Prime Video ventures into the vibrant, and potentially volatile, world of Lisa Frank with its new four-part docuseries, Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story, premiering Tuesday, December 5. The series offers a look behind the ubiquitous rainbow-colored brand that defined a generation’s school supplies, exploring both its meteoric rise and subsequent challenges.
While the Lisa Frank aesthetic is synonymous with playful imagery and unadulterated joy, Glitter and Greed suggests a more complex narrative lies beneath the surface. The docuseries aims to uncover the untold story of Lisa Frank Inc., promising a “stranger-than-fiction” account that moves beyond the brightly-colored trappings to examine the company’s evolution and internal dynamics.
The series features a rare interview with Lisa Frank herself, providing a crucial firsthand perspective. Adding further depth are conversations with former employees, passionate collectors, and journalists who have followed the brand’s trajectory. The inclusion of never-before-seen footage hints at a wealth of archival material that could offer new insights into the company’s history.
Several key questions loom. Will Glitter and Greed reveal a disconnect between the brand’s cheerful facade and the realities of its business operations? Will it be a purely nostalgic celebration, or will it offer a more nuanced examination of the challenges faced by a unique brand in a competitive market? The series has the potential to be both a potent dose of ’90s nostalgia and a revealing look at the complexities of building and maintaining a distinctive brand identity.
Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story premieres Tuesday, December 5, on Prime Video.
Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story is produced by Maxine Productions (part of Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction) for Prime Video. Executive producers are Mary Robertson, Lisa Kalikow, Eli Holzman, and Aaron Saidman. Arianna LaPenne is the director and co-executive producer.
