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(Note: The subject of this article has conflicting sources to their gender. For the purposes of consistency and readability, gender-neutral pronouns will be used to address this character throughout this article due to their neutrality.)

Friend Bear believes that there is nothing more important than a good buddy who's there through the good times and the bad. This sweet bear knows how to be the perfect pal in any situation.
―Friend Bear's bio

Friend Bear (also recently known as Friendship Bear) is one of the ten original Care Bears who appeared on American Greetings greeting cards in late 1982, and has since made numerous appearances throughout the 1980's and 2000's Care Bears franchise.

They are not to be confused with Best Friend Bear, Sea Friend Bear, Forest Friend Bear, or Amigo Bear (whose name literally translates to "Friend Bear" in Spanish).

Profile[]

Appearance[]

Friend Bear has peach-colored fur and their Belly badge depicts two intertwined smiling yellow flowers. They also have blue eyes and a darker orange head tuft. Friend Bear's palms and paw pads are a very dark orange. Their face is white with three freckles on each cheek. The fur on their stomach is also white.

Personality[]

Friend Bear Taurus

Art taken from the official Care Bears Instagram.

If there's one thing Friend Bear knows, it's how to be a pal. They practically wrote the book on companionship, and knows that there's no greater gift in the world than a good buddy to share all of life's ups and downs with. They are willing to stand beside anyone who needs a companion, consort, partner, sidekick, or just plain acquaintance. Friend Bear is the social butterfly of the Care Bear team, and with them around, you're never in danger of being alone; which fitting to their Horoscope, Taurus.

Appearances[]

The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings[]

Friend Bear makes their animated debut in the very first Care Bears 1983 television special. After a boy named Kevin runs away from home, he ends up in the gloomy Land Without Feelings ruled by Professor Coldheart, who turns him into a Green Creature Slave. It's up to Friend Bear and the rest of the crew to defeat the mad professor and return the boy to normal.

The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine[]

In the follow-up to the original TV special, Friend Bear is among the bears who must once again stop Coldheart and his new sidekick Frostbite from tricking a boy named Paul into helping him complete his "Careless Ray Contraption" that will freeze everyone's feelings.

The Care Bears Movie[]

In the very first Care Bears theatrical film, Friend Bear is one of the main characters, alongside new addition Secret Bear. In this film, and most of the rest of the '80s work, Friend serves as Secret's translator and can understand their body language fluently, and does most of the talking for them. Friend is also the usual bear Secret whispers and tells secrets to.

The two Bears travel to Earth to help two children, Kim and Jason, who feel like they don't need any friends. After Grumpy's Rainbow Rescue Beam malfunctions and transports both the bears and the two children to Care-a-Lot, Friend welcomes them in true Care Bear fashion with a song ("Nobody Cares Like a Bear") before attempting to take them back the same way. When the machine once again goes haywire, Friend, Secret Bear, Kim, and Jason become lost in the Forest of Feelings, where they meet their new friends, the Care Bear Cousins.

When the other bears travel to the forest to look for them, they are finally reunited after meeting the rest of the Cousins, and travel to Earth together to stop The Spirit from removing all caring from the world.

DIC series[]

Friend Bear appears frequently in DIC's Care Bears series.

  • In Camp, they and several other bears travel to Earth to help two boys named Sanford and Murphy enjoy their camping trip despite their different personalities.
  • In Braces, They are among another group who attempts to convince a boy named Joey to not be self-conscious about his new braces.
  • In Split Decision, They join a soccer game with another boy named Carl against a group of bullies.
  • In Mayor for a Day, Friend Bear and some other bears travel and team up with a group of local children to stop Professor Coldheart when he rigs a children's contest to be mayor of a small town for a day.
  • In The Cloud Worm, Friend Bear is among the denizens of Care-a-Lot who try to convince a hungry Cloud Worm to come somewhere else when it threatens to literally eat the Care Bears out of house and home.

Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation[]

Baby Friend Bear

Friend Bear as a cub

The second Care Bears feature film tells the story of how the bears, including Friend Bear, first arrived in Care-a-Lot after escaping the evil Dark Heart. Later, when the villain propositions a girl named Christy into helping him capture the Care Bears once and for all, Friend and Secret Bear see the two working together to lure the rest of the bears into a trap, and re-group with the few remaining members of the Care Bear Family to help plan their rescue. Together with two children named John and Dawn, the team goes to Dark Heart's lair and free their friends.

The Care Bears Family[]

Friend Bear makes somewhat infrequent appearances in Nelvana's The Care Bears Family TV series, although quite less than in the DIC series. Once again, they normally appear with Secret Bear, and is one of the few bears who can interpret their pantomimes.

  • Their first appearance in the series was in The Great Race, as one of the contestants in the annual Care Bear Family Obstacle Race. However, when Mr. Beastly rigs the ballot to make himself a participant, they and the rest of the bears must put up with his constant cheating, with Friend Bear getting caught in a bag he hangs from a tree.
  • In The Cloud of Uncaring, Friend Bear is mentioned when Secret Bear learns of No Heart's plan to concoct a spell to summon a "Cloud of Uncaring", but can only use charades to communicate with the others, leaving an exasperated Brave Heart to comment "Boy, if Friend Bear were here she'd be able to understand what Secret Bear's trying to tell us..."

Care Bears Care About the Environment[]

Around 1991, Friend Bear and several other Care Bears received temporary redesigns in both artwork and plush form in order to bring about environmental awareness. Despite appearing in several books and even stickers, this new line was relatively short-lived due to a lack of popularity and low sales.

Friend Bear's appearance for this series featured them with reddish fur with a much different tummy symbol that depicted their typical flowers with the addition of two large overarching trees surrounded by hearts.

Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-Lot[]

Friend Bear is a character in the first computer-animated Care Bears film, Journey to Joke-a-lot. They are one of the Bears who helps out with the Care Bear Fair when Funshine runs away.

The Care Bears' Big Wish Movie[]

In the second CG Care Bears video, Friend Bear's role is minor as in Journey to Joke-a-Lot, although they are still among the residents of Care-a-Lot who welcome their new neighbors, Me Bear, Messy Bear, and Too Loud Bear to the community.

Later in the film, when the new bears abuse the power of Wish Bear's wishing star Twinkers, their greed eventually becomes too severe and Care-a-Lot begins to fall apart at the seems. Its up to the Care Bears, including Friend, to rebuild it in the aftermath.

Care Bears: Care Quest[]

Friend Bear is one of the playable characters in the 2005 Game Boy Advance video game Care Bears: Care Quest during the minigame "It's Good to Have Friends", where they must float around knocking on other bears' door and match them together based on their toys.

Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-Lot[]

Friend Bear makes a few minor appearances in the 2007-2008 Adventures in Care-a-Lot television series.

  • They first appear in Cheer, There and Everywhere as one of the attendees of the annual Care-a-Lot Starshine Parade.
  • In Flower Power, Friend is one of the bears who becomes obsessed with Share Bear's flowers when they become a fashion sensation.
  • In Present and Accounted For, they are seen during Love-a-Lot Bear's birthday party, where Love-a-Lot and Cheer Bear have a falling out following a misunderstanding about her present. They have a line, "Hi, Cheer Bear!" as they pass by with Tenderheart Bear.

2010's and 2020's[]

In 2010's, Friend Bear as been absent from the Care Bears TV shows, the Friend Bear only appears in promotional artwork and in the toy range from Just Play, and once again in 2020's, Friend Bear has been absent from the Care Bears TV shows, although the artwork done in the show's art style has been used on promotional material, first being used on a "Favorite Care Bear" contest done in March 2020. The character's gender is also changed to male for this series.

Friend also appears in the Unlock the Magic-inspired book Care Out Loud! on an illustration where they are depicted talking to Cheer Bear and Dibble.

Gallery[]

Descriptions[]

2002-2006: Need a good friend? Friend Bear would love to be your best buddy bear. She's the perfect example of a friend, too. She's caring, likes to play with you and she's fun to be with. She has a friendly symbol on her tummy - two smiling flowers!

2002 Website Profile:

Caring Mission: She shows how to be a great friend.
Symbol: Her twin, smiling flowers symbolize the joy of friendship.
Personality: Kind and friendly.
Character Quirk: A real chatterbox, she doesn't always know when to be quiet.
Color: Light Orange.
Best Friend: Love-a-lot Bear
Relationship Challenge: No one-she gets along with everyone!
Motto: Have I got a friend for you—me!

2004 Cub: Friend Cub would like to be your best friend, but she's far too shy even to say hello with your help, however, she'll become the perfect example of a friend - caring, playful, and fun to be with. She hopes you like the symbol on her tummy - a friendly, smiling flower!

20th Anniversary: Everyone can use a good friend in life, and Friend Bear spares no effort to make sure that each of us has at least one. Not only is she a good friend in her own right, but she helps bring people closer to each other, too. Friend Bear's tummy symbol, two smiling daisies, reflects the warmth and closeness of friendship.

The Bears Are Back in Town - The Ultimate Guidebook: Friend Bear believes that there is nothing more important than a good buddy who's there through the good times and the bad. This sweet bear knows how to be the perfect pal in any situation. He's a social butterfly who may talk a new friend's ear off the first time they meet, but it's only because he wants every bear to feel welcomed and wanted.

2021-present: Friend Bear believes that there is nothing more important than a good buddy who's there through the good times and the bad. This sweet bear knows how to be the perfect pal in any situation.

Notes[]

  • Friend Bear is mistakenly referred to as male in the book The Trouble with Timothy, as well as in many of the records produced by Kid Stuff Records. She is also shown as a male character in Unlock the Magic promotional art, as Friend lacks the eyelashes the female Care Bears have in the series.

In other languages:[]

Croatian: Kompica ("Buddy")
Dutch: Vriendbeertje ("Friend Bear")
French: Groscopain and Toucopain ("Great Friend" and "All Friends")
French (Canadian): Copinours ("Friend Bear")
German: Freundschaftsbärchi ("Friendship Bear")
Italian: Amicorso ("Friend Bear")
Japanese: フレンドベア ("Furendo Bear")
Mandarin (Taiwan): 朋友熊/Péngyǒu xióng ("Friend Bear")
Norwegian: Bestebamse ("Best Bear")
Polish: Miś Przyjaźni ("Friendship Bear")
Portuguese: Amizade ("Friendship")
Russian: Дружелюбный мишка ("Friendly Bear")
Spanish: Amigosita ("Friend Bear")
Spanish (Argentina): Osito de los Deseos ("Wishes Bear")
Spanish (Spain): Amicorso ("Friend Bear")
Swedish: Kompisnalle ("Group Bear")

Care Bears Family
Care Bears
Original Bears
Bedtime Bear (1982) - Birthday Bear (1982) - Cheer Bear (1982) - Friend Bear (1982) - Funshine Bear (1982) - Good Luck Bear (1982) - Grumpy Bear (1982) - Love-a-Lot Bear (1982) - Tenderheart Bear (1982) - Wish Bear (1982)
Introduced in 1980s/1990s
Forest Friend Bear (1980s) - Sea Friend Bear (1980s) - I Love You Bear (1980s) - Baby Hugs Bear (1983) - Baby Tugs Bear (1983) - Grams Bear (1983) - Secret Bear (1984) - Share Bear (1984) - Champ Bear (1984) - Harmony Bear (1985) - Surprise Bear (1985) - Daydream Bear (1985) - Prize Bear (1985) - True Heart Bear (1986) - Perfect Panda (1986) - Polite Panda (1986) - Gramps Bear (1986) - Take Care Bear (1987) - America Cares Bear (1991)
Introduced in 2000s
Laugh-a-Lot Bear (2003) - Bashful Heart Bear (2004) - Best Friend Bear (2004) - Thanks-a-Lot Bear (2004) - Do-Your-Best Bear (2004) - True North Bear (2005) - Sweet Dreams Bear (2005) - Hopeful Heart Bear (2005) - Smart Heart Bear (2005) - Me Bear (2005) - Messy Bear (2005) - Too Loud Bear (2005) - Amigo Bear (2006) - Always There Bear (2006) - Heartsong Bear (2006) - Play-a-Lot Bear (2006) - Shine Bright Bear (2006) - Superstar Bear (2006) - Work of Heart Bear (2006) - All My Heart Bear (2006) - Oopsy Bear (2007) - Pink Power Bear (2008) - Heart of Gold Bear (2008) - Sweet Sakura Bear (2009)
Introduced in 2010s
Wonderheart Bear (2012) - Shiver Me Timbear (2012) - Great Giving Bear (2012) - Trick-or-Sweet Bear (2013) - Christmas Wishes Bear (2014) - Rainbow Heart Bear (2017) - Piece of Heart Bear (2018) - Sparkle Heart Bear (2019) - Watchful Bear (2019)
Introduced in 2020s
Unity Bear (2020) - Togetherness Bear (2021) - Dream Bright Bear (2022) - I Care Bear (2022) - Care-a-Lot Bear (2022) - Sweet Message Bear (2022) - Sweet Celebrations Bear (2022) - Dare to Care Bear (2023) - Calming Heart Bear (2023) - Spooky Sparkle Bear (2023) - Destiny Bear (2023) - Be Me Bear (2023) - Always Here Bear (2023) - Good Vibes Bear (2023) - Flower Power Bear (2023) - Friends Forever Bear (2024) - True Friend Bear (2024) - Love Song Bear (2024) - Blissful Heart Bear (2024) - Peaceful Heart Bear (2024) - Kind to All Bear (2024) - Good Wishes Bear (2024) - Love to Care Bear (2024)
Peel & Reveal Bears
Best Secret Bear (2023) - Wishful Heart Bear (2023) - Lucky Star Bear (2023) - Dreamtime Bear (2023) - Always Heart Bear (2023) - Champ-Shine Bear (2023) - Love Song Bear (2023) - Charm Bear (2023) - Friend Share Bear (2023) - Grump-a-Lot Bear (2023)
Metaverse/NFT Bears
Hello Fren Bear (2022) - Self Care Bear (2022) - Warm Fuzzies Bear (2022) - ILY Bear (2022) - I Can Bear (2022) - Investor Bear (2022) - Enjoyer Bear (2022) - Collector Bear (2022) - Bad Crowd Bear (2022) - Cyborg Bear (2022) - Glitch Bear (2022) - Magic Sparkles Bear (2022) - Metaverse Bear (2022) - Zombie Bear (2022) - Pixie Bear (2022) - True Light Bear (2022) - Fun Dream Bear (2023) - Care Heart Bear (2023) - Always Grumpy Bear (2023) - Harmony Song Bear (2023) - Birthday Sparkle Bear (2023) - True Dreams Bear (2023) - Cheerheart Bear (2023) - Lucky Wish Bear (2023) - Super Love Bear (2023) - Best Heart Bear (2023) - Ocean Breeze Bear (2023)
Other Bears
Question Mark Bear (1980s) - Unnamed Pink Panda (1980s) - Unnamed Blue Panda (1980s) - Precious Heart Bear (1991) - Recycling Bear (1991) - Bo the Take Care Bear (2013) - International Day of the Girl Bears (2019) - Black Lives Matter Bear (2020)
Trademarked Bears
Dandy Bear (1990) - Fun Play Bear (1990) - Giving Bear (1990) - Munchie Bear (1991) - Melody Bear (1991) - Princess Heart Bear (1994) - Hollyheart Bear (1995) - Happyheart Bear (1995) - Peppermint Bear (1995) - Heart Shine Bear (2021) - Believe Bear (2021) - Caring Heart Bear (2022) - Warm Hug Bear (2023) - Lots-a-Pride Bear (2023) - Share Your Care Bear (2023)
Care Bear Cousins
Brave Heart Lion (1985) - Bright Heart Raccoon (1985) - Cozy Heart Penguin (1985) - Gentle Heart Lamb (1985) - Lotsa Heart Elephant (1985) - Loyal Heart Dog (1985) - Playful Heart Monkey (1985) - Proud Heart Cat (1985) - Swift Heart Rabbit (1985) - Treat Heart Pig (1985) - The Koala (1980s) - Noble Heart Horse (1986)
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