User:Atd59/Paddington Bear

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This article will be divided into six main sections: First, the story behind Paddington’s origins. Second, a summary of the storyline, and overview of each character, and its reception and analysis. Third, a list of the books and short stories published. Fourth, a list of television adaptations. Fifth, a list of film adaptations and awards they received. Sixth, Paddington’s presence in popular culture.

Reception and analysis
Paddington was both well received and criticized. The New York Times praised the original book A Bear Called Paddington (1960). Similarly, The Horn Book Guide, a bimonthly magazine dedicated to reviewing children’s literature, praised the short story “Paddington Helps Out” (1961). Both articles emphasize the welcoming Brown family and how the book captures Paddington’s adventurous, charming, and funny attitude. Further, the New York Times article highlights the resemblance of Paddington to a child, indicating that 6-9 year olds could enjoy both the colorful illustrations and the book’s content.

In 2021, The British Library hosted an exhibition for Paddington Bear. Telegraph.co.uk journalist Claire Allfree acknowledges Paddington’s difficulty as an immigrant to integrate into British culture. But, she enjoys Bond’s imagination and illustrator Peggy Fortnum’s make-believe drawings that highlights important moral stories for children to learn without being condescending. For example, that “children should practice their own hard stares and to imagine what objects they might take with them on their long journey.” She believes this book best suits preschool children. Another contemporary reviewer accentuates how one of the book’s themes, familial relationships, adds to Paddington’s relatability.

Critics and scholars also look at character development in the books. A 1993 The Horn Book Guide criticized “Paddington at the Circus” (1973). Although it does a good job in introducing Paddington’s antics to a young audience, the short story lacked the lively illustrations and subtlety of the longer tales. Some criticism surrounding Paddington also involves the oversimplification of immigration. After the film’s debut in 2015, Jessica Roake’s Washington Post article emphasizes that the storyline of the film and books assumes British superiority, racism, and classicism. She argues that Paddington stresses assimilation above all else. This is exemplified by the immediate abandonment of Paddington’s real name and that Paddington often faces social embarrassment if he does not adhere to typical British norms and etiquette.

Scholars Phillip Smith, Angela Smith, Kyle Grayson, and Lisa Dussenberry additionally discuss the role of Otherness in the Paddington series. Smith’s 2020 scholarly article confronts the issue that Paddington represents a problematic and somewhat delusional image of immigrants. Smith examines how Paddington’s foreignness does not force him to negotiate practices or expectations with the dominant culture–which is tied to imperialism, whiteness, and the English language–but rather stems from a lack of knowledge. This coincides with Angela Smith’s 2006 scholarly literature that though children will be able to subtly learn the complex political and psychological issues of migration, Paddington nonetheless enforces how the dominant culture, British, retains superior status. Grayson agrees that even with specific negotiations of differences, Paddington remains in a precarious and marginalized position of society. On the other hand, Dussenberry takes on a positive tone about Paddington’s immigration theme. Dussenberry appreciates how Mr. Gruber, a Hungarian immigrant and Paddington’s friend, supports and guides Paddington with his adjustment into the new society.

Awards
Paddington (2014) was well received. The movie won several nominations and awards. The movie won Best British Feature Film Writing at the British Screenwriters’ Awards, Best Comedy at the Empire Awards, and Best Screenplay at the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain. The movie received nominations at the BAFTA Film Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as well as Best British Film at the Empire Awards, Best Fantasy Film at the Saturn Award, and Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Feature Film at the BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award.

Paddington 2 (2017) received even more nominations and awards. The sequel movie won 14 awards including Outstanding British Film of the Year, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay at the BAFTA Film Awards. In addition, Support Actor of the Year and  British/ Irish Actress of the Year at the London Critics Circle Film Awards. Likewise, the movie received 50 nominations including for Best Costume Design and Best Visual Effects at the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards and Best Art Direction/ Production Design at the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards.