Winnie the Pooh Directed by: Stephen J. Anderson Starring: Jim Cummings, Craig Ferguson, Tom Kenny Rating: NR Release Date: July 15, 2011
TRAILER SCORE: 8/10
MY THOUGHTS: I'm a bit of animation purist (I know, I know, it sounds douche-y) so it's nice to see Disney returning to its roots. It was refreshing with The Princess and the Frog but a welcome return to, in my humble opinion, one of Disney's greatest is even more exciting. This trailer is proof positive that Winnie the Pooh is holding up quite nicely. Sure, the animation is a little more polished than the originals were, but that's technical advancement for ya.
The important part is that the heart of Winnie the Pooh is still intact, after all these years. This trailer made me feel like a little kid again in that moment that Tigger tackles Pooh. It's a simple thing, but for some reason it resonates. Still, this isn't just for the fans of the originals. As the trailer itself says, this is a new story. From the looks of it, it's a promising one with plenty to engage the little ones visually and enough references for the older audience.
One of the few weaknesses of the trailer is the music. Keane might be a fine choice, but there's too much music and not enough dialogue. This could be a sign that not all the voice acting is done or perhaps the choice is deliberate. Either way, it distracts and therefore detracts from an otherwise enjoyable trailer.