New Friend for Winnie the Pooh...

castlecake2.0

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Just found this story from the CBC

Disney plans new friend for Winnie the Pooh
Last Updated Fri, 09 Dec 2005 10:33:11 EST
CBC Arts
A unexpected new character is coming to the Hundred Acre Wood.

Disney is working on a new Winnie the Pooh TV series, to come out in 2007, that will replace Christopher Robin with a 6-year-old girl.


Roo, left, Pooh, and Eeyore, right appear in "Disney Live! Winnie the Pooh," which opened Wednesday, Dec. 7 in New York.(AP Photo/Disney)
Its new animated series, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, will have the same gentle spirit as the much-loved A.A. Milne classic, Disney says.

But Disney hopes to attract an older audience by introducing a six-year-old tomboy as friend to Tigger, Pooh the bear and tiny Piglet. The Disneyfied characters also will have a new look.

Though the stories will still emphasize trust, friendship and happiness, there will be more physical activity to appeal to more active children in the older preschool age range, Disney says.

"We got raised eyebrows even in-house at first, but the feeling was these timeless characters really needed a breath of fresh air that only the introduction of someone new could provide," Nancy Kanter of the Disney Channel told USA Today.

Disney knows it will face criticism from fans of Milne's stories about the imaginary world of his son Christopher Robin. Lovers of the original stories say they are timeless and don't need an update.

Seeing the animated series will help bring young children to the written word, Disney counters.

Disney is planning a year-long 80th anniversary celebration in 2006 of Winnie the Pooh and friends, including a stage show, a radio and TV marathons.

Pooh-related merchandise is second only to Mickey Mouse as a revenue generator for Disney. In 2004, it sold $1 billion of Pooh products and a new character in the franchise gives new opportunities for sales, experts say.

Disney is still battling an appeal of a 14-year-old Los Angeles lawsuit by heirs of Milne's agent, who claim they are owed millions in royalties.

Milne's granddaughter, Clare Milne, who lives in England, is trying to reclaim the rights from Stephen Slesinger, the company that bought the North American merchandising rights. Slesinger has sued Disney.

The company won a dismissal of the lawsuit last year but warned investors that it could be on the hook for "hundreds of millions" of dollars if it eventually loses the case.

*************************************

I don't see many people liking this idea:brick:

BONUS TRIVIA QUESTION: For what Canadian City is this famous bear named after?
 

BeachClubVillas

Well-Known Member
I like the idea of having a new face for Pooh, but why does she have to replace Christopher Robin? Couldn't she just be his new friend, or a new neighbor or something? Heck, give the poor guy a girlfriend, he's been alone for 60 years! :lol:

For now, consider one eyebrow raised.
 

MSTINKHERBELL01

New Member
I agree that it will be something to get use to. I think having her as a neighbor or Chris' crush or something would have worked as well.


Cant wait to see this!
 

castlecake2.0

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
BeachClubVillas said:
For now, consider one eyebrow raised.


"Lower those eyebrows Millhouse....... and the other one"

ah if only I could remember my schoolwork as well as I can remember simpson quotes....
 

Amber

6+4+3=2
Premium Member
castlecake2.0 said:
"Lower those eyebrows Millhouse....... and the other one"

ah if only I could remember my schoolwork as well as I can remember simpson quotes....


:lol:
I have to clean the Mountain Dew off the screen now.
 

Captain Hank

Well-Known Member
Oooohh...yeah...don't like this much at all. :brick:

It seems like they saw what Warner Bros. is doing with the Bugs Bunny Characters, and decided that they needed to jump on the band wagon.

castlecake2.0 said:
BONUS TRIVIA QUESTION: For what Canadian City is this famous bear named after?
Well, I know he has close ties to White River, Ontario (I've been there!)
 

TTA-ATW

Member
60 years and one of the most successful francises in entertainment history and disney is jumping the shark! I dont like the sound of it but i am willing to give it a chance.
 

MKCustodial

Well-Known Member
Maybe after that they'll make a series set in the future, with the descendents of Pooh and his buddies haveing super-powers and fighting evil, all coordinated by Christopher Robin!

That's sure to give us a break from that frickin' bear. :lol:
 

jrriddle

Well-Known Member
TTA-ATW said:
60 years and one of the most successful francises in entertainment history and disney is jumping the shark! I dont like the sound of it but i am willing to give it a chance.
You are more generous than me.
I am not giving this a chance.
Replacing Christopher Robin?
No that's just wrong.
The AA Milne fans (of which I am one) are going to have a field day with this.
 

Monty

Brilliant...and Canadian
In the Parks
No
histitel.gif

d.gif
photo.gif
uring the first World War, troops from Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) were being transported to eastern Canada, on their way to Europe, where they were to join the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade. When the train stopped at White River, Ontario, a lieutenant called Harry Colebourn bought a small female black bear cub for $20 from a hunter who had killed its mother. He named her 'Winnipeg', after his hometown of Winnipeg, or 'Winnie' for short.
 

jrriddle

Well-Known Member
MontyMon said:
histitel.gif

d.gif
photo.gif
uring the first World War, troops from Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) were being transported to eastern Canada, on their way to Europe, where they were to join the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade. When the train stopped at White River, Ontario, a lieutenant called Harry Colebourn bought a small female black bear cub for $20 from a hunter who had killed its mother. He named her 'Winnipeg', after his hometown of Winnipeg, or 'Winnie' for short.

Well done Monty!:D
What did you think of the movie on CBC?
I live in Toronto now but was born and raised in Winnipeg.
I've even been to the Pooh festival (apparently Disney recently pulled it's sponsorship of it).
 

tomm4004

New Member
>"We got raised eyebrows even in-house at first, but the feeling was these timeless characters really needed a breath of fresh air that only the introduction of someone new could provide," Nancy Kanter of the Disney Channel told USA Today.

Obviously, the characters aren't very timeless if they need a breath of fresh air. It's the arrogance that gets me. Good thing Disney didn't get the rights or we'd have Harrietta Potter.
 

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