Strawberry Shortcake is an American children's direct-to-video animated series produced by DIC Entertainment Corporation and American Greetings based on the franchise of the same name that debuted in March 2003. The series consists of 45 episodes, plus one short and one movie. Part of the series was broadcast on television including by CBS, HBO, and HBO Family, and in broadcast syndication. The entire cast is totally replaced with younger and lesser known voice actors compared to the 1980s Strawberry Shortcake animated specials. Following the series' reboot in 2009, the 2003 series was succeeded by Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures in 2010.

Home releases

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment began releasing the series direct-to-video in the United States beginning in March 2003. The first few episodes were released on both VHS and DVD, and bundled with certain toys; later episodes were only released on DVD. They are also available on VideoCD through various fourth party licensees in South-East Asia and in certain other markets. The first four videos contain only one story but run for twice the length of subsequent episodes. From Season 2 onwards, the VHS tapes and DVDs are presented as "compilations" in which Strawberry recounts the featured adventures using her "remembering book" or for Season 4, showcases the featured stories as simple flashbacks. 22 Volumes (1 including the film) have been released for the series overall.

Broadcast

United States

In the United States, although promoted as a direct-to-video series, the series did air on television as well. In 2003, Season 1 gained one-off airings on HBO and HBO Family. In January 2006, shortened Season 1 and Season 2 episodes aired on Mondays within the Program B slot (which mainly aired on The CW affiliates) of the DIC Kids Network syndicated block. The series ran on the block until 2007, when it moved to KEWLopolis on CBS, with Season 3 episodes added in September 2008. In September 2009, it was removed from the block following its rebranding as Cookie Jar TV, but returned in April 2010 until September that year. Season 4 has never aired on television in the United States and remains exclusively on DVD and digital download.

Internationally

In international markets, DIC pre-sold the series to GMTV in the United Kingdom and Fox Kids Europe in some European territories in 2004. In 2008, DIC pre-sold the series to more broadcasters including M6, Canal J and Tiji in France, Tiny Pop in the United Kingdom, K-T.V. in South Africa, KiKa in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and German-speaking Switzerland, and Mediaset in Italy. Season 1 episodes are broadcast as two parts instead of being shortened, doubling the episode count to eight. In Canada, the series aired on Treehouse TV and Playhouse Disney. From Season 2 onwards, the episodes are presented individually on the TV broadcasts rather than being compilations, although this depended on the broadcaster (e.g., Disney Channel Asia aired the first four episodes as two-parters). Some networks, like GMTV and Minimax in CEE aired Season 1 uninterrupted as one, full-length part akin to the DVD releases, while Season 2 onwards are broadcast exactly like on the DVDs with the compilation format.

Other media

A five-minute Strawberry Shortcake short, "Growing Better All the Time", is available exclusively in the Care Bears: Daydreams DVD (released on October 14, 2003) as a bonus feature. Numerous scenes from the short were used in the 2000s (decade) series' second opening sequence, and the song from the short was released on the "Strawberry Jams" CD. Additionally, a Public Service Announcement for the ASPCA was produced and aired in the US. The PSA features Strawberry Shortcake talking about the basics of pet ownership.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Humans

Pets

All the vocal effects for the pets aside from Cola's singing and Papaya are voiced by Nils Haaland.

Fillies

The 2003 series introduced a cast of fillies to the mix that the characters own.

Villains

Fairies

A series of Fairies appeared in "Berry Fairy Tales". The background fairies are voiced by Samantha Triba, Theresa Sindelar and Anna Jordan.

Episodes

Game Boy Advance Video

Majesco has also released Strawberry Shortcake episodes as a Game Boy Advance Video cartridge: