11 Years after Kenner introduced Strawberry Shortcake dolls to the world and 6 years after they were discontinued, Toy HeadQuarters (THQ) released the 1991 Strawberry Shortcake dolls. They were a little bit more modern, yet they had a similar looks about them as the beloved dolls. However these cute dolls were not as popular as their original counterparts. In 1992, games, play sets and a few other items were released, but by 1994 the THQ version of the dolls were gone. Strawberry Shortcake wouldn't be heard from again (at least not in her doll form) until 2002...
But where did the idea for the 1991 dolls come from? I think I discovered the answer to this mystery. I bought a 1984 Strawberry Shortcake paper doll set. Now keeping in mind that 1984 was basically the last year of the original sets of Strawberry Shortcake dolls. I was surprised to see the similarity to the paper dolls and the 1991 dolls.
Here is the 1984 Strawberry Shortcake paper doll with out her clothes. Looks like a typical 1980's style Strawberry Shortcake doll. Could there be a connection between this little paper doll and the 1991's? Keep reading!
Here is the first outfit for the paper doll. I put it next to Berry Sweet Sleepover doll. Notice how these nightgowns and hat are almost identical! There are some very minor differences, but obviously the 1991 outfit was copied from this paper doll.
Here is another paper doll outfit next to Berry Beauty shop 1991 doll. The outfits are different, yet they have some big similarities. The green ribbon and bow and the pink dress with small strawberries all over it.
The last one I have is a 1984 paper doll outfit next to the Berry Beach Park 1991 doll. Once again, there are some striking similarities. The sleeves, the strawberries on the pockets. The only major difference is that the 1991 doll wears pink shoes.
I found this very interesting. And I need to note that all the outfits shown here on the 1991 dolls are the outfits that came separate. And it came on a paper doll!!! I just hope the person that worked on the 1984 paper doll worked on the 1991 dolls, or someone out there is a little bit of a copycat!
New information! In 2005, I contacted American Greetings and asked them about the 1991 dolls. Here is the resoponce I received
"The 1991 SSC doll was designed by staff artists and art directors at TCFC which designed the original artwork and the artwork of the 1984 paperdolls cited on your web page. No one person can be given credit because these were always team projects."
So the paperdolls and the 1991 dolls were created by the same group of people. Very interested!
The paper doll set was originally found on a birthday card for a niece or Granddaughters. (Thank you Kris for finding this information)
I found the paperdoll set again inside the 1999 Strawberry Shortcake sticker booklet.
Here are the 1991 "paper dolls" which were how the extra outfits were displayed on the card with the dolls. These are from Jen's collection and the picture is used with permission. Thanks Jen!
Special Blessings dolls and items
That
explains where the idea for the 1991 doll clothes came from, but what
about the dolls themselves? The big eyes on the THQ dolls
is what sets them apart from their Kenner counterpart.
Where did that idea come from? Well once again, Jen came to
help me with that question. She found a an American
Greeting line that was released between 1988-1994 called "Special
Blessings." Special Blessings where made by Those
Characters from Cleveland (TCFC), which is the same group that owns the
rights to all things Strawberry Shortcake, and therefore, would have
the same artists working on Special Blessings as Strawberry Shortcake
during the late 1980's and into the early 1990's.
Special Blessings is a Christian based line of soft dolls, greeting cards, notebooks, vases, plates and other knick knack things. They show four children (three girls and one boy) that are drawn very much like Strawberry Shortcake, only with large eyes. Here are a few of the drawings for some Special Blessings greeting cards.
By looking at these drawings, you can see that these cute characters would have fit right in as a friend of Strawberry Shortcake. The large eyes on these boys and girls look simliar to THQ's Strawberry Shortcake.
This is a Special Blessings Christmas figurine from the end of the line, 1994.
Dolls where made of the Special Blessings line, but not in the 5 1/2 inch way that us Strawberry Shortcake collections would have liked. These dolls were soft and were in a praying position. Here is an advertisement for one
Special Blessings is a Christian based line of soft dolls, greeting cards, notebooks, vases, plates and other knick knack things. They show four children (three girls and one boy) that are drawn very much like Strawberry Shortcake, only with large eyes. Here are a few of the drawings for some Special Blessings greeting cards.
By looking at these drawings, you can see that these cute characters would have fit right in as a friend of Strawberry Shortcake. The large eyes on these boys and girls look simliar to THQ's Strawberry Shortcake.
This is a Special Blessings Christmas figurine from the end of the line, 1994.
Dolls where made of the Special Blessings line, but not in the 5 1/2 inch way that us Strawberry Shortcake collections would have liked. These dolls were soft and were in a praying position. Here is an advertisement for one
Besides the Special Blessings dolls,
Amtoy (which is a related company to American Greetings and TCFC)
during the late 1980's also made
a line of soft dolls called "Tuggabows" These dolls had yarn hair
and once again big eyes. As far as I can tell, there were 3
dolls: one had brown hair (???), one had blone and one had
pink.
Here is a pink haired Tuggabow from my collection.
Here is a Tuggabows commerical from YouTube
While talking to other collectors, I found information about this doll from 1984-85. She is a prototype doll called "Hair Doodles Strawberry Shortcake" She looks similar to the 1983 Kenner release doll "Dancin' Strawberry Shortcake." If you look closely there is a 1991 head on the doll. Collectors can't recall many details about this doll. One person said that it was on ebay three years ago and sold for under $100. She said that the same person was selling a similar doll (with the 1991 head) that had a skateboard. Another seller said that she remembers Hollywood Heros selling the Hair Doodles doll for $1000. Here is a photo of the doll. If this photo belongs to you, and you would like for me to remove it from this page, please contact me and I will gladly do so. I have tried to contact the original owner of the photo, and all emails have been sent back to me.
