A Polar Bear in Love
{{Short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = A Polar Bear in Love
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| ja_kanji = 恋するシロクマ
| ja_romaji = Koisuru Shirokuma
| genre =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| author = Koromo
| publisher = Kadokawa
| publisher_en = Yen Press
| demographic = Shōjo
| magazine = Comico
Monthly Comic Gene
| imprint = Monthly Comic Gene Series
| first = December 2014
| last =
| volumes = 6
| volume_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = OVA
| director = Kazuya Ichikawa
| producer =
| writer = Kazuya Ichikawa
| music = Scenario Art
| studio =
| released = {{start date|2017|3|4}}
| first =
| last =
|runtime = 5 mins.
|episodes = 10
|episode_list = #Anime
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|A Polar Bear in Love|恋するシロクマ|Koisuru Shirokuma|lead=yes}} is a Japanese shōjo manga series by Koromo. A Polar Bear in Love was first launched in Comico in December 2014 before being serialized in the monthly manga magazine Monthly Comic Gene beginning in June 2015.
Plot
A lost earless seal finds himself in the company of a polar bear. The polar bear falls in love with the seal, but the fearful seal constantly misinterprets his romantic advances as a strong desire to eat him.
Characters
;{{nihongo|Seal|アザラシ君|Azarashi-kun}}
:{{Voiced by|Natsuki Hanae}}{{cite news | first=Jennifer | last=Sherman | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-28/koisuru-shirokuma-anime-casts-natsuki-hanae-yuichiro-umehara/.110422 | title=Koisuru Shirokuma Anime Casts Natsuki Hanae, Yuichiro Umehara | work=Anime News Network | date=2016-12-28 | accessdate=2019-12-05}}
;{{nihongo|Polar Bear|シロクマさん|Shirokuma-san}}
:{{Voiced by|Yūichirō Umehara}}
;{{nihongo|Cathy|キャシー|Kyashī}}
:{{Voiced by|Tetsuya Kakihara}}{{cite news | first=Rafael Antonio | last=Pineda | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-03-15/a-polar-bear-in-love-anime-casts-tetsuya-kakihara-as-cathy/.144561 | title=A Polar Bear in Love Anime Casts Tetsuya Kakihara as Cathy | work=Anime News Network | date=2019-03-15 | accessdate=2019-12-05}}
;{{nihongo|Orca|シャチ|Shachi}}
:{{Voiced by|Ryohei Otani}}{{cite news | first=Rafael Antonio | last=Pineda | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-08-16/a-polar-bear-in-love-anime-casts-ryohei-otani-as-killer-whale/.135529 | title=A Polar Bear in Love Anime Casts Ryōhei Ōtani as Killer Whale | work=Anime News Network | date=2018-08-16 | accessdate=2019-12-05}}
Media
=Manga=
A Polar Bear in Love is written and illustrated by Koromo. The manga was first launched on the manga app Comico in December 2014.{{cite news | first=Rafael Antonio | last=Pineda | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-13/koisuru-shirokuma-manga-about-polar-bear-in-love-with-seal-gets-anime/.109875 | title=Koisuru Shirokuma Manga About Polar Bear in Love With Seal Gets Anime | work=Anime News Network | date=2016-12-13 | accessdate=2019-12-05}} It was later serialized in the monthly magazine Monthly Comic Gene beginning in June 2015. The chapters were later released in 4 bound volumes by Kadokawa under the Monthly Comic Gene Series imprint.
In 2017, Yen Press licensed the manga for distribution in English.{{cite news | first=Karen | last=Ressler | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-04-15/yen-press-licenses-saga-of-tanya-the-evil-acca-13-one-week-friends-a-polar-bear-in-love-more/.114879 | title=Yen Press Licenses Saga of Tanya the Evil, Acca 13, One Week Friends, A Polar Bear in Love, More | work=Anime News Network | date=2017-04-15 | accessdate=2019-12-05}}
{{Graphic novel list/header
| WithTitle = no
| Language = Japanese
| SecondLanguage = English
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 1
| OriginalRelDate = {{start date|2016|1|27}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-067892-4
| LicensedRelDate = {{start date|2017|11|21}}{{cite web | url=https://yenpress.com/9780316441711/a-polar-bear-in-love-vol-1/ | title=Polar Bear in Love, Vol. 1 | work=Yen Press | accessdate=2019-12-06}}
| LicensedISBN = 978-0-31-644171-1
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 2
| OriginalRelDate = {{start date|2016|8|27}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-068528-1 |ISBN_note=
{{ISBNT|978-4-04-068529-8}} ({{abbr|LE|limited edition towel bundle}})
| LicensedRelDate = {{start date|2018|2|27}}{{cite web | url=https://yenpress.com/9780316441735/a-polar-bear-in-love-vol-2/ | title=Polar Bear in Love, Vol. 2 | work=Yen Press | accessdate=2019-12-06}}
| LicensedISBN = 978-0-31-644173-5
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 3
| OriginalRelDate = {{start date|2017|3|27}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-069091-9 |ISBN_note=
{{ISBNT|978-4-04-068914-2}} ({{abbr|LE|limited edition drama CD bundle}})
| LicensedRelDate = {{start date|2018|7|24}}{{cite web | url=https://yenpress.com/9781975326227/a-polar-bear-in-love-vol-3/ | title=Polar Bear in Love, Vol. 3 | work=Yen Press | accessdate=2019-12-06}}
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-532622-7
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 4
| OriginalRelDate = {{start date|2018|4|27}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-069830-4 |ISBN_note=
{{ISBNT|978-4-04-069833-5}} ({{abbr|LE|limited edition pouch bundle}})
| LicensedRelDate = {{start date|2018|12|11}}{{cite web | url=https://yenpress.com/9781975328894/a-polar-bear-in-love-vol-4/ | title=Polar Bear in Love, Vol. 4 | work=Yen Press | accessdate=2019-12-06}}
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-532889-4
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 5
| OriginalRelDate = {{start date|2021|12|27}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-680956-8|ISBN_note=
| LicensedRelDate = {{start date|2023|1|17}}{{cite web | url=https://yenpress.com/titles/9781975361150-a-polar-bear-in-love-vol-5 | title=Polar Bear in Love, Vol. 5 | work=Yen Press | accessdate=2023-07-26}}
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-532889-4
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}
=Anime=
An anime adaptation was announced in December 2016 as a theatrical short. The film was written and directed by Kazuya Ichikawa, with Yō Yamada in charge of sound direction and Scenario Art providing the theme song.{{cite news | first=Rafael Antonio | last=Pineda | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-15/koisuru-shirokuma-petite-theatrical-anime-debuts-in-march/.112247 | title=Koisuru Shirokuma 'Petite' Theatrical Anime Debuts in March | work=Anime News Network | date=2017-04-15 | accessdate=2019-12-05}} The film was screened on March 4, 2017.
==Theatrical shorts==
{{Episode table |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = Passing By Each Other
| TranslitTitle = Surechigai
| NativeTitle = すれ違い
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|3|4}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = If You Eat Me
| TranslitTitle = Taberu nara
| NativeTitle = 食べるなら
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|5|13}}{{cite news | first=Rafael Antonio | last=Pineda | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-05-16/koisuru-shirokuma-petit-anime-2nd-episode-debuts/.116138 | title=Koisuru Shirokuma 'Petit' Anime's 2nd Episode Debuts | work=Anime News Network | date=2017-05-16 | accessdate=2019-12-05}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = A Misunderstanding
| TranslitTitle = Gokai
| NativeTitle = 誤解
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|7|1}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = Uneasiness
| TranslitTitle = Fuan
| NativeTitle = 不安
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|9|4}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
}}
==Web shorts==
{{Episode table |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 0
| Title = Encounter
| TranslitTitle = Deai
| NativeTitle = 出会い
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|3|1}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = Ice Wall Slam
| TranslitTitle = Hyōhekidon
| NativeTitle = 氷壁ドン
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|11|3}}{{cite news | first=Rafael Antonio | last=Pineda | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-11-03/a-polar-bear-in-love-anime-streams-web-only-short/.123538 | title=A Polar Bear in Love Anime Streams Web-Only Short | work=Anime News Network | date=2017-11-03 | accessdate=2019-12-26}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = The Weight of Love
| TranslitTitle = Ai no Omosa
| NativeTitle = アイの重さ
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|12|1}}{{cite news | first=Jennifer | last=Sherman | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-12-01/a-polar-bear-in-love-anime-streams-new-short/.124732 | title=A Polar Bear in Love Anime Streams New Short | work=Anime News Network | date=2017-12-01 | accessdate=2019-12-26}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = This is Correct
| TranslitTitle = Kore ga Seikai
| NativeTitle = これが正解
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|2|1}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = Dear Star
| TranslitTitle = Ohoshi-sama
| NativeTitle = お星さま
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|1|15}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title = Food Chain
| TranslitTitle = Shokumotsu Rensa
| NativeTitle = 食物連鎖
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|3|1}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| Title = Matching Outfits
| TranslitTitle = Osoroi
| NativeTitle = お揃い
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|5|4}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| Title = It Hurts (Part 1)
| TranslitTitle = Kurushii (1)
| NativeTitle = 苦しい（1）
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|6}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| Title = It Hurts (Part 2)
| TranslitTitle = Kurushii (2)
| NativeTitle = 苦しい（2）
| NativeTitleLangCode = ja
| DirectedBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| WrittenBy = Kazuya Ichikawa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|9|7}}
| ShortSummary =
}}
}}
Reception
Reviewers at Anime News Network praised the artwork, but had mixed opinions about the story's more serious moments.{{cite news | first1=Austin | last1=Price | first2=Amy | last2=McNulty | first3=Rebecca | last3=Silverman | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2017-11-10/the-fall-2017-manga-guide/a-polar-bear-in-love/.123818 | title=A Polar Bear in Love - The Fall 2017 Manga Guide | work=Anime News Network | date=2017-11-10 | accessdate=2019-12-05}}
The book came under scrutiny when parents in Orange County, California pushed to have the book banned. {{cite web | url=https://www.ocregister.com/2023/01/31/orange-unified-suspends-digital-library-after-parents-book-complaints/ | title=Orange Unified suspends digital library after parents' book complaints | date=January 31, 2023 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.koisurushirokuma.jp}}
- {{ann|manga|19055}}
- {{ann|anime|19056}}
{{Gathering}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Polar Bear in Love, A}}