Winnie the Pooh
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| Winnie the Pooh |
"He's a cross between the happiest gentleman and the sweetest child," adds Jim Cummings, who provides the voice of Pooh. "I think Pooh sees the world through honey-colored glasses."
Pooh is a loyal friend to his neighbors in Hundred Acre Wood. He's always willing to lend a helping paw-and he's more than happy to share a jar of honey with anyone who's interested. Indeed, Winnie the Pooh has an endless craving for honey or a smackerel of whatever is at hand to soothe that insatiable "rumbly in his tumbly."
It's that very "rumbly in his tumbly" that sets Winnie the Pooh's latest adventure in motion when he's faced with a host of empty honey jars. "Oh, bother," says Pooh, who must venture out in search of his favorite treat-of course, he finds everything but, despite his earnest efforts.
- The character was inspired by the teddy bear of author A.A. Milne's son, Christopher Robin, who named the bear after a real bear who lived at the London Zoo. That Winnie, donated to the zoo by Canadian officer Harry Colebourne, was named in honor of his hometown of Winnipeg.
- Artist E.H. Shepard is behind the iconic imagery of Winnie the Pooh, and his interpretation of the character is based on his own son's toy bear.
- A.A. Milne first wrote about Winnie the Pooh in an article in London's Evening News in late 1925. The rest of the friends from the Hundred Acre Wood were introduced alongside Pooh the following year.
- Winnie the Pooh's endearing characteristics include his love of honey, his easy-going philosophy and his humble observations: "I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me."
Piglet
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| Piglet |
Within Piglet's small frame is a big heart-which leads to some big responsibilities in his latest adventure. Hole to dig? Piglet's on the job. Rocks to move? Piglet's your guy. He certainly doesn''t back down from a challenge-even if means braving the dark woods and coming face to face with a scary creature called a Backson who''s most certainly kidnapped Christopher Robin. (At least, that's what Owl says.)
"Piglet is Pooh's sidekick, his wingman," says supervising animator Bruce Smith. "But in this case, he's left on his own to battle the Backson. Piglet has never been given that tough of an assignment before. He has to man up. Seeing Piglet in battle-ready form is fun."
- The original Piglet was among Christopher Robin Milne''s toys and today resides in the New York Public Library alongside the boy''s original teddy bear, as well as Tigger, Eeyore and Kanga.
- Piglet is revered for his loyalty to Winnie the Pooh. From the film: "Oh d-d-d-dear, I musn't f-f-f-fear," said Piglet. "There's a very important thing to do."
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| Tigger |
Tigger is an exuberant, one-of-a-kind creature with the famously springy tail. He acts on every impulse, and his boisterous manner often leads him to leap before he looks. Tigger's bouncing is a pure expression of his utter zest for life-a joy he's always eager to share with his friends-though some, like Rabbit, don't always want him to share. Others, like Eeyore, find that it's much easier to go along for the ride when Tigger insists. "Tigger is always trying to do things his way," says Andreas Deja, the supervising animator for Tigger. "He tries to convince Eeyore that in order to find the Backson-the creature who's supposedly kidnapped Christopher Robin-Eeyore needs the energy of a Tigger. He tries to turn Eeyore, this sad, traumatic character, into a bouncing Tigger."
Tigger's unique personality extends to his original use of language, which often results in his trademark twists of phrase and malapropisms. Says Tigger to Eeyore: "We just need to get you Tiggerized!"
- Tigger was introduced in A.A. Milne's "The House at Pooh Corner" in 1928.
- Tigger is one-of-a-kind-"the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is that I'm the only one."
- Tigger is known for his joyful spirit, his penchant for bouncing (it's what Tiggers do best!) and his exuberant sayings: "TTFN-Ta-Ta-For-Now!"
- From the film: "If you're gonna pounce you got to have some bounce," said Tigger. "The Hundred Acre wood needs a hero� and I'm the only one."
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| Owl |
"There's a note found by Christopher Robin's door," says director Don Hall. "Pooh can't make heads or tails of it, takes it to Owl, and Owl interprets 'gone out, busy, back soon' to mean that Christopher Robin has been kidnapped by a fearsome creature called a 'Backson.'"
The declaration triggers an all-out search for the Backson, who only exists in Owl's�and now everyone else's imaginations. "Owl is one of those guys, God bless him, who doesn't know how to say, 'I don't know,'" says talk show host Craig Ferguson, who provides the voice of Owl. "So he makes things up, he improvises so that his friends won't see how desperate he is�which is exactly like me."
- Owl is a true original. While characters Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore were inspired by the toys of author A.A. Milne's son, Owl was a character that was built on imagination alone.
- Owl is known for his self-proclaimed wisdom. Despite his claims of knowledge on assorted subjects�spelling is certainly not among them�Owl often misses the mark. It seems there's someone like Owl in every circle.
- From the film: "Artistic talent runs through my family," said Owl. "In fact, it practically stampedes."
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| Rabbit |
Rabbit can be stubborn and often overreacts, but his friends know that he's a real bunny at heart�and always willing to hop to action. "Rabbit actually comes up with this great plan to trap the Backson and get Christopher Robin back," says director Stephen Anderson.
"He devises a cockeyed plan of leaving stuff around that might attract the Backson so they can trap him," adds supervising animator Eric Goldberg. "Rabbit is even more uptight than he was in the original films. We're taking what everybody knows and just pushing it a little further for the humor."
- Rabbit is another character that was not inspired by one of Christopher Robin Milne's toys, but introduced by Milne to complement the others.
- Rabbit is known for his rather compulsive behavior�but wins fans who share his need for order.
- From the film: "The last thing I need is a visit from that bear," said Rabbit.
KANGA
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| Kanga |
When Owl suggests a contest to find a new tail for Eeyore, the friends from the Hundred Acre Wood first debate exactly what the winner should be awarded. Roo suggests something great, "like a firecracker." Says Mom Kanga: "Oh gracious no, how about something nice, like a warm hug."
And when it comes to the contest entries, Kanga's is aptly a knitted scarf, so his "bottom won't get drafty."
- If Kanga were a person, she'd be a busy stay-at-home mom who multi-tasks to perfection.
- Kristen Anderson-Lopez provides the voice of Kanga as well as a host of original songs (along with co-writer and husband Robert Lopez).
- From the film: "How about something nice, like a warm hug," said Kanga.
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| ROO |
- While the stuffed inspirations for Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and Kanga live in the New York Public Library, Roo's was lost in an apple orchard in the 1930s.
- Wyatt Hall, the seven-year-old son of director Don Hall, was recruited to provide the scratch-or temporary voice-of Roo. Hall says his son wasn't interested at first, accepted the offer (after some Transformer bribery), and ultimately won the role as the official voice or Roo. "We may have created a monster, though," says Hall. "We were trying to direct him on how to say a specific line and he actually said, �I don't think Roo would say it like that.'
- Roo is a feisty youngster whose spirit wins a lot of followers.
- From the film: "How about something great," said Roo, "like a firecracker!"
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| Christopher Robin |
Christopher Robin is well aware of Pooh's habit of getting into sticky situations-he's often heard calling his friend a "Silly old bear!" But no matter what predicament the gang drums up, Christopher Robin is always game to play along-even if it means racing to their rescue. Of course, they're always there for him, too, just like friends should be. In fact, Christopher Robin couldn't imagine better friends.
- Christopher Robin is named for author A.A. Milne's son Christopher Robin Milne. It is his teddy bear, named Winnie after a bear at the London Zoo, that inspired the classic stories.
- The real Christopher Robin was born in 1920.
- Christopher Robin's earnest devotion to his fictional friends has inspired readers and audiences since his 1926 literary introduction.
- From the film: "Silly old bear," said Christopher Robin.
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| Eeyore |
He'd likely be shocked-and perhaps somewhat disappointed-to learn that he takes center stage in "Winnie the Pooh." According to supervising animator Randy Haycock, "Eeyore actually plays a pretty significant role in this movie, maybe more significant than any of the other films, because the central storyline revolves around the fact that he's lost his tail and everybody's trying to help him find a new tail."
Eeyore's outlook on life isn't all that bright, but he does show glimpses of happiness-kind gestures from his friends and munching on thistles seem to elevate his typically somber mood. But despite the ho-hum attitude, Eeyore has won the hearts of many. "I think the thing that makes Eeyore funny," says Haycock, "is that he doesn't know he's funny."
Tapped to provide the voice of Eeyore is Bud Luckey, a veteran animator/character designer whose credits include "Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo" and TV's "Sesame Street"-he also directed the Pixar short "Boundin,'" for which he earned an Oscar� nomination. Luckey seems to embody the character's true spirit and says Eeyore is just an easy-going guy. "He's kind of laid back, but his friends take care of him."
- While Eeyore is not a fan of much, he does take pleasure in eating thistles.
- Described by A.A. Milne as an "old grey donkey," Eeyore, with his gloomy approach to life, has proven to be a relatable and beloved fan favorite.
- From the film: "Could be worse," said Eeyore. "Not sure how, but it could be."
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