Jem is an American animated television series that ran from 1985 to 1988 in U.S. first-run syndication. The show is about a singer, Jem, her band the Holograms, and their adventures. Catch phrases from the show included "Showtime, Synergy!" and "Outrageous!" (the latter usually associated with supporting character Kimber).
The series was a joint collaboration between Hasbro and Sunbow Productions, the same team responsible for GI Joe and Transformers, and was intended to target female viewers. The creator of the series was Christy Marx who also had been a staff writer for the aforementioned programs. The animation was provided by a japanese animation studio called Toei Doga(now Toei Animation).
Despite the fact that the show was originally designed by Hasbro for the purpose of marketing a line of dolls, it was acclaimed for its interweaving storylines and complex backstory, which were almost unheard of in an animated television series at the time. The show also features one-minute music videos, tying it in with the concept of MTV and its burgeoning popularity. The animated series still retains a very loyal fan-following.
The show was originally designed to appeal to both girls and boys, with a mix of action/adventure,drama, music, and fashion. It was first slotted as a 6 minute cartoon that aired during Super Sunday (or "Super Saturday" depending on the market) along with the boy-oriented properties Bigfoot and the Muscle Machines, Robotix, and Inhumanoids. In spite of it being the only girl-oriented show in the lineup, Jem proved to be the most popular of the four. Originally the main character was called "Misty" and then "M," but that idea was dropped due to the inability to trademark a letter. As the show progressed, it became more and more targeted towards young girls. There were also two different theme songs. The first ("Jem is excitement... Jem is adventure...") was originally the song used for the toy commercials (a practice used for other Sunbow/Marvel productions based on Hasbro properties). Later episodes featured a more girl-oriented theme ("Me and my friends are Jem girls...").
Jerrica Benton is the owner of Starlight Music and the Starlight Foundation, which is a foster home for young girls. But by using her earrings to project a holographic image over herself, she is transformed into her alter ego Jem, the lead singer for the successful music group, Jem and the Holograms. Other members of the group are Jerrica's sensitive little sister Kimber, the strong-willed Aja, and the creative Shana. The group's rivals are The Misfits, made up of the cold-hearted Pizzazz, the tough-acting Roxy, and the humble Stormer. Jem and her friends are always involved in glamorous and exciting adventures around the world, while touching people's hearts with their hit songs. Written by Anonymous
