Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966) User Reviews (16)

"It's not much of a tail, but I'm sort of attached to it"

[ackstasis · 7/10 · 26 December 2010]

'Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966)' was the first animated adaptation of A.A. Milne's children stories, and presents itself rather charmingly as a moving picture-book depicting the imaginary adventures of Christopher Robin and his favourite toys. In this first episode, directed by Wolfgang Reitherman (future director of 'The Aristocats (1970)'), Winnie the Pooh (voiced by Sterling Holloyway) attempts rather unsuccessfully to steal honey from a bee-hive in the uppermost branches of a tree, before getting himself stuck in the front-door burrow of an increasingly-exasperated Rabbit.

The film seems to have been rather influential in the Soviet Union. The first Russian Winnie the Pooh cartoon, released as 'Vinni-Pukh (1969)', uses the same storyline. 'The Fox and the Hare (1974),' from my favourite animator Yuri Norstein, similarly uses the stylistic device of animating its characters as figures in a moving storybook. Here, I was slightly disappointed by the absence of Piglet. He appears for a moment in here, but doesn't say anything. John Fiedler, who subsequently voiced the character in 'Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968),' would continue to do so until his death in 2005, and his voice is quite unmistakable.

Classic

[utgard14 · 8/10 · 15 December 2013]

Wonderful classic tells the story of Winnie the Pooh's honey craving and the lengths he will go to in order to get some. It's a fun story with the memorable image of Pooh stuck in the door to Rabbit's house that everybody is familiar with. The characters, as always, are lovable and memorable. In addition to Pooh and Rabbit, there's Kanga, Eeyore, Owl, Roo, Gopher, and, of course, Christopher Robin. Piglet and Tigger would appear in the next Pooh short from Disney. The animation is excellent and there's some great songs by the Sherman Brothers. Let's not forget Sebastian Cabot's terrific narration. It's a great cartoon and would appear later in "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," which is where I first saw it.

The best of Winnie the Pooh

[afonsobritofalves · 8/10 · 12 September 2018]

One of the best shorts ever, it marked my childhood a lot. Highly recommend.

My favourite of the Winnie the Pooh vignettes!

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 2 September 2009]

This is a wonderful gem, with great memorable songs by the Sherman Brothers, and excellent animation.

The story is great fun, with Pooh running out of honey and climbing up a tree to get it. Afterwards, he gets stuck in the door of Rabbit's house and has to wait until he's thin enough to budge.

The characters were wonderful, especially Gophyr, I particularly loved the phrase, "that supercilious scoundrel has confiscated my honey". They are well voiced by the likes of Sterling Holloway, John Fiedler and Junius Matthews, with Sebastian Cabot giving a thoughtful insight as the narrator.

This vignette is wonderful, highly recommended! 10/10 Bethany Cox

The one that started it all

[Atreyu_II · 10/10 · 28 July 2007]

1966 was the year when the first animated short of Winnie the Pooh and his friends came out. These characters immediately became a phenomenon of popularity and they're still just as popular nowadays. It all started with "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" in 1966, followed by many other Winnie the Pooh's shorts, all of them taking place in the magical and childish world of the Hundred Acre Wood.

This first adventure introduces us these adorable characters, as well as Winnie the Pooh, the little bear obsessed by hunny (honey), lovingly called «silly old bear» by Cristopher Robin. However, Piglet and Tigger's first appearance is only in the following short "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day". Anyway, we can see right from the start how the characters's personalities are.

A delightful story, lovely songs (such as "Little Black Rain Cloud", "Up, Down and Touch the Ground", "Rumbly in My Tumbly" and "Winnie the Pooh"), great artwork and animation, charm and classic humor are another attribute here.

The story is amusing and focus mostly on Pooh's determination to get some honey. Although he is a bear with very little brain, he's not the sort of bear to give up easily. It's funny how he often thinks of something, but no matter how hard he tries to think, the only thing that comes to his simple mind is honey. And it's funny that he does physical exercises, but not for the reasons you could think. You think he does physical exercises to get thinner? You better think again, he he he! He does physical exercises to get hungry, as an excuse to eat honey.

The Gopher (who is not in the book) is hilarious, especially whenever he falls down his hole. That is spectacular! The nervous Rabbit can be unfair at times, but he does the right thing when he stops the Gopher from feeding Pooh with honey.

As for Eeyore, his pessimistic personality is obvious right from the beginning, when he says «If it's a good day, which I doubt».

Excellent for Children of All Ages

[consortpinguin · 10/10 · 19 April 2001]

The "Winnie the Pooh" cartoons from Disney are classics. This is the quality program that you would want your children to see. And it makes you glad you have children so that you have an excuse to see it too.

They did a wonderful job of adapting the A. A. Milne stories to the screen. It's good clean fun with no "undesirable" elements such as violence or bathroom humor. All the characters are brought to life faithfully and their casting of the voices is perfect. Sterling Holloway IS Winnie.

The story line of this cartoon revolves around Winnie, the honey-loving bear trying various schemes to get his golden delight. He is so funny, stopping at nothing to get some honey, regardless of the practicality of the effort. He uses a toy balloon to float to the bees' nest high up in a tree, but is foiled by the bees.

Each different character has a unique trait. Eeyore shows the depressed side of human nature, always finding the down side of anything. The other characters succeed in cheering him up. Owl is the "educated" one who loves to hear himself talk. Tigger, happy-go-lucky tiger bounces around exuberantly on his coil-spring tail, greeting everyone, and sometimes accidentally knocking them over. The cartoons say a lot about friendship -- friends helping friends.

Very enjoyable -- worth seeing, whether you're a child of 3 or 93.

A fantastic featurette!

[Greatlife675 · 10/10 · 17 May 2006]

This is the first of the 4 Winnie the Pooh short films, and a really great one at that, too! Everything is introduced into this short classic, and the storyline fits perfectly. The animation is great and the songs are catchy. The voice cast is perfect, as well. But let me tell you this. I may be in my teenage years, but ANYONE would love Winnie the Pooh. By the way, this is the one out of the four I enjoyed the most through my whole life. Seriously. I do enjoy the other three, too, but if you want to make sure, see my reviews for the others. But you'll find this one more than satisfying. I highly recommend this, as well as the others.

Never liked it..

[Tashtago · 6/10 · 4 January 2010]

Sorry to be the spoil sport here but even as a 7 year old child when this came out I didn't like it. First I thought Pooh was a fat greedy pig , eats all Rabbit's honey and get himself stuck. After he should have been kicked out of the hundred acre wood for theft, selfishness and overall being a big pain. Second the other characters are mostly annoying and at best as in Owl just okay. How about Piglet, a nervous wreck, Rabbit another nervous wreck, Eeeyore a manic depressive, and Christopher Robin a wimp. Third and most importantly and something my kids comment on even today, why oh why is he called Pooh? Given that I've become more forgiving in recent years and definitely enjoy the animation.

Best of the Pooh stories, and FUN!

[piccione2000 · 10/10 · 5 September 2002]

This is Pooh's first adventure. It is in my opinion, the best of the Pooh offerings. Excellent songs with wonderful animation. It is great for people of all ages. Each character is introduced nicely, and the ideas are fresh and clever. Join Pooh and his friends here for a lot of adventure, involving his love for honey, where he tries to get it from the tree, to when he eats at Rabbit's, and to the end, when he gets all the3 honey he will want. This story is great for everyone. Kids will love it, and will want to see it over and over. A real winner!

possible candidate for best short film for young children

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 20 June 2006]

Like the other three Pooh shorts that made up the feature film of the Many Adventures released in 1977 and on video in the 80s, the Honey Tree short was one of those works I've watched countless times. It does have its 'valuable lesson' for the kids, but it's also just very silly, cute entertainment that ranges from jokes so absurd they work for some adults ("You messed up my moose" is a line I still quote today, the Gopher material is also rather off-key for a children's short), to the suspenseful moments that, for lack of a better description, capture kid's imaginations. And the whole structure of it being a book-as-animated short give it an inventiveness that don't come with other adaptations of books to Disney animation. Here, Rabbit becomes irate and near impatient as Pooh gets stuck in his rabbit-hole after consuming more honey than needed. Pooh then is stuck for a week until he can loose the excess baggage, where a very climactic and momentous pull of Pooh is lead in song and action. All of this is very clever, and even for little kids its got nothing at all complicated about it- even if all the points and little jokes aren't caught the thrust of the storytelling and joyous nature even in the safer moments are near-perfect. And unlike what apparently is meant for current pre-K programming today (Teletubbies aren't on anymore at least), the whole mood is very pure without being pandering. There's no overt vulgarity, and the over-the-top moments don't get old ("Don't feed the bear" is another quotable phrase). Highly recommended.

Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree

[jboothmillard · 5/10 · 23 June 2005]

This was the very first adventure based on the famous children's books from Walt Disney animations, when I was younger this used to be very good. Winnie the Pooh, the bear with little brain, lives in the Hundred Acre Wood with many friends including, Rabbit, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo, Owl and Christopher Robin. No sign of Tigger or Piglet though. Anyway, in this Pooh runs out of honey and notices a honey tree. He is trying everything he can to get some honey from the tree. But he instead gets it from Rabbit and ends up stuck in his front door. Kids will obviously love this cartoon for the cute and cuddly Pooh bear, and a very good story. Winnie the Pooh was number 55 on The 100 Greatest Cartoons. Woeth watching!

The Transatlantic Bear

[directoroffantasies · 31 October 2004]

If memory serves, the original Steiff toy belonging to the late Christopher Robin Milne, "Winnie the Pooh", now resides in Manhattan, either at the New York Public Library or at publisher E.P. Dutton's headquarters. The symbolism is obvious: a British children's classic has made the transatlantic leap.

Disney scriptwriters have been heavily criticized for de-emphasizing the Britishness of Pooh, beginning with this first film in what became a series of theatrical short subjects. Most of the voices - Christopher is an exception - are American. Sterling Holloway became so identified with the title role that it is hard to imagine anyone else, British or American, taking it over.

The best thing about "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" is that it is adapted directly from Alan Milne's printed work. As I did in 1966, a child today seeing this film for the first time could ask for the book version and receive something unusually congruent with the screenplay.

Christopher Robin Milne, bookshop owner and authors' rights heir, had notoriously mixed feelings about his father's creation. In particular, he had his doubts about the effect Disney's version might have on the original.

Not to worry: the Disney machine has generated far more positive attention for Pooh than a global army of publishers.

must see short

[jaemiewaters · 10/10 · 26 June 2012]

it is a must see short for everyone of all ages if you are looking for a good short than this is the one for you than it is one of a kind it is a perfect family short for everyone it is one of the coolest shorts ever made i think you and your kids will enjoy seeing the pretty pictures in this beautiful colorful film that will make you clap it is one of a kind i never thought i would enjoy this one of s kind short if you want to watch something good than this is the movie for you than i never saw anything like this before i really think if you like Disney stuff than you will enjoy this short it should be in Disney Digital 3D Real D 3D and IMAX 3D now that would be cool i really am asking will you put this in 3D you just have to watch this amazing short that is for all ages to enjoy go see movie it is so good if you find a good movie than this is the one for you than you just have to watch this go see this amazing short today you won't be sorry one bit that is how good it i think you will enjoy this wonderful sort it ROCK YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS

Americans Shunning Sugar estimate that this exercise in . . .

[pixrox1 · 5/10 · 7 June 2022]

. . . gluttony has artificially spiked diabetes and related sugar fatalities by at least 12,000 from its first release through 2018--the most recent year data on stiffs pushing up daisies from excessive honey consumption is available--as well as decimating the vital bee population of our U. S. Homeland by at least 27%, thanks to vandals taking the so-called "Pooh Bear Honey Tree Challenge." So, if you're not one of those carnivorous types eating ALL of your meals at A-r-b-y's, you can start kissing your fruit, vegetables and flowers goodbye, thanks to the Bad Influence of this wrong-headed Dizzy Nature Film.

The introduction to Pooh and his gang

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 15 July 2015]

This 20-minute, Grammy award nominated, animated short film from almost 50 years ago was actually the first appearance of the honey addicted bear Winnie the Pooh on the screen. The director is German Wolfgang Reitherman. You could basically divide it into two parts. In the first half Pooh Bear realizes that he has no more honey left. So he goes to get some, but obviously taking honey means getting in trouble with bees. And that's exactly what happens. After he and his pal Christopher Robin are chased by a huge quantity of bees, he gives up and thinks about other ways to get honey. Thankfully, his rabbit buddy still has some and so he visits him and eats it all up. Unfortunately, afterward, Pooh is too fat to get out of the rabbit hole and he is stuck. Christopher Robin knows no solution either, so Pooh Bear has to wait till he loses enough weight to get out on his own again. Of course, he still wants to eat honey while he is stuck. I have to say this was not a horrible short film by any means, but it's still too little material for over 20 minutes in my opinion. This was the first Pooh Bear film, was even made before the Soviet adaptation, but it's certainly not the best. Not recommended.