Animator's Mr Bear's Christmas gets book deal

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 06:43 · Archive

Animator Lorna Gibson's Mr Bear's Christmas, narrated by Sir Stephen Fry, is published as a children's book on 8 October.

Animator Lorna Gibson from Tarporley is publishing Mr Bear's Christmas as a children's book on Thursday, 8 October. The story originated as a Christmas 2019 newsletter that Gibson produced in miniature printed versions to send to supporters, before becoming a book sold through her website.

Gibson created a stop-motion animation of the story in 2020 on a budget of just £500, filming it using her iPhone and initially narrating it herself before uploading it to YouTube at Christmas. Two years later, Gibson contacted Sir Stephen Fry's agent after dreaming that Fry had narrated the film. Fry agreed to provide the narration.

With Fry's involvement, Gibson approached the BBC in September 2022. The corporation made an immediate offer to broadcast it that Christmas and has shown it every Christmas since. The success on screen led to the story attracting the attention of publishers, resulting in the forthcoming book deal.

How it is being reported

• Heart-warming animation Mr Bear's Christmas lands book deal for creatorLorna Gibson will see Mr Bear's Christmas published on Thursday, October 8, after starting life as a self-published booklet sent to supporters of her creative newsletter.Chester Standard · 10 Oct, 06:00
• Heart-warming animation Mr Bear's Christmas lands book deal for creatorLorna Gibson will see Mr Bear's Christmas published on Thursday, October 8, after starting life as a self-published booklet sent to supporters of her creative newsletter.Northwich Guardian · 8 Oct, 13:36

In this story: Lorna Gibson · Sir Stephen Fry · BBC · Tarporley

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