Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too is the last of the three shorts showcased in the film. Tigger is the big star in this one, having a major role in just about every one of the subplots. The short basically follows Tigger as he prances about having fun, unaware of those he might be bothering. Rabbit in particular is fed up with Tigger’s antics and seeks a way to make him stop. Eventually Tigger bounces himself too high and he winds up stuck at the top of a tree. Rabbit offers to help him down under the condition that he can never bounce again. Of course Tigger readily agrees given how frightened he is, but once he’s safe on the ground he regrets his agreement. It’s completely heartbreaking watching Tigger after he realizes he can no longer bounce, but thankfully it doesn’t last long. Rabbit relents and fun times are had by all.
The characters are without a doubt my favorite aspect from the Winnie the Pooh franchise. Aside from Gopher whom I’ve never really cared about, and Kanga and Christopher Robin to an extent, every other character has something unique and amazing to bring to the table. Though Pooh is my favorite character from the franchise overall, Tigger just barely bests him for the honor in this film. Tigger’s introduction scene is amazing, as is the song he sings. Tigger is hilariously prideful and stubborn. One of my favorite shticks of his is how he constantly says how Tiggers are the best at so and so. He always uses superlatives to explain himself, even if he has no idea what he’s talking about. Take the honey scene in Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. He first meets Pooh and immediately says he’s hungry. His eyes are drawn to the honey pot on the table and Tigger immediately says how honey is his favorite food. Of course it’s not, but that’s just the way Tigger speaks. I love it.
The interaction between the characters is such a strong signal that this film has spent plenty of time building the relationships between its characters. I’m sure most people who see the film have an idea of who the characters are and how they relate to each other before viewing it, but even still the film presents the characters aptly well for someone unfamiliar with the Winnie the Pooh universe. Each of the characters has a clear relationship with the others that differ from character to character. The relationship between Tigger and Rabbit for example is very different from the relationships between Tigger and Pooh and Pooh and Rabbit. Each character brings their own unique dynamic into the mix, ultimately creating something fresh every time a couple of characters make their way onscreen. It’s a joy to watch these simpleminded characters interact with one another and to see their relationships evolve over time. They’re such kind characters it’s difficult to dislike any one of them. The film practically oozes charm, and each of the characters exhibits their own charm wonderfully. When I watch this film I just want to snuggle up with a blanket and relive my childhood memories. And for that I will always love this series. Thank you Pooh bear!
I used to watch The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh all the time growing up. I remember that live action sequence of the room with all the stuffed animals of the characters so well that I fully admit that this ranking may be soaked in nostalgia. That’s not to say it’s not a good film on its own (or rather a collection of three short films I suppose). The characters are phenomenal. Even its weakest characters aren’t atrocious by any means. The songs are also extraordinary, with many of them continuing to ring fresh in my mind to this day. The introduction song is such a classic I doubt I’ll ever forget the words. The imagery in “Heffalumps and Woozles” likewise. This film and the world of the hundred acre woods so embodied my childhood it’s extremely difficult to shake off the nostalgia. I think this is a fair spot for it, even if the film is basically another package film (but much, much better).