'Winnie the Pooh' Puts a Sweet Nostalgia to the Traditional Style of Animation

For decades the character Winnie the Pooh, also called Pooh Bear, has charmed many generations of children. This fictional anthropomorphic bear created by A.A. Milne gained popularity through its collection of stories from the children's books "Winnie-the-Pooh" (1926) and "The House at Pooh Corner" (1928). This charming character also appeared in the books "When We Were Very Young" (1924) and "Now We Are Six" (1927).

"Winnie the Pooh" Movies

Released in 1977, the first full-length feature for the "Winnie the Pooh" franchise entitled "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" included the three short films "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree," "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too." Prior to their combined release as a full feature, these animated shorts were double billed with other Disney movies. The 1966 "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" was shown with the live-action feature "The Ugly Dachshund," while the 1968 "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" was shown with another live-action feature "The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit." Interestingly, the franchise's sophomore feature simply entitled "Winnie the Pooh" makes a 2011 release using that same 2D animation look.

Traditional Animation

The 2011 "Winnie the Pooh" sticks to the visual palette of the original "Winnie the Pooh" artworks -- showcasing a sweet nostalgia to that watercolor-based classic animation look. Against all the 3D computer animation offerings typically released in theaters these days, this hand-drawn film definitely stands out among the lot. It may be referred to as "old school," but it tends to look fresh because of its organic 2D look and retro charm. Moreover, its visual treatment provides a simple and vibrant storybook quality with an amiable take on the classic "Pooh" franchise.

Production Artists Involved

Stephen Anderson and Don Hall helm this non-CGI animation project, along with Disney veteran Burny Mattinson who works as key animator and lead storyboard artist. Mattinson was also key animator for the 1974 featurette "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too." John Cleese renders his voice as the narrator for this gentle and lyrical animation piece. Craig Ferguson, Tom Kenny, Jim Cummings, and Bud Luckey also voice well-known Hundred Acre Wood friends from this famous family-friendly movie franchise.