He saw it as a terribly responsible job because he knew he could influence the minds of children,” Caroline says. All of these books were written and illustrated by Mary Tourtel and originally published from 1928 to 1936, by Sampson Low. There were 46 books in the original series. BFI | Film & TV Database | RUPERT". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012 . Retrieved 4 May 2013. The children moved between relatives and their father’s Methodist colleagues until their parents returned in 1910.

Some of the titles were later published for the Woolworth's retail chain, with only 18 of the original titles. However, the titles and numbers for this series did not relate to the earlier published series. [9] Most of the other characters in the series are also anthropomorphic animals. They are all scaled to be about the same size as Rupert, regardless of species. Rupert's animal friends are usually referred to as his "chums" or "pals." Aside from his best friend Bill Badger, some of the most enduring pals are an elephant (Edward Trunk), a mouse (Willie), Pong-Ping the Pekingese, Algy Pug (who actually pre-dates Rupert), [3] Podgy Pig, Bingo the Brainy Pup, the identical twins Freddy and Ferdy Fox, the identical twins Reggie and Rex Rabbit, and Ming the dragon. The kindly Wise Old Goat also lives in Nutwood, and helps Rupert in some of his adventures. One of the most unusual and evocative characters is Raggety, a woodland troll-creature made from twigs, who is often very grumpy and annoying. In the 2006 television revival of the series, Raggety has been transformed into a friendly elf with broken English. There is also a recurring country Police Officer who is an adult dog named PC Growler. [4] Brainwaves Limited of Basingstoke, Hampshire, produced a series of Rupert storybooks in 1991 (no author or artist credited):

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His second story, Rupert’s Autumn Adventure, which ran from August 30 until October 31 of 1935, contains a machine belonging to The Professor that can turn leaves into gold. Caroline says this humour was always evident in his interactions with people, despite his notorious shyness due to a severe stammer. There are also a few human characters in the stories, such as the Professor (who lives in a castle with his servant, Bodkin), Tiger Lily (a Chinese girl), her father "the Conjuror," and several less frequently occurring characters such as Sailor Sam, Gaffer Jarge, Captain Binnacle, the Sage of Um (who is seen travelling in a magical upside down umbrella) and Rollo, the Gypsy boy. There is also a recurring Merboy. Alfred’s father managed to acquire pen and ink and paper for him so he was able to do drawings for Blighty, the army magazine,” Caroline says.

He and his younger sister Maisie, then aged two, returned to England in 1897 while their parents stayed abroad.

There were one or two members of our family who, because of the pictures he had exhibited in the Royal Academy, thought it was a travesty of his art, but he didn’t see it like that.”

Rupert's unspectacular introduction was in a single panel, the first of 36 episodes of the story "Little Lost Bear" written and drawn by Tourtel. In an interview with the late Monty Python Terry Jones, Alfred once stated he wanted to put “a bit more action and a lot more humour” into the stories. He loved children. And, of course, they loved him,” Caroline says. The lifelong bachelor, who had one romantic relationship in his youth, was once asked if he regretted not having children. Unlike most modern comic strips, Rupert Bear has always been produced in the original form of strip with illustrations accompanying text, called " text comics", as opposed to text being incorporated directly into the art; for example, within speech balloons.In 1991, Rupert Bear featured in an animated television series with 65 episodes and five seasons (13 per season) produced by Nelvana (Canada), Ellipse (France) and Television South (TVS) for the first season (13 episodes), with Scottish TV taking over control from season 2 when Television South lost its ITV franchise. The show followed the style and tone Bestall established in the Rupert newspaper series, with many of the stories being almost direct adaptations of his or others' panel stories from the Daily Express. After the war he did some illustrations for Enid Blyton before working for Punch and Tatler. In need of more regular work, he applied for the role of Rupert illustrator in 1935. Thankfully, he followed his heart, winning a scholarship to Birmingham Central School of Art before serving in the First World War. But he still made time for drawing. Every year since 1936, a Rupert Bear annual has been released, even during the years of World War II, during a paper shortage. Larkin, Colin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (Firsted.). Virgin Books. p.276. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.