The 1980s Care Bears vintage plush toys are cherished collectibles that capture the essence of the beloved characters from the original animated series. Each plush bear features a unique “belly badge” symbolizing its distinct personality traits, such as Tenderheart Bear’s heart or Funshine Bear’s sun. These plushes were crafted with soft materials and vibrant colors, making them popular among children and collectors alike.
You can still find these vintage Care Bears plush toys in online marketplaces like eBay and Etsy, where collectors often list them for sale. Local thrift stores, antique shops, and toy fairs can also be fruitful places to find these nostalgic items. When purchasing, it’s advisable to verify the authenticity and condition of the plush to ensure it meets your collecting standards.
The First Care Bears Plushes
The original Care Bears plush collection from the 1980s featured three main sizes: 6 inches, 13 inches, and 18 inches, catering to fans of all ages who wanted to bring a bit of Care-a-Lot into their homes. These standard sizes offered options for every kind of collector, whether looking for a portable companion or a larger huggable friend. In addition to these, there were also a select few Care Bears produced in a massive 36-inch size, creating impressive statement pieces that became instant favorites among fans and collectors.
Interestingly, some Care Bear characters were only available as plush toys and were never released in other forms like figurines or poseable versions.
The Original 6" Care Bear Plushes
(12 Characters)
The original 6-inch Care Bear plush collection featured 12 beloved characters, each perfectly miniaturized for fans to carry or display. These smaller plushes retained all the charm of the larger versions, showcasing the iconic belly badges and vibrant colors that represented each bear’s unique personality and “caring mission.” From Cheer Bear’s rainbow to Tenderheart Bear’s heart symbol, each character in this set brought a piece of Care-a-Lot to life in a compact, collectible form. This size was especially popular among fans for its portability, making it easy to take a bit of Care Bears magic wherever you go.
Celebrates special days with a cupcake belly badge, always ready to party.
Brightens everyone’s mood with a rainbow badge and a cheerful spirit.
Caring leader with a heart badge, spreading love and kindness.
Lovable and grouchy, with a raincloud badge symbolizing it’s okay to feel down.
Spreads love with her two-heart badge, encouraging others to care deeply.
Generous bear with a two-lollipop badge, always ready to share.
Sleepy and calm, with a moon and star badge for sweet dreams.
Motivates others with a trophy badge, inspiring confidence and winning spirit.
Playful and optimistic with a sun badge, always bright and cheerful.
Friendly and caring, with two flowers to symbolize friendship.
Brings good fortune with his four-leaf clover badge.
Dreamy and imaginative, with a shooting star badge to inspire big dreams.
In addition to these twelve 6-inch plush Care Bears, there were six UK-exclusive ones. These are: Daydream Bear, Forest Friend Bear, Harmony Bear, Sea Friend Bear, Surprise Bear, and Trueheart Bear.
The Original 13" Care Bear Plushes
(15 Characters)
Each of the fifteen poseable Care Bear characters was manufactured as a 13-inch plush toy designed for both cuddling and interactive play. These plush toys featured movable limbs, allowing kids and collectors alike to position the Care Bears in a variety of poses, adding an element of versatility and charm to their playtime or display. Each plush was crafted with detailed embroidery and vibrant colors to capture the distinct look and personality of every character, from Cheer Bear’s bright and uplifting spirit to Grumpy Bear’s signature frown. These 13-inch Care Bear plush toys became cherished collectibles, appealing to fans of all ages who valued both their aesthetic quality and interactive design.
The heart of the Care Bears, Tenderheart inspires love and compassion in everyone around him. His mission is to teach others the importance of caring and connecting.
Known for her bright pink fur and rainbow belly badge, Cheer Bear spreads joy and happiness wherever she goes. Her cheerful personality lights up any room, making her a beacon of positivity.
Always the supportive friend, Friend Bear is there to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. With her flowers badge, she represents true friendship and is always ready to comfort others.
This bear believes in the power of love and wants to share it with everyone. Recognizable by her two intertwined hearts badge, Love-a-Lot Bear encourages kindness and romance wherever she goes.
Wise and nurturing, Grams Bear is like a grandmother to all the Care Bears. She’s always ready with advice, a warm hug, or a comforting treat to show she cares.
This cuddly little bear has an enormous heart and loves to show affection. With her starry diaper, Baby Hugs brings innocent joy and lots of giggles to the group.
Full of playful energy, Baby Tugs loves to explore and have fun. With his starry diaper and adventurous spirit, he’s always getting into cute mischief with Baby Hugs by his side.
With his green fur and a four-leaf clover badge, Good Luck Bear is all about bringing good fortune and positive vibes. He’s always ready to help others find their lucky streak and stay optimistic.
Known for his unique personality and signature raincloud belly badge, Grumpy Bear may look grouchy, but he has a heart of gold. He’s a reminder that it’s okay to feel blue sometimes.
With a sparkling shooting star on her belly, Wish Bear helps others believe in the magic of wishes and dreams. She’s always encouraging others to reach for the stars and make their dreams come true.
Radiating positivity and sunshine, Funshine Bear is full of energy and loves outdoor adventures. Her bright yellow fur and sun badge make her the ultimate symbol of joy and playfulness.
Recognized by his moon and star badge, Bedtime Bear helps others drift off to sleep peacefully. Calm and soothing, he’s the perfect companion for sweet dreams and restful nights.
This bear knows how to celebrate! With a cupcake and candle badge, Birthday Bear treats each day like a party, reminding others to appreciate the special moments in life.
Known for her heart-shaped lollipops badge, Share Bear encourages generosity and sharing. She’s always ready to share her snacks, toys, and time with friends in need.
Sporting a winner’s cup on his belly, Champ Bear cheers for teamwork, sportsmanship, and always doing your best. He loves competition but values kindness and fairness above all.
Apart from these 15 bears, there are another eight that were exclusively made as plush toys and were never available in poseable versions. These are: Daydream Bear, Forest Friend Bear, Harmony Bear, I Love You Bear, Sea Friend Bear, Secret Bear, Surprise Bear, and Trueheart Bear.
The Care Bear Cousins Plushes
The Care Bear Cousins line included six distinct characters that were produced as 13-inch plush toys, each bringing their unique traits and personalities to the Care Bears family. In addition to these, five exclusive Care Bear Cousins were released only in the UK, making them rare finds for collectors. Of these five UK exclusives, one was never manufactured in a poseable version, adding to its uniqueness and appeal.
For those who preferred larger plush toys, the Care Bear line also introduced at least seven characters in an 18-inch plush size. These larger versions captured the same charm and detailed design as their smaller counterparts but in a more huggable, substantial form, making them especially popular among fans and collectors. The 18-inch plush Care Bears offered fans a more immersive cuddling experience, while the 13-inch versions remained a versatile favorite for play and display.
Vintage Care Bear Cousins - 13 Inches:
These six Cousins were produced as 13-inch plush toys, each featuring their own distinct design and personality to complement the original Care Bears. Unlike the traditional bears, the Cousins included a diverse mix of animals, such as lions, elephants, and penguins, expanding the Care Bears family and adding fresh personality to the collection.
A courageous leader with a lion’s heart, Brave Heart Lion inspires bravery in everyone, with a crown-topped heart on his belly.
Sweet and kind, Gentle Heart Lamb is always calm and nurturing. Her heart within a cloud belly badge represents her gentle, tender nature.
The clever cousin, Bright Heart Raccoon is known for his bright ideas and curious nature. His belly badge features a heart-shaped light bulb.
Full of love and joy, Lotsa Heart Elephant is cheerful and always there for others. Her belly badge is a heart with a small crown, showing her big-hearted spirit.
Cozy and caring, Cozy Heart Penguin loves keeping others warm and happy, with an ice-capped heart on her belly symbolizing warmth in cold times.
The speedy cousin, Swift Heart Rabbit is energetic and quick, with a heart and arrow badge symbolizing her swift and adventurous personality.
There were also five rare UK-exclusive Care Bear Cousins. These are: Loyal Heart Dog, Noble Heart Horse, Playful Heart Monkey, Proud Heart Cat, and Treat Heart Pig.
Vintage Care Bear Cousins - 18 Inches:
At least seven different Care Bears were produced in an 18-inch plush size, offering fans and collectors an extra-large, huggable version of their favorite characters. These larger plush toys captured all the charm of the original designs but in a more substantial, eye-catching size perfect for display or cuddling. Each 18-inch Care Bear came complete with its signature belly badge and color, embodying the unique traits that made each character beloved.
Always ready to celebrate, Birthday Bear came with a cupcake and candle badge, reminding everyone to enjoy life’s special moments.
With his sleepy moon and star belly badge, Bedtime Bear was designed to bring comfort and sweet dreams to anyone in need of a snuggle.
Known for her bright pink fur and rainbow badge, Cheer Bear’s large plush form radiated joy and positivity, making her a fan favorite.
Complete with a shining star badge, Wish Bear’s large plush form encouraged dreams and belief in the magic of wishes.
With two intertwined hearts on her belly, Love-a-Lot Bear in her 18-inch form was a symbol of affection and kindness.
The heart of the Care Bears, Tenderheart’s 18-inch plush form embodied love and compassion, making him a perfect companion for those who needed a little extra care.
With his lucky four-leaf clover badge, Good Luck Bear brought a touch of fortune to his larger plush, making him a great gift to spread good vibes.
The Care Bear 36" Giant Plushes
The 36-inch plush Care Bears were the ultimate oversized cuddle companions, with at least two characters produced in this massive size: Tenderheart Bear and Cheer Bear. These jumbo plushes stood at an impressive three feet tall, making them standout pieces for any Care Bear fan and adding a unique, larger-than-life presence to any room. They became sought-after collectibles and memorable gifts, cherished for their size, detail, and huggable softness!
As the leader of the Care Bears, Tenderheart’s large plush form embodied warmth and compassion on a grand scale. With his signature heart belly badge, this jumbo-sized Tenderheart was perfect for big hugs and represented the spirit of caring in a truly memorable way.
Radiating happiness and positivity, Cheer Bear’s 36-inch plush form made an impressive statement with her bright pink fur and rainbow belly badge. Known for spreading joy, this giant version of Cheer Bear was perfect for bringing a cheerful vibe to any space.
