Rose Petal Place

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Rose Petal Place was an American-produced animated film from 1984, with a corresponding line of toy dolls made by Kenner. The concept for Rose Petal Place was created by David Kirschner and the film was written by Mal Marmorstein.

According to the introduction to the movie: "Rose Petal Place began a long time ago when a girl was moving away from her lovely home and garden. She cried for her beloved garden because no one would be there to take care of her flowers. She didn't want them to perish so she made a sercret wish that the flowers would live forever...

Out of this magical wish, combined with her tears of love, brought Rose Petal and all of her friends (Lily Fair, Daffodil, Orchid, Sunny Sunflower, and Iris) to life. They still reside in this garden tending the little girl's flowers. Rose Petal made her home out of a teapot that was left there and turned it into "palace." And so begins the tale...."

Rose Petal dolls were markedly similar to the sweets-themed Strawberry Shortcake and color-themed Rainbow Brite dolls. As in those lines, the characters' pastoral lives are interrupted only by the nefarious plots of a bumbling adult villain or two.

The primary characters of Rose Petal Place (introduced in the first movie) were:

Rose Petal, a pink-haired, pink-clad doll whose singing keeps the other flowers alive. In the cartoon, Rose Petal was voiced by Marie Osmond.
Sunny Sunflower, a yellow haired and clad tomboy who tells jokes to make the other flowers laugh. She is Rose Petal's closest companion.
Iris, a purple and white clad painter. In similarity with other doll lines of the time, Iris is a token character of African ethnicity.
Orchid, a purple clad shopaholic with white hair.
Lily Fair, a blue haired and clad ballet dancer.
Daffodil, another yellow haired and clad doll, this one obsessed with finance.
Nastina, a widow spider who attempts to thwart the flowers' happiness, and even to kill Rose Petal on one occasion. As is the case for most villains from 1980's doll lines, no concrete reason is given for Nastina's aggression other than her general sense of jealousy. Nastina is assisted by a horsefly, Horace. (Horace was NOT a doll).

David Kirschner Productions created a second movie in 1985 called "Rose-Petal Place, Real Friends]]". This second movie introduced six new characters, which Kenner scheduled to be released as dolls shortly after. Unfortunately, although prototypes and marketing samples were made, the entire line was discontinued before the dolls could hit the shelves; today only designers at Kenner are likely to see these dolls in person.

The second series of dolls included:

Cherry Blossom, a token Asian character wearing a costume similar to a cherry pink kimono
Sweet Violet, a light blue haired and clad actress
Fuchsia, a dark purple haired doll with fuschia clothing and a taste for clothing design
Gladiola, a blonde doll with light pink clothes and a taste for tap dancing
Marigold, an orange haired and clad organizer of events
Canterbury Belle, a pink haired and clad baker