Rainbow Brite

Name: Rainbow Brite
Item: Rainbow Brite
Rating: 4
Author: Emily Ashby

TV review by

Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 5+

(i)

'80s cartoon revival has excellent messages and role model.

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age 18+

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We think this TV show stands out for:

Character Strengths

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

Educational Value

The show intends to entertain rather than to educate, but there are good messages about the value of teamwork, the joy of friendship, and the rewards of doing the right thing.

Positive Messages

Rainbow Brite sees potential for good in every situation and every person, which brings out the best in her friends.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Rainbow always extends compassion and forgiveness to others, even when their actions don't necessarily warrant it. Stormy shows strength of character in standing up to a bully. Brian finds new self-confidence as he helps his Rainbowland friends.

Violence & Scariness

Villains kidnap and tie up Rainbow Brite and her friends, but they're not a scary bunch. Some spills and bumps, which make the characters see stars.

Sexy Stuff

Language

Consumerism

The show is inspired by an '80s cartoon, which at the time had an accompanying marketing line of kids' products.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Rainbow Brite revives a popular cartoon character from the '80s and offers kids an excellent role model in its vibrant, cheery star. As she builds friendships, kids see the value of traits such as compassion, encouragement, and forgiveness. She also puts others' needs before her own and battles the nefarious Dark Princess with an arsenal of light, color, and positive attitude. Expect to see some mild cartoon spills and bumps, as well as some scenes in which villains kidnap Rainbow's friends. That said, none of the bad guys is particularly frightening, and some are even comical, so young kids shouldn't have an issue there.

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What's the story?

In the magical world of Rainbowland lives a cheerful girl named RAINBOW BRITE (voiced by Emily Osment). She and her trusty talking steed, Starlight, work with the Color Kids to create color and light for Earth, but her nemesis, Dark Princess (voiced by Molly Ringwald), looks to cast a gray shadow over all of Rainbowland with her own magic. When a new friend named Brian arrives from Earth, he teams up with Rainbow Brite to thwart Dark Princess' attempts, and an old acquaintance named Stormy reconsiders her allegiance when the villain pits her against her estranged friend.

Is it any good?

The timing of this revival series is perfect, given that kids who enjoyed the character's first animated go-round in the '80s are all grown up and have tots of their own now. The new Rainbow Brite has all of Rainbow's original charm, plus the benefit of modern animation that accentuates the vibrant setting of Rainbowland. She also has a number of vintage touches: the magical color belt, of course, and even the occasional '80s exclamation such as "Rad!" as well as some more modern qualities (the Color Kids' high-tech control center that monitors Earth's light supply).

As for those grown-ups now viewing cartoons through more discerning parents' eyes, there's plenty to like about what Rainbow Brite has to teach kids about friendship, kindness, and standing up for what's right. Much care is taken in showing Rainbow inspire the best in Brian and Stormy by relating to them in compassionate ways, and these and other excellent messages are impossible for kids to miss. If you're looking for something new that you and your kids can watch together, then Rainbow Brite is worth your time. This reincarnation does a great job bringing a beloved character into a fresh, appealing light for a new generation of viewers.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about what makes Rainbow Brite a good role model. How does she show she's a good friend to Stormy and Brian? Does she set a good example for them to follow? Is she courageous?
Was any part of this show scary? What does the Dark Princess set out to do? Would her actions hurt people, or are they simply a nuisance? Why is it important to stick up for what's right?
How do the characters in Rainbow Brite demonstrate compassion? Why is this an important character strength?