Cartoon About 3 Bears and a Korean Girl is the Representation We’ve Been Waiting For

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past three years, you’ve likely come across the ever popular Cartoon Network series, “We Bare Bears” — the story of three adorable bear brothers and a Korean child genius. The unique show features a bilingual Korean American family and their daughter, Chloe, as they introduce the bears to traditional Korean foods and customs.

A food-obsessed grizzly bear, a smartphone addict panda bear, and a highly intelligent polar bear, respectively called Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear, constantly find themselves getting into mischief. They can be seen hanging out at their favorite boba shop or exploring Korean spas, obsessing over K-dramas and attending Korean karaoke night. The series is unlike any other show currently produced by Cartoon Network and follows the bear brothers as they navigate through life in the Bay Area, California, often being treated as social outcasts.

The idea for this show originally came from a webcomic series by Daniel Chong, called “We Three Bare Bears” and was eventually adapted into the animation that we know today. Chong, being a Singaporean/Chinese American, has hilariously captured the life of Asian American families through the eyes of the bear brothers.

According to the show’s creator, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear. Back in 2016, Chong came forward and explained that the show itself is an allegory for what it’s like living as a minority in America, proving that “We Bare Bears” is so much more than your average children’s TV show.

Why I created WE BARE BEARS. pic.twitter.com/EqnXWfQhzr

— Daniel Chong (@threebarebears) November 11, 2016

But he doesn’t stop there. Unlike many stereotypical Asian characters found in television, Daniel Chong presents a loving and warm Korean American family who values their Asian identity while also partaking in American customs. With all of its positive messages about self-love, friendship and acceptance, this charming cartoon definitely feels like a step in the right direction for Asian American representation in the media.