That’s right, people. Winnie the Pooh and company are making their way back to the silver screen for the first time in over 35 years. Disney brought back original animator Burny Mattinson (who will serve as senior story artist) to capture the classic essence that made everything so perfect about the original incarnation of Pooh and all the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood. The film is co-directed by Stephen Anderson (Meet the Robinsons) and Don Hall (The Princess and the Frog). Craig Ferguson, Tom Kenny, and Bud Luckey lend their voices to the 2D animated film. Zooey Deschanel is set to sing the new version of the “Winnie the Pooh” theme song. You want a synopsis? You got it:
Walt Disney Animation Studios returns to the Hundred Acre Wood with “Winnie the Pooh,” the first big-screen Pooh adventure from Disney animation in more than 35 years. With the charm, wit and whimsy of the original featurettes, this all-new movie reunites audiences with the philosophical “bear of very little brain” and friends Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, Roo—and last, but certainly not least, Eeyore, who has lost his tail.
Inspired by five stories from A.A. Milne’s books in Disney’s classic, hand-drawn art style, the film reunites audiences with the [honey]-loving, philosophical bear and friends Eeyore, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet and Owl in a wild quest to save [their friend] Christopher Robin from an imaginary culprit. It turns out to be a very busy day for a bear who simply set out to find some hunny.
If the first trailer sitting above does not make you immediately tingle all over and feel so warm and fuzzy inside, there’s something clearly wrong with you. Because Disney made the right decision of holding onto the original 2D animation (instead of opting for today’s 3D in-your-face pseudo-standard), this movie will undoubtedly hit all the right notes and shoot a wave of nostalgia goodness across our minds. I highly anticipate the return of Pooh-bear; do you?
Winnie the Pooh hits theatres July 15, 2011. Check out some beautifully crafted stills in the gallery below.
[Via CNET; JoBlo; @brianrudlof]
