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{{Short description|2001 film by Nelvana}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
|name=The Little Bear Movie
| name = The Little Bear Movie
|image=The Little Bear Movie.jpg
| image = The Little Bear Movie.jpg
|caption=DVD cover
| caption = Digital release poster
|director=Raymond Jafelice
| director = Raymond Jafelice
| screenplay = [[James Still (playwright)|James Still]]<br/>Raymond Jafelice<br/>Nancy Barr
|producer=[[Maurice Sendak]]
|based on={{Based on|''[[Little Bear (book)|Little Bear]]''|[[Else Holmelund Minarik]]<br/>Maurice Sendak}}
| story = [[Else Holmelund Minarik]]
| based_on = {{Based on|''[[Little Bear (book)|Little Bear]]''|Else Holmelund Minarik<br/>[[Maurice Sendak]]}}
|screenplay=James Still<br/>Raymond Jafelice<br/>Nancy Barr
| producer = Maurice Sendak
|story=[[Else Holmelund Minarik]]
| starring =
|starring=[[Kristin Fairlie]]<br/>Kyle Fairlie<br/>Amos Crawley<br/>[[Tracy Ryan (actress)|Tracy Ryan]]<br/>[[Andrew Sabiston]]<br/>[[Elizabeth Hanna]]<br/>Wayne Best<br/>Ray Landry<br/>[[Janet-Laine Green]]<br/>[[Dan Hennessey]]
{{Plainlist|
|music=[[Marc Jordan]]<br/>Antony Vanderberg
* [[Kristin Fairlie]]<ref name="cast">{{cite AV media |people=Jafelice, Raymond (director) |date=August 7, 2001 |title=The Little Bear Movie |type=Motion picture |url=https://pluto.tv/us/on-demand/movies/5682d6b1d50fe0203b2ecff2 |access-date=June 9, 2024 |time=1:12:42 |time-caption=Credits start at |publisher=[[Nelvana Limited]]}}</ref>
|editing=
* Kyle Fairlie<ref name="cast"/>
|studio=[[Nelvana Limited]]
* Amos Crawley<ref name="cast"/>
|distributor=[[Paramount Home Video]] (USA)<br>[[Alliance Films]] (Canada)
* [[Tracy Ryan (actress)|Tracy Ryan]]<ref name="cast"/>
|released={{Film date|2001|08|07|ref1=<ref name=RTLittleBear>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/little_bear_movie/|title=The Little Bear Movie|date=7 August 2001|work=rottentomatoes.com|accessdate=18 July 2015}}</ref>}}
* [[Andrew Sabiston]]<ref name="cast"/>
|runtime=75 minutes
* [[Elizabeth Hanna]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
|country=Canada<br/>United States
* Wayne Best<ref name="cast"/>
|language=English
* Ray Landry<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Janet-Laine Green]]<ref name="cast"/>
* Dan Hennessey<ref name="cast"/>
}}
}}
| editing =
'''''The Little Bear Movie''''' is an [[animated film]] based on the television series ''[[Little Bear (TV series)|Little Bear]]'', which in turn is based on the book series of the [[Little Bear (book)|same name]] which was written by [[Else Holmelund Minarik]] and illustrated by [[Maurice Sendak]], and produced by [[Nelvana|Nelvana Limited]] for [[Paramount Pictures]]. The film was released on [[direct-to-video]] on August 7, 2001 by [[Paramount Home Media Distribution|Paramount Home Video]]. It stars [[Kristin Fairlie]] as the voice of Little Bear.
| music = [[Lesley Barber]]
| studio = [[Nelvana|Nelvana Limited]]<br>[[Maurice Sendak|Wild Things Productions Inc.]]
| distributor = [[Alliance Atlantis]] (Canada)<br>[[Paramount Home Entertainment]] (United States)
| released = {{Film date|2001|08|07|ref1=<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005JY0D |title=''The Little Bear Movie'' VHS |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=October 26, 2006 |website=[[Amazon.com]] |access-date=October 7, 2023}}</ref>}}
| runtime = 75 minutes
| country = Canada
| language = English
}}
'''''Maurice Sendak's Little Bear: The Little Bear Movie''''', or simply '''''The Little Bear Movie''''', also known as '''''Maurice Sendak's Little Bear: The Movie''''' or simply '''''Little Bear: The Movie''''', is a 2001 Canadian [[direct-to-video]] [[Children's film|children's]] [[animated]] [[adventure film]] directed by Raymond Jafelice who co-wrote the screenplay with [[James Still (playwright)|James Still]] and Nancy Barr. It is based on the Canadian children's animated television series ''[[Little Bear (TV series)|Little Bear]]'', which in turn is based on the [[Little Bear (book)|children's book series of the same name]] written by [[Else Holmelund Minarik]] and illustrated by [[Maurice Sendak]].

In the film, Little Bear meets a [[Feral|wild]] bear cub named Cub during a camping trip. Upon learning that Cub got separated from his parents, Little Bear and his friends embark on a journey to help him reunite with his parents while coming face-to-face with a ferocious [[mountain lion]] along the way.

''The Little Bear Movie'' was co-produced by [[Nelvana Limited]] and Wild Things Productions Inc. The film was released direct-to-video on August 7, 2001, by [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] in the United States and Canada while it was also released in Canada by [[Alliance Atlantis]]. The film received positive reviews from critics and has [[Kristin Fairlie]] reprise her role as Little Bear, while featuring her brother Kyle Fairlie as the voice of Cub.

In addition to [[Lesley Barber]]'s instrumental track from [[Little Bear (TV series)|the series]], ''The Little Bear Movie'' features two original songs composed by [[Marc Jordan]] and Anthony Vanderbilt and performed by [[Shawn Colvin]]: "Great Big World" and "Everybody Wants To Paint My Picture."


==Plot==
==Plot==
The film begins when Little Bear and Father Bear go out camping and they meet another young bear named Cub and his friend Little Moose. Then Little Bear is met with Trouble, a villainous mountain lion, but luckily Cub saves him from getting eaten. Cub tries to get acquainted with Little Bear at his house then plays with Little Bear and his friends, Cat, Owl, Duck, and Hen. When they learn that Cub's parents got lost during a bad storm, they decide to go on a journey to search for them. A while later, Little Bear, Cub, and Duck get separated from Moose and the others. They soon encounter Cub's best friends Poppy and Pete two silly [[red foxes]]. When they get to the canyon, Trouble spies on them and tries to eat Duck, but Poppy and Pete save Duck's life. Little Bear manages to "defeat" Trouble and reunite Cub with his parents.
Little Bear and Father Bear set out on a [[camping]] trip. While camping on a hill Father Bear talks about the [[wilderness]] and the time he met an [[Bald eagle|eagle]]. The next day Little Bear meets another bear in the wilderness called Cub. They both wrestle around in a river, Cub then chases after a moose leaving Little Bear all alone when he is met with a villainous [[mountain lion]], but Cub comes back and saves him from being eaten. They then enjoy a grilled [[fish]] breakfast together with Father Bear before they decide it's time to start heading home. Little Bear asks Cub if he wants to come with them, Cub agrees.


Back at the house Cub tries to get used to living in a house. The whole family then makes [[Pancake]]s for lunch. Little Bear then wants Cub to meet his friends Cat, Owl, Duck, and Hen. When they learn that Cub got separated from his parents during an intense [[storm]], they decide to go on a journey to search for them. They make missing person posters for Cub's parents and then head back into the wilderness to hang them up. While doing so they meet their friend Moose, he shows them that [[raccoon]]s have used a poster to make a dam. Little Bear and Cub try to recover the banner, but [[beavers]], angry with the raccoons break the dam and, in the process, Little Bear and Cub are washed away in a flood, straight over a waterfall getting separated from the rest of the group. They find Duck has wandered downstream as well, looking for Cub's parents.
==Characters==
*'''Little Bear''' (voiced by [[Kristin Fairlie]]) - A feisty and imaginative [[Grizzly Bear]] cub who is the protagonist of the film.
*'''Cub''' (voiced by Kyle Fairlie) - A wild dark [[brown bear]] who lives in the [[Canadian]] wilderness with his parents. Unlike Little Bear, he walks mostly on all fours rather than upright, though he occasionally walks on two paws. He can sometimes be a bit mean, but he becomes a good friend of Little Bear.
*'''[[Owl]]''' (voiced by Amos Crawley)
*'''[[Duck]]''' (voiced by [[Tracy Ryan (actress)|Tracy Ryan]])
*'''[[Cat]]''' (voiced by [[Andrew Sabiston]])
*'''[[chicken|Hen]]''' (voiced by [[Elizabeth Hanna]])
*'''Trouble''' (voiced by Wayne Best) - A mean, hungry [[mountain lion]] and the main antagonist of the film who aims to eat Little Bear, Cub and all of their friends.
*'''[[Moose]]''' (voiced by Ray Landry)
*'''Mother Bear''' (voiced by [[Janet Laine-Green]])
*'''Father Bear''' (voiced by [[Dan Hennessey]])
*'''Little Moose''' (voiced by [[Max Morrow]]) - A shy friend of Cub's.
*'''Mother Moose''' (voiced by [[Catherine Disher]]) - Little Moose's mother.
*'''Poppy and Pete''' (voiced by Cole Caplan and Asa Perlman) - Two playful [[red foxes]] that keep Cub company in the absence of his parents.
*'''Cub's Father''' (voiced by [[Maurice Dean Wint]]) - A large male Brown bear
*'''Cub's Mother''' (voiced by Alison Sealy Smith) - A female large Brown bear


The three become lost in the dark wilderness and are unable to find the rest of the gang. They then run into Cub's best friends Poppy and Pete, two playful and hyperactive [[red fox]] twins who took care of Cub after he got separated from his parents. They spend the night in the foxes den and the next day they keep looking and head towards a [[canyon]].
==Music==
''The Little Bear Movie'' never had its launched soundtrack. The film contains two pieces of unknown music and the instrumental soundtrack of the [[Little Bear (TV series)|series]].


While trying to help Cub after he gets his foot stuck in some rocks, they meet the mountain lion again and he tries to eat Duck, but Poppy and Pete try to tackle him to save her, which causes them to fall into the river. After helping Poppy and Pete make it out of the river, Little Bear notices the mountain lion drowning and tries to help him, only to end up getting cornered. Mountain lion is about to attack Little Bear, only to get scared off by the arrival of Cub's parents. Cub and his parents are reunited and Little Bear is found by his family and friends. After saying goodbye to Cub, Little Bear heads home and on the way back to the house it starts snowing.
(1) '''Great Big World''' and (2) '''Everybody Wants To Paint My Picture''':
<br/>''Composed by'': [[Marc Jordan]] and Antony Vanderberg
<br/>''Performed by'': [[Shawn Colvin]]


==Voice cast==
(3) '''The [[Little Bear (TV series)]] Instrumental'''
* [[Kristin Fairlie]] as Little Bear<ref name="cast"/>
* Kyle Fairlie as Cub<ref name="cast"/>
* Amos Crawley as Owl<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Tracy Ryan (actress)|Tracy Ryan]] as Duck<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Andrew Sabiston]] as Cat<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Elizabeth Hanna]] as Hen (uncredited){{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
* Wayne Best as Mountain Lion<ref name="cast"/>
* Ray Landry as Moose<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Janet Laine-Green]] as Mother Bear<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Dan Hennessey]] as Father Bear<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Max Morrow]] as Little Moose<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Catherine Disher]] as Mother Moose<ref name="cast"/>
* Cole Caplan as Poppy<ref name="cast"/>
* Asa Perlman as Pete<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Maurice Dean Wint]] as Cub's Father<ref name="cast"/>
* [[Alison Sealy-Smith]] as Cub's Mother<ref name="cast"/>


==Release and response==
==Release==
The film was released on VHS and DVD by [[Paramount Home Entertainment]].
The film was released on VHS and DVD by [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]. [[Shawn Colvin]] (performer) and Marc Jordan/Antony Vanderburgh (composers) were nominated for Best Original Song at the 2001 Video Premiere Awards<!--This award may have later become the DVD Exclusive Awards--> for the song "Great Big World."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2001/digital/features/more-than-awards-for-vid-nods-1117852993/|title=More than awards for vid nods|author=Scott Hettrick|work=Variety|accessdate=27 February 2015}}</ref>

==Reception==
Tracy Moore of [[Common Sense Media]] gave the film a 5 out of 5 star rating, writing:

<blockquote>
''The Little Bear Movie'', based on the TV series ''Little Bear'', is such remarkably gentle, positive programming for children that it feels like an anomaly. Fit for any preschooler, and likely to incite a little nostalgia for organic, free-range play in adults, the film is slower-paced and practically quaint in its simple desire to show the budding friendship between a civilized bear and a wild bear, and the abiding respect they foster for each other's ways of life along the way.

Kids will enjoy the sweet friendships, the silly foxes, and the outdoor adventure. Parents will like the attention paid to the dangers of the outdoors, the free-spirited play driven by imagination and a cardboard box, and the family-friendly themes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-little-bear-movie |title=Parents' Guide to ''The Little Bear Movie'' |last=Moore |first=Tracy |website=[[Common Sense Media]] |access-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119085643/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-little-bear-movie |url-status=live }}</ref>
</blockquote>

[[Shawn Colvin]] (performer) and [[Marc Jordan]] and Antony Vanderburgh (composers) were nominated for Best Original Song at the 2001 Video Premiere Awards for the song "Great Big World".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hettrick |first=Scott |date=September 23, 2001 |title=More than awards for vid nods |url=https://variety.com/2001/digital/features/more-than-awards-for-vid-nods-1117852993 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107023252/https://variety.com/2001/digital/features/more-than-awards-for-vid-nods-1117852993/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 57: Line 86:
==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}

*{{IMDb title|293854}}
*{{Rotten-tomatoes|id=little_bear_movie}}
* {{IMDb title|293854}}
* {{Rotten-tomatoes|id=little_bear_movie}}


{{Little Bear}}
{{Little Bear}}
{{Teddy bears}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Little Bear Movie}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Little Bear Movie, The}}
[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:2000s Canadian animated films]]
[[Category:2000s children's animated films]]
[[Category:2000s educational films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2001 animated films]]
[[Category:2001 animated films]]
[[Category:Canadian animated films]]
[[Category:2001 children's films]]
[[Category:Canadian films]]
[[Category:2001 direct-to-video films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:Canadian children's films]]
[[Category:Alliance Atlantis films]]
[[Category:American children's films]]
[[Category:Animal adventure films]]
[[Category:Nickelodeon animated films]]
[[Category:Animated films based on children's books]]
[[Category:Animated films about bears]]
[[Category:Animated films about birds]]
[[Category:Animated films about cats]]
[[Category:Animated films about cats]]
[[Category:Animated films about chickens]]
[[Category:Animated films about children]]
[[Category:Animated films about cougars]]
[[Category:Animated films about ducks]]
[[Category:Animated films about families]]
[[Category:Animated films about foxes]]
[[Category:Animated films about friendship]]
[[Category:Animated films about friendship]]
[[Category:Films featuring anthropomorphic characters]]
[[Category:Animated films about grizzly bears]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures direct-to-video films]]
[[Category:Animated films about owls]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures animated films]]
[[Category:Animated films based on animated series]]
[[Category:2000s American animated films]]
[[Category:Animated films based on animated television series]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:Animated films based on children's books]]
[[Category:Animated films set in forests]]
[[Category:Animated films set in North America]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the 19th century]]
[[Category:Canadian animated feature films]]
[[Category:Canadian children's animated films]]
[[Category:Canadian direct-to-video films]]
[[Category:Canadian educational films]]
[[Category:English-language Canadian films]]
[[Category:Films based on television series]]
[[Category:Films scored by Lesley Barber]]
[[Category:Nelvana films]]
[[Category:Nelvana films]]
[[Category:Films set in forests]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures animated films]]
[[Category:Films set in Canada]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures direct-to-video films]]
[[Category:Films about bears]]

Latest revision as of 14:46, 29 November 2024

The Little Bear Movie
Digital release poster
Directed byRaymond Jafelice
Screenplay byJames Still
Raymond Jafelice
Nancy Barr
Story byElse Holmelund Minarik
Based onLittle Bear
by Else Holmelund Minarik
Maurice Sendak
Produced byMaurice Sendak
Starring
Music byLesley Barber
Production
companies
Distributed byAlliance Atlantis (Canada)
Paramount Home Entertainment (United States)
Release date
  • August 7, 2001 (2001-08-07)[2]
Running time
75 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Maurice Sendak's Little Bear: The Little Bear Movie, or simply The Little Bear Movie, also known as Maurice Sendak's Little Bear: The Movie or simply Little Bear: The Movie, is a 2001 Canadian direct-to-video children's animated adventure film directed by Raymond Jafelice who co-wrote the screenplay with James Still and Nancy Barr. It is based on the Canadian children's animated television series Little Bear, which in turn is based on the children's book series of the same name written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

In the film, Little Bear meets a wild bear cub named Cub during a camping trip. Upon learning that Cub got separated from his parents, Little Bear and his friends embark on a journey to help him reunite with his parents while coming face-to-face with a ferocious mountain lion along the way.

The Little Bear Movie was co-produced by Nelvana Limited and Wild Things Productions Inc. The film was released direct-to-video on August 7, 2001, by Paramount Home Entertainment in the United States and Canada while it was also released in Canada by Alliance Atlantis. The film received positive reviews from critics and has Kristin Fairlie reprise her role as Little Bear, while featuring her brother Kyle Fairlie as the voice of Cub.

In addition to Lesley Barber's instrumental track from the series, The Little Bear Movie features two original songs composed by Marc Jordan and Anthony Vanderbilt and performed by Shawn Colvin: "Great Big World" and "Everybody Wants To Paint My Picture."

Plot

[edit]

Little Bear and Father Bear set out on a camping trip. While camping on a hill Father Bear talks about the wilderness and the time he met an eagle. The next day Little Bear meets another bear in the wilderness called Cub. They both wrestle around in a river, Cub then chases after a moose leaving Little Bear all alone when he is met with a villainous mountain lion, but Cub comes back and saves him from being eaten. They then enjoy a grilled fish breakfast together with Father Bear before they decide it's time to start heading home. Little Bear asks Cub if he wants to come with them, Cub agrees.

Back at the house Cub tries to get used to living in a house. The whole family then makes Pancakes for lunch. Little Bear then wants Cub to meet his friends Cat, Owl, Duck, and Hen. When they learn that Cub got separated from his parents during an intense storm, they decide to go on a journey to search for them. They make missing person posters for Cub's parents and then head back into the wilderness to hang them up. While doing so they meet their friend Moose, he shows them that raccoons have used a poster to make a dam. Little Bear and Cub try to recover the banner, but beavers, angry with the raccoons break the dam and, in the process, Little Bear and Cub are washed away in a flood, straight over a waterfall getting separated from the rest of the group. They find Duck has wandered downstream as well, looking for Cub's parents.

The three become lost in the dark wilderness and are unable to find the rest of the gang. They then run into Cub's best friends Poppy and Pete, two playful and hyperactive red fox twins who took care of Cub after he got separated from his parents. They spend the night in the foxes den and the next day they keep looking and head towards a canyon.

While trying to help Cub after he gets his foot stuck in some rocks, they meet the mountain lion again and he tries to eat Duck, but Poppy and Pete try to tackle him to save her, which causes them to fall into the river. After helping Poppy and Pete make it out of the river, Little Bear notices the mountain lion drowning and tries to help him, only to end up getting cornered. Mountain lion is about to attack Little Bear, only to get scared off by the arrival of Cub's parents. Cub and his parents are reunited and Little Bear is found by his family and friends. After saying goodbye to Cub, Little Bear heads home and on the way back to the house it starts snowing.

Voice cast

[edit]

Release

[edit]

The film was released on VHS and DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Reception

[edit]

Tracy Moore of Common Sense Media gave the film a 5 out of 5 star rating, writing:

The Little Bear Movie, based on the TV series Little Bear, is such remarkably gentle, positive programming for children that it feels like an anomaly. Fit for any preschooler, and likely to incite a little nostalgia for organic, free-range play in adults, the film is slower-paced and practically quaint in its simple desire to show the budding friendship between a civilized bear and a wild bear, and the abiding respect they foster for each other's ways of life along the way.

Kids will enjoy the sweet friendships, the silly foxes, and the outdoor adventure. Parents will like the attention paid to the dangers of the outdoors, the free-spirited play driven by imagination and a cardboard box, and the family-friendly themes.[3]

Shawn Colvin (performer) and Marc Jordan and Antony Vanderburgh (composers) were nominated for Best Original Song at the 2001 Video Premiere Awards for the song "Great Big World".[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Jafelice, Raymond (director) (August 7, 2001). The Little Bear Movie (Motion picture). Nelvana Limited. Credits start at 1:12:42. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "The Little Bear Movie VHS". Amazon.com. October 26, 2006. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Moore, Tracy. "Parents' Guide to The Little Bear Movie". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Hettrick, Scott (September 23, 2001). "More than awards for vid nods". Variety. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
[edit]
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