Cali

The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil and paper.

[Cali @thecalibears]

Meet Chance & Morrey. Accidental roommates, quick best friends, & new to LA. Lifted from my Teacher Corps America stories, they now star in Off the 10, highlighting their adventures around LA.

AI doesn’t replace art or artists. #OffThe10
https://t.co/KIZqRKDkw9

[Cali @thecalibears]

Meet Professor Geo! Sketched in pencil & ink in the mid-’90s, he’s where it all started. His face became the blueprint for The California Bears. He’s a professor, married to a professor from the cross-town rival campus.

AI doesn't replace art or artists. https://t.co/KIZqRKDkw9

[Cali @thecalibears]

We all know that October 1, 1971 is Walt Disney World's opening day. Zaahir's on hand to wish WDW a happy 55th!

AI doesn't replace art or artists.

The California Bears represent characters that began in the mid-90s as sketches with pencil & paper. #TheCaliforniaBears #WDW

[Cali @thecalibears]

Much of this site is AI but these are not. This is the 2nd wave of vector images created using MS Word, MS Paint & Photoshop.

AI doesn't replace art or artists.

The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil & paper.

[Cali @thecalibears]

Nikolai is dressed as a California Bear Flag, from the I’m Your Flag series. Visit: https://t.co/KIZqRKDkw9 for more details.
The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-90s as sketches on paper. AI doesn't replace art or artists. #thecaliforniabears

[Cali @thecalibears]

Erik is definitely the solo outdoor adventurer. If there’s a rock or mountain, he’ll want to climb it.

The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil & paper.

AI doesn't replace art or artists.

[Cali @thecalibears]

We all know that July 17, 1955 is Disneyland's opening day. Zaahir's on hand to wish Disneyland a happy 71st! The California Bears represent characters that began in the mid-90s as sketches with pencil & paper. #disneyland #thecaliforniabears #california

[Cali @thecalibears]

An important PSA from Vikram. The video suffered a bit on facial recognition (better in profile than straight on) so that a focus could be placed on dialog & accurate representation of body hair. #thecaliforniabears #california

[Cali @thecalibears]

One of the earlier videos of Okada & in fact, one of the first videos of any of The California Bears. (The California Bears began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil & paper. Maintaining character consistency using free & low-cost AI platforms has been the goal/challenge.)

[Cali @thecalibears]

Erik is the outdoor adventurer. When he met Nikolai, there was an immediate connection on their love for the outdoors, but Nikolai like calm strolls through the meadows, not scaling cliffs. They are perfect as two sides of the same coin. That’s love. #thecaliforniabears

[Cali @thecalibears]

Carter’s wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July! The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil & paper.

[Cali @thecalibears]

Mateo’s wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July! The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil & paper.

[Cali @thecalibears]

Keola’s wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July! The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil & paper.

[Cali @thecalibears]

Carter: Do these shorts make me look gay?
Everyone: Yes.
Carter: Thank you. Happy Pride!
#Pride #thecaliforniabears #bearpride

[Cali @thecalibears]

3 different versions of Carter & Vikram enjoying an Aperol Spritz in Old Sacramento. Facial consistency with Carter is very good across these 3. The more realistic the character, the more Veo struggles to make the setting exact. #thecaliforniabears

[Cali @thecalibears]

Erik’s passions relate to outdoor spaces away from cities, yet here he is having a good time in Palm Desert. But, like much of California, the outdoors isn’t far. (The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil & paper.)

[Cali @thecalibears]

Zaahir is a DJ based in a SoCal. He’s musically fluent enough to cover any genre and audience, from high-profile events to unknown spots in out-of-the-way towns.
(The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil and paper.)

[Cali @thecalibears]

The guys have come together so you can follow The California Bears on Bluesky (Carter+Vikram), Tumblr (Erik+Nikolai), Instagram (Mateo+Zaahir), & Twitter (Okada+Keola). (The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-90s as sketches with pencil & paper.)

[Cali @thecalibears]

Vikram is a professional & hobby photographer. His passions are photographing celebrities, dogs, & the amazing California land and waterscapes. (The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil and paper.) #theCaliforniaBears

[Cali @thecalibears]

Image inspired by the sleeve for The Edge of Heaven (Wham! 1986). The video is a story for the photoshoot & Nikolai & Erik can't hold the serious mood. (The California Bears project represents characters that began in the mid-1990s as sketches with pencil and paper.)