Care Bears is an American children's animated fantasy adventure television series based on the franchise of the same name. After two specials in 1983, the main series began in 1985. The series was produced by DIC Audiovisuel's American branch DIC Enterprises and aired on syndication a while after the theatrical release of the first movie in the series.
In 1986, The Care Bears Family, a successor series by the Canadian studio Nelvana that had produced the movies, aired on ABC in the United States and in 1988 on Global Television Network in Canada.
In 2007, Sabella Dern Entertainment produced a revival, Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot.
Synopsis The Care Bears live in a faraway place up in the clouds called Care-a-lot, which constitutes a part of the Kingdom of Caring. With the help of the Cousins and their Buddies, they go all around the world on Missions in Caring whilst they try to thwart the plans of the evil Professor Coldheart.
Episodes
Voice cast
Billie Mae Richards – Tenderheart Bear, David’s Mother, Sharon Wayland, Keith, Kara's Mother, Matthew Miller Jayne Eastwood – Birthday Bear, Tommy, Willis Carter Janet-Laine Green – Wish Bear, Mary, Mrs. Miller (Matthew Miller's Mother), Tricia Luba Goy – Gentle Heart Lamb, Lotsa Heart Elephant, Susie’s Mother Eva Almos – Friend Bear, Swift Heart Rabbit, Cathy, Charlie, Elaine, Jimmy, Kathy, Lisa, Melanie, Millie Jacobs' Mother, Sanford Linda Sorenson – Love-a-Lot Bear, Amy, Benny, Jeffrey, Kara, Lisa's Mother, Mrs. Peale (Patti Johnson's Teacher), Paula Schaefer, Sandra, Talking Star, Wendy Melleny Brown – Cheer Bear, Becky, Missy, Jill Wayland, Millie Jacobs Len Carlson – Professor Coldheart, Jim, Strato Nefarious Louise Vallance – Proud Heart Cat, Mary Dan Hennessey – Good Luck Bear, Brave Heart Lion, Loyal Heart Dog, Captain McDougal, Cloud Worm, Counselor Bob, Dentist, Mr. Miller (Matthew Miller's Father), Mayor of Abbotsville Pauline Rennie – Cozy Heart Penguin, Treat Heart Pig, Melanie’s Mother, Timmy Patrice Black – Funshine Bear, Share Bear, Chris, Eddie, Joey, Joey and Elaine's Mother, Linda, Mary’s Mother Laurie Waller Benson – Doug, Hal, Jill, Millie Jacobs' Teacher, Murphy, Susie, Talking Star Theresa Sears – Bedtime Bear, Champ Bear, Amy, Fred, Joshua Bob Dermer – Grumpy Bear, Frostbite, Amy’s Husband, Carl, Charlie, David, Eddie, Firefighter, Joey and Elaine's Father, Ken, Mr. Bland (Mayor of Drab City), Mr. Poole, Narrator, Race Flag Man Joyce Gordon – Auntie Freeze
Uncredited Jim Henshaw – Bright Heart Raccoon, Jeff, Ben Wayland, Melanie’s Father, Mr. Johnson (Patti Johnson's Father) Marla Lukofsky – Playful Heart Monkey, Patti Johnson Brennan Thicke – Joey
Home media United States The series has seen a few VHS releases from Kideo Video (distributed by Karl-Lorimar Home Video), DIC Video (distributed by Promotional Concept Group and Avon Products) and DIC Toon-Time Video (distributed by BMG Kidz and Buena Vista Home Video) throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
In March 2003, Sterling Entertainment released two releases on VHS and DVD: "Bedtime Stories", "The Last Laugh" and a third one: "To the Rescue" in July 2003. Each release contained six or seven episodes, with a bonus episode on the DVD version, while "To the Rescue" contained a bonus Sylvanian Families episode. An additional DVD, "Daydreams", was released on February 4, 2004, and contained a Strawberry Shortcake short as a bonus on the DVD version.
Sterling would later release all 22 episodes in seven-volume collections in 2004 entitled Celebration, Dreamland, Forever Friends, Land of Enchantment, Starry Skies, Tenderheart Tales and Fun in the Sun.
In 2007, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment acquired the rights to the original DIC series and re-released all the DIC-produced episodes on DVD in five-volume collections entitled Care-A-Lot Adventures, Forest of Feelings, Magical Moments, Carousel of Dreams and Sharing in the Sunshine.
On August 26, 2008, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released Care Bears: Care-A-Lot Collection on DVD in Region 1. The two-disc set features all 22 episodes of the series (with its original opening and closing titles).
In 2013, Mill Creek Entertainment acquired the rights to the series and subsequently released three-volume collections which contain six episodes each, on September 10, 2013.
On October 6, 2015, Mill Creek released The Care Bears – The Complete Original Series on DVD in Region 1. The two-disc set features all 22 episodes of the series.
ReleaseFormatEpisodesDistributorRelease date Care Bears Save the Day! VHS/BetamaxMayor For a DayThe Night the Stars Went Out Karl-Lorimar Home Video(Kideo Video) 1986 Volume 2BracesThe Lucky Charm Volume 3Split DecisionBirthday Volume 4Soap Box DerbyCamp To the Rescue!The Lucky CharmBracesSplit Decision And Their Friends!The BirthdayCampSoap Box Derby Share the Fun and Adventure!The Last LaughThe Show Must Go OnThe Forest of Misfortune Magical Stories About Caring! DaydreamsRunawayThe Magic Mirror Storybook The Last Laugh/The Show Must Go On VHSThe Last LaughThe Show Must Go On Promotional Concept Group(DIC Video) unknown They've Got Heart as Big as a Rainbow!The BirthdayCampSplit DecisionThe Magic Mirror DIC Video 1992 The BirthdayThe BirthdaySplit Decision Buena Vista Home Video(DIC Toon-Time Video)1994 CampCampBraces Bedtime Stories VHS/DVDThe Night the Stars Went OutThe Magic ShopBirthdayLucky CharmDrab CityThe Cloud WormThe Old Man and the Lighthouse (DVD-exclusive episode) Sterling Entertainment(DIC Home Entertainment) March 11, 2003 The Last LaughThe Last LaughSoap Box DerbyThe Forest of MisfortuneThe Girl Who Cried WolfConcrete RainMayor for a DayThe Show Must Go On (DVD-exclusive episode) To the Rescue!The Magic MirrorDry SpellsCampBracesSplit DecisionWedding BellsSylvanian Families episode (DVD-exclusive) July 22, 2003 DaydreamsDaydreamsRunawayThe Show Must Go OnThe Old Man and the LighthouseStrawberry Shortcake - Growing Better all the Time (DVD only) February 3, 2004
International In the United Kingdom, Maximum Entertainment released the whole DIC series on four DVD sets and two VHS releases under license from Jetix Europe (who at the time owned the international distribution rights to the pre-1990 DIC library).
Volume 1, released in August 2004 contained the first two episodes (1 on the VHS) alongside the Freeze Machine and Land without Feelings specials. Volume 2, released in October 2004 contained five episodes, and The Magic Shop (released in February 2005) and The Girl who Cried Wolf (released in August 2005) each contained three episodes, with the Freeze Machine special appearing on the latter again for an unknown reason, likely as filler. Both sets were released in two compilations titled "Volumes 1 and 2" (released in January 2005) and "Wedding Bells" (Released in 28 November 2005), each containing two discs with their respective volumes.
The separate volumes were re-released again in 2007, with the former two volumes being released simply as Care Bears. Another compilation titled Happy Birthday, Care Bears was released by Maximum in February 2008, containing 12 episodes set within two discs. Lace DVD re-issued the DVDs again in 2011 as well was releasing the entire series in a four-disc boxset. These versions are identical to Maximum's releases.
In 2016, Platform Entertainment would release four DVDs of the series.
References
External links