The Teddy Bear Factory

Watching the "fluff ‘n stuff" machine, where anorexic teddy bears are injected with stuffing until they are roly-poly, I had the odd feeling I'd stepped into a Tim Burton film. Inside-out bears, eye-less bears, needles poking bears, these are a few of the weird sights one sees on the way to becoming a real live teddy bear. An onscreen host and a handful of bear puppets share insider secrets and a few laughs with a group of kids touring The Basic Brown Bear Factory, where they learn the bear essentials of teddy bears, from initial design to finished product. A brief history traces the origin of the popular children's plush toy to President Theodore Roosevelt, an extended segment demonstrates how many false starts may be necessary before the final design is agreed upon, and a walk through the factory reveals the many people and machines necessary to transform a pattern into a cherished bunkmate. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)