Introduction
Bears make the most wonderful cartoon characters. They are loveable. Many also have quirky habits we love.
Relating to cartoon bears is easy. For instance, they probably love honey as much as you do.
What makes a cartoon bear special? It is likely the bear you find special has qualities you relate to. We have already mentioned some bears love honey. Others are famous for their wise words and goofy natures.
Which is your favorite cartoon bear? Let’s take a closer look at 20 of the most talked about and loved bears.
1 Winnie The Pooh
We first met Winnie the Pooh in 1926.
This loveable bear and his friends immediately became famous. The first edition of the Winnie the Pooh book sold 150,000 copies in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the book sold 35,000 copies. An astonishing number for a children’s book.
Winnie the Pooh is well known for his love of honey. Together with his friends Tigger, Roo and Eeyore, Winnie goes on many exciting adventures.
Was Winnie a real bear? According to research, the character is based on a female Canadian Black Bear adopted by a Canadian veterinarian and later sold to London Zoo.
As a cartoon bear, Winne loves exploring the English countryside with his best friends Tigger, Roo and Eeyore.
Were Tigger, Roo and Eeyore real animals? As far as we know, Tigger was a stuffed tiger and Roo was a cuddly kangaroo. Many believe Eeyore was a real donkey who lived in the same village as the author of the Book. P.H. Milne.
2 Yogi Bear
Yogi Bear was not immediately a star in his own right. Instead, he was a supporting character in a show called The Huckleberry Hound Show.
This funny bear quickly became one of the show’s most popular characters. However, the American public had to wait until 1961 for Yogi Bear to get his own show.
Hanna-Barbera did such a fantastic job so when it comes to Yogi Bear the general public has never forgotten him. Many of us have enjoyed his charm and attempts at education about nature over the years.
In 2010, Yogi Bear got the chance to star in his own movie. If you have not seen it yet, try to see it. It is a great movie featuring this fantastic iconic bear.
3 Baloo
You have to love this bear! Not only is he one of the friendliest creatures in the jungle – he can also sing and dance. Let’s not forget he loves to eat.
In The Jungle Book, Baloo’s favourite foods are Prickly Pears and bananas.
There have been several Jungle Book movies. However, Baloo first appears in a book written by Rudyard Kipling. It is a lovely book and well worth reading before you check out the movies the book inspired.
4 Paddington Bear
No list is complete without mentioning Paddington Bear.
Paddington is slightly naughty but he is just so adorable.
Is Paddington based on a real bear like Winnie The Pooh? The Paddington character is not thought to be based on an actual bear. But, that does not mean the creator of Paddington was not inspired by bears.
Paddington was the name of the first book in the same series by British author Michael Bond. No fewer than 20 books followed which means there is plenty of scope for new Paddington Bear movies.
5 Boo Boo Bear
You are excused for recognising Yogi Bear in Boo Boo Bear.
Like Yogi Boo Boo Bear was created by Hanna-Barbera. He is a member of the cast of the Yogi Bear Show.
Unlike Yogi, he is much smaller and often seen wearing a blue bow tie.
If you like, Boo Boo Bear is very much the sensible side of Yogi and helps to channel him in the right direction.
6 Smokey Bear
American cartoon creators are responsible for many fantastic bears.
Smokey Bear is just such a character. We first came across Smokey in 1950.
Smokey’s purpose is not only for entertainment This bear has a more serious message.
For many years, he has been the main spokesbear for the U.S. Forestry Service. It is Smokey’s job to raise awareness about the risk of forest fires and many other issues related to safety in the forest.
7 The Care Bears
Sometimes, there is more than one bear. The Care Bears are a team of bears.
If you are a child of the 1980’s you are probably familiar with them. The Care Bear first appeared on TV screens in 1983. Since then, there have been nine animated Care Bear films.
This group of bears are not from the United States. Instead, they herald from Canada.
The 10 original Care Bears are Birthday Bear, Bedtime Bear, Friend Bear, Cheer Bear, Funshine Bear, Grumpy Bear, Love-a-Lot Bear, Wish Bear and Good Luck Bear.
Altogether a great team of colorful bear characters loved by young children and fondly remembered by those who were young in the 1980s.
8 Little Bear
Little Bear is an often neglected cartoon character.
Yet, he is one of the most loveable bears you can come across. He lives with his parents Mother Bear and Father Bear.
Launched in 1995, you can say Little Bear is a very wholesome character. He is a happy little bear and many children relate to him.
If you have not made his acquaintance you should try to do so.
9 Rupert Bear
Rupert Bear is the smartest-dressed bear in the world.
When you are looking for a stylish bear, you can always rely on Rupert.
Out of this selection of bears, Rupert is perhaps the most historic bear. He has been around for more than 100 years.
Rupert was first serialised in the British newspaper The Daily Express. However, he was created years earlier and was originally called “Little Lost Bear.”
You can still catch up with Rupert and his adventures today.
10 Cindy Bear
Gorgeous Cindy Bear is Yogi Bear’s girlfriend.
Most of the time, she appears in a short blue skirt and carries an umbrella to shade her from the sun.
She is a gal from the Southern United States. Watch an episode, and you quickly pick up on her Southern accent.
Cindy is an endearing bear you would like to have as your best friend.
11 Breezly Bruin
Breezly Bruin is just adorable because he is both naughty and nice. That cheeky little grin tells us everything we need to know about this Polar bear.
Yes, you read that right. Breezly is indeed a Polar bear – one of two of his kind you encounter on this list.
Bear Bruin always wears a red hat and scarf plus a pair of blue boots. He gets up to many adventures. Many of them are naughty such as breaking into an army base.
12 Gummi Bears
The Adventures of the Gummi Bears is an American cartoon series which first aired in the United States in the 1980s.
These fun-loving bears were also popular in the 1990s but sadly fell into neglect shortly after.
Fortunately for us, they have been rediscovered and are now true Disney classics. You can catch up with the Gummi Bears on YouTube.
Is the Gummy Bear cartoon character related to Haribo sweets? It is easy to think so. While they are not immediately related, it is fair to say some of the inspiration may have come from this tasty Haribo treat.
13 Kung Fu Panda
Although not strictly bears, pandas often fall under the category of bears.
If we did not mention Kung Fu Panda on this list, we would not be doing our job properly.
The first Kung Fu Panda movie was brought to our screens in 2008. Since then, there have been regular releases of new Kung Fu Panda movies.
Fans of the movie franchise are excitedly waiting for the release of number four.
Kung Fu Panda is a classic. In many ways, he is a hero but manages to display many everyday and anti-heroic characteristics.
He is a guy we can all relate to and has done a lot to promote the interest in pandas as a species.
14 Bernard The Polar Bear
Bernard is a bear of few words. But, it has to be said he manages to communicate with the audience and his fans.
On the scale of cuteness, he gets a nine. Yes, Bernard is seriously cute.
He is perhaps one of the funniest bears on this list. Check him out on YouTube to find out more about the many adventures he gets up to.
15 Bamse
We must not neglect to mention Bamse.
Bamse is a Swedish cartoon bear. After he eats a special honey made by his grandma, he becomes the world’s strongest bear.
The Adventures of Bamse was first published in Sweden in 1973. Bamse is a character who has stood the test of time.
New Bamse adventures are still being created and you can catch up with Bamse in both Swedish and English.
16 We Bare Bears
We Bare bears living in a cave in the forest: Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear. We Bare Bears do best to be part of human society, acting according to human principles.Their everyday stories are both humorous and heartwarming, bringing comfort to the soul.Their adventures in the mordern world is so funny and cute,due to the civilized nature of humans and their own animal instincts.
17 Ted Bear
Ted a comedy film that tells the story of John Bennett, a man whose childhood wish brings his teddy bear, Ted, to life. Now an adult, John navigates his relationship with his girlfriend, Lori, while dealing with the crude and mischievous antics of his best friend, Ted. The film combines humor and heart, exploring themes of friendship, responsibility, and growing up.
18 Lotso Bear
Lots-O’ Huggin Bear, comes in as the villain from Disney’s Toy Story 3,He looks pink, fluffy, smells sweet strawberries, but in fact has a dark and twisted heart beneath his honest and cute exterior.
19 Rilakkuma Bear
Rilakkuma, created by San-X, is a bear whose name means “Relaxed Bear” in Japanese. It’s perfect for people who are always stressed out and need to unwind and enjoy some joy. The collection features an original brown bear and a white bear. This IP is super cute and helps to soothe the mind.
20 Kumamon
Kumamon is a mascot created by Kumamoto Prefecture, and the government wanted to promote local tourism through some cultural activities, but it was only intended to make a logo, and the designer suggested making a mascot, so the official accepted the proposal. With black and a cute blush as the main colors, the Kumamoto Prefectural Government has launched a series of marketing campaigns to expand its presence in the community.
Final Thoughts
You have probably heard of many of the bear cartoon characters on this list.
But, why not take the time to check out some new ones? You never know when you meet a new bear that will capture your imagination and heart.