of this wonderful little gal, Rainbow Brite... all the legal, business 'deals' and securing and the Licensing, insuring Hallmark's name was protected, we made a little bit of money, the selling of her name "licensing" of it. Jim McDowell, the Public Relations side...on and on. Rainbow Brite had many "creators" in her early life. We all loved the process, the challenge, and the little family of characters. Our world is still colorful! Way to go, Rainbow!

[@vmarsfire]

I love it when people associated with the creation of something are in the comment section of KZbin. Thank you so much Mr. Glissmeyer for your hard work!

[@JustClaude13]

Rainbow Brite was one of the best cartoons from the era. The whole creative team did an incredible job.

[@NoLOVEinFEAR333]

everything about this show captured my imagination

[@mangaxcharli6191]

Yes, thank you for creating my favorite childhood character. I wish she last a little longer than 13 episodes and two movies. I keep seeing them trying to bring her back, I wish they would stick with her original drawings like the smurfs.

[@sarahfields288]

Thank you for making my childhood colourful 😊 my cousin had a whole Rainbow Brite bedroom. I was jealous but loved spending time in there.

[@alexlynn5111]

My childhood. I had the bedsheets, the Rainbow and Starlight dolls, and I watched the movie on VHS to death

[@seanpowell1661]

My childhood too! I remembered Murky when I was a kid. Now I'm 44! Lol

[@jenniferfarvour4852]

I was born in 1977 so I really remember the cartoons and the movie. I love the original art and merchandise. The newer stuff isn't that amazing to me. When they came back out with the doll's again I was excited. I wanted another for myself and one for my goddaughter. People think they need to change for today but they don't. I feel like they need to keep Rainbow Brite as she was in the 1980s. More merchandise please 🌹

[@only257]

Agreed I saw the reboot what were they thinking it wasn’t like the 80s cartoon 🍿

[@jonasbrothersrockist]

Were you a Jem fan growing up?

[@carindahardison7437]

This is my all time favorite. I actually bought a rainbow brite doll off Ebay when I was 19. My original doll was thrown away when I was 7 because I have a demon for a sister.

[@F3ND1MUS]

In the name of jesus we rebuke you demon sister"😂

[@katwernery6505]

My mom still has all my Rainbow Brite dolls. They have been played with by not only me, but my sister and brother, and now my niece. I still love the show, movie, and the special at the San Diego zoo!! I also love sharing it with my son and niece

[@JenaRaschka]

While I didn’t grow up with Rainbow Brite, my babysitter did. She’d tell us stories about Rainbow Brite and the color kids, show us videos and take us on normal kid adventures to the store and the park. Her fandom energy honestly wore off on me and my sister.

[@julioisland1984]

But here you are

[@nicolebriant98]

rainbow brite was my favorite show growing up.

[@only257]

Me too🍿

[@wowspiffy]

Loved her! Obsessed as a child, had lots of rainbow brite stuff. My Little Pony, and She-Ra too.

[@warnergirls2010]

Rainbow Brite girl here! I hope one day she can get the reboot she deserves! Loved the movie and series as a kid!

[@only257]

Same here😊

[@Nuverselive]

Wow. I had no idea it has been 35 well 36 years. I’m here because she came to me in a meditation... weird huh! Ik 🌈💜

[@Professional_444]

It's a diversity show. Maybe a call to action for you?

[@Disques13Swing]

I did know at least 90% of that stuff. Then again, I have a room-size collection of original stuff, mostly Gen 1. And it's from EVERYWHERE!!! I think I have every Gen 1 Hallmark item ever made less one, an Emotions-size large Buddy. And it's all kinds of furniture, toys, books (46 different German comic books alone and 31 story cassettes), records, clothes, radios and a good amount of Italy-only stuff from Mattel. I'm also very heavy into packaging variations. For example there are a bunch of different boxes for just the Gen 1 small RB doll. They run from two US versions, two Canadian, one from France, two from Europe, one from Spain, one from Brazil and one from Mexico. Some of these were not made by Mattel but aside from some fine print, the boxes looked the same except for the Brazilian ones. I think that Hallmark and Mattel screwed things up early on and it's why the line Gen 1 line met an early death. They made too much stuff too fast. I mean there were about 50 different sprites alone in Gen 1. Worse yet, they were expensive for the 80's. This caused sticker shock for the parents over time. The 13 episodes should have been 52 per year for three years. The one movie should have been one per year. Do you know why there are so many MIB RB things from Gen 1 out there these days? It's because Mattel overproduced certain items like RB herself and Red. The idea and the backstory were great but the marketing sucked. OK, after so many years and so much money, I'm done with RB. I'm giving my collection to two of my neighbor's four daughters, aged 10 & 12 in the next two weeks. They have seen it in the past but they have no idea this is in the works and the parents are cool with it.

[@idunnobutyay2520]

I didn’t exactly grow up with Rainbow Brite, but I vaguely remember seeing some of the 20th anniversary stuff and being intrigued

[@cklucy1]

I was and still am a rainbow brite kid. I have one of the puzzles and just watching the old show and movies brightens my day.

[@Melisamonet]

ALL THESE showS were my fav when I was little. I had all the dolls and the horse in Rainbow Brite 🌈 80s baby 👶 🎶 💕 😍 ♥

[@only257]

I have a family member who still has the original rainbow brite doll my aunt has it🍿

[@garthspader226]

I had a huge crush in her as a kid, I only saw the movie, and rented the Monstromurk episode on VHS

[@cjstrikercbr3013]

Amazing Coincidence that SYFY put this Nice retrospective video of Rainbow Brite out right within 1 week of her new and much anticipated comic book coming October 3rd! They should have made mention of it in the video, but still a great video! Rainbow Brite is Awesome!

[@KP-nx8lo]

I miss the 80’s cartoons like rainbow brite, strawberry shortcake and the real my little ponies! Rainbow was my absolute favorite Ever!

[@only257]

saw this cartoon when i was 7 in 1991 i was a fan a neighbor had all 13 episodes recorded on vhs at the time loved it as well🙂

[@sailorbrite]

Spectra was the name of the diamond planet in the movie. The Princess had no other name, other than The Princess.

[@cocochanelly5193]

I was just watching a rainbow 🌈 Rainbow Brite 🌈 episode! Rainbow night! One of my all time favorites! 🥰😍💕🌈

[@clownprincessoffear8204]

I still am, I have every single one of her 2018 comic run from dynamite comics so far

[@xcar0982]

In Mexico, in the first dubbing if the show, she was named "Arcoiris Rainbow Brite", that translated to English means "Rainbow Rainbow Brite. In the movie and a later second dubbing of the show, she was named just Rainbow Brite.

[@gerardicosas]

So HAPPY for the 40th anniversary!!!

[@coy3473]

I was born in 2003 but some how this was most of what my childhood consisted of

[@KeelahVhenan]

That just means that, despite your young age, you've got incredibly good taste in cartoons. 😉 My son was born in 2007 and my daughter in 2011 and they both know and love Rainbow Brite. Although, that's likely because it was something I introduced to their younger selves, but eh. 🤷‍♀️

[@jennifern1453]

we had one tape and I watched the heck out of it, my big sister grew out of it but I never did

[@eclassworld]

I loved the movie growing especially with Krys and On-X!

[@malifauxchild7658]

Loved her so much as a kid

[@herlarayad78]

I use to love that show and use to have so many things... wish I woulda kept my doll🤦🏽‍♀️ lol! Those were the good ole days! Stress free and No worries!

[@saturngirl84]

I love her and the movie

[@jackmellor5536]

I'm sure I watched Rainbow Brite and Care Bears in VHS in the 90s with my younger sister and I was born in 1989. Quite of lot of kids shows I watched originally aired before I was born.

[@wizzwamf]

i always wanted to the rainbow brite dolls as a kid even though i had all the boys toys, now i have all the colour kids inc buddy blue and la la orange and i love the clone dolls that were out there

[@aprilbagley9797]

where on earth did you get your shirt ? it's awesome! :)

[@ooommm4024]

I forgot how much of an acid trip this surprisingly obscure short-run cartoon series was. My sisters were into it, but I remember the hilariously rude Robot Chicken parodies of Rainbow Brite the most!

[@Cruzdeonnaify]

I LOVE HER!

[@kristeltorres5613]

i still am a rainbow brite fan!!

[@waltercarillo8916]

Visionaries next?

[@maledollmaker]

The princess had no name, Spectra was the name of the planet she wanted.

[@buzz21121]

When I was only 13 years old I was being picked on every single day at school and I mean every single day is one last day I had enough and I wanted to end my life but then does random voice that sound like a little girl said if I were you I wouldn't you're expecting a phone call within 3 seconds within 3 seconds my phone wrong it was my friend who wanted to know if I wanted to come over to his place I said I'm not in the mood the little girl's voice again appeared and said if I were you I'll go I told my friend okay fine let's go my friend and his dad came to pick me up we went out for lunch and for supper since it was a short day at school as soon as we got to my friend's place I walked through the door the voice again appeared and the little girls voice said I'm waiting for you upstairs in your friend Rim come and get me at this point I got a little bit freaked out so I yelled who are you accidentally scaring my friend my friend asked why why are you yelling I asked him you mean to tell me you didn't hear that voice he's like what voice I didn't hear nothing what did the voice say I told him that it was a little girl's voice and the voice said there was somebody waiting for me upstairs in his room he started to laugh but then he stopped because he realized I was serious he told me that he would know if there was somebody waiting for me upstairs in his room but if I wanted to go look I could so I ran upstairs and as soon as I got to the top of the stairs the name Rainbow Brite popped in my head I yelled down has anyone ever heard of Rainbow Brite before my friend and his dad said no we have not why I said weird not to have I I went into my friend room and there was a cute doll that rainbow colours all over her sitting perfectly on my friends bed and we all know what these types of dolls they're not able to sit up on their own but this one was I went over to it and I picked it up and the little girls voice came straight from the doll and the little girls voice said I'm glad I found you me freaking out fell backwards the dog does a backflip in the air and once again lands perfectly back on my friends bed my friend and his dad comes running up the stairs all I could get out was she she she my friend's dad knew what I was trying to say he kneel down and asked what did she say I told him she said she was glad she found me he said if I were you once we go back downstairs if you pick her up again if she says it again you tell her you're glad that she did my friend and his dad went back downstairs I picked her up and she said it again I'm glad I found you and I remembered what my friend dad told me I told her I'm glad you did and ever since that day she's she has never spoke again and that is how Rainbow Brite saved my life when I was only 13 years old I am now 33 years old going to be 34 on March 12th if I never met Rainbow Brite I would not be able to celebrate my 34th birthday or any birthdays so I'm glad Rainbow Brite saved my life when I was only 13 years old

[@bondservant4jesus]

My Mom said I told her that I wanted to live with Rainbow Brite. So yeah. I was a Rainbow Brite kid.

[@TheMpacj6c]

I am a rainbow brite kid!

[@F3ND1MUS]

❤❤❤

[@crystalvanhorn2502]

Amen

[@wendysnyder4503]

Yes i was a rowbow brite kid

[@vinnievee5710]

I ALWAYS GET WHAT I WANT

[@JustClaude13]

I'd like to see a reboot. A real one; not the 2014 thing. It shouldn't look like it was thrown together by a guy in his mom's basement. My vision is more one of conflict and balance between extremes. Start in the same place, but after Wisp brings color back to Rainbow Land she becomes Princess of Light, while Stormy becomes Princess of Darkness and runs the Gloom Pits with her color kid, Murky Dismal and his over grown sprite Lurky.(Insert character redesigns here) Too much darkness and things become gloomy and depressing. Too much brightness and things get washed out and pastel. The two sides struggle to assert their own control and establish a proper balance.

[@BeelySalasBlair-uy5wn]

Thanks so much 💛 :42/46 😂

[@doctorteethomega]

I was an 80's kid. The cartoons back then were obviously meant for boys or girls. Somehow I loved GI Joe as much as Rainbow Brite. MLP was as cool as Thundercats. I always watched Jem after The Real Ghostbusters was over. Turns out bi people exist.

[@loonysinger6210]

Im from germany, yes i was. i havnt had seen the anime, only the hearing casettes. i had a clue how they must look cause of the pics on the casettes but havent seen any more stuff when i was a child. the version of 2015 is awful sorry..

[@asunachan9999]

RB is cute, you're HOT! ☺️♥️👌🇵🇭

[@Bishop88_]

GANG!

[@Official930Studios]

Huh...ok

[@loonysinger6210]

oh and not to forget i think it is ok to modernize the look of something but they havnt cached the "soul" of that series. and it is poorly animated and.. just not as cute. sorry for my bad english XD greetings from germany :D

[@SpectrumAssociates]

Hallmark's also the same company who milk Mariah Carey for every waking minute she's alive. A confusing reason why I want Disney to buy Hallmark so much.

[@greek1237]

I think Megan from My Little Pony wants her voice back lol. And Brain also voice Danny from MLP.