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The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Of the films I was brought up on during my childhood, I recall the classics like the timeless love story "Lady and the Tramp," and the wonderfully dizzy "Alice in Wonderland." Of all the Disney films, "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" remains one my most favored, withstanding the test of time to become one of the most beloved and well-crafted films of all time. ***

The film has recently been released on DVD; after happening upon it in a local department store, I was more than ecstatic to rush home and re-experience my childhood memories of the film. It is as I remembered it: the cheerful whimsy of its songs, the delightful, fluffy characters and jovial humor, and the overall brilliance of these collaborative efforts, has not lost its luster over the 25 years since its initial theatrical run in 1977. It has truly earned the label of a classic. ***

Walt Disney's envisionment of A.A. Milne's characters and stories takes us to the Hundred Acre Wood, where we meet that most enchanting of all characters, Winnie the Pooh ("or Pooh, for short"), who spends his days putting to rest the "rumbly in his tumbly" with the sweet satisfaction of a fistful of "hunny." Under the voice casting of Sterling Holloway, Pooh becomes a warm, endearing character, instantly made loveable as we watch him pretend to be a "little black raincloud" to fool the bees out of their precious honey, or make his visits to his friends throughout the Wood. ***

Along the misadventures and escapades, we meet various different characters whose charm and liveliness have yet to be matched by any film to date. There's Rabbit, the gardener who is frequently pounced upon by Tigger, an insatiable bouncing machine who spells his name "T-I-double-guh-er." We also meet Eeyore, the downtrodden donkey who, after an incident on a blustery day, takes time out of his depression to find a house for wise Owl. Mother-and-son duo Kanga and Roo, the timid, big-hearted Piglet, the dig-crazy Gopher, and the young boy Christopher Robin... these are characters who we come to care for and love, whether as children or adults. ***

The story's heart in in the right place. The film's situations, like Eeyore's seeking out of a house for Owl after his is destroyed, Pooh's devotion to his friendship with Piglet, the endearing nature of his bond with Christopher Robin, all carry with them life lessons that many will carry with them forever. This is the moral virtue that Disney has come to embody, though it's more recent efforts can hardly compare to that of this film. ***

The animation process for the film is equally enchanting. Perhaps this is because the movie is not a movie per se, but more like reading a storybook that springs to life before your very eyes. Accompanied by the narration of the great Sebastian Cabot, the scenes and sequences take place within the pages of the book, the characters hopping between pages to make it to the next scene. And, in what is a witty touch by the creators, the text of the book is seen being washed away by a cloudburst, being blown away by the blustery day, and even serving as a safety net for Tigger when he becomes trapped in a tree. ***

Why all of this is so immediately enchanting, no one can really say. But I can say this: watching the film again after almost ten years since my first viewing was just like watching it for the very first time, only this time, I had the added pleasure of recalling the immense joy in seeing it as a child all over again. "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" was the foreground for a future craze in all things Pooh, but, in light of countless inspired movies, children's TV shows, and other programs featuring the beloved characters, this is the definitive Pooh experience, and remains so to this day. ***

Watch it... laugh with it... perhaps shed a tear... experience it... you'll find yourself a better person. How to describe it? In a word: monumental.

A terrific remastering effort on the part of Disney. The images, while having aged quite a bit since their initial release, still look as good as they did 25 years ago... I'd say even better than before. The sound doesn't quite utilize the soundfield as much as one would hope, but for its age, the efforts put forth here in making "Winnie the Pooh" DVD-ready are nothing short of great.

It's always nice to see a true classic make its way to the DVD format, and "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" qualifies as a must-own experience that is given an above-average treatment likely to entertain both kids and adults alike. The special features contain everything from games and sing-alongs to background information on the creation of the movie, providing for a viewing experience that is both fun and insightful. ***

The more adult-oriented features begins with "The Story Behind the Masterpiece: The Making of Winnie the Pooh." This featurette talks about everything from the original creation of Winnie the Pooh by British writer A.A. Milne, to the process by which Pooh was made into a motion picture masterpiece. Newly-filmed interviews with musicians Richard and Robert Sherman, and voice cast members Paul Winchell (Tigger) and John Walmsley (one of three Christopher Robins), add a sense of time passage and nostalgia to the piece, as they each look back at their own memories of the film's making. Anyone who loves Pooh is sure to eat this up. ***

Equally informative are "Pooh's Pop-up Fun Facts," which play like subtitles throughout the feature film, each revealing a new and interesting fact about the story, the movie, characters, and much more. And the art gallery features a well-crafted selection of basic animation concepts and final products seen through still drawings. ***

The children-oriented features are sure to please young viewers. "The 100 Acre Wood Challenge" allows you the option of being one of three characters, who each must reach a final destination with your help in answering Pooh trivia. The sing-along to Tigger's theme song, as well as the storytime session "Pooh's Shadow," will keep little ones busy for hours, and the animated short, "A Day for Eeyore," adds on the the enchantment of Pooh's adventures.