Fantazy the Bear in New York
In early October 2026, under the patronage of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York, a series of meetings was held featuring Ewa Karwan-Jastrzębska—author of the novels and co-screenwriter of the animated film series *Miś Fantazy* (“Fantazy the Bear”), which was produced at our Studio in 2007 for Telewizja Polska S.A. (Polish Television).
Ewa Karwan-Jastrzębska, author of the *Misia Fantazego* (Fantazy the Bear) series, shares her thoughts on meeting Polish children in New York: “For writers visiting from abroad, encountering Polish children on another continent—in the United States—is a truly extraordinary experience. Amidst a crossroads of languages, cultures, and histories, we discover ‘islands’ of Polish identity—places where not only the Polish language and our traditions are nurtured, but something even greater. These are spaces where young people, sharing a common background and history, come together to forge lifelong friendships. I visited these ‘islands of Polish identity’—these Polish schools—with deep emotion. I know it is a significant challenge for adults to cultivate an atmosphere within these schools where children and teenagers, living in a multicultural America, feel connected by something profound. The core message of the series about the little blue bear is one of sincere friendship between beings from different worlds—whether human, magical, or animal. I am certain that Fantazy fits perfectly into the American landscape, as one of the central themes of these tales is tolerance and the coexistence of beings who are vastly different, yet deeply close to one another. It also fits because friendship appears to be a vital element in the relationships between young people here, regardless of their race or background. I spoke with teachers and learned that these Polish children truly cherish their friendships with one another—forming bonds that last a lifetime—while remaining open to the wider world around them.” …as they also meet children of other nationalities. The students communicated with me perfectly in Polish. Their questions were both delightful and surprising; they listened with great focus and joy to stories about literature, writing, and the creation of characters. The ‘Fantazy’ teddy bear, colored in by the children, will go on to decorate Polish schools—ensuring that many of the young participants will stay connected with the little bear for a long time to come.”
The author and the “Miś Fantazy” films were presented to children from the following institutions: the Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz Polish Supplementary School in Plainfield, NY; the St. Michael’s Polish Supplementary School in Lyndhurst, NY; the St. Stanislaus Kostka Polish Language and Culture School in Garfield, NY; the John Paul II Academy in Keyport, NY; and the Maria Konopnicka Polish Supplementary School in Yonkers, NY.
More information about the “Fantazy the Bear” series can be found at the link below.
A reel featuring meetings with children from Polish schools in New York, shared with the Author’s permission.
Author of the novel: Ewa Karwan-Jastrzębska
Screenwriters: Ewa Karwan-Jastrzębska, Marek Karwan-Jastrzębski
Illustrator and set designer: Joanna Sedlaczek
Composer: Maciej Zieliński
Song performed by: Agnieszka Wilczyńska
Series produced for Telewizja Polska SA by TV Studio Filmów Animowanych Sp. z o.o. in Poznań
