by Kate Barnett in New Illustration on Sunday 29 April 2007

He may be getting on in age but Gloomy Bear is still my favourite Japanese character. I recently discovered that self-taught illustrator Mori Chack, the brainchild behind the evil bear, was found selling postcards on the side of the street by Pony Canyon, a major Japanese audio/visual Company. Unlike Hello Kitty and the rest of the cutesy kids, Gloomy Bear is based on reality — bears attack, and when they do it’s vicious and bloody. Gloomy is particularly creative, and so darn cute. Just right for the school lunchbox and backpack combo.