I am turning 30 and so are the Care Bears! Seeing which Bears have lasted through the years and how they have changed through the years. I am not counting one shot bears (Like Oopsy, the Pandas, the Cousins, Me, Messy, Too Loud, Sweet Dreams, Superstar, Shine Bright, Daydream, Play-A-Lot, Heartsong and etc.).
Tenderheart Bear
The lead bear, his personality has mostly been kept in tact. He is the stalwart leader, he keeps his head on his shoulders and helps kids when they are down. Above Left: 80's Greeting Cards and Promotional Artwork (painted by artist Elena Kucharik), Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon, Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot; Right: Welcome to Care-A-Lot. He was originally brown but became more of an orange in the 2000's and now in the new series, he is back to brown.
Grumpy Bear
He has definitely been the most popular and has stayed the same. He along with Funshine, Good Luck, Bedtime, Cheer, Birthday, Love-A-Lot and Tenderheart have maintain the same tummy symbols. Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon,
Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer
animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot and computer animated Adventures in Care-A-Lot movie; Right: Welcome to
Care-A-Lot.
Cheer Bear
She has remained a she and has kept her rainbow belly symbol for years. She is ever so cheerful.
Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon,
Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer
animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot; Right: Welcome to
Care-A-Lot. In promotional and the first CG movie, she has a more orange-y shade. In the cartoons of traditional animation, she is a lighter shade. And in the new series, she is a bit darker.
Share Bear
In the beginning, she had a milkshake to share but the creators felt it would promote germs in the 2000's so they changed it to Lolipops which she has kept. Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon,
Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer
animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot and computer animated Adventures in Care-A-Lot movie (Share Bear Shines); Right: Welcome to
Care-A-Lot. She had a dark more redish tint in the first CG movie, because her toy did. She has a lighter shade in the new CG series.
Funshine Bear
Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: DiC 80's cartoon,
Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer
animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot and computer animated Adventures in Care-A-Lot movie; Right: Welcome to
Care-A-Lot. She went from female to male. In the original cartoon, she was female and then became male in the Nervana CG movies. He was also in the 'Adventures in Care-A-Lot' stylized cartoon, where he was sporty. And he is male in the new CG series. In the first CG movie, he was a joker.
Harmony Bear
Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon (as a baby in the sequel film),
Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer
animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot and computer animated Adventures in Care-A-Lot movie; Right: Welcome to
Care-A-Lot. Harmony had a big heart and two little hearts on it. She got a new symbol with a flower and smile in the 2000's which to me didn't make sense. Her purple was always darker, more blue-ish than Share Bear. In the original cartoon, she was quiet and sweet. In AC, she was active and in the new one, she sings.
Wish Bear
One of my favorite bears, she hasn't gotten a lot of attention lately. She was a minor character in AC and is a background character in the new series. She had her own movie thanks to Nelvana in CG form (Care Bears: Big Wish Movie). Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon,
Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer
animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot; Meet-and-Greet Costume, Right: Welcome to
Care-A-Lot.
Good Luck Bear
Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon,
Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer
animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot; Right: Welcome to
Care-A-Lot. A minor character in all incarnations but a fan favorite.
He was about a darker shade that Grumpy but now a lighter shade than him. Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon,
Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: 'Welcome to Care-A-Lot' new series, In two Nelvana computer
animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot;Right: CG Adventures in Care-A-Lot. He had been more of a comical character, waking up at times.
Birthday Bear
He had a golden-yellow fur which has gotten lighter in time. Top Left: 80's promotional, Top Right: Nelvana cartoon, Bottom Left: Promotional 2000's and Bottom Right: new series 'Welcome to Care-A-Lot.' I am not sure if Birthday Bear appeared in 'Adventures in Care-A-Lot' nor in the two Nelvana CG movies.
Love A Lot Bear
Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon, Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot; Right: Welcome to Care-A-Lot. She has always been a redish-pink with the same Belly Badge/Tummy Symbol.
Baby Hugs and Tugs
Top Left: Promotional 80's, Top Right: Nelvana cartoon, Bottom Left: Promotional 2000's, Bottom Right: Adventures in Care-A-Lot; Baby sister and brother twins appeared in the Nelvana cartoon and in the Adventures in Care-A-Lot cartoon. They were replaced in Welcome to Care-A-Lot by Wonderheart Bear. Hugs is the Blue boy and Tugs is the Pink Girl.
Trueheart Bear
True Heart Bear is the co-founder of the Kingdom of Caring in the second movie Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation. Her fur color is multi-pastel coloured (in the original artwork and as a plush toy). For Care Bears: Oopsy Does It! and Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-Lot, she was redesigned. She now has pastel pink colored fur and is portrayed as the same age and size as the other bears, and is cast as the reporter for Care-a-Lot's newspaper. Top Left: 80's Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana Cartoon, Top Right: Adventures in Care-A-Lot CG Movies, Bottom Left: 2004 artwork and Bottom Right: Adventures in Care-A-Lot.
2004 and Up Bears
These are bears that were added in 2004 and might not be recognized by older fans. I know I don't recognize some. Unlike My Little Pony, that they lost copyright to their character names that they had to make new ones.
Surprise Bear
As a plush toy, Surprise Bear was originally a UK exclusive (she was light blue and had a smiling circle instead of a star) in the late 80's. She appears in the live-action "Hide-&-Seek Care Bears" commercial as an animated character between the two kids. She also made her movie debut in Care Bears: Oopsy Does It! In "Adventures in Care-a-Lot", she pops up almost anywhere, shouting "Surprise!" which is her catchphrase for surprising someone. She has also had a cameo in Welcome to Care-A-Lot.
Amigo Bear
I don't know if racist is the right word but I just don't like Amigo Bear. My parents are from Guatemala, I was born in the US and I speak Spanish. Amigo Bear speaks Spanish but his name basically means 'Friend,' there is already a Friend Bear. Same goes for Best Friend Bear. Same stuff. And his symbol is a 'festive' Aztec Sun, which is a bit stereotypical and presumptuous. It is the first Bear I see that they try making 'ethnic' other than America Cares Bear (2003) and Proud Heart Bear (1991) that were patriotic bears. He made his premiere in "Oopsy Does It!" as well. It isn't known if he has popped up in Welcome to Care-A-Lot.
Best Friend Bear
She shows the importance of the special bond between two best friends and how there is a best friend for everyone. She is violet and her tummy symbol is a smiling heart and a smiling star linked by a rainbow Like Amigo and Surprise, she made her movie debut in Care Bears: Oopsy Does It! In "Adventures in Care-a-Lot", she is the clerk of the grocery store. She appears as a background character in Welcome to Care-A-Lot.
Laugh-A-Lot Bear
Like Love-A-Lot, Laugh-a-Lot Bear has a similar name--inspired by Lancelot. She turns her worst mistakes into the best jokes and her contagious laughter can even make Grumpy Bear laugh. Unlike Best Friend, Amigo and Surprise, she made her movie debut in Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot and made cameo appearances in The Care Bears' Big Wish Movie. In "Adventures in Care-a-Lot", her hair is tied up and purple and pink hearts were added to her symbol. She has cameos in "Welcome to Care-A-Lot."
Thanks-A-Lot Bear
Thanks-a-Lot Bear (2004) helps teach the importance of politeness along with the "magic words", which everyone knows as Please & Thank You!Thanks-a-Lot makes an appearance with Secret Bear in episode 3 of Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot. She reminds me of Wish Bear. Not sure if she appeared in the Nirvana CG films or the Adventures in Care-A-Lot.
Champ Bear
He is said to be in the new series but I haven't seen him. He turned blue in the 2000's, he was originally an golden yellow, a bit darker than Birthday bear. Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon,
Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer
animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot; Right: Adventures in
Care-A-Lot CG movie. In Care Bear Family cartoon, he had a big role but has become a minor character.
Secret Bear
Another of my favorites. She went from orange to magenta. Left: 80's promotional, Nelvana cartoon, 2000's promotional and Right: Welcome to Care-A-Lot. I am not sure if she appeared in the Nelvana CG movies nor Adventures in Care-A-Lot series or movies. They made more room for newer characters. In the 80's cartoons, Secret Bear was best friend to Friendship Bear who would speak for her since she only spoke in whispers.
Above Left: 80's Promotional Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana 80's cartoon, Right: late 2000's promotional, Bottom Left: In two Nelvana computer animated movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot; Right: Welcome to Care-A-Lot. She has always been a redish-pink with the same Belly Badge/Tummy Symbol.
Friend Bear
Secret Bear's friend hasn't been used much. She did appear in Adventures in Care-A-Lot. She has always been peach. Top Left: 80's artwork, Top Center: Nelvana cartoon, Top Right: 2000's artwork, Bottom Left: CG Nelvana movies, Center: Adventures in Care-A-Lot, Right: DiC specials. That I know of, she hasn't appeared in the new series.
Top Left: Promotional 80's, Top Right: Nelvana cartoon, Bottom Left: Promotional 2000's, Bottom Right: Adventures in Care-A-Lot; Baby sister and brother twins appeared in the Nelvana cartoon and in the Adventures in Care-A-Lot cartoon. They were replaced in Welcome to Care-A-Lot by Wonderheart Bear. Hugs is the Blue boy and Tugs is the Pink Girl.
True Heart Bear is the co-founder of the Kingdom of Caring in the second movie Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation. Her fur color is multi-pastel coloured (in the original artwork and as a plush toy). For Care Bears: Oopsy Does It! and Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-Lot, she was redesigned. She now has pastel pink colored fur and is portrayed as the same age and size as the other bears, and is cast as the reporter for Care-a-Lot's newspaper. Top Left: 80's Artwork, Top Center: Nelvana Cartoon, Top Right: Adventures in Care-A-Lot CG Movies, Bottom Left: 2004 artwork and Bottom Right: Adventures in Care-A-Lot.
2004 and Up Bears
These are bears that were added in 2004 and might not be recognized by older fans. I know I don't recognize some. Unlike My Little Pony, that they lost copyright to their character names that they had to make new ones.
As a plush toy, Surprise Bear was originally a UK exclusive (she was light blue and had a smiling circle instead of a star) in the late 80's. She appears in the live-action "Hide-&-Seek Care Bears" commercial as an animated character between the two kids. She also made her movie debut in Care Bears: Oopsy Does It! In "Adventures in Care-a-Lot", she pops up almost anywhere, shouting "Surprise!" which is her catchphrase for surprising someone. She has also had a cameo in Welcome to Care-A-Lot.
I don't know if racist is the right word but I just don't like Amigo Bear. My parents are from Guatemala, I was born in the US and I speak Spanish. Amigo Bear speaks Spanish but his name basically means 'Friend,' there is already a Friend Bear. Same goes for Best Friend Bear. Same stuff. And his symbol is a 'festive' Aztec Sun, which is a bit stereotypical and presumptuous. It is the first Bear I see that they try making 'ethnic' other than America Cares Bear (2003) and Proud Heart Bear (1991) that were patriotic bears. He made his premiere in "Oopsy Does It!" as well. It isn't known if he has popped up in Welcome to Care-A-Lot.
Best Friend Bear
She shows the importance of the special bond between two best friends and how there is a best friend for everyone. She is violet and her tummy symbol is a smiling heart and a smiling star linked by a rainbow Like Amigo and Surprise, she made her movie debut in Care Bears: Oopsy Does It! In "Adventures in Care-a-Lot", she is the clerk of the grocery store. She appears as a background character in Welcome to Care-A-Lot.
Laugh-A-Lot Bear
Like Love-A-Lot, Laugh-a-Lot Bear has a similar name--inspired by Lancelot. She turns her worst mistakes into the best jokes and her contagious laughter can even make Grumpy Bear laugh. Unlike Best Friend, Amigo and Surprise, she made her movie debut in Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot and made cameo appearances in The Care Bears' Big Wish Movie. In "Adventures in Care-a-Lot", her hair is tied up and purple and pink hearts were added to her symbol. She has cameos in "Welcome to Care-A-Lot."
Thanks-a-Lot Bear (2004) helps teach the importance of politeness along with the "magic words", which everyone knows as Please & Thank You!Thanks-a-Lot makes an appearance with Secret Bear in episode 3 of Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot. She reminds me of Wish Bear. Not sure if she appeared in the Nirvana CG films or the Adventures in Care-A-Lot.
