Bratz (TV series)

Bratz (also known as Bratz: The Series) is an American computer animated television series based on a line of toy dolls of the same name.[1] It is produced by Mike Young Productions, MGA Entertainment, and distributed by Lionsgate Television and premiered on Cartoon Network and 4Kids TV. The show aired from September 10, 2005 to October 14, 2006. In 2008, after a hiatus, the show was renewed for season 2. The show is about four female teenagers who run their own teen magazine.

Bratz
GenreAdventure
Comedy
Based onBratz
by Carter Bryant
Developed byPeggy Nicoll
Written byPeggy Nicoll
Directed byMucci Fassett
Voices of
Season 1

Season 2

Theme music composerMatthew Gerrard
Opening theme"Bratz TV Theme" by Lauren Evans
Ending theme"Bratz TV Theme" (instrumental)
Composer(s)Matthew Gerrard
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes40 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)Isaac Larian
Producer(s)
Editor(s)Michael Bradley
Running time21 minutes
Production company(s)
DistributorLionsgate Television
Release
Original networkCartoon Network
4Kids TV
Picture format
Original releaseSeptember 10, 2005 (2005-09-10) – February 26, 2008 (2008-02-26)
Chronology
Followed byBratzillaz

The voice actors are Olivia Hack, Soleil Moon Frye, Tia Mowry, Dionne Quan, Wendie Malick, Lacey Chabert, and Kaley Cuoco. In season 2, not only the voice actors were different, but replaced with Canadian voice actors as well, Britt McKillip, Britt Irvin, Dorla Bell, Maryke Hendrikse, Ellie Harvie, Kelly Sheridan, and Ashleigh Ball all star in season 2. Other Bratz shows such as Bratzillaz and Bratz: C.I.Y. Shoppe Webseries have a different plot and they serve as reboots. Bratz also had a lot of films. Some of them had the Bratz Babyz and Bratz Kidz characters or the Bratz in their original style. They featured different voice actors for both seasons. The show also spawned video games based on the films.

Plot

Set in the fictional city of Stylesville, the show revolves around four teenagers (Cloe, Jade, Sasha, Yasmin) running their own teen magazine, titled "Bratz", while struggling school life at Stiles High School. Their rival magazine is "Your Thing", owned and run by the proud and demanding self-proclaimed "Reigning Queen of Fashion" Burdine Maxwell, and her mean identical twin interns Kirstee and Kaycee, known infamously as "the Tweevils". Accompanied by their friends Dylan, Cameron and Ethan, the girls' issues are exploited throughout the series, both in and outside of Stylesville.

Characters

Main characters

Bratz Magazine

Cloe (Angel) (voiced by Olivia Hack in season 1; Britt McKillip in season 2): Cloe is charge of the "Dear Cloe" column in the magazine, where readers write to her for teen advice. She is characterised by her romantic, dreamy and outgoing attitude, as well as her highly dramatic tendencies, hence specialising in acting and debating. Although she enjoys shopping and fashion, she plays in a tomboy side through skateboarding and riding a motorcycle. Her love interest is Cameron.

Sasha (Bunny Boo) (voiced by Tia Mowry in season 1; Dorla Bell in season 2): Sasha is the music editor of the group and specializes in hip-hop dancing and creating songs. She is described by her bold and sassy attitude, although this can sometimes backfire and make her become perfectionistic and controlling. Like Cloe, she can be a tomboy sometimes, which is reflected in her fashion of dressing.

Jade (Kool Kat) (voiced by Soleil Moon Frye in season 1; Britt Irvin in season 2): Jade is the fashion editor of the group with a bubbly, open and sensitive personality. After she gets unreasonably fired from an internship at "Your Thing" magazine by Burdine, the girls decided to make their own magazine.

Yasmin (Pretty Princess) (voiced by Dionne Quan in season 1; Maryke Hendrikse in season 2): Yasmin is the leader of Bratz and the main journalist for the magazine due to her passion for literature. Known for her sensitive, sweet and intelligent personality, she has a strong philanthropic side, owning her own animal shelter. Her love interest is Eitan.

Your Thing Magazine

Burdine Maxwell (voiced by Wendie Malick in season 1; Ellie Harvie in season 2): Burdine is the head of "Your Thing" magazine. She is, in reality, unintentionally responsible for the creation of Bratz magazine after firing Jade unreasonably during the latter's internship. Quick to anger, impatient and bossy, she proclaims herself the "Reigning Queen of Fashion", choosing to uphold this title by dressing constantly in same pink suits and owning over 50 pairs of old-fashioned pink pumps. She dotes on her Miniature Pinscher Royale and has an almost identical-looking sister named Burnice.

Kirstee (voiced by Kaley Cuoco in season 1; Ashleigh Ball in season 2): Kirstee the oldest of the Tweevils who does her bun with a crown-shaped hair tie. Due to being older and more intelligent she tends to lead and facilitate the twins' various operations.

Kaycee (voiced by Lacey Chabert in season 1; Kelly Sheridan in season 2): Kaycee is the youngest of the Tweevils who does her bun with a ribbon-shaped hair tie and has a adhesive bandage on her nose which, according to Sasha, was the result of three nose jobs following accidents involving it. She tends to be less intelligent and has a higher voice than her sister.

Supporting characters

Cameron (voiced by Charlie Schlatter in season 1; Ian James Corlett in season 2): Cameron is a good friend to the Bratz and has a passion for motorcycles. He's in love with Cloe and her main love interest.

Dylan (voiced by Ogie Banks in season 1; Adrian Holmes in season 2): Dylan is another boy who has a habit of annoying the Bratz, usually resulting them in saying "Goodbye Dylan!". Although he is flirtatious and outgoing, he has a heart of gold and is there for the Bratz whenever they need him.

Eitan (voiced by Josh Keaton in season 1; Trevor Devall in season 2): Eitan is a boy who works at a smoothie bar in the mall area of Stylesville. He does not appear as often neither Cameron nor Dylan do. He is in love with Yasmin and in one episode ("Crush in a Rush"), Eitan agreed to ask Yasmin out on a date while in turn, the others would make a magazine article based on it. However, Yasmin learns this from the Tweevils and rejects Eitan in anger, although they later reconcile near the episode's end.

Byron Powell (voiced by Greg Ellis in season 1; Alistair Abell in season 2): Byron is a man from London whom the Bratz (along with Cameron and Dylan) first met in Bratz: Rock Angelz. He lives the double life of being a reality TV show host and a secret agent at the same time, and recruits the Bratz for some of his missions. He appears to be a parody of Simon Cowell (American Idol).

Aloncé (voiced by Cree Summer and singing vocals by Lauren Evans): Aloncé is Sasha's favorite musician. parody of Beyoncé, she only appears in "Sasha's Big Interview" and cutscenes of the video game Bratz: The Movie and she was mentioned in the episode "Not So Hot For Teacher". Her hit singles are "Everything", "My Attitude", and "Shining Like Real Diamondz". She is a R&B singer, has a moon tattoo on the back of her hand and has two platinum CDs. Once, Aloncé went to London to have an interview with Sasha. The Bratz performed a show for her and said "she loved the show". Cree Summer (best known for voicing Susie Carmichael in Rugrats) voices Aloncé. Cree Summer also voices Mandy in Bratz: Passion 4 Fashion Diamondz while Lauren Evans does Aloncé's singing voice.

London Boy and London Girl (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal and Lacey Chabert): London Boy and London Girl only appear in the Bratz: The Movie video game. Their given names are never revealed, but referred as "London Boy" and "London Girl". They live in London and are friends with Bratz. They also appear in the Bratz: Rock Angelz video game, but have no given names and are voiced by different actors (London Boy was voiced by Greg Ellis and London Girl was voiced by Hope Levy). Yuri Lowenthal and Lacey Chabert did British accents to voice the characters as they were American.

Episodes
Main article: List of Bratz episodes

Reception

Despite being defended by fans, Bratz earned negative reviews from critics. Common Sense Media gave the show a 1 star rating, saying that the show might be a bad influence towards kids. Saying "Bratz are the modern-day Barbie dolls whose vampy appearance has upset many parents seeking healthy role models for their daughters." However, the show has developed a cult following amongst its fans since its release.

Ratings

The first season had very good ratings, however the second season had low ratings, which led to the show's cancellation in 2008. The TV series was shown in the United Kingdom where it was popular with young girls, and had a peak of 51,000 viewers.[2]

References
  1. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 93–94. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  2. TV ratings: March 11 | Media | MediaGuardian
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