Monday, December 9, 2024

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Yep, the 1977 Disney animated film.

Now, this is total nostalgia for me. When I was really young, Mom purchased this VHS, likely from a videostore. Thus, it was viewed at least a few times, although the last time had to be more than 30 years ago. For those unaware, this is a 1977 theatrical release which combined three different previously-released shorts, made between 1966 and 1974. Those were lean years for Disney in general but especially concerning their film division.

Through cultural osmosis several aspects were remembered; the personalities of all the characters (especial OCD Rabbit and the clinically depressed Eeyore), the songs, Pooh getting stuck in Rabbit's front entrance. What a surprise then when stretches several minutes long I distinctly recalled while others were a complete blank; how distinctly British this was... a surprise, however, it shouldn't have been. To steal a comment from others, what a warm, fuzzy blanket the picture is.

Whether it be Pooh's voracious appetite for honey, his interactions w/ bees, what happens during a blustery tale, Tigger's introduction, or the feud between Rabbit and Tigger, these charming, simple stories (where the characters can hear the narration and on several occasions broke the 4th wall) entertained with their charming, simple song and charming, simple animation. I've never read any of the OG A.A. Milne stories but given what I remembered while viewing this earlier today, this must have been loved by me and viewed even more frequently than what my hazy memories told me I did.

It's a relief that the chill adventures of Christopher Robin and his stuffed animals in the Hundred Acre Wood were still charming today. As an adult, I can appreciate the “sophisticated language” of Owl and the drug trip that was Pooh dreaming of Heffalumps & Woozles. Only Pooh having what (due to the particular deliberate misspellings in this world) is not awkwardly called a THOTFUL SPOT has aged like curdled milk.

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