@Beau Skunky  

Another 90s (80s?) kid who was really into the Gummi Bears when I was much younger. I had such a crush on Princess Calla. (And on Sunni! xD)

@TariToons  
Thank you.

@Scrounge  
It says “Arartisse” a mix of Aromatisse and Rarity.  
Also, I just noticed that I wrote one to many “ar” :I

I can’t read what Pokemon Rarity’s name is. Would someone be kind enough to be my seeing eye dog for this?

Even though I hate (NOT FLAMINGO ENOUGH!)Aromatise. I loving this!

@Dashu  
I think it’d be mostly those who never saw Gummi Bears but just heard of it who’d make that assumption.  
They aren’t as tiny as Smurfs though, plus the Smurfs had a larger cast, while the Gummi Bears only focused on 5 Gummi Bears. The way they lived were quite different, and their backstories were also quite different to, and the only similarity they have is a villain who’s trying to capture them.  
(Though, the main villain from the Gummis, Duke Igthorn had a more consistent reason to, as he wanted their secrets/technology to aid in his revenge schemes to take over the kingdom.)
 
Not familiar with Asterix, so I don’t know if that would’ve helped influence the series, but as you said it’s quite obscure in America. (Though, the whole “power-up” potion trope has been around in cartoons sense “Popeye.”)  
The only French comic somewhat well-known in the USA that I can think of is the “Adventures of TinTin.” (Admittedly, I liked the Nelvana cartoon as a kid, and I liked that recent CGI-animated movie they did.)

@Beau Skunky  
I can kinda see how one could think that it’s a Smurfs rip-off, considering the concept (a group of tiny creatures, that nearly no human knows about, living in the forest of a medieval world). But when one watches it, it becomes clear that it’s far from a mere copy. I loved both as kid and I never thought that Gummi Bears was a rip-off.
 
That being said, I can imagine that The Smurfs was a strong influence (I don’t know if that’s actually the case). Considering that it’s a French comic, Asterix could be an influence too, with the magic potion that makes the rather weak characters able to defeat their enemies. Then again, I actually doubt that, since Franco-Belgian comics are obscure in America. Hell, The Smurfs would probably be pretty unknown there too, if the TV series weren’t American made (by Hanna-Barbera, no less).

@Dirty Bit  
I watched a few episodes recently, and it’s surprisingly well-done for a kid show. It’s kinda similar to MLP:FiM in some ways, (has 5 main characters with different personalities) has some episodes that are “slice-of-life,” and some that are more “adventure,” and such. The animation (done overseas in Japan by TMS) was not bad either.  
I remember seeing somebody call it a “Smurfs rip-off,” but that tells me they never even watched it much, or don’t remember it well. The only thing it had in common with the Smurfs, was the midieval times setting, I felt. (And frankly, I thought the Gummis were better.)
 
Maybe shows like it, Muppet Babies, and such are why MLP:FiM has struck a chord with “children of the ’80s/’90s.”

@Beau Skunky
 
I watched a couple episodes of that myself as a child.

As a ’90s kid, I got to say I loved “Adventures of the Gummi Bears.” Nice to see somebody who remembers it. As a kid I even used to think Gummi Bears candies were made of gummi berry juice. :P

Upvote for the Pokemon.

Faved just for Rari Gummi.