It’s a big year for our favorite silly old bear: Winnie the Pooh is turning 100! A.A. Milne first introduced the world to the honey-obsessed resident of the Hundred Acre Wood back in October 1926, and Disney is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the milestone by shining a light on how the Walt Disney Archives and Disney Consumer Products have kept Pooh’s magic alive across generations.
Think of the Walt Disney Archives as Disney’s ultimate memory keeper. Established in 1970 by Disney Legend Dave Smith, the archives exist to collect and protect the physical soul of the company, from theme park treasures and consumer goods to studio production artifacts. For this centennial, Disney is spotlighting Pooh-related items stretching back to the 1960s. (Disney’s relationship with Pooh Bear stretches back to 1961, when the company first acquired film and merchandising rights from the estate of A.A. Milne. While that early deal opened the door, the company didn’t fully cement its ownership until a major rights buyout in 2001.)
Among the most charming items in the collection are early plush toys from Gund, one of the longest-running Pooh licensees, who still makes Pooh products to this day.
“This collection gives fans a rare opportunity to see some materials that would shape Winnie the Pooh’s on‑screen and consumer‑products legacy, from early merchandise to early studio production documentation that reflects the craft behind his charm,” said Kevin M. Kern, Sr. Manager, Research, Walt Disney Archives.
Kern also recalled a memorable insight from Richard Sherman, who once reflected that “Winnie the Pooh is just like all of us. He shows all of the emotions that we show, he sees the things that we see, he struggles like we do.” Hard to argue with that!
Other highlights from the vault include a live-action stand-in prop from the 2018 film Christopher Robin, a Winnie the Pooh Whirl-A-Tune Music Maker, a Little Golden Book titled Winnie the Pooh Meets Gopher, and an Italian storybook.
To mark the centennial, Disney is launching a global brand campaign alongside fresh product collections:
“Winnie the Pooh’s 100th anniversary gives us an incredible opportunity to celebrate the products that have shaped his legacy,” said Amanda Dhalluin, VP Global Brand Commercialization, Disney Consumer Products. “From classic storybook‑inspired collections to modern lifestyle lines, every item we create is designed to connect fans with Pooh Bear in a way that feels personal and joyfully nostalgic.”
Dhalluin explained, “Everything we do in product is to bring the characteristics of those characters out into the products, so that the consumers understand them. Pooh is a real character, and all of these friends – if you think about how he interacts with Piglet or how he interacts with Eeyore – that can go across any generation or any culture.”
Disney Legend Mark Henn, the animator who brought Pooh to life in the 2011 film, believes the bear’s staying power comes down to something beautifully simple. “He’s naïve, maybe, but he has a real sincere heart,” said Henn, “which for me as an animator and as an actor is something I’ve always gravitated to in the characters I’ve enjoyed animating.” Kern summed it up perfectly: “I think one of the great things about the character is that he’s so steeped in wisdom that he himself does not always realize he’s giving, and that’s so timeless.”
Pooh Merch: What’s New and Coming Soon
The birthday celebration is already stacked with goodies. Carter’s, GAP, Old Navy and Primark dropped apparel collections, Vera Bradley released whimsical bags and accessories straight from the One-Hundred Acre Wood, Funko expanded their Pop Nooks line, and the Disney Store rolled out several new collections.
This month brings two brand-new LEGO Disney Winnie the Pooh sets, Just Play’s adorable blind-box Hunny Crew figures and Hunny Hugs Capsule Plush, plus goodies from Cakeworthy, PopSockets, Loungefly, and Kyte Baby. Beauty lovers can also look forward to new collections from Wet Brush, Wet n Wild, and Mad Beauty.
Still ahead: an adidas kids’ footwear collection arriving in June, new Disney Darlings from JAKKS Pacific, and special releases from Squishmallows, Steiff, Little Words Project, and Pandora. On the publishing front, fans can look forward to Winnie the Pooh: Wonders of the Hundred-Acre Wood Treasury, The Hundred-Acre Wood Cookbook, and The Winnie the Pooh Book: A Centenary Celebration. And this fall, Winnie the Pooh: 100 Mindful Moments from Penguin Random House arrives on September 22.
Happy 100th birthday, Pooh!
