Real bears are complicated. We make the alternative easier.
Production-Ready Practical Characters
Realistic grizzly, brown, black and polar bears developed for professional film, television, commercial, branded and live-event environments.
One Specialist Team Makes It Easy
Our standard booking includes the bear suit, an experienced bear actor and a dedicated on-set coordinator. The coordinator supports safety communication, resets, cooling and suit continuity. By prior agreement, an experienced choreographer may act in one of our bears while a TV Bears International asset guardian remains on set and our character rules are respected.
Los Angeles, London and Beyond
TV Bears International is based in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, with a UK service hub in Watford, near London. From both locations, we travel internationally to support film, television, commercial and live-event clients wherever their projects take us. Explore locations and logistics
More Than a Costume
01
The Bear Suit
A production-ready realistic animal selected around the look, scale, movement and personality required by your project.
02
The Bear Actor
An experienced bear actor familiar with the character’s movement, capabilities and practical limitations, with an understanding of marks, blocking, camera angles and repeatable action.
03
Production Support
Preparation, cooling, handling, resets, continuity and practical coordination throughout the booking.
04
Planning Before the Shoot
We can discuss action, blocking, camera requirements, props, wardrobe and interaction before production day. How it works on set →
Meet the Bears
Realistic Grizzly • Brown • Black • Polar • Teddy • Panda • Beagle
Each character has its own appearance, movement, personality and practical capabilities. The right bear depends on the story you are trying to tell.
Our Production-Ready Bears
BOB
American Brown Bear
Highly realistic facial detail, natural movement and interchangeable eye options for exceptional on-camera realism. Meet Bob →
DAVE
Realistic Black Bear
A lifelike black bear appearance with expressive facial detail and strong movement for film, television and commercials. Meet Dave →
MACK
Young Brown Bear
A slimmer and more youthful brown bear character, adaptable for a wide variety of scenes and wardrobe requirements. Meet Mack →
KARLUK
Grizzly Bear
A commanding grizzly bear with animatronic facial capabilities for dramatic film, television and commercial work. Meet Karluk →
More characters when your production needs something different.
Frostbite: Realistic Polar Bear
A striking Arctic presence for film, television, premieres, commercials and live events. Meet Frostbite →
Bentley: Realistic Teddy Bear
A warmer, nostalgic character with natural movement and an instantly recognizable teddy bear appearance. Meet Bentley →
Panda, Beagle & Many More
Our collection extends beyond traditional bears for productions and campaigns requiring a different animal character. Explore the full collection →
Built for the Camera, Not the Costume Rack
A convincing practical animal needs to do more than look good in a still image. It needs to hit a mark, repeat an action, work with lighting and camera angles, interact with actors and props and remain believable when the camera starts rolling.
Professional Creature Services for the Shots Your Production Needs
FILM
Film, Television & Commercials
Practical bears for feature films, television, commercials, documentaries, streaming content, music videos and branded productions. Cast a Bear for Film & TV →
DOUBLE
Animal Doubles & Pickup Scenes
Inserts, controlled interactions, additional photography and missing shots where returning to a live animal may not be practical. Explore production services →
REPLAY
Animal Reenactment Scenes
Controlled recreations of incidents and animal behavior for factual television, documentaries, film and additional photography. Discuss a reenactment →
HYBRID
Practical + Digital Enhancements
Use a practical bear for physical presence, lighting reference, scale and interaction while visual effects extend the finished scene. Discuss your shot →
Beyond the film set.
Red Carpet Premieres & Publicity
Create a striking visual moment at premieres, photo calls, launches and publicity events, with every appearance carefully managed to protect character integrity from arrival through to wrap. Explore red carpet appearances →
Brand Activations & Commercial Events
Turn your campaign into a real-world experience with a character audiences can meet, photograph and remember. Explore brand activations →
Student & Independent Productions
We consider reduced-cost arrangements for qualifying student and independent productions where the creative fit and practical requirements make sense. Independent production options →
Community, Hospital & Convention Appearances
Friendly Hospital & Community Visits
Our hospital and community visits are a separate service from our realistic bear bookings. They feature friendly characters, including characters arranged through third-party vendors where appropriate. Visits are coordinated with the venue in advance, always include a dedicated handler and respect each organization’s safeguarding, privacy and photography requirements. Hospital & community visits →
Comic-Con & Convention Appearances
Book TV Bears International for Comic-Con-style events, fan conventions, industry expos and creative gatherings. We can provide live creature-suit demonstrations, appearances, talks and practical-effects insight while giving audiences the opportunity to see our work up close. Convention appearances →
London • Los Angeles • Available Worldwide
TV Bears International supports productions across the UK, Europe, USA, Canada and international filming locations.
Locations & Production Logistics →
Why Practical Effects Still Matter
LIGHT
Real Light
A physical creature catches the same light as the actors and exists naturally inside the photographed environment.
SPACE
Real Presence
The character occupies the same physical space, giving actors, props and the camera something genuinely present in the scene.
HYBRID
Useful for VFX
Practical footage can also provide lighting, scale, movement and interaction reference for digital enhancement.
CHOICE
Use the Right Tool
Sometimes practical is the answer. Sometimes digital is the answer. The strongest result comes from understanding what each technique contributes.
Professional production experience behind every bear.
Built by Someone Who Understands the Set
TV Bears International was founded by actor, director and creature specialist Matthew Mason, bringing more than two decades of television production and acting experience to the company. Read our story →
Brand Safe. Production Aware.
We work in professional environments where safety, creative control, character integrity and appropriate use are understood from the first inquiry through to the final appearance.
Our Bears Are Exclusive
All bears shown here are exclusively owned by TV Bears International. We do not offer public rentals. By prior agreement, an experienced choreographer may act in one of our bears, provided our asset guardian is on set and our character rules are respected. No behind-the-scenes reveals.
What Productions Say About Us
DARE
Scott Chapman, Dare Foods Ltd
“Our production shoot went exactly as planned and the creative output was business and brand building. We value our partnership with Matt’s team and look forward to doing more work together.”
LOWES
Michael Sapienza, Executive Producer
“Matthew and his bear were absolute champions on a hard one day shoot. Everything hinged on him and we never missed a beat. The client was over the moon happy.”
FILM
Jessica Redish, Director, Producer
“Matthew was collaborative, flexible, and extremely helpful. His ability to problem solve and troubleshoot is excellent, as is his ability to communicate with his team.”
NEXT
Your Production Could Be Next
Tell us what you are filming, where you are working and what you need the animal to do. Discuss your project →
Everything your production needs before making the call.
Press & Media Center
Approved company information, press imagery, logos and background material for journalists, researchers and broadcasters. Press & Media →
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about bookings, production requirements, travel, character use and what to expect when working with TV Bears International. Read the FAQ →
Contact TV Bears International
Have a scene, storyboard, brief or unusual idea? Send it over. You do not need to know which bear is right yet. Contact us →
Help Name Our New Brown Bear
We’re inviting the public to suggest a name for our North American brown bear. Entries close October 31, 2026. The competition page has the eligibility details, full terms, prize information, and entry form.
Tell Us About Your Project
Need a bear?
Tell us what you are filming, where the production is taking place and what you need the animal to do. Send us the scene, storyboard, reference image or simply describe what you are trying to achieve.
Because sometimes, you just need a bear.
