Classic Pooh Heroes
Classic Pooh Heroes
Winnie the Pooh and his friends represent a total indulgence in the feeling of innocence and childlike faith. They speak to so many generations, because pretty much everyone can relate to their simple feelings, conflicts and emotions at one time or other in their life. These are good-natured, good-hearted characters, and it's very difficult not to like them (even with the sometimes ultra-commercialization of them in recent years...). It seems that together, they are a perfect culmination of the characteristics of a typical child.
Pooh and Co. are featured in virtually dozens of films, both theatrical-release as well as direct-to-video. The most famous, and the first is The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977). This film consisted of three previously-made short films, which Walt Disney compiled into one for the 1977 theatrical release (Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too). Pooh later became the star of a Disney Channel series, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988), as well as another Disney series, The Book of Pooh (2001), which features puppets of the bear and his fellows. Pooh and his friends have also been the subject of many, many further films, including one based on pretty much every holiday you can imagine, as well as films addressing issues some kids have trouble with as part of growing up. Some of the most noteworthy films made recently include Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (1997), The Tigger Movie (2000), Piglet's Big Movie (2003), and Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005).
Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin's favorite and oldest friend, is one of the main residents of the Hundred Acre Wood, and lives a simple life. His concerns are relatively few, and include acquiring honey to fill his tummy, dealing with surprisingly bouncy visitors, and the ever-present threat of heffalumps and woozles, always trying (in Pooh's dreams?) to get at his honey. Pooh has a sort of feeling of knowing naivete (as odd as it sounds). He's dim, but he still sort of knows what's doing on. He has a big heart, an even bigger stomach, but he's definitely a hero. Pooh seems to represent the big heart that kids have, sensitivity and humor, but also a tendency to overstep boundaries now and then (when it comes to other people's hunny or
Winnie the Pooh was originally voiced by Disney veteran Sterling Holloway, and since his death, by Jim Cummings.
Tigger is a serious bundle of energy, bouncy and care-free, a lover of initials and singing, a perfect match for Pooh's simplicity and easy-going demeanor. He startles Pooh when he appears on a dark and stormy night. At one point, Rabbit tried to have Tigger evicted from the Hundred Acre Wood because of his tendency to cause a mess wherever he goes because of his high levels of energy, but in the end, he and Rabbit learn that they're not all that different after all. He's a little intrusive, a little rambunctious, but a lot of fun, and a good friend at heart. Tigger had a minor identity crisis in the film named for him, until he realized the true meaning of family. Tigger sort of represents the endless amounts of energy some kids seem to have, and how some of them are a little naughty, but at heart, are still good kids.
Tigger was voiced from the start until the late 90s by Jim Cummings, who also voices Winnie the Pooh in recent years.
Eeyore is the quintessential symbol of resigned depression, but not of hopelessness. He has a perpetual, metaphorical raincloud always over his head, but he takes his losses as just another part of life. Whenever his tail (attached to his backside with a tack) goes missing, he reattaches it and moves on. It's impossible not to find Eeyore adorable, despite his gloomy outlook on life, and he actually has moments of soft-spoken and gentle happiness. He usually lives in a lean-to of some sort, and is sometimes the voice of reason in the group, even if it's sort of a gloomy one. Eeyore seems to represent the sort of gloomy side of kids, the side that resurfaces on occasion (more often for some, unfortunately), but at the same time a sort of resilience and feeling of rolling with the punches. Eeyore may be a downer sometimes, but he's always pretty pragmatic and takes things as they come.
Eeyore was voiced originally by Ralph Wright, and later voiced by
Piglet is shy, prone to stuttering, but one of the truest friends you could ever ask for. Besides Christopher Robin, Pooh is probably closest to Piglet, and the little guy is sensitive and sweet. He's neat and tidy, and he keeps a clean house. When Owl's house is destroyed by the rain and flood that inflict the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood, Piglet proves his selflessness by offering his house to the homeless bird, and Pooh proves his friendship by offering to share his home with Piglet, and the two are hailed as heroes. Piglet is soft-spoken, but will stand up for what he believes in. He seems to represent that bit of insecurity that probably all kids have at some point, but also that conviction and selfless behavio that surfaces on occasion to surprise everyone around them (often themselves included).
Piglet has the most consistent voice-actor history, having been voiced from 1977 to the present with endearing and stuttering insecurity by John Fiedler.
From The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh series
Winnie the Pooh: Oh bother.
Winnie the Pooh: I am Winnie the Pooh, but you can call me... Christopher Robin: Silly old bear.
(the animals are acting out a chess game, and Piglet will be sent to fight a dragon) Tigger: Where's the propeller? Rabbit: How about an alibi? Tigger: C'mon! Now's our chance! Let's take the train for a little ring-a-ding spin. (the gang is trying to break open a treasure chest by dropping it on a very large anvil) Gopher: I'll cut him down! Might be painful, but it could hurt a lot too.
Winnie the Pooh: If I knew how much you all cared for me, I would've moved away a long time ago!
Tigger: Help! We're sinking! Abandon ship! Tiggers and tiggers first! Tigger: Head for the hills! Head for the hills! (after a flood) Rabbit: I suggest we call a team meeting. Piglet: And for the longest time I thought Rabbit didn't like her. From The Tigger Movie
Tigger: You can't bounce the bounce if you can't even pronounce the bounce.
Roo: What is this doo-hickey? Tigger: The wonderful thing about tiggers
Is tiggers are wonderful things
Their tops are made out of rubber
Their bottoms are made out of springs
They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy fun, fun, fun, fun, fun
But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I'm the only one
Tiggers are cuddly fellas
Tiggers are awfully sweet
Everyone el-es is jealous
That's why I repeat and repeat
The wonderful thing about tiggers
Is tiggers are marvellous chaps
They're loaded with vim and with vigor
They love to leap in your laps
They're jumpy, bumpy, clumpy, pumpy fun, fun, fun, fun, fun
But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I'm the only one
I'm the only... (Tigger crashes into Winnie the Pooh)
From Piglet's Big Movie
Eeyore: (deadpan) Oh, joy.
Tigger: Brilliant deduction there, Pooh boy.
Tigger: I tried to stop, but it's "snow" use!
From The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh: Oh, stuff and fluff.
Tigger: Honey! Oh, boy, honey! That's what tiggers like best. Eeyore: It's not much of a tail, but I'm sort of attached to it.
Winnie the Pooh: The only reason for being a bee is to make honey. And the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.
Narrator: Winnie the Pooh crawled out of the gorse bush, brushed the prickles from his nose and began to think again. Christopher Robin: There now. Did I get your tail back on properly, Eeyore? Winnie the Pooh: Good morning, Christopher Robin. Winnie the Pooh: (after rolling in mud) There, now. Isn't this a clever disguise? Winnie the Pooh: I must be going now. Goodbye, Rabbit. Owl: Blast it all. Kanga: Pooh, Roo has a little surprise for you. Rabbit: Why did I ever invite that bear to lunch? Why, oh, why, oh, why?
Winnie the Pooh: Could you ssspare a sssmall sssmackerel? Gopher: That supercilious scoundrel confiscated my honey.
Gopher: If I was you, I'd think about skedaddlin' out of here. Narrator: Now, Piglet lived in the middle of the forest in a very grand house in the middle of a beech tree. And Piglet loved it very much. Piglet: I don't mind the leaves that are leaving. It's the leaves that are coming.
Winnie the Pooh: Happy "Winds-day", Piglet. Owl: This is just a mild spring zephyr compared to the big wind of '67. Or was it, uh, '76? Oh, well, no matter. Oh, I remember the big blow well. Winnie the Pooh: Hello, out there! Oh, I hope nobody answers. Tigger: Hello, I'm Tigger. Winnie the Pooh: (to his reflection) Oh, hello. Am I glad to see you. It's more friendly with two. Now, you go that way, and I'll go this way. (walks away from mirror, then runs back) You didn't see anything, did you? Neither did I.
Winnie the Pooh: (to his reflection) Is it raining in there? It's raining out here too.
Winnie the Pooh: Christopher Robin, can you make a one-hero party into a two-hero party? Tigger: I "recoggonize" you. You're the one that's stuffed with fluff. Tigger: T-T-F-N. Ta-ta for now.
Winnie the Pooh: Pooh, for a bear of very little brain, you sure are a smart one.
Winnie the Pooh: Look, look, Piglet. There's something in that tree over there. Christopher Robin: You're next, Tigger. Jump! Tigger: Say, who are you? Tigger: Come on, Rabbit. Let's you and me bounce. Narrator: Winnie the Pooh lived in this enchanted forest under the name of Sanders, which means he had the name over the door in gold letters, and he lived under it.
Winnie the Pooh: Well, isn't that the Rabbit's voice? Eeyore: W-O-L, that spells owl. Rabbit: (drawing on Pooh's backside when he's stuck in Rabbit's door) Oh Pooh! You messed up my moose!
Winnie the Pooh: Is anybody at home? (no answer) What I said was, "Is anybody at home?" Christopher Robin: Pooh, promise you won't forget me, ever? Narrator: Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in their enchanted place on top of the forest, a little bear will always be waiting.
Narrator: This could be the room of any small boy, but it just happens to belong to a boy named Christopher Robin. Like most small boys, Christopher Robin has toy animals to play with, and they all live together in a wonderful world of make-believe. But his best friend is a bear called Winnie the Pooh, or Pooh, for short. Now, Pooh had some very unusual adventures, and they all happened right here in the Hundred-Acre Wood.
Roo: (swinging on Tigger's tail) Don't swing on a swing. / It's much too frail. / The best kind of swing / Is a Tigger's tail. Whee!
Tigger: (while Roo is swinging on his tail) Stop this, kid! Stop! (cut to his point of view) S-T-O-P! Stop! You're rocking the forest!
Roo: What's the matter, Tigger?Piglet
Pictures from the Hundred Acre Wood
Quotes from Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too
Bruno: Ah ha ha ha ha! You're killing me. A Pooh named Winnie? Ha ha ha.
Piglet: (trying to get away) Excuse me. I think my horse is double-parked.
Gopher: Ah-ah-ah! Doesn't seem so likely since horses haven't been invented yet.
Rabbit: Tigger, trains don't have propellers. Although it does seem to be missing its rudder.
Winnie the Pooh: Why thank you, Rabbit, but I'm not sleepy yet.
Winnie the Pooh: But I thought Christopher Robin said not to touch it.
Tigger: I'm not going to touch the train, I'm gonna touch the controls!
Winnie the Pooh: But aren't the controls part of the train?
Tigger: Nah, they don't even know each other.
Piglet: Where'd it go?
Tigger: In the basement.
Piglet: But I don't have a basement.
Tigger: You do now.
Piglet: What about piglets?
Tigger: Umm... it's their duty as captain to go down with the ship.
Piglet: Oh, dear. In that case, my last act as captain is: Tigger, you're captain.
Tigger: And as captain of his ship, I proclaim you captain.
Piglet: No, you are.
Tigger: No, you.
Winnie the Pooh: But Tigger, this is a hill.
Tigger: Gone! Everything I had! Nothing left! (cries)
Winnie the Pooh: But Tigger, you didn't have anything.
Tigger: Say, you're right, Kiddo! Save by circumchances.
Winnie the Pooh: But haven't we met each other already?
Rabbit: (slightly embarrassed) Oh my...
Winnie the Pooh: Sometimes people care too much. I think it's called love.
Piglet: Oh... Do you think we should tell Rabbit?
Winnie the Pooh: No, I believe he already knows.
Tigger: Why, that's no doo-hickey. It's a thing-a-ma-bob.
Winnie the Pooh: I was afraid of that.
Tigger: (gulps down a few handfuls) Oh, say. Yuck! Tiggers don't like honey!
Winnie the Pooh: But you said you that you liked...
Tigger: That icky, sticky stuff is only fit for heffalumps and woozles.
Winnie the Pooh: You mean elephants and weasels.
Tigger: That's what I said, heffalumps and woozles.
Winnie the Pooh: Think, think, think.
Narrator: And the first person he thought of was...
Winnie the Pooh: Winnie the Pooh? (raises eyebrows)
Narrator: No. Christopher Robin.
Winnie the Pooh: Oh.
Eeyore: No matter. Most likely lose it again anyway.
Christopher Robin: Oh, good morning, Winnie the Pooh.
Owl, Kanga, Roo: Good morning, Pooh bear.
Eeyore: If it is a good morning, which I doubt.
Christopher Robin: What are you supposed to be?
Winnie the Pooh: I'm a little, black rain cloud, of course.
Christopher Robin: Silly old bear.
Rabbit: Well, goodbye, if you're sure you won't have any more.
Winnie the Pooh: (turns to leave then stops) Is there any more?
Rabbit: No, there isn't.
Winnie the Pooh: I thought not.
Winnie the Pooh: (tries to climb out the front door but is stuck) Oh, oh, help and bother! I'm stuck.
Rabbit: Oh, dear. Oh, gracious. Oh. Well, it all comes from eating too much.
Winnie the Pooh: It all comes from not having front doors big enough!
Gopher: Good idea! We'll dynamite. Save time.
Owl: Eh, what's the charge?
Gopher: The charge? Oh, about seven sticks of dynamite.
Owl: Oh, no, no, no, the cost! The charge in money.
Gopher: Nope, no charge account. I work strictly cash.
Owl: Obviously, but, I should think...
Gopher: Well, I can't stand around lollygagging all day. I got a tight schedule. (falls down a hole) Aaaaaaaahh! (reappears on the surface) If you think it over, let me know. You got my card, I'm not in the book, you know.
Owl: Oh. Dash it all, he's gone.
Winnie the Pooh: After all, he's not in the book, you know.
Owl: Oh.
Roo: Flowers.
Winnie the Pooh: Honeysuckle! (Pooh tries to eat flowers)
Kanga: No, Pooh, you don't eat them. You smell them.
Winnie the Pooh: Oh.
Gopher: Say, you ought to do sssomething abou that ssspeech impediment, sssonny.
Winnie the Pooh: Why?
Gopher: 'Cause it's "Winds-day."
Piglet: Whew, yes. Whoops. You see, it's been in the family a long time. It belonged to my grandfather.
Piglet: (pointing to sign) Oh, that's his name up there. "Trespassers Will." That's short for "Trespassers William."
Narrator: Trespassers William?
Piglet: Yes. And Grandma, oh, she called him T.W. That's even shorter.
Piglet: (being blown away) Well... it isn't... very happy... f-for me.
Winnie the Pooh: Where are you going, Piglet?
Piglet: That's what I'm asking myself, where? W-Whoops! P-P-P-Pooh!
Winnie the Pooh: And what do you think you will answer yourself?
Piglet: I'll remember this one, too.
Owl: It was the year my Aunt Clara went to visit her cousin. Now, her cousin was not only gifted on the glockenspiel, but being a screech owl, also sang soprano in the London Opera. You see, her constant practicing so unnerved my aunt that she laid a seagull egg by mistake.
Tigger: (looking at his reflection) Oh, hey, hey. Look, look, look. Oh, what a strange-looking creature. Mmm, look at those beady little eyes, and that "purrposterous" chin, and those "rickydiculus" striped pyjamas.
Winnie the Pooh: Looks like another tigger to me.
Tigger: Oh, no, it's not. I'm the only tigger. Watch me scare the stripes off of this imposter. (Tigger growls at reflection; he scares himself, hides under the table) Is-Is-Is... Is he gone?
Winnie the Pooh: All except the tail. (Tigger tucks his tail) He's gone.
Winnie the Pooh: You said that.
Tigger: Oh? Well, did I say I was hungry?
Winnie the Pooh: I don't think so.
Tigger: Well, then I'll say it. I'm hungry.
Christopher Robin: Of course we can, silly old bear.
Winnie the Pooh: Yeah. And you're sitting on it.
Tigger: Yeah. And it's comfy, too!
Piglet: Is it one of the f-f-fiercer animals?
Tigger: Halloo!
Winnie the Pooh: Yes. It's a "jagular."
Piglet: W-What do "jagulars" d-do, Pooh?
Winnie the Pooh: Well, "jagulars" always call, "Halloo!" And when you look up, they drop on you.
Piglet: I'm looking down, P-P-Pooh.
Tigger: Jump? Tiggers don't jump. They bounce.
Winnie the Pooh: Then bounce down.
Tigger: Don't be "ridiccorous". Tiggers only bounce up!
Christopher Robin: You can climb down, Tigger.
Tigger: Ah, but tiggers can't climb down, uh... because, uh... their tails get in the way!
Rabbit: Hooray! That settles it. If he won't jump, and he can't climb down, then we'll just have to leave him up there forever!
Narrator: I'm the narrator.
Tigger: Oh, well, please, for goodness' sakes, narrate me down from here.
Rabbit: Good heavens! Me bounce?
Tigger: Why, certainly! Look, you've got the feet for it.
Rabbit: I have?
Tigger: Sure. Come on, try it. It makes ya feel just grrreat!
Rabbit: (talking into a honey jar) I don't think so. It isn't meant to be.
Owl: Bless my soul, so it does.
Rabbit: No.
Winnie the Pooh: Bother. Isn't there anybody here at all?
Rabbit: Nobody.
Winnie the Pooh: Must be somebody there because somebody must have said "Nobody."
Winnie the Pooh: Oh, I won't, Christopher, I promise.
Christopher Robin: Not even when I'm a hundred?
Winnie the Pooh: How old shall I be then?
Christopher Robin: Ninety-nine. (chuckles) Silly old bear.
Tigger: I was just feeling a little seasick from... seeing too much.
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