Monument of Uszatek the Bear in Łódź

“I'm a little bear, a chubby bear, I've been friends with children for a long time”  - echoed in the evenings in many Polish households, as children delightedly followed the daily adventures of Uszatek the bear. One could say he was a kind of celebrity in those times. Today, it’s hard to see him on television, but you can meet him on Piotrkowska Street in Łódź. What is he doing there? And why there?

The story of Uszatek the bear dates back to 1957 when the first issue of the children's magazine “Miś” was published, featuring Uszatek as its hero. The bear proved to be so popular among young readers that a revival was decided upon. From 1975 to 1987, a television animated series consisting of 104 episodes was produced, with Uszatek as the main character. The production was created at the Se-ma-for Small Film Forms Studio in Łódź. This is how Uszatek ended up in Łódź, and he remains there to this day.

The original puppet is on display at the Museum of Animation in Łódź, while on the most famous promenade in Łódź, at 87 Piotrkowska Street, there is a sculpture of this childhood idol of many generations. The bronze statue is about one metre tall and weighs 60 kg. Just like in the bedtime story, it has a droopy left ear. In the "Łódź" version, it also has a backpack and a city map in its paw. The sculpture is part of the "Fairy-tale Lodz" project - a family tourist trail. Besides Uszatek, in the city of Polish film, you can also meet Plastuś, the sparrow Ćwirek, or the cats - Bonifacy and Filemon. All these childhood heroes are waiting for visits from both young and old. There is nothing left to do but, like Uszatek, pack a backpack, arm yourself with a map of the city, and set out to discover its interesting corners and learn about the tourist attractions of Łódź. 

Author of the photos and text - Bogusława Bandyk