The CARE BEARS began life as painted characters for greeting cards in 1981. The multi-colored bears were turned into a series of plush teddy bears in 1983 and graduated to television specials from 1985-1988. Each bear has a unique 'belly badge' representing its personality. The CARE BEARS have been relaunched numerous times over the years and even have 'cousins' represented by other types of animals. The CARE BEARS have had multiple animated films and television series and have grown into a successful, multi-faceted franchise which includes merchandise, books, comics, music, video games and live appearances.