7.8 /10 1 Votes7.8
7.1/10 Country of origin United Kingdom No. of series 3 Running time 10 mins Final episode date 23 December 1997 | 8.6/10 Original language(s) English No. of episodes 41 First episode date 24 September 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Similar The Upstairs Downstai, Grizzly Tales for Gruesom, Percy the Park Keeper, The Adventures of Paddin, Junglies |
Old Bear Stories was a BAFTA award-winning stop frame 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 24 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 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.
Contents

Episodes of the series were released on VHS by Carlton Video.
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 room and in the garden.
Characters

Episodes

- Old Bear
- Jolly Tall
- Little Bear Lost
- There Were Five in a Bed
- The Circus
- Little Bear's Trousers
- Little Bear's Big Race
- The Rainy Day
- The Fancy Dress Competition
- The Apple Tree
- The Winter Picnic
- Jolly Snow
- The Dolls' House Christmas Tree
- Ruff
- The Play
- The Boat Race
- Jigsaw
- Little Bear's Book
- The Birthday Band
- Hot and Spotty
- Hoot
- Ruff Follows His Nose
- Spring Clean
- Old Bear's Chair
- Market Day
- The Car
- Hoot and the Mystery Eggs
- The Clock
- The Castle
- The Colour Chase
- Little Bear's Snowmen
- The Painting
- Duck Tries to Fly
- The Jolly Dragon
- Rabbit and the Visitor
- Little Bear's Cold Day
- Ruff and the Big Wheel
- The Birthday Camp
- The Treasure Hunt
- The Perfect Presents
- Little Bear and the Christmas Star
Cast and crew

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.
listen
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: