Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (August 5, 1997)

This is a direct-to-video animated film which serves as the series finale of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh TV show (which concluded on air in 1991). The film follows Pooh and his friends on a journey to find and rescue their friend Christopher Robin from the "skull". Along the way, the group confront their own insecurities throughout the search, facing and conquering them in a series of events where they are forced to act beyond their own known limits, thus discovering their true potential. This summary makes the story seem deeper than it is, through the characters do go indeed on a grand, far reaching adventure, beyond the boundaries of the Hundred Acre Wood. This lends itself to some well-drawn backgrounds, with endearing animations (well done for a direct-to-dvd film) and delightfully charming songs. The story reminds me a later feature, namely Winnie the Pooh (2011). There too the lovable characters embark on a quest to safe their dear friends, Christopher Robin, based on a misconception over a note he left behind regarding his absence (on account of his poor spelling). I thoroughly enjoyed this brief, fantastical escapade and its message (misconstrued by Pooh) that “you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Is timeless and sweet. This is one of Winnie the Pooh’s earliest full-length film and it still holds up over two decades later, worth watching for adults and children alike.

Final Rating: 8/10