Little Bear (TV series)


Little Bear is a Canadian educational historical children's animated series based on the Little Bear series of books written by Else Holmelund Minarik, and illustrated by Maurice Sendak; the program was originally produced for the CBC. In the United States, the show debuted on Nickelodeon in 1995, and aired on CBS from 2000-2001.
A direct-to-video/DVD full-length feature film titled The Little Bear Movie was released in 2001.

Plot

Set in the United States wilderness around the end of the 19th century, Little Bear goes on exciting adventures and learns new things with his friends Duck, Hen, Cat, and Owl. Mother Bear is a homemaker who looks after Little Bear, while Father Bear, a fisherman, would typically be away on his ship, fishing.

Episodes

Characters

Main

It has been rebroadcast on many channels, including Noggin/Nick Jr., ABC and ABC2, RTÉ, TV2 and Children's BBC. The show aired in reruns on Nick on CBS for one year from September 16, 2000, to September 8, 2001.

Home media

Streaming

All the episodes as well as the movie, are available for free on Corus Entertainment / Nelvana's own Treehouse Direct channel and Little Bear Official channel on YouTube.
Those videos used to be available for all countries, but as of 2018, it's only available in Canada. In U.S.A, the episodes are currently available for purchase on Amazon Instant Video, Noggin App, and iTunes.

VHS

Canada releases:
United States releases:
In 2001, the show was adapted into a direct-to-video film by Paramount Home Entertainment, Alliance Atlantis and Nelvana titled The Little Bear Movie. In the movie, Little Bear and Father Bear go camping in the wilderness, where Little Bear encounters all kinds of new sights and sounds: an eagle's flight, a wolf's howl...and a wild little bear named Cub and his friend Little Moose fishing in a stream. Even though they are from different worlds, Little Bear and Cub become fast friends. When Little Bear learns that Cub is separated from his parents, he organizes a search party to find them. Joined by Duck, Cat, Owl, and Hen, along with some new friends named the fox twins, Poppy and Pete, Little Bear and Cub begin an unforgettable journey.

Music

Austrian composer Franz Schubert's Allegro vivace from his Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major is used as the theme tune to Little Bear. The theme was arranged for wind and strings by composer Arnold Black. A separate opening theme was used in the United States. The music score in the series is composed by Lesley Barber. There are also excerpts of works by composers Chopin, Bach and Mozart.

Other media

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 toured Canada again in late 2009.
Both tours are presented by Paquin Entertainment, and were produced by Koba Entertainment.

Video games

In 1999, The Learning Company developed two edutainment games based on the Little Bear franchise titled "Maurice Sendak's Little Bear Rainy Day Activities" for ages 3 & up and "Maurice Sendak's Little Bear: Preschool Thinking Adventures" In 2000, the same company developed another edutainment title "Little Bear: Toddler Discovery Adventures" for ages 18 months to 3 years.