We Bare Bears: The Movie

We Bare Bears: The Movie
Digital release film poster
Directed byDaniel Chong
Screenplay by
  • Christina Chang
  • Daniel Chong
  • Alex Chiu
  • Manny Hernandez
  • Yvonne Hsuan Ho
  • Quinne Larsen
  • Sang Yup Lee
  • Sooyeon Lee
  • Charlie Parisi
  • Lauren Sassen
  • Sarah Sobole
  • Louie Zong
Story by
  • Mikey Heller
  • Kris Mukai
Based onWe Bare Bears
by Daniel Chong
Produced byCarrie Wilksen
Starring
Edited byTom Browngardt
Music byBrad Breeck
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Television Distribution
Release dates
  • June 30, 2020 (2020-06-30) (digital)
  • September 7, 2020 (2020-09-07) (TV)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

We Bare Bears: The Movie is a 2020 American animated adventure film based on the Cartoon Network television series of the same name. Produced by Cartoon Network Studios, it was released on North American digital theater platforms by Warner Bros. Television Distribution on June 30, 2020. Directed by series creator Daniel Chong from a story by Mikey Heller and Kris Mukai, We Bare Bears: The Movie stars the voices of series regulars Eric Edelstein, Bobby Moynihan, and Demetri Martin as the three titular bears Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear; joined by Marc Evan Jackson as Agent Trout and Keith Ferguson as Officer Murphy. This film serves as the series finale of We Bare Bears.

In their desire to be accepted into the community, the three bear brothers Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear unwittingly wreak havoc throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, igniting a mob of complaints from its residents. Seeking to remove them from society, wildlife control agent Trout relentlessly pursues to separate the brothers, who in turn escape from the Bay Area and seek refuge to Canada. Along the way, the Bears endure hardships while staying true to their promise of being "bros for life". The film, an allegory for what it feels like to be a minority in America, explores themes of acceptance, family separation, and racial discrimination, which were darker than the lighthearted but similar themes upon which Chong, a member of the Asian American minority, had explored within the television series.

The film had its television premiere on Cartoon Network on September 7, 2020. Upon its release, We Bare Bears: The Movie received a positive response from film critics, who praised the film's relevant presentation of its themes, sense of humour, and positive messages, with many calling it an excellent conclusion to the franchise. Following the conclusion of the series and the film, a spin-off television series titled We Baby Bears, which follows the Bears as cubs, released on January 1, 2022.