care bears

The Care Bears are a set of characters created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting cards. The original artwork for the cards was painted by artist Elena Kucharik. In 1983, Kenner took the characters and made the first in a line of very successful teddy bears based on the Care Bears.

Each Care Bear comes in a different color and with a specialised insignia on its belly: for example, "Bedtime Bear" is pastel blue and sports a sleepy-looking anthropomorphised crescent moon, and "Cheer Bear" is pink with a rainbow insignia. A spin-off collection, called the Care Bear Cousins, feature stuffed monkeys, lions, and other such animals in the same style as the teddy bears.

The Care Bears appeared in their own television series from 1985 to 1988, in addition to three feature film spinoffs: The Care Bears Movie (1985), Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) and The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (1987).

As of 2006, Care Bears are still being marketed. The new toys offer features such as light-up bellies when pressed. As part of this comeback, the Bears have appeared in their first two computer-animated movies, Journey to Joke-a-lot (2004) and the Big Wish Movie (2005).

The "Care Bears" trademark and the copyrights in the character designs are owned by Those Characters from Cleveland, part of American Greetings.^[1]

History

Following the success of their first big franchise (Strawberry Shortcake) back in 1979, American Greetings introduced the Care Bear characters in late 1981 through a line of greeting cards. Children's book illustrator, Elena Kucharik, did the original artwork for the cards. The line was developed jointly by Those Characters from Cleveland, AGC's licensing division, and MAD (Marketing and Design Service of the toy group of General Mills).^[2]

As they had done with Strawberry Shortcake back when it was called "Project I", AGC called the Care Bears franchise "Project II" as they strove to make the character program secret until advertising was ready. At the start of the franchise, Care Bears was already established as its working title.^[3]

In 1982, the Care Bears were announced as a toy line for production by Parker Brothers and Kenner the following spring, as well as pre-licensed characters and media stars. In 1983, they were introduced to the general public, and starred in their first television special, The Land Without Feelings, which Kenner produced and sponsored.^[2]

1984 saw the release of another special, The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine; a miniseries based on the toys was distributed by Lexington Broadcast Services Company in syndication. A spin-off line, the Care Bear Cousins, was introduced the same year.^[2]

In 1985, the Bears and Cousins starred in their first movie, produced by Nelvana Limited and released by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. It became the highest-grossing animated film made outside the Disney market at the time of its release. Later that autumn, a television series from DiC Entertainment based on the characters was produced, and ran for 22 episodes in syndication.

The following year, Nelvana took over the animation rights for the franchise with a second movie, entitled Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation. It was released by Columbia Pictures.

Later that fall, The Care Bears Family Storybook (also from Nelvana) premiered on the ABC network, lasting two seasons and over 70 episodes. The Bears' last theatrically-released film, Adventure in Wonderland, debuted the following summer.

As with many other animated franchises of the 1980s, the Care Bears movies and TV shows were designed and created only to sell the pre-licensed characters and related merchandise. This has been noticed, more or less, by the franchise's long-time aficionados.

Over 40 million Care Bears were sold between 1983 and 1987, and during the decade American Greetings printed over 70 million of their cards. In whole, the sales of their merchandise reached over $2 billion during the 1980s.^[4][1] This made them one of the most successful toy lines of its time, alongside My Little Pony and Transformers.

As the decade came to an end, the Bears' popularity faded away. At the start of the 1990s, an attempt to relaunch the phenomenon came in the form of Environmental Care Bears. Only a few select Bears from the 1980s line were used, with some changes that fans of the original toys loathed (for example, Proud Heart Cat was released as a Bear).^[5]

During the late 1990s, another two revivals came out, but both failed to match the success of the original toy line. In 1996, retailer ShopKo released only Tenderheart, Cheer and Bedtime Bear, and during 1999 (in an imitation of Beanie Babies) Kenner made six "beanlings" based on Tenderheart, Share, and Good Luck to name a few.

The same year the beanlings were made, Jay Foreman, president of current distributor, Play Along Toys, bought the rights to the Care Bears franchise for just under $1 million.^[6] Three years later, the Bears came out of hibernation to celebrate their 20th anniversary. A big event was planned for that year as Play Along began to roll out the new product lines. Thus began a major trend as the toys became popular once again.

In the midst of this revival, Play Along has released brand-new toys based on the newly-redesigned Bears, now sold at stores such as Wal-Mart, Kmart, Toys "R" Us, Target, K•B Toys and Mervyns.^[7] The new merchandise features the Bears on aerobics; Tenderheart Bear as a doctor; Champ Bear as a fireman; and the Care Bears themselves as Cubs, to name a few.^[8] In addition, Lions Gate Home Entertainment and subsidiary FHE Pictures (in association with Nelvana) have made two direct-to-DVD computer-animated films featuring the new toys, Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot and The Care Bears' Big Wish Movie.

Main characters

Main articles: List of Care Bears and List of Care Bear Cousins

The franchise consists mainly of the Care Bears themselves, as well as the later additions the Care Bear Cousins. Both of them live in the Kingdom of Caring, which is made up of Care-a-lot (the home of the Care Bears proper) and the Forest of Feelings (home to the Care Bear Cousins).

Accompanying them are the Star and Heart Buddies, who look out for the Bears and Cousins whenever they are on missions in caring; and the Birds, who are usually seen in the Forest of Feelings with the Care Bear Cousins and watch over them. A less recurring character is The Cloud Keeper, the portly gentleman who maintains Care-a-lot. He only appeared in some of the franchise's early publications and on the DiC-produced TV episodes.

The ten original Care Bears comprised of Bedtime Bear, Birthday Bear, Cheer Bear, Friend Bear, Funshine Bear, Good Luck Bear, Grumpy Bear, Love-A-Lot Bear, Tenderheart Bear and Wish Bear. Later on, additional bears joined them, as well as the Cousins.

Throughout movies and series, a variety of villains have occasionally tried to stop the Bears and Cousins on their missions. On the first two specials and DiC television series, they battled against Professor Coldheart; in Nelvana's version, they faced Wizard No Heart, his apprentice Beastly and his niece Shreeky. In the movies, they went up against Nicholas and the Evil Spirit (The Care Bears Movie), Dark Heart (Care Bears Movie II), and The Wizard, Dim and Dumb (Adventure in Wonderland). More recently, the Bears' adversaries have included the Rat King in Care Bears Nutcracker Suite, and Sir Funnybone the rat in Journey to Joke-a-lot.

Defensive line and offensive line

The Care Bears' ultimate "weapon" is the "Care Bear Stare"^{citation needed]}, in which the collected Bears stand together and radiate light from their respective tummy symbols, combining to form a ray of love and good cheer which could bring care and joy into the target's heart. The "Care Bear Stare" has several different looks. One has a beam coming from the tummy being made up of several replicated images of the symbol. Another variation forms a rainbow when multiple Bears and/or Cousins are involved. A yellow beam with red hearts is sometimes seen as well.

During the movies, especially the sequel, the Care Bear Cousins call their weapon "Care Bear Cousins Call." In the second movie, the Call looks like a musical score, and the cousins, excluding Swift Heart Rabbit, use whatever animal noises is common to that animal (in the first movie, the Cousins simply make animal noises since they do not have any tummy symbols; those are later given to them by the Care Bears at the end of the movie). In the first animated series, while functionally identical, the Care Bears call their weapon "Care Bear Stare", while the cousins call their weapon "Care Bear Cousins Call".

Merchandise

Apart from toys, greeting cards and animated media, the Care Bears have been featured in a lot of merchandise as well, some of which includes gummi bears (pictured right), party goods, cell phone covers, interior decoration sets, stickers, clothing accessories and many other goods.^[7]

Care Bears Gummi Bears, and Valentine Care Bears Gummi Bears, are a small candies that are shaped like bears, and come in many different colors. On the box, there are Care Bears characters. Otherwise, these are just like regular Gummi bears.

Books

Main article: List of Care Bears books

Many children's books have been based on, and have featured, the Care Bears and Care Bear Cousins. Some notable publications include Meet the Care Bear Cousins (based on the first movie), Sweet Dreams for Sally, The Witch Down the Street, The Trouble with Timothy, and A Sister for Sam. All of those titles were published by toy makers Parker Brothers, who happened to be a licensee for the characters. Over 45 million Care Bears books were sold during the 1980s.^[4]

Recently, Scholastic Press has published books based on the Bears' first two CGI films, as well as the new toys.

Music

Main article: List of Care Bears albums

At the height of the Care Bears craze, Kid Stuff Records released several LPs based on the franchise. These included Introducing the Care Bears, The Care Bears Care For You, Adventures in Care-a-lot and The Care Bears Christmas (all from 1983), and 1986's Friends Make Everything Better. As well, they released the soundtrack albums for the first two movies. The albums based on the toys were bestsellers in children's music during their prime.^[4]

In the midst of the franchise's revival, Madacy Kids has released brand new Care Bear CDs. In 2004, Meet the Care Bears, Care Bears Holiday Hugs and the Journey to Joke-a-lot soundtrack album came out, as well as Care Bears Nighty-Night the following year.

Video games

In 2001 the first unofficial Care Bear Game was made called Care Bears Volleyball in which 2 players would play a game of volleyball as Tenderheart Bear.

In 2004, the Bears starred in their first PC game, Care-a-lot Jamboree and then again in Let's Have a Ball!. The following year, they appeared in Catch a Star (also for the PC)^[9] and Care Bears Care Quest (for the Game Boy Advance).

Comic books

Between November 1985 and January 1989, the Care Bears appeared in a 20-issue comic book series published by Marvel's Star Comics. The books were drawn by the famous DC Comics artist, Howard Post.^[10]

Classic toys

As of present, the classic Care Bear toys can be found at such stores as Carlton Cards, Claires, Spencers, and Hot Topic.^[7]

Care Bears Live

Since 2005, the Care Bears have starred in their own stage show, called Care Bears Live, organised by VEE Corporation. It is currently on tour all across the United States.^[1]

Cultural impact

• Over the years, the Care Bears have been featured in bit parts, or had an influence, in several other films and television series. Cinematic appearances and references include, but are not limited, to, movies such as Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987), the independent South of Wawa (1991),^[11] Snow Day (2000)^[12] and Blade: Trinity.^[13] Shows such as Dr. Phil,^[14][15]The O.C.,^[16] ER,^[17][18] and The Simpsons (in the episode "The Fat and the Furriest"),^[19] have also had some Care Bear inspiration as well.

• "Care bear bumping in the heart of this here" is a lyric in Gorillaz' "Feel Good Inc."^{citation needed]}

• A Care Bear appears in the popular song and Flash animation The Ultimate Showdown by Neil Cicierega and Shawn Vulliez. He uses a Care Bear Stare to defeat Jackie Chan and zombie Abraham Lincoln.

• The term Care Bears was used as a fan base name for Carrie Underwood (the winner of 2005's American Idol).^[20] Coincidentally, she comes from Sigma Sigma Sigma, the same group where the franchise's founder, Linda Denham, came from.

• Grumpy Bear, Good Luck Bear and the Cousins are the only Care Bear characters to be featured in merchandise at Hot Topic.^{[7] [21]}

• In MMORPG games, the term carebear normally refers to a player that does not like Player vs Player (PvP) conflict in the game. It is generally a derogatory term in this instance.

• In 2005, "Care Bears" placed 7th among AOL's top ten searches for toys.^[22] The following March, they were #88 in VH1's I Love Toys countdown.^[23]

• Most of the characters on Happy Tree Friends have heart shaped noses, most likely taken from the Care Bears.

• Girls with nicknames that start with a C or K that's pronounced like "care" (for example, Karen, Carol, Carrie) are sometimes nicknamed "Care Bear". One notable example is that Cody sometimes refers to Karen as "Care Bear" on the TV sitcom Step by Step.

Around the world

See the Wiktionary definition on "Care Bears" for a list of titles in other languages.

In French-speaking countries, the Care Bears are referred to as Bisounours, roughly translating as kiss bears, from bisou (kiss) and nounours (teddy bear). However, French-speaking Quebec knows them as Les Calinours, or "hug bears"; the word "bizou" is considered vulgar in the local vocabulary.

In Germany, the Show is called Die Glücksbärchis, translating to Luck Bears, the ending "chi" a slight alteration on the German Diminuitive "chen".

In Latin America, the Care Bears are referred to as "Los Ositos Cariñositos", from ositos (literally "little bears") and cariño (a type of love that is not romantic). Several different Latin American Spanish dubs of the Care Bears exist, as the movies and the TV series were dubbed in many countries by different cast members throughout the years. The movies were dubbed in Mexico, the first half of the Nelvana series was dubbed in Chile, the second half was dubbed in Venezuela and a new dubbed version, broadcast on the Latin American version of Cartoon Network's Boomerang channel, was later dubbed in Colombia.

In Brazil (Portuguese) they are known as "Ursinhos Carinhosos".

In the Swedish dubs of the various series, the Care Bears are called Krambjörnar ("hug bears"). For unknown reasons, the villains Dark Heart, Coldheart and No Heart all got the same name--"Hjärtlös" ("Heartless")--in translation.

In Norway, the Care Bears have kept their original name, but No Heart is know as "Hjerteløs" (Heartless).

Parodies

• The Care Bear characters have been parodied in other animated series. On Nickelodeon's Rugrats, the Dummi Bears spoof heavily on the franchise, especially with their "Sing a Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy Song" theme. Another parody exists on Cartoon Network's Codename: Kids Next Door, in the form of the Rainbow Monkeys (who appear in many episodes) in addition to Eek! the Cat, in the form of the Squishy Bearz.

• The cartoon Eek the Cat features recurring characters called the Squishy Bears. Like the Care Bears, the Squishy Bears were pastel colors and spread mirth.

• In the "Diversity" episode of Wonder Showzen, There's a parody of the Care Bears called, The Boogie Noogie Bunch.

• The Giggle Pies, similar to the Bears, appear in The Fairly OddParents episode, "So Totally Spaced Out".

• The WereBears, a British toy that mimicked the Care Bears' characteristics, were first made in 1983 and sold by Hornby Toys. They were the brainchild of George Nicholas Creations.^[24]

• In Namco's Xenosaga for the PlayStation 2, KOS-MOS' X-Buster attack resembles the Care Bear Stare, in which the blue-haired android fired a great beam of light out of her belly. The difference is that while the Care Bear Stare spreads love and happiness to anyone or anything it hits, KOS-MOS' X-Buster is more destructive and annihilates anything in its path.

• In episode 30 of Cartoon Network's stop motion animated television series Robot Chicken, the Care Bears "ethnically cleanse" the Care Bear Cousins, thus founding the US state of New Jersey. Yet another episode of the same series revolves around a man who is reincarnated into a Huggy-time Bear (a spoof on Care Bears).

• On the Nickelodeon series Danny Phantom, a spoof of the Care Bears appear in the episode, "Reality Trip".

• On an episode of Family Guy, Meg has a stuffed toy named Sunshine Bear who looks like Funshine Bear

Connections with Arthurian legend

Some elements of the Care Bears franchise pay homage to the legend of King Arthur. For example, the name of the main characters' residence, Care-a-lot, is a play on King Arthur's legendary Camelot castle. The Care Bear Family sits around a heart-shaped table, similar to the Round Table used by Arthur and his knights. In addition, Sir Lancelot's name inspired that of Love-A-Lot Bear.^[3]

Errors

When the franchise was introduced in the 1980s, a mistake was made causing Bedtime Bear (blue) and Wish Bear (aqua) to swap colors. As soon as the mistake was discovered, the two bears returned into their appropriate hues, and later on a children's story was written explaining why.^[3]

Footnotes and references

See also

• Transformers, a contemporaneous toy aimed at boys.
• Rainbow Brite, another 1980s franchise launched from greeting cards.
• Five other American Greetings franchises: Strawberry Shortcake and The Get-Along Gang (also from Those Characters from Cleveland, Inc.), Holly Hobbie, Popples, and Ziggy.

External links

• Official site (USA)
• Official site (Australia)
• ↑  Care Bears Live official site
• Official site for new distributor, Play Along
• AGP Brands (American Greetings Properties)