Benshi's review of Pompon Little Bear :
This animated series is based on the children’s books written and illustrated by Benjamin Chaud featuring the hero Pompon, an adorable little bear who’s the pride and joy of his parents. Each 7-minute episode is a coming-of-age story in which the lovable, furry protagonist asserts his independence by doing for himself what he sees his parents do. Although that means having a few mishaps along the way, the situations he gets himself into are never too serious and Pompon always learns from whatever he does, thanks to the love and attention of his parents and all his woodland friends. As he goes about his everyday life, he is unafraid, and all the animals are always ready to help him achieve his goals.
The series also chronicles a great friendship that carries over from one episode to the next as Pompon and Rita enjoy inventing games together. Pompon’s uninhibited and candid ideas dovetail sweetly with the young raccoon’s grounded practicality. In the end, the little bear’s niceness and imagination help him get out of even the most difficult situations.
These adventures highlight the loving care that the little bear’s parents take with his education. He is encouraged to gradually prove that he can do things by himself in a world that he has not finished discovering. This provides an opportunity to meet the animals of the wood – Pompon’s friends – and each one has a different attitude and role. The nature around the bear changes with the seasons, as depicted through the soft and shimmering artwork.
