Fredbear is one of the earliest animatronics in the Five Nights at Freddy's horror game series created by Scott Cawthon, which began in 2014. As the mascot of Fredbear's Family Diner and a predecessor to Freddy Fazbear, the character became central to fan lore around the Bite of '83. Short audio stings using the name spread through FNAF fan edits, gameplay clips and soundboards, where the name alone signals a jumpscare. Its lasting use comes from that recognition, letting creators trigger horror expectations in under a second.