Launching Saturday morning on The Hub (8 ET/PT), the new animated Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot introduces the likes of Tenderheart Bear, Share Bear, Cheer Bear and others to a whole new generation of children just waiting to hug a TV in approval.
The little ones won't have to wait long to bring them home again, either: A new line of Care Bear plush toys debuts next year from Hasbro and American Greetings, 30 years after the first wave.
"Since the Care Bears have seen several iterations over the past 30 years, almost every age group has 'grown up' with the Bears: moms in their 20s and 30s, teens and tweens," says series executive producer Sarah Finn. "It felt like it was time we shou ld introduce them to today's 2- to 7-year-olds."
What keeps people coming back to these colorful animals? Enduring personalities, the timeless message of "caring and sharing" and â€" naturally â€" huggability. "We knew that if we stayed true to the brand we would have a great new series," Finn says.
She remembers the Care Bears animated series in the 1980s, but even before she joined American Greetings five years ago, Finn says her daughter adored them so much she had a full collection of the plushes.
"We had to take all of them with us when we went on trips as she couldn't sleep without them! I got to see first-hand how special the bears are, and how relevant they remain to kids today."
The series catches up with Funshine Bear, Harmony Bear and all the gang as they have kid-friendly adventures in the magical world of Care-a-Lot. The producers are looking out for the adult s, too, with smart writing and characterization: Harmony Bear is a little bit of a diva, and most any grownup will find something to identify with in Grumpy Bear.
"Knowing the Care Bears so well after all these years, we knew just how far we could push things and what the balance needed to be," Finn says. "Our bears are not all sweet and saccharin â€" they have flaws like the rest of us."
New bears will be making appearances in upcoming episodes, and Finn promises surprise cameos for their "heritage fans."
The biggest addition to Welcome to Care-a-Lot is actually the smallest: Wonderheart Bear (voiced by 10-year-old Michaela Dean, the only kid in the cast) makes her debut in the series as the youngest of the bears who's curious and inquisitive.
"Her belly badge is a little heart, but she won't know its full power until she's a little older," Finn explains. "Our view ers will adore her and will be able to identify with some of her struggles being the youngest member of the team."
Dean loves to play Wonderheart because "she is the newest bear and because she is a baby," says the voice actress. "It's fun to be the younger bear who is doted on."
A native of Colorado Springs and Phoenix before moving to Los Angeles with her family, Michaela records her role in a booth with the other Care Bears actors, who keep her entertained between takes.
"Sometimes I get to do a little improv, especially during 'walla' where we all have to gasp or make a noise together , and I can make up a noise or reaction," says Michaela, who hopes to keep acting until she's an adult.
Her mom loved the Care Bears when she was young, and had bought her daughter a Care Books book even before Michaela auditioned for the show.
She's torn, though, on her favorite Care Bear â€" other than Wonderheart, of course.
"Grumpy is hilarious and he was my favorite bear when I was little," Michaela says. "But Funshine is so adventurous and outgoing that I really like his personality now. They are all so great!"
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