Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake Dolls
The Smurfs were in good company. American Greetings illustrator Muriel Fahrion was asked to create a doll character for their greeting card line. Strawberry Shortcake was a character that lived in Strawberryland, along with her wide network of food-themed friends. In 1979 the character evolved into a doll line, with names and scents appropriate to their themes. The early and mid-80s success of the Strawberry Shortcake franchise led American Greetings to ask for another character line.
Fahrion developed the Care Bears. These colorful bears had icons on their stomachs showing a personality and emotion. In 1983, the bears became a toy line, and by 1985 they had their own TV show and movie. While children used Strawberry Shortcake dolls for imaginative stories with articulated dolls, play sets, and merchandise line, Care Bears were more for comfort and to help children express emotions (which explains the presence of Grumpy Bear).
