The Followers of Rupert Bear : Official "Rupert the Bear" Website
About Rupert Bear
Rupert Bear is a children's character dating from 1920 in the UK, who has appeared in the Daily Express newspaper since then and has been anthologised in Annuals since 1936. He is not, please note, "Rupert the Bear". We have only incuded his spurious middle name ("the" !) in our title only to make sure that Google and other search engines catch this site! Initially, he was introduced by the Express to compete with Teddy Tail (of the Daily Mail) and was followed by the introduction Pip, Squeak and Wilfred in the Daily Mirror - all of whom have long since gone to that big newspaper in the sky, leaving our chum Rupert triumphant. Rupert was the only such character to appear throughout World War II, as it was felt that his disappearance would have damaged morale(!).
Rupert now has had his own excellent TV series (in spite of the Transatlantic accents given to the quintessentially English characters!) and was the subject of the captivating Paul McCartney "Frog Song" video ... for nost Followers, the best animated Rupert ever. More, please, Sir Macca ... it's been a while!
Rupert fans come in all ages, as Rupert appeals at many levels. In the Annuals, in fact, it has become traditional that the stories can be "read" at 4 levels:
- Simply by looking at the pictures ... 4 per page
- By reading the "one-liners" at the top of the page
(e.g. "Rupert and Algy meet the Elves") - By reading the (occasionally excrutiating!) two-line rhyming couplets under each picture - e.g.
To try to help the working elves,
The chums go underground themselves - By reading the free-form prose at the foot of the page. This is a conventional "storyline" in fairly adult language and is the only bit of the Rupert writing that has any real literary merit!
Overall, this allows anyone from the age of about 3 to make sense of a Rupert story and the storylines themselves are sufficiently interesting and inventive that many adults derive enormous pleasure from reading and re-reading them. For example, Alan Murray - this site's Webmaster - collects Rupert books to read, not as an investment.
Rupert's Followers believe that he sits in the field of Children's Literature, closer to Pooh, Bilbo Baggins and Wind in the Willows than he does to Mickey Mouse and Biffo the Bear. I have attempted to analyse the appeal of the little bear Here although it is always dangerous to be too analytical about these things.
Rupert is criticised and occasionally lampooned for being "old fashioned" - even "fuddy duddy". In truth, Nutwood is timeless and Rupert and his chums run the gamut of childish characteristics - most are inherently good, occasionally naughty and always inquisitive. Politics doesn't exist in Nutwood (a good reason to move there, I feel!). Those who make fun of Rupert affectionately have the support of Followers - we smile at him as we smile at ourselves. Those who attack Rupert or ridicule him maliciously, however, have simply missed the point ... often willfully. Rupert is the personality we'd all like to be, living in a world where extraordinary adventures happen, but a warm and welcoming homecoming is guaranteed - and there ain't much wrong with that in my book.
Published by the Followers of Rupert Internet Elf.
350, Rullion Road, Penicuik, Midlothian
Scotland EH26 9AD.
Tel : +44 (0)1968 678 610
Rupert Bear©™Classic Media/Express Newspapers 2006. The Followers of Rupert are grateful for permission to use the images on this website.