Old Bear Stories is a BAFTA award-winning stop-motion 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 on 22 September 1993, and creating 3 seasons, which ended on 24 December 1997 with a double-length Christmas special. In all, 41 episodes were made. The series was produced by Ealing Animation (El Nombre) and was originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV. Episodes have subsequently been repeated on Channel 5 in the UK, and are also broadcast in the United States and other countries worldwide. The show also aired for a short time on the CBC morning children's block in Canada. It also aired in the United States as part of Cartoon Network's 'Small World' as well as ABC in Australia, M-Net, SABC 2 and Bop TV in South Africa, MediaCorp Channel 5 in Singapore, Channel Eye in Sri Lanka, ČT1 in the Czech Republic, TVP1 in Poland, SVT Barnkanalen in Sweden and TV2 and TV One in New Zealand. The series was also screened on armed forces television on BFBS (and its former network SSVC Television) where it was shown in several countries such as Germany and the Falkland Islands. Episodes of the series were released on VHS by Carlton Video.

Plot

In a play room which is home to a variety of sentient toys, their leader, the wise and caring "Old Bear" had disappeared some time ago, having been put into the loft and forgotten. After the toys rescue him and bring him back down to the play room, Old Bear again becomes their most respected toy and guides his friends in their many adventures, both in the play room and in the garden.

Characters

Episodes

Series 1

Series 2

Series 3

Christmas Specials

Cast and crew

Copyright Carlton Television UK 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997

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 Dear Old Bear. Sit in your favourite chair, We'll sit all around, all around dear Old Bear. The harmony vocals were provided by Alison Goldfrapp of the band Goldfrapp.

Awards

The series was very well critically received and won a lot of awards: