The Little Bear Movie is an 2000 animated film based on the television series Little Bear, which in turn is based on the book series of the same name which was written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, and produced by Nelvana Limited and Wild Things Productions for Paramount Home Video. The film was released on direct-to-video on August 7, 2001 by Paramount Home Video. It stars Kristin Fairlie as the voice of Little Bear.
Plot[]
One fall evening, Little Bear and Father Bear set out on a camping trip. While camping on a hill, Father Bear talks about the wilderness and the time he met an eagle that brings good luck. The next day, Little Bear went to stream to fill up the canteen and meets a villainous mountain lion, but another bear named Cub saves him from being eaten. Even though Little Bear is unaware of the danger, Cub told him that the mountain lion would have eaten him and if it wasn't for him, he could be that lion's breakfast. A while later, Little Bear introduces Cub to Father Bear and they then enjoy a grilled fish breakfast together. Little Bear asked Cub if they wanted to come along to their home, so he agrees.
Back at the house, Little Bear introduces Cub to Mother Bear and said that they gathered some raspberries. While Cub tries to get used to living in a house, Little Bear shows Cub his bedroom and his homemade space helmet. Little Bear then wants Cub to meet his friends Cat, Owl, Duck, and Hen where they started to play together. As dusk began to fall, Little Bear began to learn that Cub got separated from his parents during an intense storm, they decide to go on a journey to search for them. The next day, Little Bear told Duck to get Hen and Cat and meet them at Owl's house. Once there, Little Bear told everyone that Cub got seperated from his parents. Owl agreed, saying that they should make a search party and everyone decided help, even though Cat is still annoyed as long Cub doesn't pull his tail.
They make missing person posters for Cub's parents and then head back into the wilderness to hang them up. Once they waited, they woke up and notice that the posters were stolen. Duck is scared and asked what they should do. As they looked for the signs, they meet their friend Moose who explains that the wood animals are using the posters for their nests and the racoons used a poster to make a dam. Little Bear and Cub try to recover the banner, but beavers, angry with the raccoons break the dam and, in the process, Little Bear and Cub are washed away in a flood, straight over a waterfall getting separated from the rest of the group. They find Duck has wandered downstream as well, looking for Cub's parents.
Meanwhile, Owl had searched all over the woods but he couldn't see them and informed his friends about their disappearence. Moose suggested that they should tell Mother Bear and Father Bear and started to head off.
Meanwhile, Little Bear, Cub and Duck become lost in the dark wilderness and are unable to find the rest of the gang. Duck finally declared that they are lost and couldn't see where they are going. Suddenly, they run into Cub's best friends Poppy and Pete, two playful and hyperactive red foxes who took care of Cub after he got separated from his parents. They spend the night in the foxes den and the next day they keep looking and head towards a canyon.
Little Bear is getting worried that it's too dangerous and suggest they should find another way. Cub ignored him and climb to the top of the canyon only to get his foot stuck in some rocks. Little Bear rushed off and told Poppy and Pete that Cub needed help.
After freeing Cub, Duck meet the mountain lion since she is unaware and he tries to eat Duck. Little Bear screamed for her to run and fly, which she did. Before the lion could eat her, Poppy and Pete try to tackle him to save her, which causes them to fall into the river. After helping Poppy and Pete make it out of the river, Little Bear notices the mountain lion drowning and tries to help him, only to end up getting cornered.
The mountain lion is about to attack Little Bear, only to get scared off by the arrival of Cub's parents. Cub and his parents are reunited and Cub introduces Little Bear to them. He asked his parents how he'd found him until his mother said that an eagle brought them a message. The two cubs realized that it was the canteen with Cub's picture inside. Poppy and Pete wonder where Duck is but Little Bear is unsure if she'd survived and suddenly, he saw Duck in the air and is found by his family and friends. Mother Bear and Father Bear were relieved that Little Bear is safe and told him that they searched everywhere for him. Little Bear apologized, saying that he was just trying to get Cub back to his family. After saying goodbye to Cub, Little Bear heads home and on the way back to the house it starts snowing.
Cast[]
- Kristin Fairlie as Little Bear
- Kyle Fairlie as Cub
- Amos Crawley as Owl
- Tracy Ryan as Duck
- Andrew Sabiston as Cat
- Elizabeth Hanna as Hen (uncredited)
- Wayne Best as Mountain Lion
- Ray Landry as Moose
- Janet Laine-Green as Mother Bear
- Dan Hennessey as Father Bear
- Max Morrow as Little Moose
- Catherine Disher as Mother Moose
- Cole Caplan as Poppy
- Asa Perlman as Pete
- Maurice Dean Wint as Cub's Father
- Alison Sealy-Smith as Cub's Mother