The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox film

| name = The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland

| image = CareBearsMovieIII_AIW.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Raymond Jafelice

| producer = Michael Hirsh
Patrick Loubert
Clive A. Smith

| writer = Peter Sauder

| screenplay = Susan Snooks
John de Klein

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| music = Patricia Cullen

| editing = Evan Landis

| studio = Nelvana Limited

| distributor = Cineplex Odeon Films

| released = {{Film date|1987|08|07}}

| country = {{Plainlist|

  • Canada
  • United States

}}

| runtime = 78 minutes

| language = English

| budget = $5 million{{cite journal|last=Hayden|first=Gene|title=Babar's triumphs|date=August 7, 1989|journal=Maclean's|page=48|quote=Founded in 1972,{{sic}} the [Nelvana Limited] company earned an international reputation in 1984, after American director George Lucas—best known for the Star Wars movie series—hired the studio to create two animated TV spin-off series, Ewoks and Droids. A year later, Ohio's American Greetings Corp. and Kenner Parker Toys Inc. commissioned Nelvana Limited to produce the animated Care Bears Movie. Earning $34 million in 1985, it became at the time the world's most profitable non-Disney animated movie. Buoyed by that success, Nelvana Limited made two sequels. But the last of the trilogy, the 1987 Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland, which Nelvana Limited co-produced for just under $5 million, only broke even. Conceded Hirsh: 'It was just one [sequel] too many.'}}{{#tag:ref|In February 1987, the Toronto Star gave a budget range of US$5–7 million for the film.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/472500331.html?dids=472500331:472500331&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+03%2C+1987&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Ofra+Harnoy+headlines+Holy+Blossom+benefit&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104033946/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/472500331.html?dids=472500331:472500331&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+03,+1987&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Ofra+Harnoy+headlines+Holy+Blossom+benefit&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2012|author=Staff|title=Ofra Harnoy headlines Holy Blossom benefit|date=February 3, 1987|access-date=October 10, 2010|work=Toronto Star|page=H.1|quote=Cineplex Odeon distributes third Care Bears movie: Canada's Cineplex Odeon will distribute the third Care Bears animated movie, The Care Bears Adventure In Wonderland, that is currently being filmed by Nelvana in Toronto. Cineplex Odeon has rights for the U.S. and Canada for theatres and video cassette. ¶ The first two Care Bears movies grossed about $40 million. The third movie is budgeted for between $5 million and $7 million.}}|group=nb}}

| gross = $6 million{{cite news|last=Lerch|first=Renate|title=Nelvana finds reel success in animated films|date=February 9, 1988|work=The Financial Post|page=17|quote=The first [Care Bears] movie, released in 1985, grossed $25 million at the box office. Its $3.5-million budget was financed by American Greetings in partnership with Kenner-Parker Toys Inc. of Beverly, Massachusetts The Americans also funded the sequel, which brought in $12 million. Nelvana financed the third movie itself and it has so far grossed $6 million.}}

}}

The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland{{#tag:ref|The title has sometimes been written with an exclamation mark ending it off;{{cite book|editor-last=Gritten|editor-first=David|title=Halliwell's Film Guide 2008|chapter=The Care Bears' Adventure in Wonderland!|page=197|isbn=978-0-00-726080-5|year=2007|location=Hammersmith, London|publisher=HarperCollins |title-link=Halliwell's Film Guide}} this does not appear in the film's official logo.{{cite video |people=Jafelice, Raymond (director) |date=1987 |title=The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland |url= |medium=Animated film |language= |publisher=Cineplex Odeon Films (distributor, North America) / Nelvana Limited |location= |time= |quote=}}|group=nb}} is a 1987 animated musical fantasy film and the third theatrically released film in the Care Bears franchise. It was released in the United States and Canada on August 7, 1987, by Cineplex Odeon Films, and is based on Lewis Carroll's Alice stories. The fourth feature film made at Toronto's studio Nelvana Limited, it was directed by staff member Raymond Jafelice and produced by the firm's founders (Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith). It stars the voices of Keith Knight, Bob Dermer, Jim Henshaw, Tracey Moore and Elizabeth Hanna. In the film, the Care Bears must rescue the Princess of Wonderland from the Evil Wizard and his assistants, Dim and Dumb. After the White Rabbit shows them her photo, the Bears and Cousins search around the Earth for her before enlisting an unlikely replacement, an ordinary girl named Alice, to save her true look-alike. Venturing into Wonderland, the group encounters a host of strange characters, among them a rapping Cheshire Cat and the Jabberwocky.

Adventure in Wonderland was co-produced and self-financed by Nelvana Limited, after a consortium of American companies helped them with the first two films. Animation was handled by Nelvana Limited and Taiwan's Wang Film Productions. The film featured a musical score by Patricia Cullen along with songs by pop musicians John Sebastian and Natalie Cole. Upon its North American release, the film opened weakly to mixed reviews, and ended up with a $2.6 million gross; worldwide, it barely made back its $5 million cost. In the years since it opened, the film has received a VHS and DVD release in various countries outside North America, where distributors refuse to release it due to various complications involving the negative response of its first sequel, leaving this movie abandoned in the US ever since.

Plot

In Care-a-lot, the Care Bears are visited by the White Rabbit, the uncle of Swift Heart Rabbit. The White Rabbit gives the Care Bears the task of finding the missing Princess of Heart, who is to be crowned queen in Wonderland, otherwise the villainous Wizard of Wonderland will gain the throne.

Tenderheart, Grumpy, Good Luck, Brave Heart, Lotsa Heart, Swift Heart and the White Rabbit search all over the world for the Princess, but to no avail. Grumpy is pointed to a girl who resembles the Princess, Alice, who believes she is not special. The Care Bears decide that Alice could act as the Princess until the real one is found. The group is separated by the power of the Wizard, forcing Grumpy, Swift Heart and the White Rabbit to use a rabbit hole to reach Wonderland.

In Wonderland, Tenderheart's group gain directions to Heart Palace from Officer Caterpillar. The Wizard sends his minions Dim and Dum (loosely based on Tweedledum and Tweedledee from Alice Through The Looking Glass) to capture Alice using large battle robots, but the Care Bears defeat them with a Care Bear Stare. Grumpy's group reunite with the others as the Cheshire Cat appears, portrayed as a rapper. The Cheshire Cat splits the group of two, directing Tenderheart, Lotsa Heart, Alice and the White Rabbit to Heart Palace, and Brave Heart, Grumpy, Good Luck and Swift Heart to look for the Mad Hatter, who knows where the Princess is. The Wizard captures Alice briefly and explains to her that when he rules he will make Wonderland less insane and more controlled. Alice flees and runs into the Queen of Hearts' throne room, where the Queen accepts Alice as her daughter whilst knowing she is not. Brave Heart's group locate the Mad Hatter who takes them to the lair of the Jabberwocky, where the Princess is. Grumpy rescues the princess, but the Jabberwocky gets a thorn in his foot which is removed by the Care Bears. In gratitude, the Jabberwocky (or "Stan" as he prefers to be called) decides to help them back to Heart Palace.

As the Princess' coronation day arrives, the Wizard decides to expose Alice's identity to the court via the Princess Test, to prove that she is not the princess. Alice climbs a mountain to retrieve some water from a spring, aided secretly by Tenderheart and Lotsa Heart; however, Alice gives the water to an injured unicorn. Angered by this, the Wizard demands that Alice make the flowers in the palace garden bloom magically. The princess secretly steps in and makes the flowers bloom. The Wizard, who had not been anticipating the Princess' return, suddenly exclaims he had her kidnapped, exposing his crime. The Care Bears, Alice, and the Wonderland characters confront the Wizard but the appearance of the Jabberwocky drives the villain insane, and he is arrested. The princess is crowned the new queen, and she helps Alice and the Care Bears return home.

Cast

The cast of the film:

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin: 5px;"
style="background:darkGrey; width:200px;"|Name

! style="background:darkGrey; width:250px;"|Character

Bob DermerGrumpy Bear
Eva AlmosSwift Heart Rabbit
Dan HennesseyBrave Heart Lion / Dum
Jim HenshawTender Heart Bear
Marla LukofskyGood Luck Bear
Luba GoyLotsa Heart Elephant
Keith KnightWhite Rabbit
Tracey MooreAlice
Colin FoxWizard
John StockerDim / Cheshire Cat
Don McManusCaterpillar
Elizabeth HannaQueen of Wonderland
Alan FawcettFlamingo
Keith HampshireMad Hatter / Jabberwocky ("Stan")
Alyson CourtPrincess of Wonderland

Production

A third feature film based on American Greetings' Care Bears characters was under development at Toronto's Nelvana studio as early as June 1986, a few months after the release of the second installment, Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475259981.html?dids=475259981:475259981&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+28%2C+1986&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Nelvana+crosses+the+border+for+live+action+and+Whoopi&pqatl=google|author=Staff|title=Nelvana crosses the border for live action and Whoopi|date=June 28, 1986|access-date=October 31, 2010|url-access=registration|work=Toronto Star|page=F.6|quote=In planning stages [at Nelvana] is yet another Care Bears movie, an original animated feature movie and two TV movies (with actors) for American pay-TV.|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102145426/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475259981.html?dids=475259981:475259981&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+28,+1986&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Nelvana+crosses+the+border+for+live+action+and+Whoopi&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}} Nelvana had also begun production of a Care Bears television series set to air on the ABC network in the U.S., and Global in Canada. Whereas the other two were co-financed with U.S. companies, Nelvana raised its own money (US$5 million) for the new instalment, with assistance from Middlefield Entertainment Group. Production of Adventure in Wonderland, Nelvana's fourth animated feature,{{cite journal|title=Nelvana Animated Feature Films (Special Report: Nelvana 25th Anniversary)|date=April 22–28, 1996|journal=Variety|page=72}} took place at the Toronto company's facilities;{{cite book|last=Beck|first=Jerry|author-link=Jerry Beck|title=The Animated Movie Guide|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck|url-access=registration|chapter=The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland|pages=[https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck/page/46 46–47]|isbn=978-1-55652-591-9|publisher=Chicago Reader Press|year=2005}} overseas work was handled by Taiwan's Wang Film Productions.{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TNJulkqR774C&q=%22Care+Bears%22+-+Wang+Film&pg=PA125|last=Lent|first=John A.|title=Animation in Asia and the Pacific|chapter=James Wang and His Crazy Climb to Taiwan's Cuckoo's Nest|page=[https://archive.org/details/animationinasiap00john/page/125 125]|isbn=978-0-253-34035-1|year=2001|access-date=August 6, 2010|publisher=Indiana University Press|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/animationinasiap00john/page/125}} Raymond Jafelice, the director, was previously involved in the original Care Bears Movie as a storyboard artist.{{cite video |people=Selznick, Arna (director) |date=1985 |title=The Care Bears Movie |url= |medium=Animated film |language= |publisher=The Samuel Goldwyn Company (distributor) / Nelvana Limited / American Greetings / CPG Products Corp |location= |time= |quote= }}{{#tag:ref|Jafelice was credited in The Care Bears Movie with the first name Ray.|group=nb}} Nelvana's founders—Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith—were once again producers. Jack Chojnacki, the co-president of American Greetings' licensing division Those Characters from Cleveland,{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DN&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI%7CDN&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB294D2283BB84A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|last=DeWolf|first=Rose|title=Out to launch: Is there shelf life after Holly Hobbie? You bet|date=October 12, 1982|access-date=August 21, 2010|url-access=registration |work=Philadelphia Daily News|page=33 (Features)|quote=Jack Chojnacki, copresident of Those Characters from Cleveland, a subsidiary of American Greetings set up just to handle licensing, told a recent meeting ...}} served as a creative consultant on this instalment; for the previous ones, he was an executive producer.{{cite video |people=Schott, Dale (director) |date=1986 |title=Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation |url= |medium=Animated film |language= |publisher=Columbia Pictures (distributor) / Nelvana Limited / LBS Communications |location= |time= |quote= }} In December 1986, Toronto actor Colin Fox recorded his lines for the film at the Nelvana studios.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475676661.html?dids=475676661:475676661&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+10%2C+1986&author=Sid+Adilman+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Twins+wanted+for+Disney%27s+latest+comedy&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201023832/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475676661.html?dids=475676661:475676661&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+10,+1986&author=Sid+Adilman+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Twins+wanted+for+Disney's+latest+comedy&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013|last=Adilman|first=Sid|title=Twins wanted for Disney's latest comedy|date=December 10, 1986|access-date=August 6, 2010|url-access=registration |work=Toronto Star|page=B.1|quote=For a change of pace, [Colin Fox] returns to Toronto this weekend to be the voice of the Wizard for The Care Bears Movie III, being shot by the city's Nelvana Films, which made the first two features and the current weekly ABC-TV Saturday morning Care Bears series that also airs on Global.}}

Release

=North America=

Cineplex Odeon Films, the distribution branch of Canadian cinema chain Cineplex Odeon Corporation, acquired the North American rights to The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland in February 1987. According to the Long Island newspaper Newsday, Cineplex Odeon chairman Garth Drabinsky "shrugged off [this film] as 'a favour to the Canadian producer.'"{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/104751569.html?dids=104751569:104751569&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+08%2C+1987&author=By+Martin+Kasindorf&pub=Newsday+%28Combined+editions%29&desc=Movie+Houses+Turn+Movie+Makers+Capturing+big-name+film+makers+and+releasing+their+heartfelt+projects+has+brought+prestige+to+Cineplex+Odeon%2C+an+aggressive+company+that+entered+the+movie-making+business+just+a+year+ago.+See+end+of+text+for+sidebar-In+the+Film+Business%2C+They+Call+Him+%60Garth+Vader%27&pqatl=google |last=Kasindorf|first=Martin|title=Movie Houses Turn Movie Makers: Capturing big-name film makers and releasing their heartfelt projects has brought prestige to Cineplex Odeon, an aggressive company that entered the movie-making business just a year ago. / In the Film Business, They Call Him 'Garth Vader'|date=November 8, 1987|access-date=November 4, 2010|url-access=registration |work=Newsday|page=09 (Part 2)}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Tie-ins appeared at department stores as part of the film's promotion; also, costumed Care Bears spread the word at daycare centres, hospitals and parades, and through radio.{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKk7r9uEgrIC&q=Care+Bears+Movie&pg=PA52|last=Pecora|first=Norma Odom|title=The Business of Children's Entertainment|chapter=The Industries: Television and Toy|page=52|isbn=978-1-57230-774-2|year=2002|access-date=November 5, 2010|publisher=Guilford Press}}{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F3-H6-Vk1_4C&q=third+Care+Bears+movie&pg=PA89|last1=MacNaughton|first1=Glenda|last2=Hughes|first2=Patrick|editor-last=Soto|editor-first=Lourdes Díaz|title=The Politics of Early Childhood Education|series=Rethinking Childhood|volume=10|chapter=Take the Money and Run?: Toys, Consumerism, and Capitalism in Early Childhood Conferences|page=89|isbn=978-0-8204-4164-1|year=2000|access-date=November 5, 2010|publisher=Peter Lang}} Universal Pictures was named sub-distributor of the film, which handled the physical release of the animated feature, but the relations are strictly one of the major contracted as subdistributor for the Cineplex Odeon Films.{{Cite news |date=1987-07-29 |title=U Is Subdistrib On Cineplex' 'Bears' |pages=6, 29 |work=Variety}} Opening on August 7, 1987, Wonderland only grossed US$2,608,000 in the U.S. and Canadian domestic market,{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=carebears3.htm|title=Box office information for The Care Bears Movie 3|access-date=August 6, 2010|work=Box Office Mojo}}{{#tag:ref|Approximately US${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|2608000|1987|r=3}}|0}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars.{{Inflation-fn|US}}|group=nb}} with US$1,000,000 in rentals;{{cite journal|author=Staff|title=In Winner's Circle; Miramax's 'Crying Game' paces indies; New Line still running strong|date=August 17, 1993|journal=Variety}} on its opening weekend, it grossed little more than US$1 million in 20th place on 1,094 screens.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=1987&wknd=32&p=.htm|title=Weekend Box Office Results for August 7–9, 1987|access-date=August 6, 2010|work=Box Office Mojo}} It was Cineplex Odeon's second-highest-grossing release as a distributor, alongside Sign o' the Times (which made only US$3 million).{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/studio/chart/?view2=allmovies&studio=cineplexodeon.htm|title=Studio Market Share: Cineplex Odeon Films|access-date=August 6, 2010|work=Box Office Mojo}} The film premiered on videocassette in December 1987, thanks to MCA Home Video,{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1920992821.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+13%2C+1987&author=Christopher+Hume+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=C.10&desc=Full+range+of+kid+videos+to+brighten+the+holidays|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104095433/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1920992821.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+13,+1987&author=Christopher+Hume+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=C.10&desc=Full+range+of+kid+videos+to+brighten+the+holidays|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2012|last=Hume|first=Christopher|title=Full range of kid videos to brighten the holidays|date=December 13, 1987|access-date=October 31, 2010|url-access=registration |work=Toronto Star|page=C.10}} and reissued by GoodTimes Home Video in 1996;{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ogkEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Care+Bears%22+-+Wonderland&pg=PA79|last=Rosenblum|first=Trudi Miller|title=Video '96: New Releases Offer Something for Everyone, from Classic Cinema to Kidvid, Super Sports to Nostalgic TV|date=July 13, 1996|access-date=October 10, 2010|magazine=Billboard|volume=108|number=28|page=79}} a U.S. LaserDisc release occurred on May 16, 1991.{{cite magazine|last=McGowan|first=Chris|title=Warner Has Thrilling News For Hitchcock, Turow Fans|date=March 16, 1991|magazine=Billboard|volume=103|page=46}} The film aired on premium cable's Disney Channel in August 1988;{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qsQmAAAAIBAJ&pg=4694,2932123&dq=care-bears+wonderland&hl=en|title=Movies: Week of August 7|date=August 7, 1988|access-date=November 5, 2010|work=Anchorage Daily News|volume=43|number=220|page=86}} in Canada, television rights were held by the Family Channel.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/474084091.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+27%2C+1988&author=Bruce+Blackadar+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=J.1&desc=TV+expands+in+a+family+way|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104103725/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/474084091.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+27,+1988&author=Bruce+Blackadar+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=J.1&desc=TV+expands+in+a+family+way|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2012|last=Blackadar|first=Bruce|title=TV expands in a family way|date=August 27, 1988|access-date=November 5, 2010|url-access=registration |work=Toronto Star|page=J.1}} Although the first two Care Bears films have received DVD releases,{{cite news|last=Cling|first=Carol|title=Video Preview|date=August 6, 2002|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|page=1E}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/carebears2.php|last=Rankins|first=Michael|title=Review of Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation|date=May 9, 2003|access-date=October 31, 2010|work=DVD Verdict|quote=The animation here is slapdash and crude, only occasionally reaching Saturday-morning-TV level. I don't know whether the Care Bears television program was put together as poorly, but if so, I can't envision how the producers sold three movies (there was a second sequel after this, which will never see daylight on DVD if there's any justice in the cosmos) based on it.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515003316/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/carebears2.php|archive-date=May 15, 2010}} a Region 1 DVD for the third one has yet to be scheduled due to suffering complications from its first sequel, although it did receive a DVD release in Australia.

Adventure in Wonderland only managed to break even with worldwide earnings of US$6,000,000,{{#tag:ref|Approximately US${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|6000000|1987|r=3}}|0}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars.{{Inflation-fn|US}}|group=nb}} which led Nelvana co-founder Michael Hirsh to say, "It was just one sequel too many." The Bears would return for a television special, Care Bears Nutcracker Suite, which premiered on video and television in December 1988.{{cite news|last=Zad|first=Martie|title=Video Carols|date=December 11, 1988|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=Y6 (TV Tab)}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MiNZAAAAIBAJ&pg=2935,1506433&dq=care-bears&hl=en|author=The TV Listing Group Inc.|title=This week on television|date=December 9, 1988|access-date=October 23, 2010|work=The Union Democrat|at=Saturday}} They would no longer appear in animated features until 2004's Journey to Joke-a-lot.{{cite news|last=Foley|first=Doug|title=Gemini contender is only eight|date=November 18, 2005|work=The Hamilton Spectator|page=G12}} Their next theatrically released film, Oopsy Does It!, was screened in the U.S. in August 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/interactive/newsStory.php?newsID=2748|last=Strowbridge|first=C.S.|title=Limited Releases Are Very Becoming|date=August 3, 2007|access-date=November 5, 2010|work=The Numbers|publisher=Nash Information Services LLC}}

=Overseas=

As with the original Care Bears Movie,{{cite news|last=Salamon|first=Julie|title=At the Movies: Care Bears Hit It Big, Onscreen and Off|date=April 16, 1985|work=The Wall Street Journal|page=32 (W)/28 (E)}}{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB29971AC6D3464&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=At Cannes: Films, of course, and lots of hype|date=May 12, 1985|access-date=November 3, 2010|url-access=registration |work=Philadelphia Daily News|page=G01|quote=A trio of people dressed as giant Care Bears stroll the Croisette handing out ...}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/05/13/the-glitters-back-at-cannes-film-fest/|last=Armstrong|first=Douglas D.|title=The Glitter's Back At Cannes Film Fest|date=May 13, 1985|access-date=November 3, 2010|work=Chicago Tribune|page=1 (Tempo)}} Adventure in Wonderland made an appearance at 1987's Cannes Film Festival.{{cite book|title=Variety Film Reviews, 1987–1988|volume=20|chapter=The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland!|at=May 27, 1987|isbn=978-0-8352-2667-7|year=1991|publisher=R.R. Bowker}} The film was released by Germany's Warner Bros.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidekino.de/DJahr/D1987.htm|title=Die erfolgreichsten Filme in Deutschland 1987|language=German|date=December 11, 2004|access-date=November 5, 2010|work=InsideKino}} on November 27, 1987{{cite web|url=http://www.zweitausendeins.de/filmlexikon/?wert=1260&sucheNach=titel|title=Bärchis Abenteuer im Wunderland|language=German|access-date=November 5, 2010|work=Filme von A-Z|publisher=Zweitausendeins}} as Bärchis Abenteuer im Wunderland. It sold 104,478 tickets and ranked 96th place among the year's releases in that market (excluding re-issues), and grossed approximately {{Euro|403,000}} (the equivalent of DM788,750, or US$570,000).{{cite web|url=http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=403285.08&From=EUR&To=DEM|title=Conversion of €403285.08 to Deutsche Marks|access-date=June 20, 2010|publisher=XE.com}}{{#tag:ref|In 1987, the average price of a movie ticket in Germany was equivalent to {{Euro|3.86}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidekino.de/DBO.htm|title=Jahres und All-Time Charts (Box Office Deutschland)|language=German|access-date=June 20, 2010|work=InsideKino}}|name=de-ticket|group=nb}} The film was released on video by VCL/Virgin on March 22, 1988.

Adventure in Wonderland was released in the Netherlands on December 17, 1987, as {{Lang|nl|Troetelbeertjes in Wonderland}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.film1.nl/films/28042-Troetelbeertjes-in-Wonderland.html|title=Filminfo: Troetelbeertjes in Wonderland (1987)|language=Dutch|access-date=November 5, 2010|work=Film1|publisher=Chellomedia Direct Programming B.V}} Starting in March 1988, it was screened in matinees across the United Kingdom{{cite news|last=Robinson|first=David|title=Arts (Cinema): Poo-pooing a baby boom / Cinema Review|date=March 31, 1988|work=The Times|number=63043|quote=For the younger and less demanding, there is Raymond Jafelice's The Care Bears' Adventure in Wonderland (matinees around the country), which recklessly borrows characters from Lewis Carroll and graphic styles and Disney.}} by Virgin Films,{{cite journal|last=Tylee|first=John|title=Branson's film arm goes to DMB and B|date=March 25, 1988|journal=Campaign}} as part of an agreement with the local branch of 20th Century Fox.{{cite news|author=Staff|title=Virgin seeks more control with new distribution arm|date=October 5, 1988|work=Screen Finance|publisher=Informa Publishing Group PLC|quote=Fox has already handled Care Bears in Wonderland and A Man in Love for Virgin, and will release Pascali's Island for the company in January.}} As late as 1992, distribution rights in France were held by NDP, who released it as {{Lang|fr|Les Bisounours au pays des merveilles}}.{{cite journal|journal=Cinéma|number=484–522|language=French|page=160|issn=0578-2945|year=1992|title=LES BISOUNOURS AU PAYS DES MERVEILLES (Canada), dessin animé de Raymond Jafelice. Dist.: NDP}} In Spain, the film is entitled {{Lang|es|Los Osos Amorosos en el País de las Maravillas}} (among Castillan speakers){{cite journal|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/2009/10/12/094.html|title=Televisión y Radio|date=October 12, 2009|access-date=November 5, 2010|format=PDF|journal=ABC|page=94}} and {{Lang|ca|Els Óssos Amorosos al país de les meravelles}} (among Catalan speakers).{{cite web|url=http://www.mutxamel.org/pdf/dvd_infjuv.pdf#page=3|title=Pel·lícules infantils i juvenils en DVD|language=Catalan|access-date=November 5, 2010|format=PDF|location=Barcelona|publisher=Secretaria de Política Lingüística}} Elsewhere in Europe, it is known as {{Lang|pt|As Aventuras dos Ursinhos Carinhosos}} (in Portugal),{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdpt.com/a/as_aventuras_dos_ursinhos_carinhosos.php|title=As Aventuras dos Ursinhos Carinhosos|language=Portuguese|access-date=November 5, 2010|work=dvdpt|publisher=Devmedia}} {{Lang|sv|Krambjörnarna i Underlandet}} (in Sweden),{{cite web|url=http://www.filmdelta.se/filmer/6689/krambjornarna_i_underlandet/|title=Krambjörnarna i Underlandet (1987)|date=October 1, 2008|access-date=November 5, 2010|publisher=Filmdelta|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007150536/http://www.filmdelta.se/filmer/6689/krambjornarna_i_underlandet/|archive-date=October 7, 2011|url-status=dead}} and {{Lang|pl|Troskliwe Misie w Krainie Czarów}} (in Poland).{{cite web|url=http://www.filmweb.pl/film/Troskliwe+Misie+w+Krainie+Czar%C3%B3w-1987-226049|title=Strona główna filmu: Troskliwe Misie w Krainie Czarów|language=Polish|access-date=November 5, 2010|work=FilmWeb|publisher=Omnigence}}

In Australia, the film was released theatrically in December 1988,{{cite news|author=Staff|title=Our Town|date=December 22, 1988|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=20 (News and Features)}} and on video in July 1989 by Virgin;{{cite news|last=Lowing|first=Rob|title=Video|date=July 9, 1989|work=The Sun-Herald|page=107}} it was airing on that country's Nine Network by February 1996.{{cite news|title=TV Listings|date=February 4, 1996|work=The Sunday Mail|location=Brisbane, Australia}} South African video rights were held by Ster Kinekor in 1989.{{cite journal|journal=Pace|page=109|date=February 1989|title=Video: CARE BEARS IN WONDERLAND Cast: CARE BEARS, ALICE, MAD HATTER Release: STER-KINEKOR VIDEO}} On February 23 that same year, it was released in Mexico as {{Lang|es|Aventuras de Alicia en el país de las maravillas y los ositos cariñositos}}.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLxBcHacjkAC&q=%22Raymond+Jafelice%22&pg=PA465|last1=Amador|first1=María Luisa|last2=Blanco|first2=Jorge Ayala|title=Cartelera Cinematográfica, 1980–1989|language=Spanish|page=465|isbn=978-970-32-3605-3|year=2006|access-date=October 31, 2010|publisher=National Autonomous University of Mexico}} As of 2010, the film has been sold on DVD in several European countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdfr.com/dvd/f7714-bisounours-le-film-les-calinours-au-pays-des-merveilles.html|title=Les Bisounours – Le film – Les Câlinours au Pays des Merveilles|language=French|access-date=November 5, 2010|publisher=DVDFr.com}} The Australian edition treats it as an episode rather than a feature-length film.{{cite web|url=http://www.stirling.wa.gov.au/amlibweb/webquery.dll?v1=pbMarc&v4=790617&v5=3X&v8=790618&v9=0&v10=N&v11=2436816&v13=4H&v20=4&v23=0&v25=Adventure%20in%20Wonderland%20[DVD].&v27=254461&v35={[0]}{[0]}{[0]}{[0]}&v46=790618|title=Catalogue information for Care Bears, Vol. 12: Adventure in Wonderland|access-date=November 5, 2010|work=City of Stirling Library Catalogue|publisher=City of Stirling}}

Reception

{{quote box|width=35%|quote=

"It's always been hard to care for these bears. These adventures do not change them for the better."|source=International Film Guide, 1989{{cite book|last=Cowie|first=Peter|title=International Film Guide 1989|page=113|isbn=978-0-900730-30-6|year=1989|publisher=Tantivy Press}}

}}

Like the first Care Bears Movie,{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iyQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Care+Bears+Movie%22&pg=PT30|last=Seideman|first=Tony|title=...newsline...|date=April 20, 1985|access-date=November 4, 2010|magazine=Billboard|volume=97|number=16|page=31}} Adventure in Wonderland received mixed reviews from critics. Henry Herx in The Family Guide to Movies and Videos deemed it a "vastly superior sequel" to the "failed original": "[It is] a lively, colourful, complexly designed and orchestrated travelolgue through Wonderland ... Director Raymond Jafelice holds even adult interest with his fast cuts and engaging fantasy characters",{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CmvdoTGcBWgC&q=%22Care+Bears%22+-+Wonderland|last=Herx|first=Henry|title=The Family Guide to Movies and Videos|edition=3rd|chapter=The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland|page=91|isbn=978-1-55586-635-8|year=1995|access-date=November 5, 2010|publisher=United States Catholic Conference}} while the Bantam Books guide Movies on TV and Video Cassette gave it two and a half stars out of four and called it "Enjoyable [...] for the tyke set."{{cite book| chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EoCqO6zw_twC&q=%22Care+Bears%22+-+Wonderland|last=Scheuer|first=Steven H.|title=Movies on TV and Videocassette 1989–1990|edition=13th|chapter=The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland|page=120|isbn=978-0-553-27707-4|year=1989|access-date=November 5, 2010|publisher=Bantam Books}} The 1988–1989 edition of the Film Review called it "the best of the trio", adding that it "may well please the youngsters" with its "non-stop entertainment";{{cite book|last1=Speed|first1=F. Maurice|last2=Cameron-Wilson|first2=James|title=Film Review 1988–9—Including Video Releases|chapter=The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland!|page=28|isbn=978-0-86287-939-6|year=1988|publisher=Columbus Books}} this view was also shared by Carole Kass of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/timesdispatch/access/619208611.html?dids=619208611:619208611&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+07%2C+1987&author=Carole+Kass&pub=Richmond+Times+-+Dispatch&desc=NEW+%27CARE+BEARS%27+THE+BEST+OF+THE+TRIO&pqatl=google|last=Kass|first=Carole |title=New 'Care Bears' the best of the trio|date=August 7, 1987|access-date=November 10, 2010|url-access=registration |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|page=C-9}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} John Teerds of Brisbane, Australia's Sunday Mail wrote of the film positively,{{cite news|last=Teerds|first=John|title=Care Bear Fun for the Family|date=June 4, 1989|work=Sunday Mail|location=Brisbane, Australia|publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd.}} while another Australian critic, Rob Lowing of Sydney's The Sun-Herald, gave it two and a half stars out of four and noted that there was "nothing original here, although that also means nothing to shock". Similarly, the Christian Science Monitor wrote that "The animated action holds few surprises for grown-ups, but the cute characters and fetching designs should enthrall young children."{{cite news|last=Sterritt|first=David|title=Freeze Frames|date=August 7, 1987|work=Christian Science Monitor|page=19}}

In her New York Times review, Caryn James said, "[The] movie is paced so it won't strain the attention span of a 6-month-old, but there is nothing to spark a child's imagination."{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DEFDD1431F934A3575BC0A961948260|last=James|first=Caryn|title=Film: 'Care Bears' Adventure'|date=August 7, 1987|access-date=August 6, 2010|work=The New York Times}} As noted Hal Hinson of The Washington Post, "Watching [this movie] is like being pelted mercilessly for 75 minutes with Lucky Charms. It's nonfatal (unless you have a sugar problem, in which case you're likely to lapse into a coma), but it's not exactly my idea of fun either."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/carebearsadventureinwonderlandghinson_a0c942.htm |last=Hinson|first=Hal|title='Care Bears' Adventure in Wonderland'|date=August 10, 1987|access-date=August 6, 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post}} Rick Groen of Toronto's The Globe and Mail expressed disappointment over the way the villain was handled.{{cite news|last=Groen|first=Rick|title=Adventures in Wonderland: Care Bears journey missing a challenge|date=August 7, 1987|work=The Globe and Mail|page=D11}}

Comparing this installment to its predecessors, Newsday{{'}}s Joseph Gemlis declared that Wonderland "aspires to be more than a merchandising gimmick. It has a story to tell". However, he criticized the plot and treatment of the fictional land's denizens. Film critic Leonard Maltin called it a "typically bland kiddie outing", awarding it two stars out of four.{{cite book|last=Maltin|first=Leonard|title=Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2008|chapter=The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland|page=[https://archive.org/details/leonardmaltins2000leon/page/212 212]|isbn=978-0-451-22186-5|year=2007|publisher=Signet Books|title-link=Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide}} Halliwell's Film Guide called it "Undemanding and uninteresting whimsy for the under-sixes", while London's Time Out referred to it as "Hemlock to Lewis Carroll fans."{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/68853/the_care_bears_adventure_in_wonderland.html|author=TJ|title=Review: The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland!|access-date=November 4, 2010|work=Time Out Film Guide|publisher=Time Out Group Ltd|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017132521/http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/68853/the_care_bears_adventure_in_wonderland.html|archive-date=October 17, 2012|url-status=dead}} In a 1988 issue, the Video Librarian labelled it a "dud".{{cite journal|author=Staff|title=Fatal Contraption...|year=1988|journal=Video Librarian|volume=3|number=6–11|page=3|quote=There are also a number of duds: Friday the 13th: Ad Infinitum, Avenging Angel, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Gimme an 'F', Care Bears in Wonderland, etc.}}

Adventure in Wonderland was nominated for Best Music Score (by Patricia Cullen) and Best Original Song ("Rise and Shine" by Maribeth Soloman) at the 1987 Genie Awards in Canada.{{cite news |last=Lacey|first=Liam|title=Quebec film picks up 14 nominations: Zoo paces race for Genies|date=February 17, 1988|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=CTVglobemedia|page=C7}} At the Young Artist Awards, it was also nominated for Best Motion Picture in the Animated category.{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms9.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510102554/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms9.htm|title=Ninth Annual Youth in Film Awards—1986–1987|archive-date=May 10, 2008|access-date=October 10, 2010|publisher=Young Artist Awards}}

Allusions

The film is based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass.{{cite news|url=|title=Marvels & Tales|publisher=College of Arts and Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder|year=1988|volume=2|page=101|quote=Likewise, the recent animated television movie{{sic}} for children, The Care Bears Adventures in Wonderland, is an adaptation of both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, in a reductive or trivializing fashion ...}} "Basically", said Michael Hirsh, "we borrowed from [these two works] because we thought it would be interesting for the Care Bears to go into a classic adventure and get involved with classic characters."{{cite news|url=https://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RTDB&p_theme=rtdb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_hidethis=no&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&s_dispstring=%22Care%20Bears%20venture%20into%20classic%20tale%22%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22Care%20Bears%20venture%20into%20classic%20tale%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|last=Kass|first=Carole|title=Care Bears venture into classic tale|date=August 7, 1987|access-date=June 10, 2021|url-access=registration |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|page=C-3}} Likewise, Patrick Loubert said, "By combining Alice and those wonderful Lewis Carroll characters from Wonderland with the Care Bears, the new film will now introduce all these magnificent characters to a whole new generation."{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/104577818.html?dids=104577818:104577818&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+07%2C+1987&author=By+Joseph+Gelmis&pub=Newsday+%28Combined+editions%29&desc=The+Care+Bears%27+New+Mission&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131155601/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/104577818.html?dids=104577818:104577818&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+07,+1987&author=By+Joseph+Gelmis&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=The+Care+Bears'+New+Mission&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|last=Gelmis|first=Joseph|title=The Care Bears' New Mission|date=August 7, 1987|access-date=November 4, 2010|work=Newsday|page=3 (Weekend)}} Parts of this film are inspired by the literary works The Prisoner of Zenda{{cite web|url=http://movies.amctv.com/movie/8199/Care-Bears-Adventure-in-Wonderland/overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041112123036/http://www.amctv.com/show/detail?CID=59710-1-EST|title=Show information: The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland|access-date=November 5, 2010|archive-date=November 12, 2004|publisher=AMC}} and Androcles and the Lion,{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/08/07/care-bears-adventure-fun-despite-borrowed-story/|last=Steinmetz|first=Johanna|title='Care Bears' Adventure' Fun Despite 'Borrowed' Story|date=August 7, 1987|access-date=November 10, 2010|work=Chicago Tribune|page=Q}} and their cinematic counterparts from 1937 and 1952 respectively. According to Johanna Steinmetz of the Chicago Tribune, Wonderland borrowed some elements from The Wizard of Oz.

Music

{{quote box|width=35%|quote=

"First we hear the song 'Everything Is Wonderful in Wonderland.' That contrasts with the villain's song, when he tells how he's going to bring 'order' to Wonderland by taking the color out and turning everything right side up. I don't think he is really scary. Just mean."

|source=Michael Hirsh

}}

The songs in The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland were composed and performed by John Sebastian, who performed "Nobody Cares like a Bear" in the first Care Bears Movie. For this instalment, Sebastian sang "Have You Seen This Girl?" and the "Wonderland" song, while singer and songwriter Natalie Cole performed the film's opening song, "Rise and Shine". The score was written by Patricia Cullen (who had previously scored the first two films), and orchestrated and conducted by Milton Barnes. Todd Sussman of The Miami News said, "A musical score of seven forgettable songs is ornamental and does little to advance the plot. Even the opening number is unmemorable. It's hookless, and it never fails to surprise."

class="wikitable"
align="left"|Song

!align="left"|Writer

!align="left"|Performer(s)

!align="left"|Producer(s)

"Rise and Shine"Maribeth Solomon
Arr. Micky Erbe
Natalie ColeDavid Greene
"Have You Seen This Girl?"John SebastianJohn SebastianJohn Sebastian
David Greene
"Wonderland"John SebastianJohn SebastianJohn Sebastian
David Greene
"Mad About Hats"John SebastianKeith HampshireJohn Sebastian
David Greene
"The King of Wonderland"John SebastianColin FoxJohn Sebastian
David Greene

Notes

{{reflist|group=nb}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}