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The Care Bears Movie (1985) More at IMDbPro »

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30 comments in total

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12 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
Give the Bears some credit already!, 19 July 2000

Author: La Gremlin from Boston, MA

Mention the Care Bears and for some reason everyone starts to cringe or think of nasty things to do to them. I have to say it breaks my heart that so many people are against a cartoon that teaches kids about empathy, friendship, and conflict resolution (and all without fighting).

I recently had the pleasure of acquiring a copy of this movie, and I, for one, am going to treasure it. I'm serious. Watch it with a little kid who takes the Power Rangers too seriously. I guarantee you'll be a little misty eyed by the end, and the kid will discover the revolutionary idea that it's not against the rules to befriend the monster instead of battling it.

I know I won't have a lot of people backing me up here, but I thought I should put my two cents in. And anyhow, Grumpy Bear is too cute.

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11 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
I always hated the Care Bears... until now., 19 April 2002
Author: Craig Carrington from San Francisco, CA

I always hated the Care Bears.

The reason why is simple. Let's face it: The Kenner Company itself admitted that the movies and TV episodes were designed to sell the toys of the same name, a nauseating trend that eventually bored kids to death by the end of the eighties. And I immediately hated anything that was so crass as to be merely an animated advertisement because it was pointing to a very uncertain future for the industry as a whole at the time.

I was in my teens when the Care Bears were unleashed, and even with my reputation for creating cartoon animal characters I couldn't stand them and simply ignored them with every chance I got. The toys were EVERYWHERE and unavoidable, the TV show seemed to always be on in whatever store you went into and Kenner made a fortune. Trendy overload!

I don't know exactly when the craze stopped...probably around the time the decade ended, I guess... and I forgot all about them until my little foster sister recently told me about how much she loved the Care Bears when she was a toddler, and would I like to watch this movie with her?

I watched partially because I knew she wanted to share something special with me, but also because I was surprised to discover that this movie was animated by one of my all-time favourite studios, the award-winning Nelvana company up in Canada.

And now, guess what?

Now that the toys are all long gone (with the exception of being available online for collectors) and the merchandise is no longer being shoved down your throat until you want to scream, now that the trendiness has evaporated, and the movie has been long since stripped of any possibilities of being an advertisement for anything commercial at all... a film that once was the epitome of "commercial sellout" and "unoriginal trendy tripe" has now aged surprisingly well, and manages to stand on its own as a genuinely charming children's offering.

And I never thought I'd ever be defending "Care Bears" anything.

But what once seemed like pop shlock trash now feels genuinely charged with lighthearted spirits, a childlike-wonder innocence and well-meant passion. The animation here, simply put, is gorgeous. But then, Nelvana has always had a rich tradition of adding top quality to whatever they set their minds to. Even more surprising, the songs are provided by Carole King and John Sebastian (both who now seem like perfectly logical and touching choices to musically illustrate this morality tale).

It actually managed to get me misty-eyed and even on the verge of a tear, especially since it now serves as a reminder of how much innocence has been lost in the animation industry since the 80s. Back then, animation was seen in the United States as kiddie fluff, and so no one except the artists who loved the medium took it seriously. But in the 90s, we got a vicious backlash as a whole crowd of new animators--all sick and tired of being mocked for being cartoonists while growing up--unleashed upon the world a torrent of the ugliest, most thoroughly vicious and vile animation until the situation completely reversed itself, and suddenly animation is now seen as too "adult" for its own good. Things like this simply never get made anymore.

So in the real world, much to my surprise, the Care Bears actually HAVE succeeded in doing what they were always claiming to be doing in their show--they've survived all this time and now they really ARE bringing a caring and sensitive Christian message to a world and especially an entire industry which has lost its innocence. Our world is becoming uglier and more jaded by the year. We desperately need films like this to show our children now as opposed to "South Park", "Beavis and Butthead" and "Ren & Stimpy".

One note I wish to make, though: if you decide to check out any other Care Bears videotapes, be sure they are done by Nelvana and are NOT the early attempts by DIC Enterprises (also sarcastically known as "Do It Cheap"). The DIC cartoons are horrid and just plain awful. But anything with the famous Canadian Nelvana label is guaranteed to be created by artists who--no pun intended--genuinely care.

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6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Something that this generation of children is missing... compassion., 20 November 2004
Author: Seshanna Hosenfeld (markiechan42@msn.com) from Northfield, MN, USA

Let's face it - the world has grown into a rather unpleasant place, and the recent generations of children are more jaded than any I or my mother have ever seen. Toys are over-priced, uninventive and children get bored with them in a matter of days. Children's movies today are much the same, getting shorter and shorter every movie and teaching children nothing.

If anyone with children or younger siblings has ever had to suffer through current children's programming, you'll see what I mean. They're reverse-educational; a young child pointed at the Teletubbies sun and said "Baby," and then pointed at the real sun and said "Baby." Blues Clues teaches children to shout(trust me on this one,) and shows such as 'the Wiggles' remind me far too much of PeeWee Herman (the worst "children's" show of all time.)

So rewind TV - go back to 80's cartoons. Even though Care Bears were originally piloted to advertise the toys, the show evolved into something NICE. The animation was far from spectacular, especially when compared to today's computer animation, and the story lines WERE simple. But it had something to offer children that 99% of new cartoons don't offer - examples of non-violent resolutions to conflicts, sharing thoughts and items with others, being open about your feelings, caring about yourself and others. These 80's cartoons encouraged children to not be jaded, selfish and rotten brats. (And if you don't believe me that today's violence-fed kids are brats, just go to my sister's elementary school - I've NEVER seen so many 5th graders dressed like whores in my life.)

Storyline and morality aside, you should also pay attention to the music. Following the habits of 80's cartoons and movies, there are numerous song and dance numbers randomly inserted into conversation. But they are certainly striking in the boldness of them. And by this I mean the harmonies. Cue up the song "Home Is In Your Heart" on your movie or cd and just listen. The harmonies running through the song feel as though they should clash against each other and explode, but they just miss that clashing point and somehow manage to work very well. You can distinctly hear the SATB lines, and how soprano and tenor carry a lot of the melody and the base and alto are used to interesting harmonies. Just listen. The music was really well written.

Long story short, let your children watch movies like this, and if you feel that they didn't learn anything from it, discuss the movie with them. 6.5/10

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Growing Up, 8 May 2004
Author: sweetvalleygirl16 from Australia

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Wow. It really saddens me to hear people going on about how evil the care bears are and how they should be tortured and how bad they are for children. I grew up with the care bears. I used to watch the movie and then rewind it and watch it again. I saw it for the first time when I was 3. Scared me something shocking. (This may be a spoiler) But everything in the movie turned out alright in the end. Good triumphed over evil, love triumphed over all. Sure it may be corny, but life is nothing if you don't have hope.

I'm 18 years old and I watch my 3 care bear movies regularly. I take my Wish Bear to bed every night. Each morning I get up at 6:30 before school (I'm in year 12) and I watch Lizzie McGuire. My lunch is packed in a barbie lunch box and my pencils are carried in a Care Bears case. I'm not retarded, I don't have a mental disease. But I'm an exception. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't have sex.

I believe that a lot of the way I am is due to the Care Bears. I'm a compassionate person, I care about everyone, even when they don't care about me. You may think that makes me a walking doormat, but it doesn't. The values of the Care Bears were drilled into me at a young age. My mother would get frustrated after she sent me off to kindergarten because I'd share my play lunch, and not have much for myself.

The people that say the Care Bears are evil obviously didn't grow up with them. I feel sorry for them. The cartoons nowadays such as South Park, Ren and Stimpy etc, are based on violence. That is not something we want to be teaching our children in a world that is full of terrorism, suicide and violence. They teach that fighting is the way to go to gain power (Pokemon). The Care Bears movie teaches valuable lessons, without beating people over the head. It also teaches the difference between right and wrong and instills moral values. Sure the language can be a bit syrupy at times and I guess it may be one of those things you either love or hate.

From the day I was born I've been surrounded by Care Bears (I was prem and a small Tenderheart Bear was the only thing that would fit into my humidity crib)and I honestly thank my parents for that. I know that when I have children, I'll bring them up with the Care Bears, and not other cartoons because I'd much rather have my child tell me they love me than attempt to shoot at me with a cap gun.

So in conclusion I am grateful to the Care Bears for the fact that I remember my weekends, my positive spin on life and for who I am today.

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
care bears, 16 March 2006

Author: iraklis28 from Australia

It's a great film cause it hasn't got too much violence as other new cartoons do, and it bring back memory's to grownups of there childhood days. the songs are great, especially the main song which i think is called care-a-lot which is what's it about, and it truly gets you in the heart where it's suppose to.

it proves that the 80's cartoons were better than todays cartoons made by Japanese, cause they always like killing and fighting, but this animated film show we shouldn't kill or hate each other in the world but care for each other by being friends and sharing and caring and even helping each other have a great life with happiness around us.

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
What a children's film really is supposed to be, 5 February 2002
Author: Lady Jasmine

Yes it's sweet. Of course it is, it's meant for kids! Little ones, but as a 20 year old I still love this film. In fact I was only just able to a watch it again, because I kept remembering how much the evil spirit terrified me as a child. Compare the Bears, who actually teach their young viewers something worthwhile: that if you care about the people around you the world will be a better place, to some of the cartoons we subject our kids to today like South Park with it's crude animation and message that the way to deal with things is violence and swearing. I would choose the Bears every time. Parents: have the decency to allow your kids to watch a good cartoon, you might learn something too.

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
i Loved it, 5 August 2003
Author: macaritz from chicago, illinois

Ya see, when i was a kid, i sat down in front of the tv and care bears was what i would watch. I thought it taught kids a lot! Its a great movie for kids, obviously adults will think it is not as interesting as the kids and thats understandable. But when you like something as much as i liked it, it definitely becomez a classic in my heart! So if you want your children to enjoy a great movie, go get the care bears movie!

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Christian socialism at it's very best!, 12 July 2001
Author: dorfie120pw (dorfie120pw@hotmail.com) from Glasgow, Scotland

Can I just say that as a child growing up in the 80s, I was greatly influenced by the core values underlying the plot of all Care Bear movies produced. The Care bears were the best example ever of Christian socialism, simplified for the benefit of youngsters.

In this movie there is evil and unhappiness, the Care Bears did not seek to pretend otherwise, the moral of the story was quite simply that with a little love and understanding we can live together in peace and harmony, we have it within ourselves to overcome anger and unrest. I honestly believe that, and have done since I was 7 years old.

Nikolas was messing with evil spirits, and Kim and Jason felt lonely and abandoned. But all it took was a little bit of care from those friendly bears, and a change of attitude...concern for our fellow human beings, and hey presto! their young hearts were full of love.

How easy it would be to live happily if everyone could take that view. As I said, Christian Socialism at it's very best, and perhaps something we could all benefit from, loving one another as neighbours, caring, sharing and being happy :)

A classic!

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
awww, 7 July 2001

Author: gymnastk8 (gymnastk8@yahoo.com)

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

this is the sweetest little movie...the dialogue is a little cheesy, but you have to understand it was made in the 80s and geared for little kids. the bears are so cute, and there are some parts that will make you laugh, and if your especially sensitive, you might even tear up at some parts. the second movie is good too, but theres a little too much darkness in it, with the evil boy at camp and everything. the first movie is all fun, and very little scary-ness. its also when you first meet the care bear cousins, which are a bunch of jungle animals and at the end they all get their little tummy-pictures. its a really great movie to rent when your in a happy mood. :-)

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Cute but sometimes scary, 29 September 2001

Author: Cylex from England

Ahhhhhh! This is really cute, especially the cousins. Its message is subtle and not laid too thick. The evil spirit is really scary. Her voice drips with pure poison and you have to admit that the world would be terrible if nobody cared. The good characters have plenty of charm and personality. They're not cloying. You really care about what happens to them and that's what makes a good movie. 8/10

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