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 Did you know the Care Bears were initially designed for greeting cards?  Illustrator Elena Kucharik worked for American Greetings in 1981.  Jack Chojnacki was head of the toy and licensing division, and he recalled an immediate "aaaaah factor." The toys were introduced in February 1983 at New York City's Toy Fair.  Cabbage Patch Dolls were also showcased that year. Parker Brothers got on board and released six books before the release of the first television special. The original 10 Care Bears were joined by their Cousins in 1984, and in 1985 they got a feature film. It was the highest grossing animated film outside of the Disney market. Today celebrates their mission, that "sharing is caring," so share your care!

On this day in 1923, Walt and Roy Disney opened their Cartoon Studio in Hollywood, CA. Walt had worked with a film ad company in Kansas City, where he had launched his Laugh-O-Gram Studio.  After it went bankrupt, he moved to Los Angeles where his brother was recovering from tuberculosis. There, Walt was able to sell one of his Laugh-O-Gram short films, Alice's Wonderland. With a contract to make six more, the Disney Bros founded their company and asked their collaborator, Ub Iwerks, as well their Alice, Virginia Davis, to join them in California. Disney also launched a series based on a character named Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. But it was 1928 when the real winner was released, and forged the path for one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in history. Mickey Mouse shorts were so successful for the studio that Walt believed in a feature film.  Starting in 1934, the project went well over budget, but when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs  was released in 1937, it wa...

  Popeye was created on this day in 1929 as an addition to a long running comic strip called Thimble Theater , written by EC Segar. Olive Oyl was an established character, but Popeye quickly became the more popular. In 1933, the characters were adapted by Max Fleischer for cartoon shorts with Paramount Pictures. This was the third to be released. Fleischer continued production through 1957. The legacy lives on - I grew up watching Popeye in the 80's and the spinach references still exist today. I'm also pretty sure, in almost any group, someone will know what you're saying if you say, "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."

  I always considered Donald my favorite Disney character as a kid, there was just something about that angst that I enjoyed. He debuted on this day in 1934 in the following cartoon: In August of that year, he appeared more as we know him now. In 1941 came my favorite Donald cartoon. I also happened to get his autograph once.  ;-)

I could not find a good topic for today so I settled on something new. I've been meaning to do a spotlight on Tex Avery and Mel Blanc, who first worked together on Picador Porky on February 27, 1937.  Even though I missed that anniversary, I wanted to share some bits. Video Here Tex began his Warner Brothers career with Porky, starting with Gold Diggers of  '49 in 1935.  The star is Beans the Cat, and Porky is the father of his fiancé, Little Kitty. Full Video Here And in other Looney Tunes history: It was April 30, 1938 that Happy Rabbit first appears, and this is who becomes Bugs. That's all I've got - feel free to share some cartoon history!