Buying Honey...

Honey changes everything...




On this day...

Walt Disney acquired the rights to make a film based on children's book that was very popular in Britain, but not as widely known in America. The author's widow, Daphne agreed to license the stories and characters after much wooing by Disney.

But it would take five years before this agreement would bare fruit. And it wouldn't start out as a film, but a short. A rather large short at twenty-six minutes, but a short none-the-less. Walt would go on to approve two other shorts for production, but he passed before they were put in to production.

Once completed, they were combined into a single story and thus, the animated film that was planned over a decade and a half ago would finally happen.

And now you know it as the classic "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" film.

Oh, bother...

Release Of Pooh...

It looks like the sun is coming out, Piglet...






Thirty-four years ago on this day, "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" was released...

The compilation of three shorts: "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree," Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," created a story for kids and kids at heart all around the world.

And although, these three tales were based on original tales from A.A. Milne, they weren't the only ones. As we will soon have a collection of new tales to follow that silly ole' bear on come July 15.

In classic, hand-drawn delight...

Pooh's Corner Passing...

On this day Fifty-five years ago, the creator of a very expensive teddy bear passed away...

A.A. Milne left this world for the next in Hartfield, Sussex, England.

All around the Hundred Acre Woods hearts were broken because that's not what Tiggers do best.

Oh bother...

Creator Of Pooh...

Born on this day was the man that envisioned the Hundred Acre Woods...

A.A. Milne came into this world one hundred and twenty nine years ago, but his creations will be timeless.

Children the world over smile because of him...

New Pooh..

When I mentioned at the beginning of the month that there were things about Disney Animation's 2011's release I was being honest...

I had several people e-mail me that I was lying and just was trying to tease them and yada, yada, yada. You get the picture. Well, I did and still do have things I can't mention, but now there is something I was referring to that I can now talk about. It's been mentioned on a couple sites, like the Animation Guild and a couple others, so I feel it's safe to open up about it.

You remember how we originally said that this new film would be a mixture of new stories and at least one old tale from the original shorts? Kind of like Fantasia 2000 used the Sorcerer's Apprentice with several new segments was the thinking originally going in. Things tend to evolve and it appears now the Higher-Ups tend to like the way the story is going so much that there's not going to be a bridge short/chapter from the original film. This one will stand on it's own and include all original material. Much of it will be based on A.A. Milne's work in the classic novels that wasn't all covered by the three Disney produced shorts: "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree," "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too." So now we've got something new and old to look forward to. As for the other stuff about this release, I just have to hold off on anything else at this time.

We've got over two years and I'm sure you'll be hearing more about it as the new journey to the 100 Acre Woods gets closer...

Eight Years In The Hundred Acre Woods...

Eight years ago today, Tokyo Disneyland opened up "Pooh's Honey Hut" and became the most popular ride in the park.

It still is, I might add...

Many of you have heard me talk about this ride and yes, it is as amazing as I say it is. While Disneyland got "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" a few years later... the 30 million they spent on ours really does become painfully evident when you get a look at the Japanese version. Even worse when you ride it, considering the concepts for this were from the original blue sky phase for the ride we were supposed to get state-side.

Anyways, enough crying over spilt milk. The ride in Tokyo is a much more layered ride of what we have here where you ride his large trackless honey pots that are guided by GPS as you go through the story of Pooh and become immersed in the world A.A. Milne created. If you ever go to the Tokyo Disneyland Resort, this is the attraction to see.

Don't miss it...

Once you leave the ride, you'll dislike Michael Eisner even more knowing what we were robbed of.

A Day For Christopher Robin...

On this day eighty-eight years ago Daphne Milne and A.A. Milne welcome to the world their newborn son:

Christopher Robin Milne...

The "real" Christopher Robin, that is. He will go on to be forever immortalized in the children books that his father writes about a silly, ole' stuffed bear named Winnie the Pooh. Christopher lived a full life as a husband, father and writer like his father before him, until passing from this world on April 20, 1996.

Somewhere right now in the Hundred Acre Woods, candles on a cake are being blown out...

My Friends, Tigger & Pooh...

On this day, fifty-two years ago...

A.A. Milne, the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit and many other endearing characters, passes away in Hartfield, Sussex, England.

When we all gather around the Hundred Acre Woods, we promise not to forget about him. Isn't that right, Pooh...

Sweet Honey...

Seven years ago today, Tokyo Disneyland opened up "Pooh's Honey Hut" and became the most popular ride in the park.

It still is, I might add...

Many of you have heard me talk about this ride and yes, it is as amazing as I say it is. While Disneyland got "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" a few years later... the 30 million they spent on ours really does become painfully evident when you get a look at the Japanese version. Even worse when you ride it, considering the concepts for this were from the original blue sky phase for the ride we were supposed to get state-side.

Anyways, enough crying over spilt milk. The ride in Tokyo is a much more layered ride of what we have here where you ride his large trackless honey pots that are guided by GPS as you go through the story of Pooh and become immersed in the world A.A. Milne created. If you ever go to the Tokyo Disneyland Resort, don't forget as you visit Tokyo DisneySEA to check out the original park and ride this attraction...

Once you leave the ride, you'll dislike Michael Eisner even more knowing what we were robbed of.

Happy Birthday, Christopher Robin!

On this day eighty-seven years ago today...

Daphne Milne and A.A. Milne welcome to the world their newborn son:

Christopher Robin Milne...

The "real" Christopher Robin, that is. He will go on to be forever immortalized in the children books that his father writes about a silly, ole' stuffed bear named Winnie the Pooh. He lived a full life as a husband, father and writer like his father before him, until passing from this world on April 20, 1996.

Somewhere right now in the Hundred Acre Woods candles on a cake are being blown out...

"Bear"ly Profitable...

On June 16th, 1961, Walt Disney bought the rights to a story about a little stuffed bear and the adventures he had with his human friend Christopher Robbins from the widow of the author, A.A. Milne. Although it was a few years before the company finally came out with it's interpretation, it was definitely worth it. It's rumored that the Mouse takes in over two billion dollars a year from this character in films, television and merchandising. Lawyers have become very rich fighting over the rights to this little fella. Both for and against Disney...

Winnie the Pooh may be a silly ole' bear, but he's a "money churning" silly ole' bear.