The bear who won over the world

Three hit movies have made a whole new global audience fall under the spell of the impeccably well-mannered Peruvian adopted Londoner.

When the first movie was released in 2014, its global takings were $268 million.

When that film had its Chinese premiere in Shanghai in March 2015, Prince William attended. Actor Du Jiang has voiced the title character for Chinese audiences in all three films, with the first installment grossing nearly 100 million yuan ($13.9 million) in China, and the second earning 206 million yuan and scoring 8.4 of 10 on film review website Douban.

At the Beijing premiere of the third film, Paddington in Peru, at the start of this year, Geraldine McCafferty, deputy head of mission at the United Kingdom's embassy in Beijing, granted Paddington the title of Honorary Marmalade Ambassador for his contributions to foreign exchanges and helping families, and for promoting marmalade.

In 2021, the films' success in China prompted film rights' holder StudioCanal to sign a deal with Shanghai Senyu Media to bring the animation series The Adventures of Paddington, which are based on Bond's original stories and characters, to small screens in China.

"Our much-loved bear is adored by millions in China already, so we're sure that both adults and children alike will enjoy these new light-hearted stories that embrace and encourage kindness and thoughtfulness, as well as a great deal of fun," StudioCanal's Sarah Mottershead told the Hollywood Reporter.

Now, in his adopted hometown of London, fans have a chance to enter Paddington's world in an immersive and interactive experience that takes them from Paddington Station to the Brown family's house, and then on to the Peruvian jungle in search of the all-important oranges to make marmalade.

Detailed sets and enthusiastic cast members help visitors get a taste of what life is like around the accident-prone bear.

"The fundamental difference between traditional live stage work and an immersive experience like this is that (on stage) even if you break the fourth wall, there will be a disconnect, because you are in control of keeping (the theater audience) in one place. What we've created here is the opposite end of the spectrum," said Brine. "From the minute that you enter Mr Gruber's antique shop and then come into Paddington Station, you are a part of this world. You are another character in the story, so you are not sitting back and watching and appreciating the work that's happening in front of you. You are a part of it."

Brine said that at least once a week, he makes a point of walking around the experience, among the visitors, for the sheer feel-good factor.

"It's such a dopamine hit," he explained. "The energy that you experience from guests who are coming through the attraction is incredible. I've stood here and spoken to a four-generation family who have been here together, and I've spoken to young adults who have come here without children, slightly nervous before they bought their tickets, thinking 'is this going to be for us?' But everyone is welcome."