The Bear Essentials

Franklin Fizzlybear is the most righteous animal on Piñata Island. The easy-going grizzly (fizzly?) is a gentle giant who spends his days surfing and going on adventures. He has an air of innocence around him and doesn’t fully comprehend that he’s a giant piñata even though he’s filled with delicious candy. He’s probably the most fragile bear on this list, but he hasn’t a care in the world. It’s hard not to admire his unbridled optimism. Franklin sees the world as his playground and dances like no one’s watching. Bears are seen as lethargic creatures who spend inordinate amounts of time sleeping, but Franklin’s the kind of guy who actually looks forward to getting up in the morning! He’s not like most bears, and he’s not especially good at being a piñata either. I’d actually feel guilty about hitting him with a stick.

The child of a powerful witch and warlock who led a group of social outcasts, Annie Hastur was born into a lineage of dark magic and arcane energy. It was clear from the beginning that there was something special about her. At the age of two, Annie transfixed a ferocious shadow bear and turned it into her guardian and pet. Annie usually keeps Tibbers spellbound as a stuffed toy and is seldom seen without him, but she lets his true form be seen on the battlefield. After being called into action, Tibbers will set Annie’s enemies aflame and unleash his true power. Annie is Tibbers’ biggest fan and loves to cheer him on while he goes on a rampage. Annie is one of the youngest champions in League of Legends, but I guess you don’t need combat experience when you have a magical teddy bear to protect you.

Most bears spend their days hanging out in the woods and eating honey, but Bentley Bear bides his time by collecting gems, navigating through mazes, and… well, eating honey. Crystal Castles might seem cliche by today’s standards, but the fairy tale setting was exciting in 1983 and it was a lot of fun to battle evil trees and dancing skeletons. Bentley’s adventures were surprisingly varied, and Crystal Castles was notable for being one of the first arcade games with an actual ending. The game was released just before the home console market crashed, so Bentley never reached his full mascot potential. After hibernating for over a decade, Bentley was featured as a racer in Atari Karts on the Jaguar. More recently, he was referenced in a Lupe Fiasco song and he had a cameo in Wreck-It Ralph.

Polar is Crash Bandicoot’s friend, pet, and transportation. He fills many roles, but what would you expect from a polar bear that barks like a dog and is mounted like a horse? The young cub was first seen in Crash Bandicoot 2 where he helped his bandicoot buddy navigate through icy passageways. He later helped Crash escape from a larger (and presumably hungrier) polar bear. He was essentially a replacement for the nameless warthogs that Crash rode during his first adventure, but it’s fair to say that Polar was a lot more adorable. He’s made appearances in a number of other spinoffs outside of the mainline Crash games and is a permanent part of the franchise. He has now been prominently featured in three kart racing titles, so I’m assuming that he grew tired of being used as a vehicle.

I had trouble deciding between Teddiursa and his evolved form, Ursaring. Ultimately, I chose the one that looks like a cuddly teddy bear instead of the intimidating monster. Teddiursa are easily frightened and prefer to live in secluded regions where they are unlikely to encounter humans. (For some reason, they don’t want to be imprisoned in Pokéballs and forced to fight against their will. Go figure.) The small cubs are not great at fighting, but they’re natural survivalists. Their powerful sense of smell helps them find food, and they’re resourceful enough to make their own honey by blending Beedrill pollen and fruit together. Teddiursa are constantly licking their paws since they are always soaked with honey, and I can only imagine that this comes in handy during the winter months when food is scarce.

Many people assumed that Blizzard was ripping off Kung Fu Panda when the Pandaren were added to World of Warcraft in 2011. In actuality, the panda-like race was conceived as an April Fool’s joke by one of Blizzard’s artists in 2003. (After the fans responded to the joke with enthusiastic positivity, the race was officially added to the lore of the series.) There are many Pandaren who would be worthy of a spot on this list, but it’s hard not to admire Chen Stormstout’s independence and jovial personality. The world-class brewmaster grew up on the back of a giant turtle, but he left his home to see the world. Although his wanderlust was informed by a desire to find exotic ingredients for his legendary brews, he also developed superior fighting skills along the way and embarked on many exciting adventures.

Kuma is the pet, bodyguard, and training partner of a world-famous martial arts master named Heihachi Mishima. Kuma was abandoned near the Mishima estate when he was still a cub, so Heihachi took the young grizzly under his wing. Kuma was taught how to fight, and he also had the opportunity to expand his language skills. Many of Heihachi’s associates fled the estate because they were afraid of Kuma’s intellect – although, Kuma’s taste for human flesh probably contributed to the exodus as well. Kuma never fully matured as a fighter since he prioritized sleep over training, but he deserves recognition for being the first gag character in the Tekken series. Kuma died after the events of Tekken 2 and was replaced by his son, Kuma II, but both of them are worthy of a spot on this list.

Monokuma is a robotic stuffed bear whose entire body is divided down the middle like a Yin-Yang symbol. Fittingly, his personality reflects the duality between good and evil. At times, Monokuma acts like a cute and cuddly teddy bear not unlike Winnie the Pooh. At other times, he’s a sinister bear who’s defined by anger and cruelty. He can switch between personalities without warning, and this makes him unpredictable and dangerous. It’s natural for a bear to have a healthy appetite, but Monokuma is only hungry for a spectacle. Instead of attacking others directly, the self-proclaimed Headmaster of Hope’s Peak Academy plays mind games with the students and tries to convince them to kill each other! Monokuma enjoys executing others for breaking the rules, and he shows no compassion or pity for anyone.

Freddy Fazbear is an animatronic bear and the mascot of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The similarities to Chuck E. Cheese are impossible to ignore, but Freddy’s a different animal altogether. The pizzaria is a place of joy during the day, but the tone changes drastically after hours. Unlike most animatronic mascots, Fredddy roams freely through the restaurant at night and torments the unfortunate security guards. Remarkably, management opts to leave the haunted animatronic bear in place even after he commits multiple acts of murder. I know business owners need returns on their investments, but Freddy has more in common with the Terminator than with Teddy Ruxpin. To his credit, he takes to the stage every night to entertain the customers. He might be a murderer, but he’s a reliable performer.

Like real-life honey bears, Banjo spends most of his time eating, sleeping, and playing video games. He’s perfectly content to lounge around his house, but he’s occasionally forced to play the hero. He takes it upon himself to rescue his sister after she’s kidnapped by an ugly witch, and he’s always willing to offer a hand to a stranger in need. He relies on his strength and adaptability to progress through his adventures, but the simple-minded bear is friendly to a fault and gullible to the point of making pleasant conversation with enemies who are trying to kill him! Fortunately, a large bird named Kazooie resides in Banjo’s backpack and helps keep his dim-witted friend grounded in reality. Kazooie’s sarcastic wit makes Banjo seem even more clueless in comparison, but it’s hard not to be drawn in by Banjo’s simplicity.