Little Bear (TV series)

Little Bear
Genre	Family Adventure
Created by	Else Holmelund Minarik Maurice Sendak Jeff Goode
Written by	Nancy Barr
Starring	Kristin Fairlie Jennifer Martini Elizabeth Hanna Janet-Laine Green Andrew Sabiston Dan Hennessey
Country of origin	Canada China United States
Original language	English
No. of episodes	156
Production
Running time	approximately 30 mins
Production company	Nelvana
Original release
Network	Nickelodeon PBS
Release	April 3, 1995-August 7, 2001

Little Bear is a Canadian children's television series. Originally produced by Nelvana for Nickelodeon, it currently airs on Treehouse TV in Canada and Nick Jr. in the United States. A direct-to-video full-length feature film was also created after the series ended. In The Little Bear Movie Little Bear and his friends help a bear named Cub to help find his parents.

It is based on the Little Bear series of books which were written by Else Holmelund Minarik, and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

Most of the characters are moderately anthropomorphic animals, exhibiting both animal and human behaviors, but generally dealing with human problems and concerns. However, Little Bear's friend, Emily, and her grandmother are human and Tutu, their dog, is mostly a normal pet. Other characters in the series include Little Bear and his parents Mother and Father Bear, his paternal uncle Rusty, his two grandparents, the eponymously named animals Duck, Cat, Owl and Hen, in addition to many recurring minor characters.

Reruns of Little Bear can currently be seen on Nick Jr.

Characters

Little Bear - Little Bear is a small grizzly bear cub, an animal version of a six-year-old boy. Throughout the series, he has grown somewhat, as his voice is slightly deeper, and he doesn't take naps as often. He is the only character whose parents are shown with the exception of Ducks mother in one show. Little Bear lives in a stucco, timber, plaster, and brick house. He is always kind and loves to explore. He and all his other animal friends are, and always play barefoot and without clothes, while the adult characters such as Mother and Father Bear are usually seen wearing shoes and clothes. Despite this, He has worn clothes on certain occasions, like a scarf and winter hat when the weather is cold, a fishing hat when taken fishing or hiking, and finally on one occasion a black dress suit with a red necktie and black shoes.

Emily - Emily is Little Bear's seven-year-old friend. She and her Granny, who she stays with when visiting Little Bear in the Summer, are the only Humans in the show. Emily carries around a doll named Lucy everywhere she goes and is very attached to her. Emily gave Little Bear Lucy when she was leaving her Granny's house to go back to school. Little Bear, though he would miss Emily greatly, gave Lucy back to Emily.

Owl - Owl is someone who is sometimes pompous, but very wise. He lives in a treehouse. Although Owl enjoys fun games, he'll only participate if the gameplay is sensible. In a few episodes, it is shown that he likes to read.

Duck - Duck is a domesticated duck with yellow feathers, an orange beak and a long neck. Slow and smart at the same time, Duck is one who gets herself into comical situations. She lives in a nest.

Hen - Hen is a fussy, feisty chicken who lives in a large chicken coop. She is classy and sophisticated and enjoys cleanliness, though her several nieces and nephews often mess up her spotless house. However, she never turns down the opportunity for fun. Hen has also been shown to be fond of opera. But in the episode, "Diva Hen", it seems that she isn't good at opera.

Cat - Cat is a laid back, slothful feline who enjoys prowling at night, playing tricks on passersby, and eating. When he and his friends must get to a certain place in the woods, Cat often leads them through one of his shortcuts, which once seemed longer but it was not his fault that Little Bear and Owl took a wrong turn one particular time. Cat promptly led them out of the forest when they ended up where they began.

Mitzi - Mitzi is a mischievous, sometimes rather unthoughtful monkey who lives in a tree house in the forest around Little Bear's home. She feels bad after slighting somebody's feelings or misleading them (as when she played for keeps by declaring "keepsies" too fast to be understood, and won all of Little Bear's marbles).

No Feet - No Feet is a friendly, gentle and green snake that lives in Mother Bear's garden.

Frog - Frog is a frog that dispenses zen-like wisdom between his meditations.

Mermaid - Mermaid is a mermaid who Little Bear occasionally meets when he goes to the lake, she is friendly and takes Little Bear to see places underwater.

Mother Bear - Mother Bear is Little Bear's mother. She is the Grizzly Bear version of a 29 year-old house wife. She seems to enjoy cooking and is always there to help Little Bear if he needs it. She also seems to be very tidy and does not like it when the house becomes messy, as shown in one episode. Her actual name is Mother Bear, as in one of the episodes Little Bear discovers a heart with MB + FB on it, and then below LB, which his parents had drawn on the tree a long time ago. She normally wears a pink shirt and a blue skirt with a white apron.

Father Bear - Father Bear is Little Bear's father. He is the Grizzly Bear version of a 30 year-old father. His occupation is a fisherman and sometimes takes Little Bear out fishing. He has been to many places and likes to keep things that are old, even if they have to be thrown away, which is shown in a few episodes. He once played the trumpet in a band and then when he found it, gave to Little Bear to play. He usually wears a blue suit with a purple tie and brown shoes.

Tutu - Tutu is Granny's dog. She acts very hyper and she can understand humans. According to Granny, she only speaks French, yet she understands English.

Grandfather Bear - Grandfather Bear is Little Bear's grandfather and Mother Bear's father. He once worked at a circus with his wife. He wears a green suit but with khakis and a dark-red tie with brown shoes.

Grandmother Bear - Grandmother Bear is Little Bear's grandmother and Mother Bear's mother. She likes to cook and tell stories. One time, she told Little Bear a story when Mother Bear took care of a robin.

Cub - Cub only appears in The Little Bear Movie. He is a wild dark brown bear who lives in the wilderness with his parents. Unlike Little Bear, he walks more on all fours than upright, though he does walk on two paws. He can sometimes be a bit mean, but he becomes a good friend of Little Bear.

Rusty Bear - Rusty is Father Bear's younger brother. He mentions that he lives in the woods, and that he would prefer to live there because it is quiet and peaceful. He is a very big bear, slightly taller and huskier than Father Bear. He has a deep voice, wears overalls, and has a red handkerchief around his neck. He is seen in only a few of the Little Bear episodes. Little Bear is fascinated with Rusty's outdoor ethic, and whenever he shows up, Little Bear is tempted to emulate his rustic character.

Little Ick - Little Ick is a baby raccoon and only appears in an episode where his mother went to visit his grandmother and dropped him off with Mother Bear. Little Bear and Little Ick form a bit of a sibling relationship together like Little Bear feeling left out because Mother Bear seems to be paying more attention to Little Ick. Little Ick also causes sorts of trouble for Little Bear. Little Ick is the baby raccoon's nickname from Little Bear because "Ick" is the only thing the baby can say.

Marshmallow - Marshmallow is a baby white skunk. She is "adopted" by Owl and Little Bear in an episode and plays with Duck, Little Bear, Owl, and Cat in the episode "Little Footprints."

Otters - Five silly silblings that appeared in a few episodes resided in the local river.

Episodes and Movies

Series 1: 1995- 1996

1. What Will Little Bear Wear? (Pilot) / Hide and Seek / Little Bear Goes to the Moon
2. Birthday Soup / Polar Bear (This episode was based on the Nelvana logo used in this series when the paint spilled on Little Bear) / Gone Fishing
3. Up All Night / A Flu / Exploring*
4. Fishing with Father Bear / Little Bear's Bath / Father Bear Comes Home*
5. Little Bear's Wish / Little Bear's Shadow / A Present for Mother Bear
6. To Grandmother's House / Grandfather Bear / Mother Bear's Robin
7. Hiccups / Date with Father Bear / Pudding Hill
8. Little Bear's Mermaid / Father Bear's Flying Flapjacks / Maracas
9. Family Portrait / Little Bear's New Friend / Emily's Visit
10. Duck, Babysitter / Little Bear's Band / Hop Frog Pond
11. Little Bear and the Wind / Goblin Story / Not Tired
12. Grandfather's Attic / Little Bear's Egg / Party at Owl's House
13. The Rain-Dance Play / Your Friend, Little Bear / Fall Dream
14. Little Bear the Magician / Doctor Little Bear / Bigger Little Bear
15. Little Bear's Trip to the Stars / Little Bear's Surprise / Little Bear and the North Pole

The episodes marked with the footnote (*) were later aired differently: A Flu / Exploring / Fishing with Father Bear and Up All Night / Little Bear's Bath / Father Bear Comes Home

Series 2: 1997

1. Little Bear Meets No Feet / Campout / Emily's Balloon
2. Cat's Shortcut / Little Bear's Bad Day / Captain Little Bear
3. Building a House for Emily / Emily Returns / Little Sherlock Bear
4. Little Bear's Tooth / Little Red Riding Hood / Little Bear and the Cupcakes
5. Snowball Fight / Winter Solstice / Snowbound
6. Little Bear's Garden / Prince Little Bear / A Painting for Emily
7. Follow the Leader / Little Scarecrow Bear / Little Bear and the Baby
8. Rafting on the River / Little Bear's Kite / Night of the Full Moon
9. Auntie Hen / Play Ball / Lucy's Okay
10. Between Friends / The Blueberry Picnic / Lucy Needs a Friend
11. Picnic on Pudding Hill / Little Bear's Walkabout / Secret Friend
12. Owl's Dilemma / School for Otters / Spring Cleaning
13. A Whale of a Tale / Mitzi Arrives / Granny's Old Flying Rug
14. Little Bear Sings a Song / A House for Mitzi / Up a Tree

Series 3: 1998

1. The Big Bear-Sitter / The Top of the World / The Campfire Tale
2. Mitzi's Little Monster / Simon Says / Applesauce
3. Father Bear's Nightshirt / How to Scare Ghosts / Search for Spring
4. Out of Honey / Message in a Bottle / Little Bear's Sweet Tooth
5. Where Lucy Went / Monster Pudding / Under the Covers
6. Gingerbread Cookies / Marbles / The Garden War
7. The Red Thread / Princess Duck / Little Bear Meets Duck
8. Mother Nature / Dance Steps / Who Am I?
9. Emily's Birthday / The Great Race / Circus for Tutu
10. Clever Cricket / Leaves / Big Bad Broom
11. Pillow Hill / Diva Hen / Father Bear's Little Helper
12. I'll Be You, You'll Be Me / Frog In My Throat / Little Bear the Puddle Jumper
13. Family Bath Time / Winter Wonderland / Mitzi's Mess

Series 4: 1999- 2000

1. Moonlight Serenade / Caterpillars / Goblin Night
2. Sleepover / Sand Castle / Happy Anniversary
3. The April Fools / Balloonheads! / Mother Bear's Button
4. Little Bear and the Ice Boat / Baby Deer / Invisible Little Bear
5. Valentine's Day / Thinking of Mother Bear / I Spy
6. Blue Feather / Thunder Monster / Duck Soup
7. The Little White Skunk / Mother's Day / Little Footprints
8. Rainy Day Friends / Little Goblin Bear / Picnic on the Moon
9. Little Bear and the Sea Monster / The Hat Parade / Finding Fisherman Bear
10. A Kiss for Little Bear (The Painting / The Kiss / The Wedding)

Series 5: 2000- 2001

1. Duck Loses her Quack / Feathers in a Bunch / Detective Little Bear
2. The Sky is Falling! / Father's Day / Fisherman Bear's Big Catch
3. The Dandelion Wish / The Broken Boat / Duck Takes the Cake
4. Magic Lemonade / Silly Billy / Good Night, Little Bear
5. First Frost / Hello Snow / Duck and the Winter Moon
6. Little Bear Talks to Himself / Who Do I Look Like? / Mister Nobody
7. I Can Do That! / Pied Piper Little Bear / The Big Swing
8. The Greatest Show in the World / Lucky Little Bear / Little Bear's Tall Tale
9. Opposites Day / Wish Upon a Star / Sleepy Head Monster
10. Little Bear's Favorite Tree / Something Old, Something New / In A Little While
11. We're Lost! / Little Little Bear / Duck's Big Catch (produced in 1999) December 4 1999
12. Little Bear Scares Everyone / The One That Got Away / Where Are Little Bear's Crayons?
13. How to Love a Porcupine / A Houseboat for Duck / How Little Bear Met Owl
14. The Little Bear Movie

Voice cast

Actor	Role
Kristin Fairlie	Little Bear
Amos Crawley	Owl
Tracy Ryan	Duck
Andrew Sabiston	Cat
Dan Hennessey	Father Bear
Janet Laine-Green	Mother Bear
Tara Strong	Tutu / Melody
Elizabeth Hanna	Hen
Jennifer Martini	Emily
Rick Jones	No Feet
Sean McCann	Grandfather Bear
Diane D'Aquila	Grandmother Bear
Kyle Fairlie	Cub / Rabbit
Alison Sealy Smith	Cub's Mother
Maurice Dean Wint	Cub's Father
Ashley Taylor	Mitzi

Media release

United Kingdom

• CBBC (1996-1999)
• Nick Jr. (1997-2009)
• Nick Jr. 2 (2006-2009)
• Tiny Pop (2009-present)
• KidsCo (2011-present)

Canadian Live and New York Musical Theatrical Version

In Canada, Little Bear has been turned into a live theatrical show, "Little Bear: Winter Tales" which originally toured across Canada in 2007. The show is due to tour Canada again in late 2009.

Both tours are presented by Paquin Entertainment, and were produced by Koba Entertainment.

External links

• Little Bear at IMDb