Care Bears is one of the most successful cartoon (and toy) franchises of the 1980s. They established a warm, colorful, and kid-friendly phenomenon that positively touched a generation of children during their early years, as they grew up. Originally created by children’s artist, Elena Kucharik in 1981, these multi-colored bears could be found in one way or another, practically everywhere.
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They’re still popular today, in part, thanks to those young children now grown up, with kids of their own who have even more unique bears to bring them joy. They look very simple but what makes them unique is the meaning behind their individual fur colors and the accompanying symbols found on their tummies, or “belly badges.”
Some of the original bears included the blue “Bedtime Bear,” which made the traditional teddy bear for a child’s bedtime routine even more pleasant. Or the green “Good Luck Bear,” who inspired countless kids to find a four-leaf clover of their own for an extra boost of luck. By now, a new generation of fans can enjoy the likes of the “Shine Bright Bear,” a magenta-colored bear sporting a yellow sun inside a purple heart across its belly.
If you’re planning to buy them as a gift or just collect them, we’ve compiled a list of all the Care Bears’ names, symbols, and colors, so you’ll know who’s who in the Care Bear universe.
Meet the Care Bears
The first 10 Care Bears
These 10 are the O.G. Care Bears if you will; the ones that many of the oldest fans know and love from their respective childhood. They are the ones that were featured in all of the classic animated movies, television shows, and all the other media that are these days, undoubtedly iconic.
| Name | Color | Symbol |
| Bedtime Bear | Aqua Blue | Curved Moon |
| Birthday Bear | Golden Yellow | Small Cake |
| Cheer Bear | Carnation Pink | Rainbow |
| Friend Bear | Peach (1980) or Yellow Orange (2020) | Two Flowers |
| Funshine Bear | Lemon Yellow | Smiling Sun |
| Good Luck Bear | Green | Four-leaf Clover |
| Grumpy Bear | Indigo Blue | Rain Cloud |
| Love-A-Lot Bear | Magenta Pink | Two Hearts |
| Tenderheart Bear | Brown/Brown Orange | Red Heart |
| Wish Bear | Turquoise | Shooting Star with Yellow Rainbow |
Extended family (U.S. and U.K.)
With all the craze that followed the initial success of the Care Bears during the ’80s, the ’90s and the beginning of the 2000s featured relaunches that included new bears in addition to most of the original ones. Some bears were given new colors and name changes, but the draw to these loveable characters was the same.
| Name | Color | Symbol |
| Baby Hugs Bear | Light Pink | Smiling Star Inside a Pink Heart |
| Baby Tugs Bear | Light blue | Smiling star inside a diaper |
| Champ Bear | Tan/Royal blue | Trophy |
| Grams Bear | Gray/Dark blue/Turquoise | Rose |
| Harmony Bear | Violet | Smiling Flower |
| Secret Bear | Tangerine/Magenta | Padlock |
| Share Bear | Lavender/Magenta | Milkshake with two straws and two Crossed lollipops with hearts on them |
| Take Care Bear | Honey yellow/Light hot pink | Smiling heart |
| True Heart Bear | Light yellow/White/Pale pink | A radiating star inside a heart |
| Daydream Bear | Pale pink/Blue-violet | Heart-Shaped Planet |
| Forest Friend Bear | Forest brown | Trees |
| Sea Friend Bear | Sea blue | Wave |
| I Love You Bear | Golden yellow | Red heart with text saying “I love you” |
| Surprise Bear | Sky blue/Amethyst Purple | Jack-in-the-box |
New Bears
In 2019, another rebrand was kicked off which had the Care Bears’ design changed to look more contemporary, when compared to animation styles of this current era. This version of the bears is more wide-eyed, yet less detailed when it comes to the texture of the bears’ fur, for example. Altogether, they are all definitely still colorful, while “Do-Your-Best Bear” features a kite tummy badge with lime green fur. And “Togetherness Bear” has several fur colors with a rainbow heart on its belly.
| Name | Color | Symbol |
| America Cares Bear | White | Shooting star |
| Do-Your-Best Bear | Lime green | Kite |
| Laugh-A-Lot Bear | Dark orange | Laughing star |
| Smart Heart Bear | Cerise red | Red apple |
| Thanks-A-Lot Bear | Teal | Shooting star |
| Best Friend Bear | Orchid | Rainbow with heart and star |
| Bashful Heart Bear | Sea green | Rainbow on a cloud with a pink heart |
| Hopeful Heart Bear | Fuchsia pink | A pink heart surrounded by multicolored rays of light |
| Too-Loud Bear | Coral red | Red and yellow megaphone |
| Me Bear | Lavender pink | Heart-shaped mirror |
| Messy Bear | Periwinkle blue | Silly tornado |
| Shine Bright Bear | Magenta | Yellow sun inside a purple heart |
| Superstar Bear | Lemon yellow | Orange star with red and yellow borders with a red heart inside surrounded by three small hearts |
| Heartsong Bear | Turquoise blue | Multicolored music note with three small hearts |
| Play-a-Lot Bear | Sky blue | Violet bouncing ball with a red heart stamp and a rainbow trail. |
| Sweet Dreams Bear | Mauve Female | A light pink moon resting on a cloud surrounded by small hearts |
| Always There Bear | Red pink | Two smiling pink and lavender intertwined hearts |
| Amigo Bear | Orange-red | Orange sun |
| Oopsy Bear | Chartreuse green | Shooting star |
| Wonderheart Bear | Dark pink | Three-layered heart |
| Rainbow Heart Bear | Neon Purple | Rainbow heart |
| Watchful Bear | Pastel green | Star with swirls |
| Togetherness Bear | Multicolor | Rainbow heart |
| Dream Bright Bear | Sky blue and Lavender | Winged heart with rising rainbow |
Care Bear cousins
There are also other animals that are part of the franchise called Care Bears & Cousins. This was a computer-generated Netflix series from 2015 that was a continuation of a previous series, Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot. In this run though, four of the popular “Care Bear Cousins” – Brave Heart Lion, Bright Heart Raccoon, Lotsa Heart Elephant, and Cozy Heart Penguin, are featured throughout the episodes.
Of course, like every other media version of the Care Bears, there are toys that accompany them. But when it comes to series that involve the cousins, the toys are seemingly more valuable, especially to collectors. Some of the actual cousins are rarer than even the Care Bears themselves. In one episode of the famous show Pawn Stars, a seller sold some unreleased prototypes of Care Bear Cousins, and it went for serious dollars.
Yes, it’s safe to say that the Care Bears certainly have staying power, still bringing lots of smiles and happiness to a dedicated legion of fans!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in the world of Care Bears, I can confidently say that this franchise has had a significant impact on children's entertainment and toy industry. The Care Bears, created by children's artist Elena Kucharik in 1981, became one of the most successful cartoon and toy franchises of the 1980s. Their warm, colorful, and kid-friendly characters resonated with a whole generation of children, and they continue to be popular today.
What sets the Care Bears apart and makes them unique are the meanings behind their individual fur colors and the symbols on their tummies, known as "belly badges." These symbols represent different traits and emotions, adding depth to the characters. For example, the blue "Bedtime Bear" promotes a pleasant bedtime routine, while the green "Good Luck Bear" inspires kids to find their own four-leaf clover for an extra boost of luck.
Over the years, the Care Bear family has expanded to include new bears with their own distinctive colors and symbols. For those who are planning to buy or collect the Care Bears, it's essential to know the names, symbols, and colors of each bear. The original ten Care Bears, known as the O.G. Care Bears, are the ones that many older fans cherish from their childhood. These bears, such as Bedtime Bear, Cheer Bear, and Grumpy Bear, have become iconic characters in animated movies, television shows, and other media.
In addition to the original ten, there have been relaunches of the franchise, introducing new bears into the Care Bear universe. Some bears have undergone color and name changes, but the loveable and enchanting nature of these characters remains the same. The extended family of Care Bears includes bears like Baby Hugs Bear, Harmony Bear, and True Heart Bear, each with their own unique colors and symbols.
In 2019, the Care Bears underwent another rebrand, giving them a more contemporary look. While the bears are still colorful, they now have a wide-eyed appearance and less detailed fur texture. Notable bears from this version include "Do-Your-Best Bear" with lime green fur and a kite tummy badge, and "Togetherness Bear" with multiple fur colors and a rainbow heart on its belly.
Apart from the Care Bears themselves, there is also a group of animals known as the Care Bear Cousins. These cousins, including Brave Heart Lion, Bright Heart Raccoon, Lotsa Heart Elephant, and Cozy Heart Penguin, were featured in the computer-generated Netflix series "Care Bears & Cousins."
It's worth mentioning that the Care Bear franchise extends beyond entertainment and includes a range of toys. Some of these toys, especially those connected to the Care Bear Cousins, hold great value for collectors. In fact, rare prototypes of Care Bear Cousins have been known to fetch significant prices in auctions.
In conclusion, the Care Bears have left an indelible mark on the world of children's entertainment and toy industry. Their meaningful colors, symbols, and lovable characters have brought joy and happiness to countless children and continue to do so for a dedicated legion of fans. Whether you're a collector or simply a fan, the Care Bears universe offers a delightful and colorful world to explore.
