Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gentle tale of bear friendship has a few tense moments.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Little Bear Movie
What's the Story?
When Little Bear (voiced by Kristin Fairlie) and his father go camping, he meets a lost bear named Cub (voiced by Kyle Fairlie). Fast friends, they set out on adventure that includes learning about each other's natural habitats, making friends with Little Bear's clan, including Duck, Owl, and Cat, following their imaginations, and looking for Cub's parents.
Is It Any Good?
The Little Bear Movie, based on the TV series Little Bear, is such remarkably gentle, positive programming for children that it feels like an anomaly. Fit for any preschooler, and likely to incite a little nostalgia for organic, free-range play in adults, the film is slower-paced and practically quaint in its simple desire to show the budding friendship between a civilized bear and a wild bear, and the abiding respect they foster for each other's ways of life along the way.
Kids will enjoy the sweet friendships, the silly foxes, and the outdoor adventure. Parents will like the attention paid to the dangers of the outdoors, the free-spirited play driven by imagination and a cardboard box, and the family-friendly themes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it's like to camp out in the wilderness. What can you do to prepare? How can you make sure you're safe and respectful among the animals who call the wilderness home?
Go online to learn more about bears in their natural habitat, and what humans do to preserve their numbers in the wild.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 3, 2003
- Cast : Kristin Fairlie , Kyle Fairlie , Max Morrow
- Director : Raymond Jafelice
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 75 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 25, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate