The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (G, 1986)

A prequel to the first Care Bears Movie, THE CARE BEARS MOVIE II: A NEW GENERATION tells the story of the origin of the Care Bears. We meet the first Care Bears characters, Noble Heart Horse and True Heart Bear. The adventure begins when evil Dark Hear decides to get rid of the world of Care Bears. He has the ability to take different shapes, including one of a young boy. Appearing as this boy at a summer camp, he makes a deal with a girl that if he makes her the "camp champ," she owes him a favor. He comes collecting on this favor by asking her to help him kidnap the Care Bears. We see their plan work and the bears are encaged. Noble Heart and True Heart come to the rescue, along with the girl camper. She inadvertently gets zapped by Dark Heart instead of the Bears. Only by the caring of all, including Dark Heart and you, the viewer, will she come back.

This installment of the series has no connection to the first movie's plot line, and it seems that the real impetus for the film is just to get viewers interested in more Care Bear-related characters and merchandise.

Young preschoolers may be frightened by this movie, which offers very little in the way of learning. Parents can talk to kids about how the girl camper felt when she wasn't winning at games and why she wanted to be "camp champ." It also provides opportunity to discuss how to react to bullies and why they act the way they do. But if possible, avoid this movie. Your child is not missing much, and it will save you from having to buy yet another Care Bear at the toy store.