Y'all... I have had SO MUCH FUN collecting Rainbow Brite memorabilia for the past 27 years. The thrill of the hunt... the satisfaction of holding a new item in my hand... the joy of sharing those items with others... it's been a privilege.
I never thought that I would part with my collection. Heck, I devoted 500 square feet of space to it in my house! But life has a funny way of surprising you.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that I would move to SWITZERLAND! But here I am, and there was no way that I could bring my collection with me.
I wish I'd had time to sell it all myself. I wish I could've taken photographs of every single piece and detailed them for posterity. But we made the decision to move to Switzerland in July 2022 and sold our house in March. It was A LOT.
And let me tell you... the decision of what to do with my collection was a DOOZY. I am SO grateful to Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers for seeing the value in a historic collection like this one and taking on the challenge of selling it. They have been amazing every step of the way, and this was the best way to get these beloved collectibles into the hands of the fans.
As of today, the full catalog is LIVE and accepting bids! You can bid anytime between now and July 17th, then join the LIVE auction at 6pm ET on July 17th to place those final bids. Be sure to register NOW so that you don't miss out! This will be your final chance to own a piece of the Rainbow Land Museum that I loved so dearly.
And just in case you're wondering: no, RainbowBrite.net isn't going anywhere :) Neither is my love for Rainbow Brite! I still get chills every time I hear music from the show or see new merchandise being created. I will always love RB. I'm just loving her in a different way now.
There have been rumors flying around that the Rainbow Brite comic series from Dynamite has been cancelled. I'm here to reassure you that that is not the case. I understand why the rumors started, but the short answer is this: The first arc was always meant to be 5 issues long. The trade paperback will come out this summer and then Dynamite will make a decision as to whether or not to continue it after that. For more information about where the rumors stemmed from and how I know they're false, here's another video! :)
The comic has been out for a week so it's time to dive in and do a more thorough review! SPOILER WARNING!! Do no watch unless you've already read the comic or don't mind being spoiled!
Since there are so many great reviews out there, I took quotes from several of them to make points more eloquently than I could have and included them in this video. Click here to be taken to my blog post where you can find links to all of the articles I pulled from. And click here to read Jeremy Whitley's tweets regarding the two types of parenting shown in this comic.
I've been having a blast reading reviews from across the spectrum about Rainbow Brite issue #1 by Dynamite. By my current count, there are 25 and that's not counting the podcasts that have talked about it as well. And the best part is that, by far, the reviews have been unanimously positive! Even the reviewers who had one or two small concerns recommended the comic to readers of all ages. I may not be familiar with the comic world, but any product that garners that many accolades is impressive in my mind!
I've read reviews by die-hard fans, casual fans, folks who remember Rainbow Brite existing when they were young, and even comic readers who knew nothing about the property. Each reviewer brings a unique perspective to their experience and I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes with all of you!
"Rainbow Brite has gone through more than half a dozen incarnations through the years, but this newest one from Dynamite and a solid bench of creative talents might be one of the better ones. Supported by heartfelt characterization and a genuine wit from Jeremy Whitley and expressively stylish artwork from Brittney Williams and Valentina Pinto, Rainbow Brite #1 is a grounded, but fun new take on the property, one that is brimming with potential. Sure to please long-time Saturday morning TV fans and a whole new generation of readers unfamiliar with her colorful adventures, Rainbow Brite #1 is a well-presented beacon of positivity." -Newsarama
"The cover of issue 1 done by Paulina Ganucheau is enough to grab attention by itself. Rainbow Bright poses serenely in a beautiful piece that blends nouveau and deco into a moody technicolor dreamscape. This cover isn't eye-candy, it's eye-soul food."
-Carrie Tupper
"The character choice to make Wisp a warrior, as simple as it may be, filled me with so much joy that I almost cried. Because, for me, she always was a warrior - a protectress who saved me from the shadows more times than I can count. I am so impressed by Whitley’s storytelling, and I cannot wait to see where he takes these characters." -Rediscover the 80s
"I was immediately struck by the clear and solid friendship between these two girls. So much girl-oriented media engages with “mean girl” stories, the type that feed the worst examples of preteen girl in-fighting. This is especially awful when media is targeted at girls (like my ten year old) who are most likely to be vulnerable to that sort of social interaction."
-Geek Mom
"This comic is perfect for all ages, with an innocuous, fun story supported by a well defined and innocent art, this creative team of Whitley and Williams manage to establish a good foundation to take this adaptation of an animated series to another level."
-Un Comic Mas
"Jeremy Whitley, Brittney Williams, and Valentina Pinto have crafted a comic and a universe which not only covers new ground in the Rainbow Brite franchise, but also pays homage to what has come before. It is a comic which readers both young and old will be able to enjoy in equal measure. With an issue that starts like this, the future for this comic series is looking very bright."
-Equestria Daily
"It’s an empowering story for young girls, and girls of color as Willow herself is a black girl, that I feel would be welcomed with open arms and hearts by the targeted demographic. Rainbow Brite is the sort of story we need to bring in new readers, and to invite children to fall in love with the source content like many of their parents did at their age, and that’s a bonding experience that stays with you for a lifetime."
-Sirens of Sequentials
"If this comic had any other name on it other than Rainbow Brite, it would be equally enjoyable. I am interested in seeing the story progress and seeing what elements from the original "world" is used, and what has changed. The Rainbow Brite of my generation is still mine. This new one is promising. I look forward to more!"
-RainbowBrite.co
"I honestly kind of loved it. This is very clearly targeted at a younger audience, but its got kind of a Calvin and Hobbes or Adventure time feel to it, like it has room to expand. It feels like this comic is likely to mature over time and I’m excited to see some of the content and topics that will be addressed moving forward."
-Shoot the Breeze Comics
"Whitley's script feels charming and sufficiently saccharine, oozing a sense of effervescence. Williams' illustrations are airy and light in a way that infuses the issue with the right amount of bubblegum appearance. Rainbow Brite #1 is a very easy read that's still thoroughly engaging and a treat for readers of all ages." -Omnicomic
"Willow and Wisp are so darn likable and their adventures together look great. The addition of the parents to both of the kids was well done, and they weren’t the usual tropes for parents. These are supportive, yet sensible parents who let the kids get on with their own play. As a parent I really appreciated the writing of the characters."
-3 Million Years
"When the origin story of Rainbow Brite leads with a black girl breaking from her fantasy comic to put her homemade mage hat over her natural hair and argue about Live Action Role Play with her friend, the moment is remarkable in how normal it is. She’s not a sidekick, but a precocious nerd raised by supportive, wryly humorous parents."
-Black Nerd Problems
"Friendship, particularly female friendship is a very important aspect to this comic."
-But Why Tho?
"When I saw the Paulina Ganucheau cover, and read the advance promotional material, I hoped this would be a brilliant reboot of the character that would still retain the appeal to an all-ages audience. What I got on the inside was not what I expected, and yet still lives up to my hopes."
-Critical Blast
"Pick up this series for a child. Pick this up for an adult! In a world where violence seems to be draining the color out of everything, pick up something that will make you smile. Jeremy Whitley has won many awards for his ability to weave together stories. His most notable achievement, in this author’s opinion, is the way he makes sure there are stories for his little girl to be inspired by. He writes stories for the children that don’t “fit.” He writes for the imaginative, the fantasy-lovers, the knights of all sizes and shapes!"
-Quirktastic
"Jeremy Whitely writes many comics for young girls. His characters are smart, funny, and have an excellent representation of sexualities, genders, and POCs (people of color). A must have in school libraries...I'm just saying..."
-I Smell Sheep
"Being a story based around the concept of color, getting the visuals right is imperative. The art style is perfect for 2018 kids, as it subscribes to the rotund looking styles of today's kids' TV shows (e.g. Steven Universe and the controversial Thundercats reboot). The lines are crisp and straightforward. The colors are gorgeous and uncomplicated. I really enjoy the variant covers, too."
-Florida Geek Scene
"If you’re looking an all ages comic that’s fun and colorful featuring young girls who easily pass the Bechdel test while setting out on a hero’s quest then Rainbow Brite is for you!"
-Gay League
"I feel as though things will liven up much more later on in the story."
-The ComicBookGeek
"From that one scene, I get the feeling we as readers may be presented with the concept that it doesn't matter where you come from or how you're raised, its who you become that decides your destiny. Being able to take these kinds of complex thoughts from such a simple premise is pretty cool, and I'm glad this series is going to continue. The television show from the 80's was such a fun and engrossing experience and I hope the comic can capture some of that radiance as it builds."
-Chico Comics Page
"This was a really nice set up issue, The art is fantastic and Whitley again showcases his talent for writing authentic young women. It will be fun to see how this series develops."
-Fiction State of Mind
"it is striking and current, especially in a time when the average girl, while accepting the figure of the princess as an ideal, is much more attractive the idea that a protagonist could get to the level of a character that, if it had been presented in those years, it was exclusive for the child." (translated from Spanish)
-Capital Comic
"Our heroines are creative, innocent, and fun, which is the perfect description for this series so far and exactly the type of book we need more of in these often dark, colorless times."
-Rogues Portal
"As colour is a very important part of the story, it draws your eye to how Valentina Pinto applies it. For the most part, we get a lot of bright primary colours. From the opening writing sequence through to when Wisp returns home at night, everything’s bright and colourful. It’s only when she’s confronted by the shadow brutes that we start to see a change. Given the final page of the issue, I’m very interested to see what happens in Rainbow Land."
-Eddy Currents
"After reading issue 1 of Dynamite’s new Rainbow Brite comic, I’d suggest those picking up this comic on brand recognition alone might need to adjust their expectations accordingly. Regardless, every story has the potential to be someone’s first experience of a particular genre; and this would be a solid introduction to the world of Rainbow Brite."
-Black Nerd Problems
"The illustrations are bright and eye catching, the writing is witty and fun but not so much that it would go over the heads of younger readers. The lettering is well placed and non-intrusive which again for younger readers and readers like me with dyslexia makes all the difference."
-Comic Crusaders
"Rainbow Brite #1 is a shining example of what an all-ages title should aim for. It obviously is going to be more light-hearted and innocent than your normal comics, but it doesn’t shy away from subtlety and nuance. Most all-ages titles feel that they have to explain every little thing in extreme detail, but Rainbow Brite #1 is content to let you put some pieces together."
-Heroic Legacy
Now that the comic is out for everyone to read, I'll be recording my own non-spoiler-free review soon, but I'm sure I'll be echoing many of these wonderful comments as I add in my own! What do you think of Rainbow Brite issue #1?
Several people (including myself) were given the opportunity to read advanced preview copies of Rainbow Brite: Issue #1 and the reviews have been unanimously positive! You can watch my spoiler-free first-impression review here, and you'll find links to many other reviews below:
Since we've seen such great interviews from the comic's author, I thought it would be fun (and informative!) to interview someone from Hallmark who has overseen the project from the beginning. Thankfully, Kevin Dilmore, senior writer and PopMinded host for Hallmark, was more than happy to talk to me and answer some questions! Check it out :)
Jeremy Whitley, author of the upcoming Rainbow Brite comic series, has been conducting interviews to answer questions about this exciting new project. I got to conduct one of those interviews myself! But I wanted to include links to all of his interviews here so that you'll be up-to-date on all of the latest developments in this upcoming story. Check 'em out! Each interview leaves me more and more excited to read this new chapter in Rainbow Brite's history!
When the news broke about the upcoming Rainbow Brite comic book, several fans took to Twitter to announce their excitement. Here are some great tweet responses from the team working on the comic itself!
Glad you're excited! I may have used your site for reference a time or two!
As fans, we are so lucky to have top-notch individuals working on this project. I truly believe their combined experience and passion will create amazing results. So, without further ado, let's get to know them better!
On July 17th, Dynamite Entertainment and Hallmark announced that they are producing a Rainbow Brite comic book series that will debut in October of this year! The series will be written by Jeremy Whitley and drawn by Brittney Williams. The first issue will have four different covers to choose from (or collect all of *wink*). The first two are drawn by artists Paulina Ganucheau and Tony Fleecs, respectively. The third features familiar artwork from Hallmark, and the fourth will be blank so that you can have your favorite artist draw a unique cover for you!
Additionally, the first cover is being printed in poster form and will be available during San Diego Comic Con at the PopMinded by Hallmark booth (#1505) between 4:00-5:30pm on Saturday. You can even have it signed by the author!
I will be writing multiple blog posts about this, I feel sure, as I get to know more about the team working on this project and any other details that may be revealed before October. But, for now, here is the Press Release, full of exciting information!
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Dynamite Entertainment and Hallmark today announced the classic character Rainbow Brite comes to comics and brings a little color to your life! The adventure begins for children and adults alike, as writer Jeremy Whitley (My Little Pony, Unstoppable Wasp) and artist Brittney Williams (Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!, Goldie Vance) deliver a brand new all-ages monthly series. Following the massive success of younger reader titles such as Grumpy Cat, Boo: The World’s Cutest Dog, and Bob’s Burgers, Nancy Drew, Dynamite Entertainment welcomes the most colorful girl in the world, Rainbow Brite, to their fall 2018 lineup. “Rainbow Brite captured the imaginations of kids born in the ’80s (like myself) as a fantasy heroine who could change the world not just through magic, but through kindness,” stated author Jeremy Whitley. “She is a symbol of what can happen when we all work together and fight back against the shadows that want to drain all of the color from the world.” In Rainbow Brite, Wisp and Willow are best friends who live in a small town. They are inseparable, until one night Wisp discovers something is stealing the color from the world. To escape their grasp, Wisp must use her wits and the help of a new friend…from somewhere else! Then the adventure begins… “The world needs a young hero clad in a rainbow now more than ever in a world where things are often simplified into black and white and it’s easy for people to turn their back on people not like them,” added Whitley. Jeremy Whitley is scheduled to sign Rainbow Brite posters from 4-5:30pm on Saturday, July 21 at the PopMinded by Hallmark booth #1505 at San Diego Comic-Con 2018. “We’re very excited to release this series for younger readers,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “Rainbow Brite has some history in comics, so we’re pleased to bring her back to print with Jeremy’s story which fans of all ages will love.” The debut issue of Rainbow Brite #1 delivers a wide selection of cover variants, providing fans and retailers a chance to collect the whole set! The cover artwork features the talents of Paulina Ganucheau (Zodiac Starforce), Tony Fleecs (My Little Pony), and a classic cover, respectively. A Blank Authentix Edition will be available as a variant for Rainbow Brite #1 featuring the same great story, but with a blank cover for fans to get their favorite artist to draw their version of Rainbow Brite and friends. Rainbow Brite #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August 2018 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in October 2018. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Rainbow Brite #1 with their local comic book retailers. Rainbow Brite #1 will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, Madefire, and Dark Horse Digital.
As my supporters over on Patreon know, I've been creating animated gifs since May while pulling out the best screenshots of various Rainbow Brite episodes for my website. It's a project I've been putting off for years because, honestly, it's a pain in the butt...lol. Getting the screenshots is easy but rifling through tens of thousands of images to pick out a few hundred favorites is mind-numbing. I've been leaving it for my middle-of-the-night insomnia sessions, which there have been many of lately (ugh). So far, I've completed five episodes and shared the resulting gifs with my patrons, and now I'd like to share them with you!
Feel free to use the gifs and screenshots however you wish. There's even an easy-to-use tool on Giphy that allows you to add text to them, so have fun! :) If you're not sure how to use animated gifs on Facebook, this article will teach you how.
Mattel's line of Rainbow Brite dolls in the 1980s was massively successful. It's hard to find a female 80s child that didn't have at least one character from Rainbow Land in her toybox. Launched in 1984, the line of toys ran for three years. Towards the end of the line, in 1986, they created some "Dress-Up" dolls that were similar to their earlier counterparts, but came with removable clothing and accessories. Dress-Up Fashion versions of Rainbow Brite, Moonglow, Tickled Pink, and Stormy were prototyped, photographed, and advertised. Rainbow Brite and Tickled Pink were made available in several countries. Moonglow was exclusively sold in Germany, but Stormy was never actually produced.
This has been a sore spot in the Rainbow Brite fan community for decades. Stormy was given more screen time and lines than Tickled Pink in the Rainbow Brite television show and movie, so why was Tickled Pink produced but not Stormy? Though she had a bit of an attitude, Stormy was relatable and fun. When Rainbow and friends ran into hard times, Stormy was always willing to help - even if her help came with a small dose of snark. Tickled Pink, on the other hand, had no unique personality to speak of. We barely knew her or what her purpose in Rainbow Land was. One can only assume she was produced because "girls like pink." Perhaps the plan was to produce Stormy last, but the line had lost its steam by that time. Whatever the reason, we've been angry about it for a very long time, and have begged multiple toy companies to produce her in subsequent reboot lines to no avail.
If that weren't bad enough, the Stormy prototype(s) that were created and photographed have eluded fans as well. Galacticatt, the Rainbow Brite fandom's expert on prototype dolls, has acquired several over the years, but even she has not been able to track down Stormy. We don't even know who the doll's designer was! It was assumed all hope was lost and proto-Stormy would never see the light of day...until now!
An 80s toy collector recently contacted me with a very interesting story. She'd been collecting vintage toys since the 80s (before they were considered vintage!), but only began giving focus to Rainbow Brite dolls in the last two years. As she began her research, she found information about rare dolls like Moonglow and Stormy, and recalled a purchase she'd made back in 1999. At an estate sale in or near Los Angeles, she had purchased a Dress-Up Rainbow Brite, and what she now recognizes as a Stormy doll!
The room where she found the dolls was full of toys - Rainbow Brite, Barbie, Strawberry Shortcake and more. She would have purchased them all if she could. Apart from the two she bought, she recalled there being another Dress-Up Rainbow Brite, two Tickled Pinks and three Moonglows. Knowing very little about Rainbow Brite and not having access to the internet at the time, she only bought the two she did because she thought they were pretty! Die-hard fans will also know how incredible it is for someone to have had three Moonglow dolls in the United States in 1999! Perhaps some of those were prototypes too. We may never know.
But what I find most interesting and heartbreaking about this story is why the estate sale was taking place at all. The collector spoke with the owner of the house, and it turns out that the toys belonged to her son, who had recently died from AIDS. He had worked in the toy industry and loved collecting dolls. She was moving because she couldn't bear the memories that lived on with her in that house. We don't know his name. We don't know who he worked for. We don't know how he came to own these dolls. All I do know is that I would have loved this man of kindred spirit and wish I could tell him so.
Amazingly, Stormy's new owner did not gain access to the internet until the mid-2000s, and since Rainbow Brite is not her primary fandom, she had no reason to seek out us Color Kids until recently. It astounds me that she's had this incredibly rare piece of Rainbow Brite history in her possession for more than 15 years without knowing what it was; but at the same time, it makes perfect sense. I wouldn't be surprised if other prototype and sample dolls have ended up in similar hands. My prototype and another sample doll I own had similar histories. Therefore, my hope is that more mysteries like this will be uncovered as the years go by. But right now I am THRILLED that the #1 mystery of Rainbow Brite collectors everywhere finally has a resolution. Stormy has been found!!* :D
Stormy's owner sent several pictures of the doll to myself and Galacticatt, and we agree that the doll is legit. The doll's clothes are hiding in a box somewhere in the owner's house, so we don't have pictures of the outfit yet, but she will find and photograph it as soon as possible. So without further ado...pictures!!
So now the big question remains: will we ever get a mass produced Stormy doll??? This beautiful prototype gives me hope :)
*Because we don't have the full history of this doll, I can't say with 100% certainty that she is a prototype; but with everything Galacticatt and I know about Rainbow Brite prototypes, we are 99.99999% sure that she is. If I ever discover that we were wrong, I will update this post.
Let me preface this post by saying that giving tours is not something that Hallmark employees do often, and it is something that the Rainbow Brite team had never done before. When I learned about Rainbow Brite Day and made plans to attend, I reached out to Headquarters to see if a tour could be arranged, but I had no expectations that they would be able to accommodate - especially with only a week's notice. To my delight, not only did they accommodate...they went above and beyond to make it a day that Renee, from RainbowBrite.co, and myself will never forget.
Our main tour guide ended up being Master Arist, Peter Martin, who had created new artwork for Rainbow Brite in recent years, and is still an active part of that team. When someone mentioned his last name, I had an "Oh THAT Peter!" moment, realizing who I was in the presence of. He was a wealth of information and so very kind to spend so much time with us that day. We first toured around different departments of the facility, each with its own theme and energy. It was overwhelming being surrounded by so much creative talent. I can only hope that a tiny bit of it rubbed off on me!
As we rounded a bend, we ran into Brian Pilachowski, who was the Pop-Up Artist on the new book, Rainbow Brite and the Stormy Race. We had a moment to let him know how much we adore his work and get a photo with him before continuing on. During our walk, I spotted something bright and colorful, and instantly knew what it was - the prototype Jumbo Rainbow Brite itty bitty! I had seen her in pictures, but never thought I would get a chance to see her up close. Not only that, we got to hold her and have our picture taken with her! Squee!!
Next we were taken into the inner sanctuary - aka, the archives. Hallmark Archivist, Mark Spencer, met us there and took us in. I assumed we'd have to wear hazmat suits or something, but we did not ;) He had already laid out catalogs, original concept drawings wrapped in plastic, and boxes full of artwork for us to explore. We could take pictures of the catalogs, as all of those items were produced (and I did!), but, as expected, we could not take photographs of the archive artwork. Some of it we had already seen on the official Rainbow Brite Facebook page, but many pieces were brand new to our eyes and gave us the squeals! A particular drawing of Baby Indigo still stands out in my mind as one of the most adorable.
Peter and Mark both genuinely seemed to enjoy showing us the pieces, and we thoroughly enjoyed looking through them! Along with early concepts of characters, and characters in stances we hadn't seen before, we also learned facts, such as unused character names, concept names, and information about worlds. We learned that the Dark Princess (earlier concept and name, Empress Hysteria) lives on her own planet, and the "Prison Planet" she banishes people to is actually a moon that orbits her planet. We also learned that a new concept of Rainbow Brite was sketched out in the early 90s by a company who was absorbed by Hallmark. Nothing ever came of it, but seeing the sketches was mind-blowing! Mark was also having fun trying to find things we hadn't seen before, such as a product display (that Renee happened to already own...lol!) ;)
We took a break from the archives to meet the current team bringing Rainbow Brite back to life. They were all extremely kind and took some time to answer questions and show us some upcoming products. Kara explained why her voice sounded different between the two books (it has to do with the size of the speaker), Jack commiserated that when books come back from the printers, the illustrations are sometimes darker than expected, and Peter said they had intended to use the original head mold for the new Rainbow Brite doll. I still don't think he's sure why it was changed.
Jack also showed us an entirely new Rainbow Brite kids book that will be coming out soon. The colors on his computer screen were SUPER bright and saturated, so I think it's safe to say that many of my illustration complaints have not been his fault. He wanted to show us a second book as well, but we needed to move along in our tour. I'm looking forward to the release of them both. Then they gave us presents! We were not expecting that AT ALL. Molly Wigand was there, and gave us signed copies of her book, Wit and Wisdom of Rainbow Brite. We were given a Rainbow Brite itty bitty for everyone to sign, but ran out of time for them to do the signing (we were having too much fun!). They also gave us each one of the NYCC exclusive Rainbow Brite POP ornaments, of which they only made 100!! We were FREAKING OUT by that point, as we had been truly worried that we wouldn't be able to get our hands on one. It's the most limited Rainbow Brite item ever produced, so to say we were thrilled is an understatement. And to top it all off, Jack gave us original drawings of his artwork and signed them for us! It's a wonder we didn't faint right then and there.
Still reeling from the gifts, Brad Springer, Art Director for Characters and Licensed Properties, ushered us into a room full of products from several properties - Rainbow Brite being among them. Some items we had seen before, some were never produced, posters showed ideas of items that may yet be produced, and we got to see the non-glittery POP ornament (similar to the NYCC exclusive) that will be sold mass market this fall. We also had fun pointing out a couple of errors on a poster of Peter's artwork. Canary Yellow had a star on her cheek, and Champ was named Hammy...right next to the actual Hammy ;)
We also learned that some new products are more popular in other countries. For instance, Japan has licensed Rainbow Brite clothing, towels, etc that we don't have here, and some of the RB Pop items are already being sold in India! Jack Pullan has been designing the TeeSpring shirts that we've gotten over the past few months, so we have him to thank for that. Also, Feeln has given Rainbow Brite back to Hallmark fully. They will no longer be continuing the mini-series they produced in 2014, and Hallmark will be taking over Rainbow Brite's website and social media accounts.
I'm sure I've forgotten half the things I saw and heard. Most of the time, I thought I must be dreaming, and the rest of the time I was on rainbow overload. It was such a magnificent opportunity, it's definitely going down in my list of best days EVER! I want to thank everyone who pulled this together last minute and made it happen. All of those mentioned above, plus Erica and Sarah - you have my undying gratitude for making a life-long dream come true.
You can watch Renee and I squee about our experience that day :D
You can also catch some behind-the-scenes shots of our tour in PopMinded's coverage of Rainbow Brite Day!
On September 10, 2016, Hallmark held a "Rainbow Brite Day" celebration in their Crown Center store near Hallmark Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a day to celebrate the success Rainbow Brite achieved in the 80s, showcase the individuals and products bringing success to the brand today, and tease fans with promises of items still to come. Employees from Headquarters and the store banded together to make the day spectacular, and let me tell you, it was over the rainbow!
Renee Stowe from RainbowBrite.co, our friend Justin (and daughter), and I arrived at the Crown Center mall early to take a peek at what was in store for us that day. We already knew there would be meet and greets with two original designers (Jeanne Slater and Susie Cozad); book signings by illustrator, Jack Pullan, and writers, Melvina Young and Matt Gowan; a reading by the new voice of Rainbow Brite, Kara Goodier; coloring fun and costume contests. What we did not expect were the decorations, displays and coverage of the event.
As soon as we stepped into Crown Center, we were greeted by an enormous rainbow balloon arch. I immediately jumped on the escalators, trying to get a good picture of the magnificent sight. I had come in costume, so a photographer greeted me and asked to take a few shots. I was flattered! And not only had they erected a gigantic rainbow above the store - there were rainbow balloons greeting you at the entrance, along with displays of previously released merchandise, never released merchandise, new merchandise, and original drawings of landscapes and characters from Rainbow Land!
Since we had arrived slightly early, I was first in line to get my books, and other memorabilia, signed. The entire team was absolutely lovely. It was easy to tell that they genuinely enjoyed interacting with fans. They giggled at a few vintage Lurky-themed items I had brought for Jeanne to sign, as she was his creator. They were happy to answer questions and surprise us with new information. The writers of the new books were equally gracious, and Kara, the voice of Rainbow Brite in the new interactive books, was one of the sweetest individuals I've ever met. She was definitely the right choice for the job.
Hallmark's PopMinded crew was there covering the event, and I thoroughly enjoyed being interviewed by them. Christine and Kevin, being geeks themselves, understood the enthusiasm I hold for Rainbow Brite and how ecstatic I was to be in her birthplace. Peter Martin, who has produced new artwork for Rainbow Brite in recent years and actively works on the brand, had his cell phone at the ready to live-stream as much of the event as he could for out-of-town fans. Hallmark Archivist, Mark Spencer, and Art Director for Characters and Licensed Properties, Brad Springer, could also be seen amongst the happy crowd!
The store employees really got into the spirit by dressing in bright colors, wearing Rainbow Brite t-shirts and/or wearing stars and jewels on their cheeks. Not to mention their bright personalities, which could have un-murked even the gloomiest of customers! The activities - coloring, photo-ops, readings, costume contests - were all expertly executed. There were a few adult cosplayers, but the kids really took the cake in the costume department. There were a handful of little Rainbow Brites and a gaggle of the most colorful kids I've ever seen. They were clearly having an amazing time, and all of the parents I spoke with were also childhood fans of Rainbow Brite - so they were thrilled to attend as well.
As if that weren't enough, we also got a sneak peak at a new doll and a new ornament that will be debuting in stores this fall. I can't tell you how excited I am to know that Hallmark's line of Rainbow Brite merchandise still has a bright future ahead of it!
This celebration alone was so amazing that it would have justified my flying from North Carolina last minute to attend it, but the fun didn't end there. I got to meet several adult Rainbow Brite fans in person who I had previously only known online. One in particular, Brian, joined my Rainbow Brite mailing list in the year 2000, so I'd known him for more than 15 years! He has always been a valuable part of the fandom, so it was a real treat to give him a hug and express some of that gratitude in person. Another fan, Jane, has been on the Rainbow Brite message boards since at least 2005, if not earlier. It's wonderful to meet people in person whom you've known online for more than a decade! Especially when they are as sweet as Jane!! Jane's fiance, Michael, and another fan, Myra (and son), joined our brigade of Color Kids. And last, but absolutely not least, was our good friend, Justin, who helped make this weekend possible.
We made a few purchases in the Hallmark store, had some lunch, tried to recreate the photo of Rainbow Brite standing in front of the Hallmark Cards building, and even spent some time with Anita Marra Rogers, who sculpted the last two Rainbow Brite ornaments! Basically, we were having so much fun that, in the blink of an eye, the mall was closing and it was time to leave.
The day felt like a miniature Rainbow Brite convention, which is something Hallmark has never attempted before. It's difficult to put into words how amazing the experience was. I flew in from North Carolina, Renee flew in from Florida, and Jane and Michael drove four hours from St. Louis to be there - and that was only with a week and a half's notice that it was taking place! I'm sure if we had known about the event earlier, even more fans would have made the trip to Rainbow Brite mecca. My hope is that this will become a regular event in Kansas City and across the country in other stores. Perhaps this could even be the beginning of a larger event to come. A girl can dream!
I want to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone who pitched in and made this event a reality. We appreciate your efforts so very much, and you all did an amazing job! I hope to see you again someday.
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Here are more pictures and some video from the event as well:
