Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot


Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot, or simply known as Welcome to Care-a-Lot, is a 2012 American/Canadian CGI adventure musical animated TV series which is based on the "Care Bears" franchise in honor of their 30th anniversary. It is produced by American Greetings Properties. Unlike its previous predecessor "Care Bears" shows, this is AG's first CGI animated "Care Bears" TV series, though several films in the had been released in the format. The series premiered on June 2, 2012 on the Hub Network in the United States. Previews of each new episode were released weekly on an official channel on YouTube, along with occasional music video or other promotional releases.
The series lasted one extended 26-episode season before its network underwent a rebranding. Following the rebranding of The Hub as Discovery Family in the Fall of 2014, Netflix commissioned a continuation of Welcome to Care-a-Lot titled Care Bears & Cousins, which premiered November 6, 2015. The new series continues the story of the cast of Welcome to Care-a-Lot and introduces four new series regulars, the titular cousins Brave Heart Lion, Bright Heart Raccoon, Lotsa Heart Elephant and Cozy Heart Penguin. As of 2016, Care Bears merchandise features Welcome to Care-a-Lot characters, as well as Care Bears & Cousins branding, as featured in Just Play's range of toys and plush. The second season of Care Bears & Cousins premiered on Netflix in 2017.

Synopsis

Set in Care-a-Lot, a magical land in the clouds, Tenderheart Bear, Cheer Bear, Grumpy Bear, Share Bear, Harmony Bear, Funshine Bear and new playful, curious cub Wonderheart Bear all go on adventures that emphasize messages of caring and sharing. Human children from Earth often visit Care-a-Lot and participate in new adventures and valuable lessons learned. The Care Bears' mischievous frenemy King Beastly often attempts to make trouble for the bears.

Characters

Main Care Bears

Movie

Care Bears: A Belly Badge for Wonderheart the Movie was released on home video formats on August 6, 2013. Though marketed as a direct-to-video feature-length film, the release consists of no newly produced material, but is rather a compilation of three previous installments of the television series featuring the character Wonderheart Bear, edited to run in sequence at feature length.

Cast

Partnering with American Greetings, Hasbro released a toy line based on the series in 2013. The license transitioned to Just Play in 2015, and by quarter 2 the company produced a line of Care Bears plush, action figures, and as of Spring 2018, 6 series of small blind bag figurines based on Welcome to Care-a-Lot and Care Bears & Cousins' style guide and characters. In Summer of 2016 Just Play's merchandise transitioned to the Care Bears & Cousins branding.

Reception

The premiere of the series, along with ', saw The Hub earn its best performances amongst targeted demographics in six months. In an early review of the series, Blogfully.net stated that "If you've never seen a Care Bear's episode on the Hub, you're missing out."
Cartoon Brew reported that "The Hub's earlier series,
', sparked an unlikely following among adult males, otherwise known as the Brony phenomenon, but one fandom isn't enough for the Hub. They think their Care Bears show needs an adult male fanbase, too, and they're shamelessly encouraging it themselves." Comics Alliance also said that "In case you're wondering, "Belly-Bros" is a term offered by the Hub as a potential name for the legions of male fans who'll enjoy this new Care Bears series as much as they do Friendship is Magic. If you're not feeling it, however, they're also suggesting "Care-Dudes," which sounds more like the way that William S. Preston would describe someone who works in an assisted living facility." In a statement in response to these articles, The Hub's Crystal Williams said, "...I came across your story on Cartoon Brew titled "The Hub Hopes Men Will Start Calling Themselves "Belly Bros" and "Care Dudes." In response, I wanted to let you know that this was an unapproved and unsanctioned pitch by our PR agency...The Hub TV Network nor American Greetings Properties had any knowledge of the pitch angle. It is not our intention to compare Care Bears to My Little Pony and/or the Brony community."