Winnie the Pooh, a timeless character beloved worldwide, recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in honor of his 80th anniversary. This prestigious recognition places him among a select group of animated icons.
Here are some interesting facts about Pooh Bear and his companions from the Hundred Acre Wood:
* Originally, Christopher Robin, A.A. Milne’s son, named his teddy bear Edward Bear before changing it to Winnie the Pooh.
* The first Winnie the Pooh story, “The Wrong Sort of Bees,” was published on Christmas Eve in 1925.
* Birthday cake is Christopher Robin’s favorite treat.
* Kanga is the only female character featured in the Winnie the Pooh books.
* In 1961, Walt Disney acquired the motion picture and other rights to Winnie the Pooh.
* Winnie the Pooh made his theatrical debut in Disney’s short film “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree” in 1966.
* Over the years, Winnie the Pooh has been voiced by at least three actors: Sterling Holloway, Hal Smith, and Jim Cummings.
* Tigger is often cited as children’s second favorite character from the Hundred Acre Wood, after Pooh himself.
* Winnie the Pooh entertainment and merchandise are available in over 38 countries and 29 languages.
* To celebrate Pooh’s 80th anniversary, Walt Disney Home Entertainment released a digitally remastered DVD of “Pooh’s Grand Adventure-The Search For Christopher Robin” from the Disney Vault.