Mathue is an Illiop, which a species of bear from the World of Teddy Ruxpin. I asked him to better explain what Illiops are and where they came from:
The races of Grundo evolved from a cross-breeding of the ‘Southern Bear’ with the ‘Northern Rux’ (what a rux is isn’t explained.) Species began to diverge depending on habitat and climate. For instance, the Allies of the north have fur to keep them warm, but the Illipers live further south where it is warmer and lost their fur. If you look at the pictures of the different species you will see a similarity in the head shape from the common ancestry.
One day deep in the far past a meteor crashed into the land of Ying. As the core cooled it emitted strange waves which caused species to mutate faster, strengthening whatever traits they had. Mostly the nice got nicer and the nastier got nastier. Eventually the Illiops developed as a race living in the Hard To Find City, and the Gutangs developed into a unpleasent race living in Ying.
The Illiops defended the south by building a huge wall to keep out the Gutangs, but eventually the Gutangs invented airplanes and bombs and attacked the Hard To Find City. The Illiops had to flee, and most settled in Rillonia, though it was later found some went north. Having captured the Hard To Find City the Gutangs found they had no other armies to fight, so settled down some. The Illiops left behind the crystals and treasure, protected as has been seen in the stories. Many eons later Teddy Ruxpin was born, a throw-back to the more adventurous Illiops. This leads to the Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin stories.

Whohoo! I’m in the internets
Many thanks for the write-up.