Strawberry Shortcake "Frutillita" Live Show (2005)
Apr 13, 2023 12:02:09 GMT
ChairmanNom, rei, and 1 more like this
Post by jellofangy on Apr 13, 2023 12:02:09 GMT
NOTE: This was originally posted on Reddit. You can find the original post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/12eezya/strawberry_shortcake_frutillita_latin_american/
I didn't think I'd be attempting to start my own lost media search but here we are. I don't know if anyone's made a post about it but I hope this can garner enough attention to uncover more info surrounding the production. I'm really sorry if this post is so long and/or it's not the best quality as it's my first time starting a search. References will be at the end of post.
ORIGINS OF SOURCE
So a backstory on the property this is based on. Between 2004 to 2005 a Latin American family entertainment corporation called EXIM Licensing Group collaborated with DIC Entertainment to license one of DIC's properties at the time, Strawberry Shortcake and import it to the region's market in an attempt to have the brand gain some form of international acclaim. Enter "Frutillita", a localised television series based on the brand. It was produced in Argentina and aired in the same country on Canal 9 (Now known as El Nueve) in 2005. A large part of what made this version of the series was its use of live-action segments which included kid actors and puppets as well as new stories and songs. It also aired for 36 episodes in half hour blocks. Several clips of the series can be found scattered online including Youtube as well as a few full episodes dubbed in different languages.
DESCRIPTION OF LOST MEDIA
The same year Frutillita aired, EXIM also toured a live show based off the property towards the end of 2005, though I don't really know how long it went after that cause the article I got my info from said "The winter of 2005". The show is called "Frutillita en el Gran Rescate" or "Strawberry Shortcake To The Rescue" as it is officially called in English and it toured Argentinian cities in theatres that include the Teatro Broadway theatre. I presume it might have lasted at least an hour or longer as one article stated that there was an interval 35 minutes in so I can only ASSUME it's over the halfway point. The plot is more or less based on the 2004 Strawberry Shortcake video "Adventures On Ice Cream Island", though it could also have elements from other videos in the lineup. Most of the performers from the original Frutillita series did not return to reprise their roles and were replaced by different ones, with the exception of Angel Cake's performer. It also introduced Licorice Whip to the live action series as he was the main antagonist of the basis video for the show.
AVAILABILITY
Information on this show seems to be very scarce and there is very limited footage of it. The only video I could find of the show came from this one here that I'm still trying to trace the source from, albeit in potato quality:
NOTE: If the video does not work, the link is provided here: (www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZRnC69A-Lw)
It lasts almost 2 minutes and is a reel of the production featuring live recordings of the show edited together, with the original audio muted and replaced by the Frutillita theme song. This is the closest I got to live footage but it does help prove that someone out there has the full recording of the show in some vault or something. I know this seems too optimistic but I don't believe it's been erased as years after the tour ended, EXIM would use footage from the video in some of their later reels. There's also this video uploaded by one of the original performers of the main cast in costume performing on a talk show which I think was made for some sort of promotional reason, though I wouldn't really consider it to be another video recording of the show:
NOTE: If the video does not work, the link is provided here: (www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEPfAYQALGc)
I was also able to find a couple of promotional images such as posters and photos that advertise the production, which I stored in this Google Drive. (drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rXP4s1halkmEHSW6Cy1VwLftdWuSRR3Q?usp=sharing) There was also discussion in another article about a Latin American exclusive CD featuring new songs from the live show that sold outside the theatre, though that hasn't resurfaced so I don't know if anyone still has that. Unfortunately that's where the search stops there.
I don't know how far I'm going to get, I don't know how likely it is this full recording is going to resurface and I don't know how many people will be able to help me but I'm hoping that someone might be able to. I know contacting those who were involved in the production has a chance of leading somewhere but I'm from an english speaking country (Australia) and the language barrier may make it difficult given I don't know if English is a secondary language for them, not to mention I'm nervous that if I do I would be evading their privacy which is what I don't want to do. If anyone, including but not limited to those from a Latin American country (Such as Argentina) who have heard of this live show, has anything from or regarding it and/or has seen it before if you are able to help then that would be great. I'm just a huge nostalgia and archiving enthusiast who is just trying to contribute as much as I can. Thank you for reading and if you would like to help out then your welcome to say so.
REFERENCES
- www.infobae.com/2005/05/18/184524-frutillita-y-barney-la-tele-al-teatro/
- www.infobae.com/2005/06/26/192140-frutillita-llega-al-teatro/
- www.clarin.com/ediciones-anteriores/gustan-frutas_0_ByrZEI_kCKl.html
- www.slideshare.net/eximlicensing/exim-entertainment-division
