Rainbow Brite breaks her silence! Voice actor of beloved cartoon reveals secrets to show’s success after 40 years
As I reflect upon Betsy Bush’s remarkable journey, I am truly inspired by her resilience and determination. Born into a family that encouraged her dreams, she started acting at the tender age of four, playing a lamb in a Christmas pageant. Her parents, especially her father – the first Black US Air Force Academy graduate and first Black page for the US Supreme Court – instilled in her a strong sense of self-worth and the freedom to pursue her passion.
40 years since its initial airing, the actress who lent her voice to the renowned cartoon character, Rainbow Brite, shares her thoughts on the series’ enduring popularity.
Bettina Bush, who initially played the title character at just 12 years old, found it incredibly simple to describe why Rainbow Brite remains popular – a fact she readily acknowledged.
Bush, 52, stated to People that she is like a shining example of hope. She embodies and surrounds herself with everything that ignites children’s enthusiasm and passion for life.
She added that the title character’s cheerfulness could be infectious.
‘If you’re feeling down, look up. You might see a rainbow. Everybody feels that way,’ she added.
Bush went on to explain how she came to voice the classic children’s cartoon character.
Back in the year of the Olympics and Michael Jackson’s Thriller, when I was still a kid myself, I can’t forget the thrill of being part of The Littles production team at only 12! It was my first step into the world of television, and it left an indelible mark on my heart.
At the time, The Littles’ producers approached her about auditioning for a new show.
In their own words, Bush shared that a sketch of a girl called Wisp, predominantly in shades of black and white, was presented to them. They posed the question, “What might her voice sound like?” Without hesitation, Bush provided the voice, eventually securing the role.
After joining forces with a fairy named Twink and a chatty horse called Starlight, Wisp will assume the role of the main character in their quest to acquire the Color Belt.
Through her efforts, she managed to free the Color Children from the clutches of the Shadow King, and in doing so, brought back vibrant colors to the magical realm, now known as Rainbow Kingdom.
The initial run included five unique TV specials, a movie titled “Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer” (released in 1985), and a regular TV season broadcast on syndicated channels between 1986 and 1987.
Rainbow Brite made her debut on television the very same year she transformed into a popular Hallmark greeting card character. Later on, her design was granted to Mattel for the production of a series of kids’ toys.
In 2014, a fresh three-episode adaptation of Rainbow Brite was broadcasted on Hallmark’s streaming platform Feeln. The voice cast included Emily Osment, known for her role in Young Sheldon, as the title character, and Molly Ringwald lending her voice to the villain, the Dark Princess.
Recently, it was announced that Crayola Studios and Hallmark have teamed up to create a new movie for theaters and a TV show based on the beloved character, Rainbow Brite.
According to the show’s summary: ‘Rainbow Brite, a cherished companion, guardian, exemplar, and creative muse who spreads vibrant hues across the cosmos, is suddenly whisked away to a dismal, drab realm on a quest to return color, brightness, and joy to the world.’
The latest series seems to be moving away from the traditional hand-drawn style that defined the original, opting instead for the contemporary approach of computer-generated imagery.
Looking back, Bush disclosed that it wasn’t until they noticed the overwhelming demand for a Rainbow Brite-themed album, featuring songs sung by the character, that the show’s creators truly understood the impact and popularity of the character.
Initially, the producers aimed to recruit a seasoned vocalist for the album named “Paint A Rainbow In Your Heart.” However, when they couldn’t find a singer whose voice harmonized perfectly with Bush’s, they decided to let Bush attempt to provide the voice for Rainbow Brite instead.
She shared with everyone that they initially made her perform “Happy Birthday,” which turned out successfully. Following this, she sang “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie, since she had just starred in its recent production.
Following the melody, Bush was reminded of the statement: “Alright, fantastic. Rainbow Brite is getting an album, and we’ll require your vocals for her.
She commented: ‘Upon the release of that album, and its immense popularity, it struck me then that this might be something more significant.’
Back then, Bush had already shown an early inclination towards acting, as young as four years old, when she portrayed a lamb in a Christmas play’s nativity scene.
‘I was super meticulous about getting my lines right,’ she said, adding that she ‘got them right.’
It was beneficial that her parents, particularly her father, Charles V. Bush, who was the first Black U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and the first Black page for the U.S. Supreme Court, were extremely supportive in assisting her pursue her aspirations in acting.
My father’s past shaped him into a person who strongly emphasized self-identity. He always stressed, “Be true to yourself, and never let others define you. Make them understand who you are.” I vividly remember this advice, as it resonated with me deeply. My father was not only accepting of my individuality but also unconditionally supportive, provided I maintained good grades, which I managed consistently.
She added that her parents’ support gave her a lot of ‘freedom’ to experiment with an acting career.
Bush, the father of a 14-year-old daughter named Cassie and a 13-year-old son named Jesse, later landed various acting gigs, which included providing voices for characters in the shows Rugrats and its follow-up series titled All Grown Up.
Apart from that, she gained recognition through singing various ‘I’m Lovin’ It’ jingles for McDonald’s commercials and is well-known in the gaming world due to her portrayal of Gloria (previously voiced by Jada Pinkett Smith) in the Madagascar video game series.
As a devoted admirer, I must share that Bush presently seems to be absent from the forthcoming Rainbow Brite reboot. However, in her own words, she expressed a heartfelt desire to join this project, should the opportunity arise.
She expressed that it would bring great joy for her to participate, contribute a part, even compose a tune, and feel included in the process.
Read More
- MANA PREDICTION. MANA cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- TRUMP PREDICTION. TRUMP cryptocurrency
- The end of Superhero TV on broadcast may usher in an era that leaves a generation behind
- VET PREDICTION. VET cryptocurrency
- KAIA PREDICTION. KAIA cryptocurrency
- EUR USD PREDICTION
- DOGE PREDICTION. DOGE cryptocurrency
- POLYX PREDICTION. POLYX cryptocurrency
- NAKA PREDICTION. NAKA cryptocurrency
2024-12-05 02:22