It wasn't Misha's fault that the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, he had nothing to do with it. All Misha wanted was to make friends and have fun. While the two previous mascots of the Summer Games -- Waldi the dachshund (1972) and Amik the beaver (1976) -- came across as expressionless and emotion-free symbols, Misha was the first of his kind to smile, to feel, and finally to cry.

Misha's species had been chosen via a public poll, conducted by a Soviet sports newspaper and a TV program called "Animal World." Most of the 45,000 letters received by the joint mascot commission suggested a bear, which was both the mascot for Russia since the Tsarist days, as well as the NATO codename for the Soviets' most successful line of bomber plane.

This choice gave Russians the opportunity to soften its global image with a teddy bear, instead of a dumb and scary bear. This public relations urge, above all, was the impetus for breathing a soul into the 1980 Olympic mascot -- something dog and beaver never had.

The Artists' Union of the U.S.S.R. jumped into action, communally creating 60 different versions of a bear mascot. One, designed by Muscovite book illustrator Viktor Chizhikov, eventually became Misha -- the diminutive of "Mikhail." He was chosen for his warm smile, playful demeanor, and the belt of five Olympic colors that culminated in a buckle of golden rings. In April of 1978, the Dulevo China Factory received the first license, and began churning out thousands of sculptures.

Inspired by the earning power of Waldi eight years earlier, the Moscow organizers made sure everybody got a little Misha. He was reproduced 100,000 times on posters, 1.4 million times in metal, 1.2 million times in plastic, and 1.1 million fur dolls were sold.

But none of those 10.9 million overall replications could sing and dance. The Japanese animation firm Shinjidaisha created a cartoon series (despite the fact that Japan would end up boycotting the 1980 Games), and it was shown in the Soviet Union as well as 18 Latin American countries.

Misha was the first Olympic mascot to have a girlfriend.

And Misha was the first Summer Olympic mascot to take on lifesize form and walk among us. When the torch reached the Soviet Union two weeks before the Opening Ceremony, according to the 1980 Official Report, "The relay was welcomed by the greatly loved Olympic mascot 'Misha the Bear' and by the hero of Moldavian fairy-tales Gugutse." Relations between humans and cartoons, at least at the Olympics, were getting weird.

Misha could do things. Misha was the first one with a song, and would later become the first Olympic mascot with an Internet fan club. But it's worth noting that Moscow 1980 was notable for another Olympic first: never before had multiple mascots represented the Games. Vigri the Seal was the laconic mascot of the sailing events. Vigri didn't have his own song.

Misha empathized, sympathized, and was acutely aware of time's relentless passage. At the Closing Ceremony, he showed up first as an oversized balloon that floated up and out of the stadium, and then as a giant mosaic, wishing all a "happy journey" in the Russian language. And spectators couldn't help noticing that something was in his left eye as he said goodbye to the world. Was it a stray ember from the extinguished Olympic flame?

"The sadness of parting which gripped everybody was passed on to Misha," according to the Official Report's account of the event. "'Tears' rolled from his eyes."

Friends are coming apart,
Tenderness stays in the heart…
We shall cherish the song.
Farewell, we shall meet again.

(Images via 1980 Official Report)