Channel 4 goes on a Bear Hunt

26 August 2015

“We’re going on a bear hunt.

We’re going to catch a big one.

What a beautiful day!

We’re not scared.”

Channel 4 has commissioned We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, an animated special based on the hugely popular illustrated children’s book written by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury and published by Walker Books. Produced by the makers of The Snowman and The Snowdog (which received an audience of 7.1 million when it premiered on Channel 4 in December 2012, rising to a total of 11 million over the entire Christmas period), Lupus Films and co-producers Walker Productions, the 30-minute special will air on Channel 4 in 2016.

When Stan, Katie, Rosie, Max, the baby and Rufus the dog are left home alone one day before Christmas after their parents go the rescue of Grandma, the children decide it would be fun to go on a bear hunt, spurred on by Katie’s love of grizzly bears. After swishing and swashing through the long grass, splashing and sploshing through rivers and squilching and squelching through mud, Rufus the dog picks up the scent of a bear…

Incorporating the irresistible story and beautiful artwork of the original book, which last year celebrated 25 years as an international bestseller and a firm family favourite at bedtime, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt will enchant a whole new audience with its story of perseverance, optimism and the determination to confront your fears head on.

Michael Rosen says: “I am absolutely delighted that Channel 4 has commissioned this animation. Lupus have a great record in this field and I am very excited to be part of the project. Helen Oxenbury's wonderful art work provides a powerful family saga, full of imagined or real trials and these pictures will give a basis for a moving Christmas drama.”

Jay Hunt, Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer, says: “Going on a Bear Hunt is a magical book that will be brought alive for a whole new audience by Lupus Films. I can’t wait.”

Ruth Fielding, producer, says: “We’re delighted that Channel 4 have commissioned us to retell this classic story and bring to life its beautiful illustrations with our hand drawn animation style. We hope audiences will enjoy the film for many years to come.”

Helen Oxenbury says: "I'm so looking forward to seeing the book brought to life in this way. It's a wonderful opportunity to bring We're Going on a Bear Hunt to even more children and I'm thrilled to be part of it."

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt was commissioned by Jay Hunt, Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer, and Piers Wenger, Channel 4 Head of Drama. Producers are Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin while Helen McAleer and Julia Posen are Executive Producers for Walker Productions. Joanna Harrison and Robin Shaw are co-directors.

 

Notes to Editors:

•           In July 2014 the classic children’s book, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt celebrated 25 years as an international bestseller. It has proved itself irresistible to children and parents alike who love the excitement and fun of the bear hunt and the nearly scary bear.

•           The multi-award winning book, published by Walker Books, has sold over 9 million copies and has been published in 23 languages including Chinese, Russian and Maori. The book has also achieved the unique feat of notching up its 1000th week in BookScan’s Total Consumer Market Top 5000, never having fallen out of the TCM’s top 5000 since records began. Last year 1, 500 children broke the Guinness Book of Records for the Largest Reading Lesson celebrating the 25th anniversary of ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’. The event was live streamed to nurseries and schools all over the UK so that over 30,000 children joined in with the reading.

•           Michael Rosen is one of the best known and loved figures in the world of children’s books. He is also renowned as a poet, performer, scriptwriter and broadcaster. His voice has also become familiar to many listeners of Radio 4 as presenter of ‘Word of Mouth’, a programme that explores the English language. Michael lectures and teaches in universities on children’s literature, reading and writing. He was appointed Children’s Laureate from 2007-9 and has also enthused children with his passion for books and poetry by visiting schools throughout the world with his hugely popular one-man show. His children’s books have been shortlisted for and won many awards. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt can perhaps be considered as the most classic and enduring of all his children’s books. Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, it won the Nestle Smarties Grand Prize in 1989.

•           Helen Oxenbury is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed illustrators of her time. She has created numerous award winning books including the Kate Greenaway medal for ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and the Smarties Book Prize for ‘Farmer Duck’. When she was approached to illustrate ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ she was given free hand to interpret it just as she felt best. Unusually for her, she didn’t submit dummies but did the book all in one go, even modelling the final drawing of the bear on a friend of hers. When she eventually showed her work to the publishers they were overwhelmed, declaring they were some of the most amazing children’s book illustrations they had ever seen.

•           Lupus Films is a London-based production company set up in 2002 by Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding. Over the last 14 years Lupus has become recognised as one of the UK’s leading producers of animated films and TV series. Lupus Films’ productions have aired on many channels around the world, including the BBC and Channel 4 in the UK and Disney Junior in the United States and worldwide. Their half-hour Christmas special The Snowman and The Snowdog was viewed by over 11 million people on Channel 4 in 2012 and was broadcast at Christmas 2013 in many other territories including USA, France, and Japan. Lupus Films is a recent recipient of a British Film Institute Vision Award to support the company in the development of animated feature film projects, the first of which is an adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ graphic novel ‘Ethel & Ernest’.

•           Walker Books is the world’s leading, employee-owned independent publisher of children’s books. Working with the best authors and illustrators, it is renowned for truly original publishing and outstanding quality. Home to books for all ages, Walker Books publishes many award-winning authors, illustrators and brands including Anthony Horowitz, Cassandra Clare, Lucy Cousins, Patrick Ness and Where’s Wally? Walker Productions develops Walker content for other media platforms with current on-air projects including Henry Hugglemonster for Disney Junior, CBeebies’ Tilly and Friends, CITV’s Fleabag Monkeyface and Hank Zipzer for CBBC. Walker’s licensing division manages licensing activity across several Walker brands including Maisy, Guess How Much I Love You, Tilly and Friends, Helen Oxenbury’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Walker Books and Walker Productions are part of the vibrant, international Walker Books Group that includes Candlewick Press in America and Walker Books Australia.