If you were a star in the 1980's then it was guaranteed there was a lunch box with your picture on it. Metal lunch boxes for children featuring popular characters from cartoons, movies, and television shows were a sign of the times. I have fond memories of the tin Empire Strikes Back lunch box that I took to school during my elementary school years. Illumination Entertainment, the animation film production company behind Despicable Me, Minions, and Secret Life of Pets, recently sent A Geek Daddy one of these retro style lunch boxes featuring Balthazar Bratt to tease the upcoming release of Despicable Me 3 which will be arriving at theaters across the United States next summer on June 30, 2017.
Who is Balthazar Bratt? He's a former child actor who was an international sensation during the 1980's for his role in the top-rated TV show Evil Bratt (1985 - 1987). Bratt received numerous accolades from the role including back-to-back Kids' Pick Awards for Heart-Throb-biest Leading Actor and a top spot on the Forbes12-Under-12 List. At the height of his popularity though, disaster struck! Balthazar hit puberty in the middle of the show's third season and overnight he was no longer the cute, fresh-faced kid who had charmed TV audiences as his voice cracked while delivering lines and acne began covering his face. His show was cancelled before the final episode of the season could even air and Balthazar Bratt never resurfaced publicly.
It appears from the hint sent by Illumination Entertainment in the form of the mysterious Evil Bratt lunch box that arrived at my house along with a profile page printed out from the online information source Despikipedia that Balthazar is planning a comeback with a vengeance as Gru's adversary in Despicable Me 3. What dastardly plans does Balthazar Bratt have in store for the world? Will the Minions save the day? You'll have to find out by going to see the movie when it comes out!
** A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free to review **
My daughter always has a "berry" good time watching the Strawberry Shortcake videos that are released by Fox Home Entertainment. So when we got our hands on the newest one, "Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Hi-Tech Fashion," she couldn't wait to jump on the couch with her Lemon Meringue rag doll and a bowl of popcorn to enjoy herself watching the DVD. This 66 minute animated presentation is divided into three sweet adventures that have Strawberry Shortcake and her friends showing off their stylish sides while demonstrating the importance of always trying your best in the challenges life throws your way.
When I was a kid, all the girls in my neighborhood collected Strawberry Shortcake dolls that smelled like each character's personality -- blueberry muffin, lemon meringue, raspberry tart, and of course strawberry shortcake. These were all the rage with my sister and all her friends as we grew up in the 80's and now parents can share these same dolls that provided so manygreat playtime memories thanks to The Bridge Direct Inc. They've created special reproductions of these classic dolls from the 1980s that include all the original details -- including their berry sweet scents -- in both the vintage action figure and rag doll designs. These Strawberry Shortcake dolls are available at a variety of retail locations across the United States including Kmart, meijer, RITE AID, Spencer's, Target, Toys R Us, Walgreen's and Walmart.
The Bridge Direct's rag dolls are great for little girls to snuggle while enjoying a Strawberry Shortcake video from Fox Home Entertainment. After watching one of these videos, my daughter likes to reenact or expand upon the adventure she watched on DVD or Digital HD by playing with her classic Strawberry Shortcake dolls. These dolls with the original 1980's design also have some fun accessories available (The Berry Bake Shop, Berry House Playset & Strawberry Shortcake Scooter) which can further immerse children within the world of Strawberry Shortcake as they play.
Children can help Strawberry Shortcake create delicious cakes and pies with The Berry Bake Shop. What treats will your child want to imagine making and baking in the playset's oven with the included mix and match cakes and pies kitchen accessories? A vintage inspired sweet-scented doll is included to inspire kids imaginary baking creations.
Take Strawberry Shortcake's pet cat Custard for a spin around Berry Bitty City in the scooter created for these classic dolls. Safety first so make sure the rider is wearing the included helmet. A Custard cat figure with the strawberry themed scooter. Dolls to ride it must be purchased separately.
Party like it is 1980 with the Strawberry Shortcake Berry House playset. This retro-inspired doll house is not just great for inspiring kids to be creative in playing with their Strawberry Shortcake dolls but is a convenient way to store them as well. It includes party accessories like balloons, cakes and drinks. Plus it comes with a classic Strawberry Shortcake doll in a party dress along with a cat figure of her pet Custard.
To celebrate the release of STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE: BERRY HI-TECH FASHION on Digital HD and DVD, A Geek Daddy has a berry special prize pack to giveaway to one lucky blog reader or social media follower courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment and The Bridge Direct. The prize pack includes the Digital HD version of the Berry Hi-Tech Fashion video along with a Strawberry Shortcake rag doll and Berry House Playset from The Bridge Direct Inc. To be eligible for this giveaway you must follow
@Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweet
embedded below before November 13, 2016 @ 11:59 pm EST.
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE: BERRY HI-TECH FASHION is now available from Fox Home Entertainment on DVD at retailers across the USA and via Digital HD Internet downloads. The hour long video features three short stories: "Berry Double Trouble," "Berry Bitty Adventure," and "High Tech Drama." When Strawberry Shortcake and her friends' favorite "berrynet" show announces a fashion tech contest, the girls put their heads together to show off their sensational style! But with the pals busy with their designs, there's "Berry Double Trouble" as two bickering twins, Sweet and Sour Grapes, try to keep the Berry Bake Shop running smoothly. The arrival of Strawberry's traveling cousin, Apple Dumplin, also throws things off-balance as everyone works to make their unexpected guest feel welcome in "Berry Bitty Adventurer." And as they prepare to unveil their berryriffic work, a little "High Tech Drama" threatens to unravel it all. Good thing these berry best friends know that sweet rewards come to those who work together!
DISCLAIMER & GIVEAWAY RULES
A Geek Daddy has not been financially compensated for this
endorsement or hosting the giveaway but has received the featured items free to review and for our family's personal use. The prize is provided by Fox Home Entertainment and The Bridge Direct Inc. A Geek Daddy is hosting the promotion as a
benefit to our readers. Must be a US
resident over the age of 18 to participate. One entry per person and
winner will be randomly selected
from all eligible entries. Winner when notified by DM to their Twitter
account has 48 hours to reply by providing a valid email and valid mailing address within the United States to accept the
prize. The provided Email address will only be utilized by A Geek Daddy for providing a digital download code for the video to the winner. The Bridge Direct Inc. will be responsible for shipping the doll portion of the prize pack to the winner. By participating in this promotion you
waive
any liability of any kind
against the publisher of this blog.
I'm dating myself but when I was a kid the new high-tech toy was going to the arcade in my hometown to play DONKEY KONG. I spent a fortune in quarters jumping barrels trying to rescue the lovely Pauline. This game featured the first appearance of Mario who later rose to fame with the video game Super Marion Brothers, for its time had better gameplay than the other games out at that time and was the best selling arcade machine of the early 80s. As we play Playstation 4 in our living room, my kids don't believe me that when I was a child we had to go to places to play video games rather than just sit on your own coach and turn on the tv. I try to use Chuck E. Cheese to explain it to them but that pizza chain has really become more about mechanical rides and skee ball than video games so they didn't really get the connection. Oh how the times have changed, but I still have fond memories of warm summer evenings watching the neon lights flicker on the video screen as I took on the evil Donkey Kong trying to save the day.
Nintendo who produced the game and owns its rights to boost its home video game platform sales so far has been reluctant to allow its classic games like Donkey Kong and Super Mario Brothers to turned into apps that can be played on smart phones and tablets. That is a bummer but probably helping me stay productive and not losing track of time while dodging barrels and grabbing coins on my phone's screen all the time. You can though now play DONKEY KONG for FREE on your Internet Browser by visiting ArcadeYum.com.
Time warp back to the 1980s with this online game that provides the basic controls of left-right-up-down and jump as you try to make your way up the construction site to rescue your kidnapped girlfriend from the dreaded Donkey Kong. Here's a screen capture of a game I recently played on my PC on the AracadeYum website. Note you have to use Flash to be able to play the game but this may work on some tablets and phones that have compatibility.
Be aware that ArcadeYum doesn't charge any money for you to play the games on their website but they do download some software that allows them to target you with advertisements when you are online. I've found that if you click this link the website doesn't download this software but if you visit this link it won't allow you to play without downloading the software. For more information about ArcadeYum's software downloads, what they do and how to remove them, click here. So far I haven't seen the ArcadeYum software listed on my computer or seen any advertisements generated by it so I think you're clean if you use the flash version of the game in the first link I posted. Just be alert to click cancel or no if you are prompted to download anything when you visit this website unless you are OK with receiving advertisements from them and having some of your Internet browsing habits tracked.
