Rainbow Brite (DIC | Saturday Morning Cartoons)

Rainbow Brite, originally introduced as a young girl named Wisp, is the titular protagonist of the media franchise created by Hallmark Cards. The character debuted in animated form in 1984 through syndicated television specials produced by DIC Entertainment, with the first episode "Peril in the Pits" airing on June 27, 1984, followed by the origin story in "The Beginning of Rainbow Land." In this narrative, Wisp arrives in a dark, colorless world, discovers the magical Color Belt, defeats the King of Shadows, and is renamed Rainbow Brite by the Sphere of Light, assuming responsibility for restoring and protecting the colors of the universe.

Rainbow Brite wields the power of the Color Belt to generate Star Sprinkles, magical crystals that bring vibrancy and happiness to dull environments. She resides in Rainbow Land, accompanied by her faithful sprite Twink, her talking horse Starlite—described as the most magnificent horse in the universe—and the seven Color Kids, each managing a specific color with the assistance of sprites who mine color crystals. Her primary adversaries include Murky Dismal and his sidekick Lurky, who perpetually scheme to eliminate color and impose gloom, highlighting Rainbow Brite's role as a steadfast guardian of joy and optimism.

The franchise achieved significant expansion with the 1985 theatrical film Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer, which introduced elements such as the planet Spectra and characters like Krys and Stormy. Following the original series' conclusion in 1986, Rainbow Brite saw a revival in 2014 with a three-part animated miniseries that modernized the story. In 2024, further developments included announcements of new television programming and a feature film, reinforcing the character's enduring cultural impact as a symbol of color, creativity, and positivity across multiple generations.