As a fan of Winnie the Pooh, 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' was always one of my favourite shows as a child. Not all childhood favourites have held up, but 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is one of the strongest examples of those that have.
While the original three 60s-70s short films ('Honey Tree', 'Blustery Day' and 'Tigger Too') and the 1977 'The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' are just a little better, 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is one of the Winnie the Pooh franchise's high points. 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is, as said a few times already, a rare example of a show with not a bad episode for the whole four seasons it ran, and has something for kids and adults alike. "Sham Pooh" is one of the show's funniest, while "Rock a Bye Pooh Bear" is touching but also effectively nightmarish at the same time.
The animation in both episodes is very bright, well drawn and colourful, everything looking lush, detailed and smooth, with some wonderful darker visuals in "Rock a Bye Pooh Bear" in the opening nightmare and being particularly 24 carat in "Sham Pooh". Piglet looks a tad off at one small point in "Rock a Bye Pooh Bear", but it's barely noticeable. In addition to that, the music is playfully jaunty and beautifully orchestrated, enhancing scarier moments with haunting urgency, sadder moments with poignant and particularly lush and emotional scoring, whimsical parts with an energy but also pathos and the more playful moments with a jaunty touch. The theme tune is very rousing and one of the catchiest theme songs of any animated show of the late 80s.
Writing has a perfect mix of whimsy, drollness, wit, charm and childhood innocence, shining in both episodes.
"Sham Pooh" is hilarious, and a classic story of mistaken identity done ingeniously. Especially loved the "why my paw seems to have forgotten its way to my mouth" "do you think my appetite's down there Tigger?" lines, they are so adorable, and the part where Gopher goes "Pooh Bear" and both Pooh and Owl go "Yes?" amuses me every time.
"Rock a Bye Pooh Bear" is a very atmospheric and poignant episode in contrast. While the dream itself is scarily nightmarish(and weird) in a sense (but doing it very appropriately and effectively) and the storm is enough to knock down a stadium, it is a very sweet and touching story at its core. It really is a reminder that Pooh, Tigger and Rabbit were such good friends to try to help Piglet through his nightmare, and there are some great lines such as Piglet's "now if you'll excuse me, I'm just going to take a five hour ice-cold bath".
Love all the characters, especially Tigger as well as their friendship, family-like bond and loyalty, especially evident in "Rock a Bye Pooh Bear", regardless of arguments and character flaws. The voice acting is superb from all involved.
All in all, two very contrasting episodes but also two excellent ones. 10/10 Bethany Cox
