Strawberry Shortcake: Spring for Strawberry Shortcake

Adding a touch of modernity to the nearly 20-year-old franchise, the "new adventures" of Strawberry Shortcake find our sweet heroine and the rest of the gang shedding their skirts in favor of jeans and cool hats in this 45-minute animated episode. Strawberry starts by introducing familiar buddies such as Angel Cake, Orange Blossom, Ginger Snap, her lil' sister Apple Dumplin', backwards hat-wearing Huck (evidently short for Huckleberry Pie), and her puppy Pupcake and crotchety talking cat Custard. Friends remind Strawberry that it's “berry close” to springtime, and after gathering much of the gang for help with gardening, she realizes they can't get started until spring arrives. Sick of waiting (and on the advice of Old Man Winter, who can't leave until spring shows up), Strawberry, Orange, and Ginger journey to the Land of Seasons where they stumble upon the lackadaisical girl Spring, informing her that she's needed now! The idyllic world of Strawberryland is just as appealing for young girls as ever, with bright colors, sugar-crusted songs, rainbows, and mild merriment--plus (if you were still sitting on the fence) the DVD box smells like strawberries! Recommended. [Note: the DVD includes the music video “A Snappy Ginger Snap.”] Aud: P. (J. Williams)