Best Fictional Bears

“You need help, and ol' Baloo's gonna learn ya to fight like a bear.”

-Baloo, The Jungle Book

This last Friday Aksarben Cinema premiered Paddington, a film adaptation of one of the most beloved children’s stories of all time. Paddington originally hails from Peru, but over the years has taken on some British sensibilities and dialect.

In the new film he’s voiced by the upcoming British star Ben Whishaw and befriends a family that is looking for something new to shake up their lives. They find it in this lovable little bear in the blue coat with the red hat.

In honor of Paddington’s arrival, we give you the best fictional bears on TV and in movies.

Bear: Baloo                           

Film: The Jungle Book                     

Originally Performed by: Phil Harris

Baloo the bear is one of the many standout characters in Walt Disney’s adaptation of The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. This big gray buffoon is at the top of the list, because he provides the famous Disney animated film a great goofiness that is obviously inherent in Paddington. He also is a wonderfully dynamic character as he goes through loss when he has to accept that his man-cub is growing up and looking for new adventures.

Bear: Fozzie Bear                

Film: The Muppet Movie                  

Originally Performed by: Frank Oz

There is no better comedian to grace the screen (with orange fur) than Fozzie Bear. Performed by the multi-talented Frank Oz, Fozzie Bear can simply do it all. If the film calls for a dry joke then Fozzie’s got it (“If that's the Happiness Hotel, I'd hate to see what the sad one looks like.”). Or maybe it needs a corny one-liner - Fozzie can do that too:

Kermit: [navigating in the Studebaker] Bear left.

Fozzie: Right, frog.

He’s the best friend of everyone’s favorite frog and gives his heart and soul to the Muppet Show in order to make it the best hour of humorous variety people could ever want. Waka! Waka!

Bear: Winnie the Pooh

Film: The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh

Originally Performed by: Sterling Holloway

Is there a bear that is more loveable than the honey-loving Winnie the Pooh? Winnie the Pooh is so wonderful because he does his best to exercise, be active with his friend Piglet, and engage with his fellow Hundred Acre Wood neighbors. The yellow bear with the little red shirt was originally performed by Sterling Holloway who voiced Kaa the Snake in The Jungle Book and is now voiced by one of the best voice talents in Hollywood, Jim Cummings.

Bear: Yogi Bear

Film: Yogi Bear

Originally Performed by: Daws Butler

The final bear on our list is smarter than the average bear as he always liked to tell audiences on his show in the 60s. Daws Butler was the first to voice this ever-talkative brown bear with a skinny green tie who went on adventures for picnic baskets with his friend Boo-Boo. Unfortunately this dynamic duo found opposition in the form of the stern Ranger Smith. Surprisingly it took more than 50 years to bring Yogi to the big screen with his pal Boo-Boo. In 2010’s Yogi Bear famous comedian Dan Aykroyd voiced the titular bear.

Now we can bearly contain ourselves for the arrival of Paddington and are excited for the talkative British bear to join the slew of classic bears to be featured on the big screen. For more information on Paddington and all our upcoming releases go to our website or check us out on Facebook. See you at the movies!