< Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh/Characters


In Which We Are Introduced To Pooh Bear And Some Friends In His Enchanted Neighborhood Of Christopher's Childhood Days.

All characters contain the examples:

Winnie The Pooh

Oh bother.

The title and main character. A naive and soft-spoken teddy bear who lives in the trunk of a tree under the name of 'Sanders' written over his door. He utterly loves "hunny" and his home is filled with "hunny" pots of all sizes.

Christopher Robin

Silly old bear.

The only human character to appear in the books, Christopher Robin is the storybook allusion to the Real Life boy Milne wrote the stories for. He is a young boy who spends time with his stuffed animals in the distant Hundred Acre Wood and acts as a mentor and leader most of the time. Later in the series, he attends boarding school.

  • Art Evolution: Christopher Robin in the 2011 Disney reboot now doesn't have Skintone Sclerae.
  • Cheerful Child
  • Children Are Innocent
  • Cultural Translation: Has an American accent in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
    • He used to have one in the first featurette as well (provided by Bruce Reitherman, who also voiced Mowgli), but after complaints from the fans it was changed to an English accent from Blustery Day onward. When the three original Pooh featurettes were collected into the full-feature The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin was, for the sake of consistency, overdubbed with his later trademark English accent in the Honey Tree segment (though you can still clearly hear American Christopher when he sings along with Pooh in the Little Black Raincloud song).
  • Demoted to Extra: Christopher Robin was originally the star of the books; in the poetry books he appears often and has several poems dedicated to him (as opposed to Pooh, who only appears in one poem in When We Were Very Young and only appears occasionally in Now We Are Six), and while he was moved Out of Focus for the Pooh stories he remained a central character. In the first Disney featurettes he was also a major character, but in later productions he got smaller and smaller roles, quite often being left out entirely.
    • This is sort of explained in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (and elaborated upon in Pooh's Most Grand Adventure"): He's started school. While the Disney version doesn't seem to be attending boarding school the way his book counterpart is implied to be, it's still reasonable to presume that he isn't around as much because he's busy with schoolwork.
  • The Everyman
  • Full-Name Basis: At least if you go by New Adventures canon, where "Robin" is hinted to be his surname. Rarely, if ever, is he called just "Christopher."

Tigger

Bouncin's what Tiggers do best!

Hyperactive stuffed tiger with a fondness for bouncing. Known to grate on others' nerves (especially Rabbit) with his tendency to bounce head on into others as a form of welcome. Initially found somewhat intimidating or annoying by the other members of the Hundred Acre Wood upon his arrival, Pooh and the others eventually warmed up to him and consider him a close friend, especially Roo.

  • Attention Deficit Ooh Shiny: Sometimes comes across as having a severe case of this, especially in the Disney version.
  • Badass Adorable
  • Big Brother Instinct: To Roo, especially in later features.
  • Brooklyn Rage: Sorta, Disney's Tigger is voiced with a Brooklyn accent (Paul Winchell emphasized it more in his later years though it was toned back down when Jim Cummings took over), while slightly more obnoxious and rambunctious than most of the other residents, he's rather cheerful and harmless overall.
  • Breakout Character: Tigger wasn't really a major character in the books, appearing only in the second book, The House At Pooh Corner. In the Disney adaptations, he got bigger and bigger roles until he ended up as the franchise's main star apart from Pooh himself.
  • Cartoony Tail: In the Disney version.
  • Cheerful Child: He can be said to be this in the original novels, as he is clearly very young and inexperienced and needs someone to look after him. He was aged up for the Disney version (even if his demeanor is much the same).
  • Fish Out of Water: At least at first.
  • Happily Adopted: By Kanga, in the original novels. In the Disney version, he lives on his own.
  • Jim Cummings: Current voice actor.
  • Keet
  • The Lancer
  • Last of His Kind: "But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one!" Only in The Tigger Movie does he show any true concern over this.
  • Miles Gloriosus: On occasion. Other times he's too oddball to really care about his own well being. His rather fickle nature can lead him to interchange between cowardly to suicidally fearless in a matter of seconds.
  • The Nicknamer: In the Disney version, he's got a nickname for everyone, and loads of them for Rabbit.
  • Picky Eater: In the original novel, this is actually one of his defining traits, combined with his usual Miles Gloriosus over-enthusiasm. His introduction chapter has him and Pooh searching for something that Tiggers actually like to eat. Tigger cheerfully claims that Tiggers like everything, and whatever Pooh suggests, he'll say it's his very favorite... that is, until he actually tastes it, after which he'll say that Tiggers like everything in the world except what he just had. The list of exceptions to what Tiggers like keeps growing all through the chapter, until he finally comes across the one thing he does likes to eat: extract of malt, Roo's "strengthening medicine."
    • The Disney version does include a Shout-Out to this when establishing Tigger's dislike of honey (which comes and goes Depending on the Writer), but the desperate search for something he can actually eat doesn't happen and extract of malt is never mentioned.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: The red to Rabbit's blue.
  • Small Name, Big Ego: Bragging's what Tiggers do best.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: In the original novels, it's extract of malt.
  • Wacky Guy

Piglet

Ohhh, d-d-d-d-d-deeeaarr.

Extremely timid stuffed piglet. Being someone of such little size makes Piglet rather paranoid and fearful often needing the support of his friends, nevertheless he's very gentle and caring little guy all in all and will face his fears for the sake of others.

  • Art Evolution: A curious example, but take a look at Piglet's one-second appearance in the original intro song (the "there's Rabbit, and Piglet, and there's Owl" part). Someone at Disney must have done some heavy redesigning before Piglet made his "official" animated debut in the second featurette.
  • Character Development: Arguably, he's the only character in the original novels who goes through genuine Character Development. He starts out as a timid dreamer who, in his desperate attempts to appear big and brave, usually blows his chances when he gets them and is blind to the positive qualities he does possess. In the latter parts of the second novel, he learns to recognize and appreciate his own strengths, and in the end becomes the big hero of the book.
  • Cheerful Child: In the Soviet Vinni Pukh adaptions, Piglet is a much cheerier and less timid character.
  • The Chew Toy
  • The Chick
  • Composite Character: Perhaps one reason for Piglet's cheerier attitude in the Soviet Vinni Pukh adaptions is that he's used as the stand-in character for Christopher Robin, who doesn't appear in the cartoons at all. Since the stories closely follow the book plots, Piglet is the one who says and does all the things that Christopher Robin did in the books, something which certainly alters his characterization a bit.
  • Cowardly Lion: Will perform impressive acts of bravery when a push becomes a shove, though he's more likely to do this in the Disney version than in the original novels.
  • Demoted to Extra: The Disney version occasionally tries to put him on sidelines, but it never seems to last; Piglet is simply too popular a character, even gaining his own movie at one point. This is even more notable considering Piglet wasn't even intended to appear in the Disney adaptions initially.
  • Extreme Doormat
  • Lovable Coward
  • Nervous Wreck
  • Nice Guy: Of all the characters, Piglet is probably the most compassionate and caring one.
  • Shrinking Violet
  • Trademark Favorite Food: In the books, acorns, also called "haycorns" by Pooh.
  • Vague Age: In the Disney version at least, despite being a "piglet" his matured voice and arguably more sensible personality than many of the others leaves it ambiguous as to whether he is much younger than Pooh. Tigger referring him to both "kiddo" and "ol' pal" at times certainly doesn't help.

Eeyore

Thanks for noticin' me.

Stuffed donkey with a deeply cynical and borderline mentally depressed view of life. Often around to share a negative view of things, though is also rather philosophical and can give great wisdom at times.

  • Adaptation Dye Job: A lot of modern Disney merchandise and promotional artwork saturates Eeyore's fur color into a dull blue, likely to give him a more florescent and noticable design compared to his grey scheme (granted however "blue" suits his character in a sense).
  • The Big Guy
  • The Chew Toy: Though granted not nearly as much as he views himself.
  • Deadpan Snarker
  • The Eeyore: Trope Namer
  • Flat Joy: The Disney version occasionally shows this, especially from New Adventures and onward. It's always Played for Laughs.
  • Grumpy Bear: Snarky and extremely cynical compared to the other more innocent residents of the Hundred Acre Wood. The Disney version represents this to an extent though is somewhat more recessive and "matter of fact" about it than in the original novels (an often implied character ethic is that he enjoys being depressed).
  • Jerkass: Definitely in the original novels, though occasionally he goes over into Jerkass Woobie territory. Both animated adaptions avert the trope, as Eeyore is far less nasty and sarcastic in either cartoons.
  • Only Sane Donkey: Often shows the most common sense over the others.
  • Peter Cullen: Voice actor from The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh onwards, until Bud Luckey in the 2011 film.
  • The Stoic: Ironically enough. Despite his trademark depressive personality, Eeyore is usually the least likely to become highly fearful or upset in a dire situation, his usual emotional range usually never straying past being somewhat glum and negative. Whatever makes his life is so miserable, he is at least accustomed to it.

Pooh: Are you alright, Eeyore?
Eeyore: Been better. Been worse too.

  • Surrounded by Idiots: Milne's suggested reason for his depressed attitude in the original novels. In the Disney adaptions, he's a much friendlier guy, just very negative in the most simplistic of terms, though he does have bouts of this trope at times, especially being The Chew Toy.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Thistles. This is mostly prominent in the original novels, but the Disney version has been known to chow down on a thistle or two as well.

Rabbit

Splendid idea -- glad I thought of it.

Grouchy rabbit that is obsessed with getting order and peace in the Hundred Acre Wood. Often finds himself bothered by the antics of the other residents usually Pooh and Tigger, though granted he himself often takes wacky extremes to deal with problems.

"Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully.
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever."
"And he has Brain."
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."
There was a long silence.
"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything."

Rabbit: Have you all gone mad?!? You can't possibly do things...out of order!

  • Token Evil Teammate: To an extent. He is much more antagonistic than the other residents, however by normal standards, he's just a bit of Jerkass, redeeming himself rather frequently and even plays the Straight Man on occasion.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: Merely wants to maintain order in the Hundred Acre Wood, but resorts to somewhat extreme measures such as kidnapping or traumatizing residents in order to do so (granted however, it hardly ever works).
  • Zany Scheme

Kanga

Do be careful, dear!

Docile mother kangaroo. Often acts a gentle mother figure to the others.

  • Beware the Nice Ones: Usually rather docile and sweet in tone (to the point of being a borderline Extreme Doormat), though let's say she's rather sporting to the odd scheme or prank (Piglet found this out the hard way).
  • Closer to Earth: The Disney version at least. The book version is slightly more sensible too but shares the others' occasionally brainless demeanor.
  • Kath Soucie: Voice actress from The Tigger Movie onwards.
  • Mama Bear: Much more gentle than usual examples, but obviously is rather protective of her son.
    • The trope is even pointed out by Piglet in the original novel:

"There's just one thing," said Piglet, fidgeting a bit. "I was talking to Christopher Robin, and he said that a Kanga was Generally Regarded as One of the Fiercer Animals. I am not frightened of Fierce Animals in the ordinary way, but it is well known that if One of the Fiercer Animals is Deprived of Its Young, it becomes as fierce as Two of the Fiercer Animals."

    • This is toned down in the Disney adaptation of their meeting, where Kanga knows full well how harmless the other residents are and ultimately shows mercy on Piglet (with "a cookie and a kiss"), at which point he realises Kanga isn't scary at all.
  • Positive Discrimination: The Disney version arguably. She does at least seem to be the one character lacking a personality-establishing flaw.
  • The Smurfette Principle
  • Team Mom

Roo

Yes, Mama!

Hyperactive joey of Kanga. Shares Tigger's fondness for bouncing and looks up to him like a big brother. Later befriends heffalump Lumpy.

Tigger: Taught him everything he knows.
Rabbit: That explains a lot.

Owl

Good, that will just give me time to tell you about my Uncle Clyde...

Scatterbrained elderly owl. Usually shares knowledge and wisdom to the other residents of the Hundred Acre Wood, oblivious to the fact he has as little idea of such aspects as they do. Also likes to share rather frequent (and long) amusing stories about his somewhat eccentric family.

  • Big Bad: In the 2011 movie adaptation, he causes the main conflict of Eeyore's lost tail, and later makes up the rumor of a monster called the Backston in order to cover his tracks. He's still not as nearly malicious as other Disney Villains.
    • It was heavily implied that he wasn't aware that what he had was Eeyore's tail.
  • Cool Old Guy: The other animals view him as this. While much more brainless in reality, he does have some shades of this.
  • Grumpy Old Man: Sometimes shows traces of this in the books; in one chapter it's revealed that his standard reply when someone knocks on his door is "Go away, I'm thinking -- oh, it's you?", and he can get pretty high-and-mighty and impatient with the others when he thinks they're talking about things that are beneath his dignity.
  • In the Blood: His family is often implied to be as scatterbrained as he is.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: In the 2011 movie adaptation.
  • Know-Nothing Know-It-All
  • Literal-Minded: Certainly so in Piglet's Big Movie, having taken the questions "Have you seen Piglet?" and "Have you seen him this morning?" literally.
  • Motor Mouth
  • Old Windbag
  • Owl Be Damned: Subverted somewhat. Though his clueless and sometimes deranged demeanor causes problems at times, Owl is a thoroughly high spirited and kindly individual, the other residents even frequently referring to him as "their good friend".
  • The Owl-Knowing One: Parodied. Everyone (including Owl himself) views Owl as the wisest and most intelligent of the animals, but in reality he's pretty clueless.
  • She's a Man In Japan: In the Soviet Vinni Pukh adaptions, Owl is female.
    • The original Norwegian translations of the books also turned Owl female. The books were re-translated (and drastically shortened, several plot points and jokes left out) later on, still with a female Owl. It wasn't until the third translation, which was far more faithful to the original text that Owl became male. (He was always male in the Norwegian dub of the Disney cartoons, which just made the entire thing even more confusing.)

Gopher

I'm *whistle* not in the book, y'know.

Full name Samuel J. Gopher, usually littering the Hundred Acre Wood with his endless burrows, often for someone (usually himself) to fall into. Exclusive to the Disney adaptions.

Lumpy

Heffridge Trumpler Brompet Heffalump IV.

Roo's new best friend, possibly the only character in the franchise who's younger than him, and one of the elusive Heffalumps -- though unlike previous depictions of these largely unseen monsters he's not the least bit menacing. Another Disney adaptation exclusive, though a much more recent addition than Gopher.


Lottie

Oh, la!

A female otter, and the single new character to appear in David Benedictus's Return to the Hundred Acre Wood. Slightly snobbish and haughty, and so scatterbrained that she makes Tigger look sensible, but ultimately kind and helpful.

  • Closer to Earth: Perhaps the one female character in all depictions to subvert this trope.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: She's second only to Eeyore when it comes to think up insults, but when it comes down to it she's really quite friendly.
  • Motor Mouth: Not quite as extreme as Owl, but still able to talk rings around Rabbit.
  • Tertiary Sexual Characteristics: The illustrations by Mark Burgess shows her to be wearing a pearl necklace.
  • What Measure Is a Non-Cute?: She was originally going to be a garden snake, but since Reptiles Are Abhorrent, the publisher insisted that she be turned into another animal. Benedictus settled on an otter.


Kessie

Rabbee!

A baby bird rescued and for a while cared for by Rabbit, whom she calls "Rabbee." A Disney-only character, she appeared only in a couple of episodes of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, but was brought back as a major recurring character for The Book Of Pooh.

  • Ascended Extra: In The Book Of Pooh.
  • Canon Foreigner
  • One-Scene Wonder: In New Adventures. She only starred in one episode (and made a Special Guest return appearance in another, as well as a surprise cameo in the Seasons of Giving video compilation), but that one episode is regarded as one of the best of the series, and Kessie remains one of the most fondly remembered bit characters of the franchise.

Darby

Co-lead character in My Friends Tigger And Pooh.

Heff Heffalump and Stan Woozle

Heffalump and Woozle in the flesh. Bumbling gangster types who are constantly after the Hundred Acre Wood's honey supply. Appeared as recurring antagonists in New Adventures.

The Pack Rats

A trio of rodents in New Adventures who compulsively steal anything that isn't nailed down. The gray one is the leader, the orange one is an overweight dimwit and the brown one has a slight attitude problem.

Crud

Horrifying One Shot villain from New adventures.

The Backson

A monster that Pooh and friends imagine when they mistake a letter Christopher Robin wrote to them as ending in "Backson" instead of "back soon", and, fearing the worst, they plan to capture it and rescue Christopher Robin. From the original books. Made its animated debut in the 2011 Winnie the Pooh film.

  • Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Inverted - Everything that Owl claims the Backson does is worthy only of Poke the Poodle, except for "Stealing your youth", which is pretty dangerous, and "Chipping your tooth", which obviously, would be pretty painful.
  • Blinding Bangs
  • Disney Acid Sequence: The Backson Song.
  • Real After All: The Backson makes an appearance in the post-credits stinger of the movie, but he seems to be a rather cheerful fellow.
  • The Stinger: The Backson stomps along through the woods, looking menacing, and then comes across the objects trail that Pooh and friends left, and cheerfully proclaims about how you can find so many interesting things in the woods. He sees the picture of himself, thinks everything must belong to the guy in the picture, and proceeds to pick up the items, leading right into the pit and falling into it.
  • "The Villain Sucks" Song: The Backson Song
  • What Do You Mean It's Not Heinous?: Everything the characters blame the Backson to be committing during its musical sequence are rather unfantastical and mundane, such as "scribbling in all your books", getting you to sleep in, spilling your tea, interrupting your train of thought, and never saying "pardon" when it bumps into you. It's also averted, as they also claim that it chips your tooth and steals your youth!
  1. ↑ Especially if it has pink sugar frosting
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