Old Bear Stories was a
BAFTA award
winning non-stop animation
television
series for children based on the
Old Bear and Friends books by
Jane Hissey. Jane Hissey also created the
television series, starting it in 1993, and creating 3 seasons,
which ended in 1997 with a double-length
Christmas special. In all, 41 episodes were made.
The series
was produced by Ealing Animation
and Carlton Television in
association with Optomen
Television PLC was originally broadcast in the UK
on ITV. Episodes have subsequently been repeated on
Five in the UK, and are also
broadcast in the US
and other
countries worldwide. The show also aired for a short time on the
CBC morning children's block in Canada
.
Plot
The animals at the play room have remembered that Old Bear
disappeared long ago. He has been put into the loft. They rescue
him and bring him back down to the Play room. He becomes the most
respected toy and guides the others in their many adventures, both
in the play ground and in the garden.
Characters
- Old Bear: an elderly dusty teddy bear, he was put up in the loft when he reached an advanced age, but was rescued
by the other toys. They now look up to him as a fearless
leader.
- Bramwell Brown: a wise old bear, often
considered second to Old Bear
- Duck: a clumsy toy duck
- Rabbit: a clumsy toy rabbit
- Little Bear: a small white bear who wears
overly baggy orange trousers
- Jolly Tall: a toy giraffe
- Hoot the Owl: a toy owl
living in the loft
- Ruff the Dog: a bouncy toy dog
- Sailor: a toy sailor
- Camel: a toy camel
- Zebra: a toy zebra
- Cat: a toy cat
- Dog: a toy dog
- Splash: a friendly seal, who the toys meet
while on holiday at the beach
- Rabbit's cousin: the cousin of Rabbit, who
occasionally stays with the toys
- The dolls: three dolls who live in a dolls
house in a corner of the play room
Cast and Crew
- Writer: Jane
Hissey
- Director: Kevin Griffiths
- Assstant Director: Liz Whitaker
- Producer: Richard Randolphe
- Executive Producer: Peter Gillbe
- Composer: Paul Castle
- Film Editor: Nick Follows
- Puppet Makers: Monique Brown, Alix Hardwood,
Val Johnston
- Animators: Fin and Humphrey Leadbettery
- Narrator: Anton
Rodgers
Theme Music
The theme tune was composed by
Paul Castle and consists of the lyrics:
"
Please read us a story Old Bear, we'll all gather
round..."
listen
Interestingly the harmony vocals were provided by
Alison Goldfrapp of the band
Goldfrapp.
Episodes
1. Little Bear's Lost
2. The Winter Picnic
3. The Apple Tree
4. The Fancy Dress Competition
5. Little Bear's Trousers
6. Jolly Snow
7. The Doll's House
8. Jolly Tall
9. Ruff
10. The Play
11. The Boat Race
12. Jigsaw
13. Hoot
14. Ruff Follows His Nose
15. Spring Clean
16. Little Bear's Book
17. Hot and Spotty
18. The Car
19. Rainy Day
20. The Circus
21. Five In The Bed
22. The Doll's House Chiristmas
23. Market Day
24. The Birthday Band
25. Fun and Games
26. Friends, Friends, Friends
Awards
The series was very well critically received and won a lot of
awards:
See also
External links
Wikis
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