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The following article features topics from a project that has yet to be released, therefore more information will be added over time. Please avoid from adding speculation or false information without a valid source.
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- "Making the mission truly impossible"
- — Tagline
Gummibär & Friends: Operation Cotton Candy is an upcoming animated comedy feature film based on the Gummibär series and the second film installment, followed by The Yummy Gummy Search for Santa. Produced by Toonz Media Group, Gummybear International, Telegael and Space Age Films, it will be directed by Pete Dodd. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters in the summer of 2026 and is currently in a state of production since February 2025.
The plot of the film will center on the titular character Gummibär and his group of two friends Kala, a martial arts expert female cat, and Harry, a male science whiz chameleon, who are recruited by a Covert Government Agency to defeat a set of nefarious villains who are led by Dr. Verde, the main antagonist who is determined to erase everything colorful from the planet, while Gummy thinks he is merely testing cotton candy flavors.[1][3] It will be based on the spy missions genre of films transposed in a comedic and suitable plot.
History[]
Early attempts[]
A couple of years after the infamous The Yummy Gummy Search for Santa film was released, there were private discussions about multiple ideas for a possible second installment. However, no official statement was ever made as to whether it was actually in development during this time.
Around February 2014, rumors circulated that a second film was about to be produced, thus titled Gummy Bear 3D: The Movie. These reports would become very relevant especially because of the participation of John Travolta, who was cast to voice the dialogues of Gummibär.[4] Until eventually two years later in 2016, the film was announced to be never produced, and two of the companies that were involved in the production shut down after misleading the public with the budget.[5]
Despite what happened, the idea of producing a new film for the brand still remained throughout the years, without any trace of it being officially produced. On June 21, 2024 on Gummibär's Official Server, an active administrator associated with Gummybear International known online as gummydude would confirm there were still private discussions about multiple ideas for a next film, hoping that it could be developed sometime in the future.[6]
Production[]
In late 2024, the film officially started pre-production. Although no detailed information about the project was publicly known, it would not be until Toonz Media Group eventually unveiled a few details regarding the film in the American Film Market as of November 1, 2024. A PDF file that contained other projects where Toonz Media Group was also involved featured a short description of the film. The PDF revealed that the film was originally going to be titled "The Gummibär Movie: Operation Cotton Candy", and was scheduled to be released in theaters in the summer of 2026.[1]
On February 13, 2025, the film was earlier unveiled at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival (EFM), including the first known poster that was publicly revealed. This announcement was later spread online with an exclusive magazine of Variety relating to details on the production of the film.[3] The first look poster also revealed that the main title of film ended up being changed to "Gummibär & Friends: Operation Cotton Candy". Eventually, gummydude would post a high resolution variant of the first look of the poster on Gummibär's Official Server, which has not been seen before.
Christian Schneider, CEO, and Jürgen Korduletsch, president of the company Gummybear International, said regarding their involvement with the film: “We’re very happy and delighted to once again collaborate with our friends at Toonz to bring the first ‘Gummibär and Friends’ full length feature film to GB’s myriad of fans. It’s a great opportunity to continue the successful relationship started with the ‘Gummibär and Friends Series’ and to present what is sure to be a madcap and chaotic journey for his fans to enjoy.”
Meanwhile, P. Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group, added: “There is no other character that has generated such an enduring global buzz. With Robert, Pete, and Dan at the helm, we are confident that ‘Gummibär and Friends’ will connect with audiences around the world, taking this iconic franchise to even greater heights.”.
On February 18, 2025, the film was also announced on Gummibär's social media accounts to spread the news further.
Reception[]
Although the full length film has not been officially released as of currently, the first impressions of the first publicly revealed poster led to generally positive impressions based on the Gummibär community. Long time Gummibär fans are convinced that the film could work this time, while others are very concerned about believing coming across a similar "Gummy Bear 3D: The Movie" situation. Most people are looking forward to this film, as they have been waiting for a long time to see a Gummibär film that could prove to have a much better production than its predecessor film, which was blatantly recieved with negative reviews due to its low-budget production.
However, not all of reception of the first revealed poster has been recieved positively. Some people who do not have an extensive contact with the brand said that the film is only being produced to be cash-grab utilizing a very profitable character who was initially made for a comedic music video of I Am A Gummy Bear, which was widely popular across social platforms and became an Internet meme icon. Other Gummibär fanatics said that the first poster seemingly used artificial intelligence for some parts of the elements, as well as the strange looking redesigned appearance of Harry with large eyes.
Gallery[]
Logos[]
.png "The Gummibär Movie- Operation Cotton Candy (Logo).png (415 KB)"){kind=small}
.png "Gummibar & Friends Operation Cotton Candy (Redesigned Logo).png (589 KB)"){kind=small}
Posters[]
Displays[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first Gummibär-related project to have Pete Dodd as director once again since the 30-second short version of I Am A Gummy Bear's music video.
- This is also the second Gummibär-related project to have involvement with Toonz Media Group, after working for the animated television series Gummibär & Friends released in 2016.
- This will be, by far, the Gummibär film with the longest running time, as its predecessor The Yummy Gummy Search for Santa has a running time of approximately 48 minutes.
- Coincidentally, this film will be released 20 years later after Gummibär's first appearence, which was in the 30-second short version of I Am A Gummy Bear's music video, serving as a kind of tribute to the early beginnings of the character.
- The title of the film appears to use the words "Gummibär & Friends" as reference to its animated television series of the same name.
- Additionally, this is the first variation of the logo to not use the flat version of the "Gummibär" logo.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Toonz Media Group AFM 2024" (November 1, 2024). Retrieved January 11, 2025.
- ↑ "The Green Gummy Bear From The Decades-Old Viral Internet Song ‘Gummibär’ Is Getting A Theatrical Feature" Cartoon Brew (February 13, 2025). Retrieved February 13, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Gummybear International, Toonz Unveil ‘Gummibär and Friends, Operation Cotton Candy’ at EFM (EXCLUSIVE)" Variety (February 13, 2025). Retrieved February 13, 2025.
- ↑ "John Travolta Is a Gummy Bear" MovieWeb (February 9, 2014). Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ↑ "Gummy Bears 3D producers shut down for 'misleading the public'" The Guardian (October 5, 2016). Retrieved February 15, 2025
- ↑ https://discord.com/channels/977356560579842139/977356560990887937/1253748951329275965