‘Pepper Ann’: Pepper Ann Much Too Cool Not To Be On DVD: A Letter to Disney

 

This guest post by Janyce Denise Glasper appears as part of our theme week on Children’s Television.

Dear Disney,

Sue Rose saved my life.

Seriously.

Instead of taking another princess film out of the precious vault, consider bringing out something more genuine and heartfelt. Release every single Pepper Ann episode on DVD. Now.

Why?

Well, it began long ago. I just started freshman year of high school and still adored the Fox Kids lineup of X-Men, Spiderman, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I had Storm, Rogue, Jubilee, Mary Jane, and April O’Neil for breakfast.

Then on an opposing channel, Rose came about.

This female animator penciled in a unique, oddball heroine to ABC’s Disney-dominated One Saturday Morning.

And that character’s name was Pepper Ann Pearson- much too cool for seventh grade.

She didn’t wear a cape or have superhuman abilities, but happened to have one of the best theme songs ever!

 

Behind black rounded glasses is Pepper Ann–a puffy red haired chick wearing eccentric style complete with black and white sneakers. An overall normal girl living in a normal world. In the town of Hazelnut, this humorous hip nerd lit up our shared television screen over vast bowls of high sugared cereal bowls. Like my sister, tomboy Pepper Ann played video games, adored roller blades, and sports while Pepper Ann’s precocious best friend Nicky loved books and had an indie spirit vibe like me. Wide range of diverse characters included Pepper Ann and Nicky’s other bff Hawaiian Milo, a rotund Swiss boy, typical popular blond chicks, and African American twins. There seemed to be a treat for everyone.

The series revolved around teenage problems like zits, first kisses, awkwardness, fitting in, and questioning identity. Pepper Ann doesn’t want to be considered a freak, but it’s freakiness, it’s weirdness that gives her charm, gives her strength. She’s someone that definitely needs to be around today. This female character could give girls that one shining example that it doesn’t matter how others see them– it’s how they see themselves. When Pepper Ann hung out with eighth grade girls and then confessed that she wasn’t one of them, they still saw her as “cool.” It’s wonderful validation that she didn’t need.

Pepper Ann also showed that boys and girls could be the best of friends- a solid dynamic worthy of applause. It sets a positive example that there’s nothing wrong with adolescent male and female companionship. Pepper Ann, Nicky, and Milo are a unit. They’re inseparable. Although at times, this closeness appeared to be a problem especially with that of Milo questioning his “manliness” and Pepper Ann wanting to focus on her crush- Craig the eighth grader. Of course, they have other fights, but they come together like glue in the end.

Pepper Ann lives with her single mom and skateboard loving younger sister, Moose.

I love that Pepper Ann’s moral conscious talks to her almost every episode. The essence is Pepper Ann, but it’s far more than mirrored image. Crossword puzzle squares and even a plate of cafeteria beans and wieners warps into Pepper Ann’s visage! It’s creative storytelling genius! The wiser mental part of Pepper Ann always reveals right moral ground.

In watching it now, one cannot help noticing feminist hints weaved into whimsical, offbeat animation. There were episodes focused on equal rights for men and women and even ageism.

For example, in “Single, Unemployed,” Pepper Ann’s mom quits her job at a mall fashion boutique. Her boss needed her. Female customers had formed a bond that couldn’t be forged with the male shop owner. She struggled to find another. It illustrated real life situation of being under qualified or overqualified, but being also being a persistent mother who wouldn’t give up. Her boss gave her the job back, allowed her to sell sarongs, and made her partner!

 

In “Dances With Ignorance,” Pepper Ann is exited to learn about her Native background. Instead of being respectful and considerate, she acts out in complete stereotypes including making inappropriate sounds, wearing her hair like “Pocahontas” (tossing deliberate shade at an offensive depiction) offending the visiting family. She ultimately apologizes for ignorant behavior. It provided an effective way of teaching kids that messages seen in popular media aren’t necessarily true and can be hurtful to a culture. We as a society must hold differing histories in high regard and realize that this issue is still such a sensitive issue.

The vocal stars are a dream, too. Clea Lewis, Jenna Oy, Bebe Neuwirth, King of the Hill alums Pamela Adlon, Kathy Najimi, and the late Brittany Murphy, Inspector Gadget‘s late Don Adams and Cree Summer and the late James Avery.

So please consider finally releasing Pepper Ann on DVD. It’s like quirky, awesome, “one in a million” television. A cartoon, yes, but Pepper Ann’s crazy antics never gets old! It would be a dream come true to see a new generation being influenced by this special, humorous girl.

Or at least stop blocking people from putting up episodes on Youtube.

Thanks,

Janyce

 

---

Janyce Denise Glasper is a nerdy afrocentric vegan artist, writer, and film/TV buff from Dayton, Ohio. Currently residing in Philly, she holds a BFA in drawing from the Art Academy of Cincinnati and Post Baccalaureate certificate from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She will continue MFA studies at PAFA whilst running http://afroveganchick.blogspot.com/ and http://femfilmrogues.blogspot.com/, eating cherry chocolate bars, drinking Starbucks, attending film festivals, and slaying vampires Buffy style!