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All The 1980s Miniature Care Bears and Their Variants

During the 1980s, miniature vintage Care Bears made of PVC (or harder plastic) and about an inch high made waves in the market. Here are all all of them, including the more elusive “Cousins”.

All The 1980s Miniature Care Bears and Their Variants

In the 1980s, some of the most popular children’s toys were miniature Care Bears about an inch high. Each character was available in different poses and showed different accessories. For example, there was a version of Cheer Bear that came with a loudspeaker, another with a bucket of paint and paintbrush, a third with a rainbow, or a fourth with an artist’s palette. 

The Care Bear Cousins, a group of animal companions for the bears, were treated differently. While they were part of the larger Care Bears universe, their miniature releases were much more limited, with only one pose typically produced for each character. This made the Cousins feel rarer and sometimes more mysterious compared to the main bears, but it also meant there was less diversity in how they were represented.

All The Vintage Miniature Care Bears

The miniature Care Bears figures became a major part of the franchise’s success during the 1980s. Then, they were loved by children. Today, they also valued as collectible items.

So, why were these mini Care Bears so popular? First of all, their small size made them affordable and easy to carry, which encouraged kids to build entire sets of their favorite characters. Unlike the larger plush bears, which were often treated as comfort toys, the miniature PVC figures were designed more for imaginative play and display. Children could line them up, create stories, or use them in dollhouses and playsets.

Miniature Main Care Bear Characters

In terms of rarity, the mini figures that belonged to min characters are relatively easy to find and remain affordable at about $10 each, although some variants have barely made it to second-hand markets. You can click on the bears below to see more details about the variants and their rarity.

Miniature Care Bear Cousins and Foes

The Care Bear cousins were animals. Each of these minifigures, which were released at around the same time as the main characters, has only one variant. Although this means it’s easier to get a full collection with just the six of them, they are still a little herder to find than the main Care Bears.

Other Vintage Care Bears Collections

The 80’s Care Bears franchise had several toy collections, including poseable characters, miniatures, plush bears, and playsets. If you are unfamiliar with the line, the differences can seem quite subtle at first, but there once you get used to the groups, it’s really easy to tell when a vintage Care Bear was made and what group it belongs to. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

1. The 1980s Poseable Care Bears

There were ten characters in the original Poseable Care Bears series (then, five more were added). You can see some of the most popular ones below, but please click on the button to see the complete collection of vintage Poseable Care Bear figures. The easiest way to identify these: They are articulated! And they have (or least had, at some point!) a little lock of hair.

The caring leader of the Care Bears, Tenderheart spreads love and kindness with his heart belly badge.

The ultimate encourager, Cheer Bear’s rainbow belly badge spreads joy and positivity everywhere.

Known for her sweet nature, Love-A-Lot Bear shares her love with everyone through her two-heart belly badge.

A gentle, sleepy bear, Bedtime Bear’s crescent moon badge brings sweet dreams to all.

Always cheerful, Funshine Bear lights up the room with his sunny personality and bright sun belly badge.

The friendliest bear around, Friend Bear’s two flower badge shows she’s always there to lend a paw.

2. The 1980s Plush Care Bears

The original Care Bears plush collection from the 1980s came in three primary sizes: 6 inches, 13 inches, and 18 inches, appealing to a wide range of fans who wanted to bring a piece of Care-a-Lot into their lives. These sizes offered something for every collector, from small, portable companions to larger, cuddle-friendly bears. Additionally, select Care Bears were produced in a striking 36-inch size, making them standout statement pieces and favorites among devoted fans and collectors.

Spreads love with her two-heart badge, encouraging others to care deeply.

The clever cousin, Bright Heart Raccoon is known for his bright ideas and curious nature. 

Sleepy and calm, with a moon and star badge for sweet dreams, is part of the 6″ plush collection.

Dreamy and imaginative, with a shooting star badge to inspire big dreams.

A courageous leader with a lion’s heart, Brave Heart inspires bravery in everyone.