The Berenstain Bears (2002 TV series)

The series is set in a forested land populated only by anthropomorphic bears and primarily focuses on the title Berenstain Bears. The Berenstain Bears are a family residing in the rural community of Bear Country. The family consisted of Mama Bear, Papa Q. Bear, Brother Bear, and Sister Bear. Although numerous episodes are based on the books and promote the same morals as encouraged in the picture books from which their plots originated, the program's faithfulness to the original series is slightly mixed on account of a number of later episodes following original storylines. Nonetheless, they mostly portray the same circumstance depicted in the original Berenstain Bears storybooks quite accurately and concentrate on the messages and lessons learned by the family through their different experiences, such as generosity and responsibility, as well as the daily lives of the bears. ==Production and music==

The series was co-produced by Corus' animation unit Nelvana Limited and Agogo Entertainment for PBS Kids in the United States and Treehouse TV in Canada. Eighty 15-minute episodes were produced, adapted from the books and also a few new stories as well, similar to the 1985 incarnation. Due to Canadian laws requiring Nelvana to employ Canadian writers and designers, the Berenstain couple's involvement in the program was limited; they sought to exert their influence on some details, according to Stan: "Our bears don't wear shoes, and Papa wouldn't wear his hat in the house...And we try to keep complete, total banality out of the stories". Common practicalities of animation did force some minor costume changes from the books, such as eliminating polka dots and plaids (this issue also occurred in the past animated series and specials and only a limited amount of polka dots was allowed in the five specials ==Broadcast and home media==

In Canada, the series first aired on September 9, 2002 on Treehouse TV and French-language Ici Radio-Canada Télé. In 2010 until 2013, it also briefly aired on YTV as part of the short-lived "YTV Playtime" block. It first premiered in the United States on PBS on January 6, 2003. Initially, it aired together with Seven Little Monsters (originally part of the "PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch") in a shared half-hour timeslot, but two shows were eventually separated. The original broadcast run on PBS ended September 10, 2004, and with reruns continuing through February 1, 2009, along with Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat and Zoboomafoo. In the mid-2000s, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (formerly Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment) released the series on both VHS and DVD in the United States. In the late 2010s, PBS released more DVDs of the series. All of the series was also released on both VHS and DVD by kaBoom! in Canada. As of 2025, the series is also available on Treehouse Direct and to stream on Amazon Prime. ==Episodes==

Main • Michael Cera (seasons 1–2) and Michael D'Ascenzo (season 3) as Brother Bear • Tajja Isen as Sister Bear • Benedict Campbell as Papa Bear • Camilla Scott as Mama Bear Recurring Family • Leslie Carlson as Grizzly Gramps • Corinne Conley as Grizzly Gran • Marc McMulkin as Cousin Fred Friends • Amanda Soha as Lizzy Bruin • Nikki Marshall as Queenie • Mark Rendall as Ferdy Factual • Gage Knox as Too-Tall • Billy Rosemberg as Skuzz • Patrick Salvagna as Smirk • Maryke Hendrikse as Hillary Citizens • Chris Wiggins as Squire Grizzly • Ellen-Ray Hennessy as Miss Grizzle • Philip Williams as Farmer Ben ==Accolades==