Classic Look of Winnie the Pooh Returns to Cash in on Nostalgia

As new movie “Winnie the Pooh,” arrives in theatres on Friday, what stands out is Disney's decision to stick to the classic lines of one of the immortal cartoon characters that enthralled generations of US children.

Disney is making a U-turn from the modern makeover it gave Winnie the Pooh in 2007 and reintroducing the amiable character depicted in hand-drawn style.

“We are constantly trying to evolve our characters, but in this case we want to get away from trying to make Winnie the Pooh in any way modern,” Disney vice-president and steward of the Pooh brand Mary Beech said, according to NY Times.

When the lovely little bear made it to the big screen in 1966 movie “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree,” it was a simple 2-D cartoon in primary colors. Surprisingly, the new under-dressed Pooh looks pretty much the same little bear that A.A. Milne drew up in 1926.

Disney hopes returning to the old magic is the right strategy given the surfeit of high-end animation cartoons and movies like the Harry Potter series. Will the new (rather old) Pooh recreate the magic for Disney? Winnie the Pooh is the second only to Mickey Mouse in terms of popularity and revenue among Disney creations.

The 68-minute movie shows Pooh and pals living in an unreal world of books where they talk with the narrator and jump from page to page and do a lot of funny chores. The film pictures Eeyore several antics besides the honey quest of Pooh with the grumbly tummy.

Though Pooh's looks are ancient, the movie's animation is quite modern. The old-school simplicity is in stark contrast to the new age Pixar-scale productions.

Disney’s new take on the adorable honey-loving “Winnie the Pooh” is a memorable return to the Hundred Acre Wood and a lively, interactive adventure that should delight everyone from wide-eyed preschoolers to nostalgic grandparents, according to Washington Post.