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. Of the two episodes, "To Catch a Hiccup" is a great episode but "Me and My Shadow" is a classic.
The animation in both episodes is very bright, well drawn and colourful, everything looking lush, detailed and smooth, it's hard to say which is better animated because they are about equal. Also adopting a darker quality in "Me and My Shadow". The music is playfully jaunty and beautifully orchestrated, enhancing 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, while both stories are also beautifully told, simple but always charming and light-hearted. "To Catch a Hiccup" is a very innocent episode, with a story-line that really makes one relate to Piglet's dilemma with hiccups and trying to get rid of them. This said, "Me and My Shadow" is a more layered emotionally episode.
"Me and My Shadow" is one of the sweeter and more whimsical Winnie the Pooh episodes. It inspired me when younger to play with my shadow just like Piglet does here, and the part where Pooh and the others tried to cheer Piglet up by sharing their shadows with him was very cute, almost as cute as the sight of Pooh in the sun outfit. There are always room for some funny moments, nobody does funny sneezes like Tigger, and also perhaps the most poignant first two minutes of a Winnie the Pooh episode, who can resist tearing up at "But...I haven't got anybody else."
The characters are all delightful as is their chemistry which in some way anchors the show, while the voice acting is uniformly excellent, Paul Winchell (hilarious as ever in "To Catch a Hiccup"), Jim Cummings (adorable in both episodes, and love his friendship with Piglet), John Fiedler (giving some of his most touching voice work of the show in "Me and My Shadow").
To conclude, one great episode and a classic. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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. Of the two episodes, "To Catch a Hiccup" is a great episode but "Me and My Shadow" is a classic.
The animation in both episodes is very bright, well drawn and colourful, everything looking lush, detailed and smooth, it's hard to say which is better animated because they are about equal. Also adopting a darker quality in "Me and My Shadow". The music is playfully jaunty and beautifully orchestrated, enhancing 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, while both stories are also beautifully told, simple but always charming and light-hearted. "To Catch a Hiccup" is a very innocent episode, with a story-line that really makes one relate to Piglet's dilemma with hiccups and trying to get rid of them. This said, "Me and My Shadow" is a more layered emotionally episode.
"Me and My Shadow" is one of the sweeter and more whimsical Winnie the Pooh episodes. It inspired me when younger to play with my shadow just like Piglet does here, and the part where Pooh and the others tried to cheer Piglet up by sharing their shadows with him was very cute, almost as cute as the sight of Pooh in the sun outfit. There are always room for some funny moments, nobody does funny sneezes like Tigger, and also perhaps the most poignant first two minutes of a Winnie the Pooh episode, who can resist tearing up at "But...I haven't got anybody else."
The characters are all delightful as is their chemistry which in some way anchors the show, while the voice acting is uniformly excellent, Paul Winchell (hilarious as ever in "To Catch a Hiccup"), Jim Cummings (adorable in both episodes, and love his friendship with Piglet), John Fiedler (giving some of his most touching voice work of the show in "Me and My Shadow").
To conclude, one great episode and a classic. 10/10 Bethany Cox
