Paddington, the lovable marmalade-loving bear with a “hard stare” that could stop a stampede, has connected with a whole new generation of fans thanks to two very successful movies that showcase his heartfelt moral compass that the world desperately needs more of. With audiences hungry for more after last year’s terrific PADDINGTON 2 news has broken that an animated series starring the life-affirming bear is in the works with film voice actor Ben Whishaw along for the ride.
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A partnership between Studiocanal, Nickelodeon and producer David Heyman, the series will bring the bear to TV screens in the form of a fully-animated 3D show aimed at pre-schoolers, with the show focusing on the adventures of a younger Paddington. Each episode will find Paddington writing a letter to his Aunt Lucy, and concluding with him sharing what lesson he learned from his adventure. The first image of the animated take on the bear can be seen above, and yes, it’s obviously very adorable.
The show is currently in production for a 2020 air date with Adam Shaw directing (Go Jetters, Digby Dragon) and Jon Foster and James Lamont (The Amazing World of Gumball, Cuckoo, Paddington 1 & 2) developing and writing.
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The first of the new PADDINGTON movies (directed by Paul King) received rave reviews upon release in 2014 (early 2015 in North America), making over $250 million around the world. The sequel received even wider acclaim and stands as the best-reviewed wide release of all time on Rotten Tomatoes with a solid 100 percent “Fresh” rating with over 200 reviews. Though not as big as the first movie stateside, the sequel still made a pretty penny with over $220 million globally. A third movie is reportedly in development, but King will not be back to direct.
This is great news to get your Valentine's Day off on the right foot. PADDINGTON 2 was easily one of the best movies of last year and is a guaranteed heart-warmer from start to finish. Though I want a third movie at this very moment, an animated TV series is a perfect way to keep things going in the meantime. The series may not be aimed at adults, but there will surely be something sweet in it that will transcend age and prove why Paddington is needed in all facets of life.