A Very Merry Pooh Year
A Very Merry Pooh Year is a 2002 American direct-to-video [List of List of Christmas films|Christmas films|Christmas] animated musical film produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The film features the 1991 Christmas television special Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too, as well as a new film, Happy Pooh Year. The film animation production was done by Wang Film Productions Co., Ltd., and Sunwoo Animation, (Korea) Co., Ltd.
This was the only Winnie the Pooh film where Jeff Bennett provided Christopher Robin's singing voice. It was also the first Winnie the Pooh film where Owl is absent, and the first Winnie the Pooh film that Carly Simon is involved in the soundtrack.
Plot
On Christmas Eve, Winnie the Pooh is having trouble setting up his Christmas tree. Pooh slips and falls, and breaks a shelf holding a present he made for Piglet. When Piglet suddenly arrives, Pooh desperately searches for a new hiding place for the present as more of his friends arrive at the door, eventually hiding it in an empty honey pot before helping himself to a full pot of honey, but forgets to answer the door. Afterward, his friends, tired of waiting for Pooh to answer, invite themselves in and proceed to help decorate his house. At one point, Tigger annoys Rabbit with some jingle bells. After they settle down to tell stories, Rabbit tells how they almost missed out on getting gifts one year, re-telling the story of Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too. Afterward, Pooh appears dressed as Santa and exchanges gifts with everyone.The next morning is Christmas Day and everyone ventures out into the snow to enjoy the aftermath of Christmas as Tigger again annoys Rabbit with his collection of jingle bells, prompting the latter to take them away. After Pooh receives his gift from Piglet, he remembers that he has not yet given Piglet his gift, and is unable to remember where he put it. He searches for it until New Year's Eve. Christopher Robin finds Pooh and explains to him how New Year's is celebrated. Pooh decides that he'll ask Rabbit if he can host the party at his house and goes off to propose the idea to him. Meanwhile, Rabbit is focused on preserving a carrot he saved for winter so he can use it to restart his garden when Spring comes. After a series of mishaps, a fed-up Rabbit throws them out and declares his plan to leave the Hundred Acre Wood. Not wanting Rabbit to leave, Pooh suggests the idea of using their New Year's resolutions to change their ways for their friend: Pooh vows never to eat honey again, Piglet agrees to be brave, Tigger vows to not bounce anymore, and Eeyore promises to be more positive. However, their resolutions cause them to switch personalities as a result; Pooh becomes gloomy and downbeat like Eeyore, Piglet becomes zany and bouncy like Tigger, Eeyore develops a taste for honey and dresses in Pooh's clothes, and Tigger becomes paranoid and panicky like Piglet. This only makes Rabbit more annoyed and want to leave. After leaving, Rabbit finds himself in trouble after tumbling and sliding through the snow and being catapulted into the air by his suitcase.
They all begin searching for Rabbit when they find him stuck in a large tree, about to be abducted by bees. They gradually all regain their old personalities and Tigger manages to rescue Rabbit by bouncing up to first rescue his carrot, and then grab hold of his scarf the bees were using to abduct him and safely bring them back down in the snow. The animals express shame at not being able to keep their resolutions, but Rabbit, upon realizing their intentions, is touched and assures them that he loves them just the same and that if anything, he is the one who needs to be more accepting of their quirks and flaws. They reunite with Christopher Robin and return to Rabbit's house to celebrate the New Year, where everyone reconciles and enjoys the festivities as planned. Rabbit gives Tigger back the jingle bells he took from him. Pooh finally remembers where he put his Piglet's gift and quickly goes back to his house to get it. By the time he returns, Piglet opens the gift to find it's a musical box that he made for him that plays "Auld Lang Syne". Piglet is thankful for his gift and everybody joins to sing just as the film closes.
Voice cast
- Jim Cummings as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger
- Peter Cullen as Eeyore
- John Fiedler as Piglet
- Michael Gough as Gopher
- William Green as Christopher Robin
- Nikita Hopkins as Roo
- Ken Sansom as Rabbit
- Kath Soucie as Kanga
- Michael York as Narrator
- Jeff Bennett as Piglet & Christopher Robin's singing voices
- Paul Winchell as Tigger
- Edan Gross as Christopher Robin