Glowberry Bears is a new line of characters and toys created by Midas Well Entertainment. Founded in 2019 by Robert Burgess Sr., this family-owned business is based in Georgia and aims to create entertainment for children and families. Robert Burgess Sr., his wife Cynthia, and their children Robert Jr., Jared, and Candace worked together to create this heartwarming series, which recently launched a book titled The Legend of Little Glow. The book will kickstart a universe of merchandise and media.
Creator Robert Burgess recently discussed this toy line in an exclusive interview.
Meagan Meehan (MM): What got you interested in storytelling, and how did you come up with the name of the series?
Robert Burgess (RB): We are a family full of storytellers — whether through narratives, scriptwriting, songwriting, or even poems — we just have so many ideas in our heads, and it’s no fun for us to keep them to ourselves. Telling stories allows us to bring them to life. It allows us to entertain and provide an opportunity for others to see the world differently.
The name of the series came from one of those ideas in our heads. Our CEO — and patriarch of the family, Robert Burgess Sr. — was looking at a picture of berries and, instead of seeing them as they were, he saw them glowing. Looking at the picture caused a whole world to be created in his mind, where these bear characters lived on an island in the North Pole, surrounded by these glowing berries, called “Glowberries.” The bears living on that island were called the Glowberry Bears.
MM: Why did you decide to make the main characters bears?
RB: In toys and children’s media, bears have historically been portrayed as huggable and cuddly. However, bears are also fierce and strong. As the island tempered by Glowberries took form in Robert’s mind, he started to think about what kind of characters would resonate with children, protect the island with their courage and bravery, but also be seen as comforting and safe — the bear turned out to be the perfect combination of all these attributes.
MM: How long did it take you to develop the characters and storylines?
RB: The idea came about many years ago, but we’ve really been focused on developing the brand for the last two or three years. We’ve gone through several iterations to get to the point where each character has a unique personality, look, and power that we hope will resonate with, and best convey our stories to, our young audience.
MM: What prompted you to turn the stories into an actual toy and book line?
RB: We always wanted to create a world out of the ideas that were swirling around in our minds. The question was just, what’s the best way to deliver these ideas?
As we mentioned before, we are a family full of storytellers. But not every medium is made for kids, so we did a bit of research and decided the best way to start was with books and toys. From there, we’ve adapted the stories into songs and animation as well, creating the foundation for what we envision as a kids' animated show.
MM: How did you go about finding a publisher and manufacturer?
RB: There are a lot of steps involved in finding a book publisher, so we decided to bypass all that and self-publish. We have confidence in our story and wanted to do whatever it took to get it out there. We have a background in bringing products to market, so we took it all on ourselves.
MM: What is some of the most memorable feedback you’ve gotten about the series?
RB: Some of our favorite feedback is that kids are wanting their parents to read our book over and over. We’ve also gotten great feedback from teachers and parents saying how much their students and children love the characters and the beautiful images in the book.
We haven’t released the web series yet, but we hope that the feedback will be the same as we bring the stories and characters to life for our audience. We want the Glowberry Bears animated show to offer the same sense of wonder and fun that families have experienced through the books.
MM: What are your ultimate goals for the Glowberry Bears?
RB: Our ultimate goal is for the Glowberry Bears to become a global brand that is used not only to entertain, but also to promote morals, family values, friendship, and the importance of believing in yourself and those around you.
We hope the world of Glowberry Bears can become one of the most memorable Cartoons for Kids, giving families stories that are entertaining while also encouraging positive values and meaningful connections.
MM: What is coming up next for you, and is there anything else you’d like to mention?
RB: Coming up next for the Glowberry Bears, we will be releasing a music video, as well as a limited-edition gift box for kids. All of that is slated for a mid-to-late September release.
Following that, we will be releasing an animated web series. We hope you will join the Glowberry Bears in their many adventures!
As the world continues to expand through books, music, toys, and animation, the Glowberry Bears animated show will introduce audiences to more of the characters and adventures from this magical world. We hope the series becomes a favorite among families looking for engaging Cartoons for Kids that combine imagination, friendship, and positive family values.
Glowberry Bears: Interview with Creator Robert Burgess | by Meagan J. Meehan | Aug, 2024 | Medium
