We Bare Bears (2014-2019)
"Three bear brothers do whatever they can to be a part of human society by doing what everyone around them does."
What really sets this animated series apart is the art style and culture influences. The art style is so simple and feels so natural in a pastel story book kind of way. This definitely feels like a Winnie the Pooh of the 21st century. And as the creator of the show, Daniel Chong, was the son of Singaporean Chinese immigrants, it's no surprise we see Asian culture influence, especially with Panda and his love of k-pop, manga, and anime. The supporting character, Chloe, is the child of two Korean immigrants, and we see them and Ice bare communicate in Korean. This show just seems so inclusive between the Asian influences and the little appearances of other US minority groups, and not only is it refreshing to see, but it's all presented so normally and casually.
The bare bears themselves are a very interesting trio. They're both so different from each other and are united by this brotherhood that they tied amongst themselves as children, with no question of species. Their voice actors are also really good, with Eric Edelstein, Bobby Moynihan, and Demetri Martin as Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear.
Grizz is a very ambitious bear. He wants to be the best athlete and movie star, but any desire of fame is overshadowed by his loyalty and role as a leader to his brothers. Friend first, famous bear last. Panda is a romantic individual looking for millions of social media followers and a soulmate that's not his anime body pillow. Though he's the one that get's annoyed by his brothers the most, they're still family to him. Something interesting about Pan Pan is the implications that he might be a little gay? He is very much in touch with his feminine side and even has a fling with that guy Tom, but it was very unclear.
Then, my personal favorite, Ice Bear. He's a stone cold ninja that seems to be good at everything. While he seems emotionless, he's actually very loving and is territorial when it comes to his brothers. He goes with the flow with what ever they do without question and is always there to use his ninja stars to protect them if needed. Plus his third person one liners are top tier.
We Bare Bears has absurd light hearted humor that everyone can enjoy. There are also some action oriented episodes that are very entertaining as well. There are several episodes that lightly center around topics like deforestation, nature preservation, misinterpretation in media, and girl power. There are also many times when a character overcame insecurities about themselves or others, which always leads to heart felt scenes.
The show just has a strong "feel good" vibe to it. It's storytelling is simple but entertaining and many moments to make anybody smile. We see this most with the bear cub flashbacks. The three bears literally travel the entire world in hopes to be adopted into a home. These scenes enforce the theme of brotherhood as we see the bears' origins. Not only are they adorable, but these flashbacks show that family is not by blood and that that family is where home is.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆