EXCLUSIVE: Here’s the first trailer for Kartoon Studios’ animated production, The Hundred Acre Wood’s Winnie-the-Pooh.
Due to launch at the end of this year, and based on A.A. Milne’s beloved children’s properties, the material will include 200 six-minute shorts as well as a package of five-holiday specials. Michael Maliani is producer.
The series incorporates a “yarn-based animation style blending AI and hand-drawn characters and backgrounds”. Voice cast is being worked out now. The kids show will debut on the Kartoon Channel, which is distributed through Prime Video Channels.
The trailer was revealed last night at a private Sundance Film Festival event held by Harbor Fund.
“Winnie-the-Pooh is more than just a character; he’s a beloved symbol of kindness, imagination, and the enduring value of friendship,” said Andy Heyward, CEO of Kartoon Studios, and executive producer on the project.
He continued: “It allows us to tell timeless, heartfelt stories and, at the same time, connect children to the simple joys of nature and animals. We’re creating something truly special by embracing A.A. Milne’s original vision while reimagining it for today’s audience. For our investors, this project underscores Kartoon Studios’ commitment to delivering premium, timeless content with global appeal and the products they inspire. The potential for Winnie-the-Pooh as a brand is monumental, and we’re confident this series will capture the hearts of viewers around the world as we develop a global line of products based on this look and interpretation of A.A. Milne.”
The original 1926 Winnie-the-Pooh book entered the public domain in the U.S. on January 1, 2022, but remains protected under copyright laws in many other countries. This means that Disney, which acquired the rights to the original Winnie-the-Pooh book in 1961, no longer has exclusive rights to make works based on the classic. A number of Pooh projects, including horror movies, have surfaced since the domestic copyright was lifted.
Kartoon Studios’ credits include Rainbow Rangers, Shaw’s Garage, Horrid Henry and Secret Millionaire’s Club.