OT news / p2pnet: Winnie the Pooh, the cuddly little bear who’s been a friend to so many children as they were growing up, may soon have parents throwing up.

A.A. Milne wrote the Pooh stories for his son, Christopher Robin Milne, but it’s 2005 so apparently, the bear needs a little re-branding if it’s to continue making lots of money for Hollywood where nothing, absolutely nothing, is sacred.

Accordingly, sex is about to enter the life of Pooh.

USA Today says, “Guess who’s coming for honey? As part of a barrel-full of Winnie the Pooh anniversary events, Disney is working on a new animated series that will replace Christopher Robin with a 6-year-old girl.” Or as Britain’s The Mirror puts it, Babe ousts Christopher Robin.

“We got raised eyebrows even in-house at first, but the feeling was these timeless characters really needed a breath of fresh air that only the introduction of someone new could provide,” Disney’s Nancy Kanter told USA Today, which goes on.

“Disney said the new series will emphasise the active side of Pooh’s adventures as described in Milne’s original 1926 book to appeal to activity-loving children of pre-school age.

“Preston Kevin Lewis, director of the Pooh franchise, told Reuters: ‘Trust, friendship and happiness – Pooh doesn’t lose any of those things, it just changes how we talk about him’.”

What a load of old bollocks.

“Milne based his books on his musings about an imaginary world his son lived in. But Disney, who bought the rights in the 1960s, insist: ‘The introduction of the as yet-unnamed six-year-old in place of Christopher Robin will provide a way for us to tell even more wonderful, enriching stories’,” says The Mirror

“So they’re unlikely to change their minds about making the combat-trousered babe in the wood central to computer-generated My Friends Tigger and Pooh – due to air in 2007.”

Meanwhile, “Casting a shadow over Pooh’s 80th anniversary are continuing court battles over the rights to the franchise,” adds USA Today.

“Milne’s granddaughter, Clare Milne, who lives in England, is trying to reclaim the rights from Stephen Slesinger, the company that owns the North American merchandising rights.”

Also read:-
USA Today – Disney lets girl into Winnie’s world, December 6, 2005
The Mirror – POOH ARE YA?, December 9, 2005

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