Care Bears (TV series)

Last updated

Care Bears
Care Bears DiC.png
Original title card for the series
Created by Linda Denham
Elena Kucharik
Developed bySandy Fries
Jack Olesker
Written byEleanor Burian-Mohr
Randal Case
Howard R. Cohen
Matt Geller
Jack Hanrahan
Don Hart
Shelly Karol
Francis Moss
Jack Olesker
Bruce Reisman
Directed byJames A. Simon
Starring Billie Mae Richards
Jayne Eastwood
Janet Laine-Green
Luba Goy
Eva Almos
Melleny Brown
Dan Hennessey
Pauline Rennie
Patrice Black
Laurie Waller Benson
Bob Dermer
Marla Lukofsky
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes11 (22 segments) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers Andy Heyward
Tetsuo Katayama
Producer Jean Chalopin
Running time30 minutes
Production companies DIC Enterprises
Those Characters From Cleveland
LBS Communications
Animation servicesK.K. DIC Asia
Studio Korumi
Original release
Network Syndication
ReleaseSeptember 14 (1985-09-14) 
November 23, 1985 (1985-11-23)

Care Bears is an American animated 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.

Contents

In 1986, The Care Bears Family , a successor series by the Canadian studio Nelvana that had produced the movies, aired on Global in Canada and on ABC in the United States.

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

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
Specials 2April 22, 1983 (1983-04-22)April 6, 1984 (1984-04-06)N/A
DIC series 11September 14, 1985 (1985-09-14)November 23, 1985 (1985-11-23) Syndication
1 13September 13, 1986 (1986-09-13)December 6, 1986 (1986-12-06) ABC (U.S.)
Global (Canada)
2 6September 26, 1987 (1987-09-26)October 31, 1987 (1987-10-31)
3 30September 12, 1988 (1988-09-12)November 25, 1988 (1988-11-25)Syndication (U.S.)
Global (Canada)

Voice cast

Uncredited

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" on 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. [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. [2] The two-disc set features all 22 episodes of the series.

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 May 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.

Related Research Articles

<i>Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog</i> Animated series

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is an animated series based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, produced by Sega of America, DIC Animation City, Bohbot Entertainment and the Italian studio Reteitalia S.p.A. in association with Spanish network Telecinco. Airing during the fall of 1993, 65 episodes were produced, which was syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Care Bears</span> Fictional character group

Care Bears are multi-colored bears, painted in 1981 by artist Elena Kucharik to be used on greeting cards from American Greetings. They were turned into plush teddy bears and featured in The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings (1983) and The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine (1984) before headlining their own television series called Care Bears from 1985 to 1988. They also had multiple feature films including: The Care Bears Movie (1985), Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986), and The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (1987).

<i>VR Troopers</i> Television series

VR Troopers is a syndicated live-action superhero-adventure television series produced and distributed by Saban Entertainment from 1994 to 1996. The show tried to profit from the fascination with virtual reality in the mid-1990s as well as the success of Saban's other property, Power Rangers. VR Troopers was the first official "sister series" to Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Much like it, this was an Americanization of a Japanese tokusatsu children's program series by Toei Company. The series is a co-production of Toei and Cyberprod.

<i>Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century</i> US/UK television series

Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century is an animated television series in which Sherlock Holmes is brought back to life in the 22nd century. The series is a co-production by DIC Entertainment, L.P. and Scottish Television Enterprises and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Special Class Animated Program.

<i>Sonic Underground</i> French-American animated television series

Sonic Underground is an animated television series co-produced by DIC Productions, L.P., Les Studios Tex S.A.R.L. and TF1. It is the third Sonic the Hedgehog animated series, and the last to be produced by DIC. It follows a main plot separate from all other Sonic the Hedgehog media, where Sonic has two siblings, Sonia and Manic, that are collectively part of a royal family who were forced to separate from their mother, Queen Aleena, upon Doctor Robotnik's takeover of Mobius due to a prophecy told by the Oracle of Delphius. Along the way, they encounter other resistance groups against Robotnik as well as powerful artifacts that could wreak havoc on the world, all the while searching for their long-lost mother Queen Aleena.

<i>Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot</i> 2004 Canadian film

Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot is a 2004 animated musical adventure film, produced by Nelvana and released by Lions Gate Home Entertainment. It was the first Nelvana production featuring the Care Bears in the last 24 years, since the Care Bears Nutcracker Suite television film in 1988. Directed by Mike Fallows and written by Jeffrey Alan Schecter, this was the fourth film to star the Care Bears and their first in 17 years. This was also the first one in the franchise to be computer-animated.

<i>Libertys Kids</i> American animated historical fiction television series

Liberty's Kids is an American animated historical fiction television series produced by DIC Entertainment, and originally aired on PBS Kids from September 2, 2002, to April 4, 2003, with reruns airing on most PBS stations until October 10, 2004.

<i>The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings</i> Canadian TV series or program

The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings is the first animated television special to feature the Care Bears characters. It was made by Ottawa's Atkinson Film-Arts studio, and premiered in syndication on April 22, 1983. The special features the ten original Bears, along with the Cloud-Keeper and the villain Professor Coldheart; they would return in 1984's The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine.

<i>The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!</i> 1989 American TV series

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! is an American live-action/animated television series that aired from September 4 to December 1, 1989, in syndication. The series is based on the video games Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 2 by Nintendo, and is the first of three television series to be based upon the Mario video game series. The animation was provided by Sei Young Animation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billie Mae Richards</span> Canadian actress

Billie Mae Richards was a Canadian actress who also appeared onstage and on television. She was the voice of Rankin/Bass' version of the Christmas character Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from 1964 to 1979, and of the Kid in the radio series Jake and the Kid.

<i>The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine</i> Canadian TV series or program

The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine is the second animated television special to feature the Care Bears characters. It was made by Ottawa's Atkinson Film-Arts studios, and premiered in syndication in April 1984. The special introduces three new Care Bears characters; Grams Bear, Hugs, and Tugs.

<i>The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3</i> 1990 animated TV series

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 is an animated television series. It premiered on September 8, 1990, on NBC. It is the second animated series to be based on Nintendo's Mario video game series and is loosely based on the video game Super Mario Bros. 3. The animation was provided by Sei Young Animation.

<i>Care Bears: Oopsy Does It!</i> 2007 American film

Care Bears: Oopsy Does It! is a 2007 American Canadian computer-animated fantasy film released on August 4, 2007 by Kidtoon Films. It was developed by American Greetings as part of the Care Bears' 25th anniversary, and produced by SD Entertainment. Oopsy is the first Care Bears film to not be produced by Nelvana, the Canadian company responsible for the previous feature-length installments and most of the television episodes. The movie was released on DVD on October 23, 2007. This film serves as a pilot episode of Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot.

<i>Heathcliff</i> (1984 TV series) 1984 childrens animated television series

Heathcliff is a children's animated television series that debuted on September 3, 1984. Produced by DIC Audiovisuel, it was the second animated series based on the Heathcliff comic strip. 65 half-hour episodes aired in first-run syndication in the fall of 1984, followed by a second season of 21 episodes in 1985 ran in syndication until it ended in 1988. The Catillac Cats characters were created by Jean Chalopin and Bruno Bianchi.

The All-New Dennis the Menace is an animated series based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham that aired from September 18 to December 11, 1993 on CBS.

<i>Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot</i> American TV series or program

Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot is an American animated television series produced by Sabella Dern Entertainment and American Greetings. The show is distributed by DIC Entertainment and later Cookie Jar Group in reruns. The series, a follow-up to the movie Care Bears: Oopsy Does It!, is the third Care Bears television series, after the first version and the second version. The 2007 version features songs with music by Andy Street and lyrics by Judy Rothman.

Madeline is an animated preschool television series produced by DIC Entertainment, L.P., part of the Madeline media franchise. It began as a series of six television specials from 1988 to 1991, and then continued as Madeline and The New Adventures of Madeline from 1993 to 2001. The show is narrated by Christopher Plummer.

<i>Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot</i> 2012 American animated TV series

Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot, also known as Welcome to Care-a-Lot, is an American animated television series based on the Care Bears franchise and produced by American Greetings Properties. Unlike its previous predecessor Care Bears shows, this was AG's first CGI animated "Care Bears" TV series, despite several films in the franchise having been released in the format.

<i>Sylvanian Families</i> (1987 TV series) American TV series or program

Sylvanian Families is a syndicated animated series based on the Sylvanian Families merchandising franchise developed by Epoch. The series was produced in the United States by DIC Animation City with the animation being produced in Japan. It was first broadcast in 1987 in first-run syndication, with reruns on The CBN Family Channel in the late 1980s and PAX TV during the late 1990s.

The Care Bears Family is a Canadian animated series produced by Nelvana based on the American franchise of the same name, and is the successor series to the series produced by DIC Entertainment. It was originally broadcast from September 13, 1986 to January 23, 1988 on the Global Television Network in Canada. In the United States, the first two seasons were broadcast on ABC and the third was aired in syndication. All 13 episodes were also available on the Boomerang subscription app.

References