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Analysis / Pooh's Grand Adventure

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    Coming of Age in the Hundred Acre Wood 

  • This film is as much a coming of age story as Lord of the Flies. We start with the last day of a golden summer, one Pooh has spent happily with Christopher Robin, playing from dawn till dusk together as they always have. This is like the target audience of the film, children. They spend their early lives playing with their parents, siblings or friends without a care in the world. This is the innocent reality that Pooh lives in, completely oblivious to the world around him and believing that forever is guaranteed to be true.

  • Then, Christopher Robin has to leave Pooh, or as we learn later, won't be around all the time anymore. Like a child entering public school, Pooh now has to spend a lot of his time without the person he loves most. What makes this complicated is that it isn't as if Pooh is ignoring this change; Pooh is mentally incapable of rationalizing this idea that Christopher Robin could leave. The very idea is world shattering because it violates the status quo that he held onto for all of his life. When Christopher Robin tries to bring up the idea that he might be apart, Pooh stares fixatedly at some flying insects and merely remarks "Oh, but you really couldn't be. As I would be quite lost without you....We simply wouldn't be." Whatever Pooh imagined, tended to happen and things had a way of sorting itself out. But that's not happening here. Christopher Robin is gone and it creates issues. What starts as a simple errand of trying to figure out who the honey pot outside his house belongs to gets everybody involved. Piglet, Tigger and Rabbit are about to find out how they are struggling in this "new world", so to speak, without Christopher Robin there everyday. The time comes when they set off into the Great Unknown, without a guide. Though they are out to find Christopher Robin, they are also out to find themselves, whether they know it or not. Owl is essentially handing them their high school diploma and saying "Good luck, get out there! The world is scary so be careful!" How many speeches from principals and valedictorians have we heard that boil down to this? And even though Owl might have the confidence to say "Adventure is a Wonderful Thing" the rest of the characters clearly don't share this confidence.

  • And so Pooh and friends venture out to find themselves, or rather who they are without Christopher Robin's help. The child has become a college student, on a similar journey to find themself. They all face the horrors and dangers of the real world, and sometimes feel like they can't go on. They feel lost and on their own, and far from home...and family. They wistfully wish to return to the carefree days when they could just play with their loved ones, but that time is over. Worse for Pooh, it was never true in the first place, he just dogmatically believed such because it was never challenged up until now. He believed that Christopher Robin would be there, forever, and up until now it was always true. Christoper Robin was always there, just because, and Pooh could always turn to him, just because. Now, however, Christopher Robin is gone and Pooh has to remember what Christopher Robin was trying to say without anyone's help, something he could have just gotten for free back in the day. He's facing his cognitive dissonance of the world around him for the first time by actually facing reality. And as he soon finds out, reality is scary and isn't always a bright and colorful place.

  • This conflict of purpose even extends to the rest of the cast as well.

    • For Piglet, he has always been afraid. He doesn't have any resolve and believes that since he is a small animal, he will never be brave. He relies on others for support and gets scared when he is alone. Everything scares him, and he doesn't have anything to counter his fears besides others. When in danger, his first response is to call for Christopher Robin, something the others later replicate out of desperation. When the butterflies take him away, he becomes incredibly frightened and wails that he is too afraid to be brave. The first conflict when facing reality is personified with Piglet: we turn to others for help, oblivious to the fact that they aren't always there. For a child, the idea that they might find themselves all alone to face a problem is a terrifying concept.

    • For Tigger, he has always believed himself to be the strongest. This comes to him simply because he perceives that he is the best bouncer in the group. At the beginning, this overconfidence is challenged. However, it's only when Tigger fails to get the map at the ravine where he falls into despair and realizes that he cannot succeed with his tail on strength alone. In shame, he feels that there is no point in being a bouncer as he gives up on his tail for some time, and thus he runs instead of bounces for some time. For a character that used bouncing to get around for most of his life, this is something he resigns to rather defeatedly. And it stands out from his portrayal in other media, as Tigger walking or running signified sadness. Now, it signifies shame. This is especially heartbreaking as he basically loses all the confident bravado he's always had, and with it, a part of himself. Recognizing that your strength has limits can be very frightening on its own, as it shows how much larger the real world is. You could even make an argument that Tigger is struggling with...performance issues. If you really want to go there.

    • For Rabbit, his authorities (books, maps, others) have allowed him to do smart things in the presence of his peers. Naturally, he remains confident that they will help him find Christopher Robin. That's the way he's always done things. Like Pooh, the idea that these authorities might be wrong is a foreign thought that never even touches on his consciousness. This remains so until he realizes that the map is not able to save him in the mist, which symbolizes doubt and being alone. It's akin to a crisis of faith. Replace the maps with something like The Bible and suddenly the song "If It Says So" is a metaphor where Rabbit's authorities on living suddenly can't explain his problems away even though he thinks that if it's written by someone else, it has to be right. And it really is that way to him...up until the map gets ripped in half. For an upcoming adult entering a strange world where everything is supposed to make sense because of what others say, realizing that it doesn't make sense is world shattering on its own.

  • This struggle the animals face magnifies in the mist and the animals don't believe that they can survive and have a chance of succeeding. This is seen when Rabbit, Piglet, and Tigger all admit that they don't have a chance of being independent, or in this case, finding Christopher Robin, when they have depended so much on Christopher Robin throughout all their lives. They submit to resting in a random cave, merely suggesting that the mist might leave, without confidence or certainty. As for the song, "Wherever You Are" when Pooh comes to the realization that he can't find Christopher Robin, his world is finally shattered for good. He stops believing in forever, and learns that his life is a dream. The other animals fall into similar despair. This struggle is only intensified when they fail to confront their antagonist: the Skullasaurus.

  • The skullasaurus has a greater significance that what we believe. It is not simply a product of imagination. The Skullasaurus is symbolic of the stuffed animals fear of reality. They fear what they will encounter when they are forced to face reality and thus they run from this terror that they cannot understand. Their fears, their worries, and their greatest antagonist, doubt, is what they are afraid of; the skullasaurus is only a symbol of this enemy. One they fail to face time and time again as the world around them gets darker and scarier while losing the color and happiness that they believed the world to be composed of. All the other antagonists the characters have "faced" up to this point, especially in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh either turn out to be themselves, misunderstood or rather unimpressive. This larger than life antagonist called the real world is a lot scarier and something that they have to run from as the alternative is facing it...something that the characters dread even if they can't admit it. Ironically, as they try to block out reality they only stumble into it...as they arrive at Skull. Running from your fears only makes them worse, despite your best efforts. Confrontation must occur eventually.

  • In Skull, the world is mysterious but not pretty and cheerful like the Hundred Acre Wood. As colorful as the world can be, it can also be a dark and scary place. Eventually, people are going to learn that expecting the world to be bright and colorful all the time isn't just naïve, it's unhealthy. When the world is scary, you need to treat it as such. The layout of this place is unlike anything they have ever faced, worsened when they begin by splitting up to face this strange place as individuals first, only to end up reunited as they face the same unfair reality where Christopher Robin left with barely a trace. Their calls for Christopher Robin, an attempt to find familiarity, is rewarded with silence.

  • The climax of this story occurs when the trio, Piglet, Tigger, and Rabbit must reach the eye of the skull. They must believe in themselves to break the cloud of doubt and reach their greatest potentials. Rabbit comes up with a plan on his own and proves to himself that he doesn't need something to solve a problem for him. Tigger believes that he has strength. More than just physical strength, Tigger discovers resolve and willpower, something he never had. As for Piglet, he finds that even a small animal can be brave and he is able to save the day. However, even more strongly, he is no longer afraid to try and he has the courage to face an obstacle and not only challenge it but overcome it. They all learn to try, and trying is scary, but it can be done. This leaves Pooh. He discovers that even though forever is never true, and that he has lost Christopher Robin, his best friend will always be a part of him. Pooh learns that Christopher Robin is in Pooh's heart and that nothing will take him away. With this realization, Pooh grows up and matures in a way that he never had before. Thus, he is able to live happily without Christopher and he can let him go with the knowledge that the boy will never be gone. He will always be with him.

  • Pooh's honey pot represents his naive perspective that he needs Christopher Robin in-person and around him to truly "be" with him. This honey pot is Pooh's rock, what he depends on the entire film. When he finally realizes that Christopher Robin is always with him in his heart, he leaves behind the honey pot in the pit, and with it, his assumption that he loses Christopher whenever he can't see them. It's subtle and it works beautifully.

  • (As a side note, while Eeyore remains Out of Focus and lacks as elaborate character study as the others, it is he who notices the light at the end of the tunnel and that if they all put their heads together, they might be able to get to the Eye. It's very subtle Character Development compared to everyone else, but still it is Eeyore of all people that tries to encourage everyone into thinking they have a chance.)

  • When the heroes do face the Skullasaurus, in an ironic sense, it ends up being a metaphor for discovering the true Christopher Robin. While you could see this as a weaker interpretations since it suggests that the heroes didn't actually face reality, by having the Skullasaurus be Christopher Robin it suggests that the answer is to see the new Christopher Robin for who he is; a boy who is capable of aging. Once they overcome this fear, they can get on with their lives. Now that they have faced reality, they can finally live in it for the first time ever. In a sense, the real journey has only begun. And yet, as they return, they have confidence and bravado as they seem to recognize their own merits.

  • In college, though things have changed, the young adult has found who they really are without their loved ones, and realizes that though they can't have them around all the time, they are still with them in their hearts. The end of the film has Christopher Robin and Pooh promising to always be with each other even in this new age that is dawning, just like the young adult as they finally become an adult, and go forward in life. When Christopher Robin asks "Forever and ever?" the context has changed for Pooh. Instead of this being status quo due to being innocent and naïve, Pooh promises to be there "Forever and Ever" as an act of encouragement and hope. They know that they will always be together in their hearts and Pooh demonstrates the ability to be independent, just as a child learns to become an adult.

    The Stages of Grief with Stuffed Animals 

  • Much of the behavior of Pooh and his friends following Christopher Robin's disappearance can be seen as representing the Five Stages of Grief, which are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. It is worth saying that this model is considered outdated in Real Life, though it still shows up prominently in fiction. Some people will experience the various stages in a different order than they are normally listed, while others may skip certain stages entirely. This can be seen within this particular film, as some characters go through stages that others don't, and some stages are downplayed compared to others, if they're even present at all.
  • Denial is most prominently seen when the cast is gathered at Owl's treehouse to read the letter from Christopher Robin, which suggests that he's "gone far away" and needs help. Piglet refers to the whole ordeal as a "frightful thought," Rabbit incredulously questions Owl about how and when he left and demands to know "who authorized it," and Pooh looks out a window and sadly says "It simply cannot be."
  • Anger is seen most often with Rabbit in the film's first half, with him being rather short-tempered with his friends on their journey. While this may simply be due to the stress of their situation, and Rabbit tends to be exasperated by the others' antics on a regular basis anyway, it's possible that he's projecting his own feelings about Christopher Robin being missing, or is lashing out as a sort of defense mechanism.
  • Bargaining is somewhat played around with, with some lines like Pooh saying "Whatever will I do?" or Tigger saying "Where will we get the strength to go on without him?", but those are less specific pleas and more outbursts of woes. The most direct example would be during Pooh's song "Wherever You Are," which includes the line "I've hung a wish on every star," but this is immediately followed by "It hasn't done much good so far," showing that Pooh has already tried to bargain and it didn't work.
  • Depression is arguably the stage that's most prominently shown in the movie, with almost all of the characters crossing the Despair Event Horizon at some point. The most poignant example would be the scene in the fog, where Rabbit finally admits that he doesn't know what he's doing and says "I've failed us all," with Pooh following suit immediately after, and Tigger exclaiming "Without Christopher Robin, we don't have a chance of finding Christopher Robin." The group decides to rest in nearby cave, but Pooh and Rabbit both have trouble sleeping, leading to the song "Wherever You Are," which sounds more like a lament for someone who died than someone you're trying to find.
  • Acceptance doesn't come from accepting that Christopher Robin is gone, as the group reunites with him and he explains that he's been at school the entire time. Instead, it comes in the final scene between Christopher Robin and Pooh, where the former explains what school is and tells the latter that he will have to go back. Pooh accepts that he won't get to see his best friend as often as he used to, and promises that he will still be waiting for him "forever and ever."

    Pooh's Grand Adventurers 

The Five-Man Band

  • Pooh and his friends together make up a Five-Man Band, although the particular roles and dynamics vary a bit from other examples in popular culture. None of the group are really fighters, there aren't any monsters to fight, and all of the characters are male, so The Smurfette Principle is not in play.
    • Pooh is the main protagonist, but his role in the group is more akin to The Heart than The Leader. He's usually the most optimistic one of them, and despite not being very smart, he occasionally offers emotional insight or wisdom.
    • Tigger is The Big Guy, and is considered the strongest due to his bouncing skills. He's also incredibly loyal and dependable, and is almost always eager to lend a helping hand.
    • Rabbit is widely recognized as The Smart Guy, and is generally the most level-headed of the group, though he often gets annoyed or frustrated by his friends doing crazy or stupid things.
    • Piglet functions mostly as a Tagalong Kid, even though he's presumably the same age as the others. He doesn't have any outwardly impressive skills like Tigger or Rabbit, and usually relies on the help of others to get by.
    • Eeyore provides comic relief by being a glum Deadpan Snarker, which contrasts him with the rest of the cheerful cast.
      • Piglet and Eeyore also seem to form a Those Two Guys dynamic in this movie. Take note of the various times that Piglet rides on Eeyore's back or holds onto his tail, or how they sleep snuggled together in the cave before Act Three.
    • Christopher Robin tends to act as the Sixth Ranger. While he isn't around for all of his friends' adventures or antics, he tends to show up when they most need him, and provides just the ride support and guidance that they need.
  • The narrative of this movie takes this established team and puts them through a Decon-Recon Switch, analyzing there weaknesses as individuals but confirming their importance and value to the group as a whole.

Deconstruction

  • By putting the cast in a scary and dangerous situation that they aren't used to dealing with, the film highlights each character's flaws and brings out their insecurities, which challenges their role and contributions to the adventuring party.
    • Pooh is the most saddened by Christopher Robin's disappearance, which crushes his sense of optimism. Combined with his nature as a "bear of very little brain," he ends up being much less than helpful during times of crisis or confusion. He not only gets demoted from the de facto leadership that Owl gave him in favor of Rabbit, but is unable to pass along the words of advice he got from Christopher Robin. In fact, whenever he slips up trying to remember those words for his friends whenever they are feeling down, they tend to feel worse off than they did before.
    • Tigger tends be innocently narcissistic regarding how good of a bouncer he is, which comes back to bite him when he tries to retrieve the map over the log bridge. Realizing he can't bounce high enough to reach the floating paper, he soon finds himself falling into the ravine with the breaking log. When he tearfully admits he doesn't have the strength to bounce back up, the others all end up falling in trying to help him out. The one that everybody relied on for his strength now looks like a burden, and he glumly stops bouncing for much of the film afterwards.
    • Rabbit may be the smartest member of the group, but he finds that he is Book Smart on a quest where Street Smart is needed. Although he steps up as leader, he relies exclusively on the map to guide everyone, and acts like an Insufferable Genius whenever someone questions his sense of direction. His refusal to admit when he's wrong leads to the entire group getting lost in the fog, where he's left with no choice but to admit he doesn't know which way they're going. He guiltily admits that he's let everyone down, and later makes the mistake of letting Pooh decide to split up inside Skull.
    • Piglet's fears and anxiety cause him to run off in a panic through the thorny thicket, and he ends up being nearly carried away by butterflies of all things. He later finds himself in peril alone inside Skull, where he trips on pebbles and causes Eeyore to run panicking with Piglet unknowingly on his back. Although his friends have rarely ever judged him for his meek and timid nature, these incidents certainly make him look and feel like The Load.
    • Eeyore does little to contribute when the group finds themselves in a tense situation. He cracks a joke once in a while, but his morbid and depressing snark does little to lift the spirits of his increasingly despairing friends. He's basically acting as only comic relief, and he's not particularly good at it on this quest.
    • Christopher Robin is ultimately made out to be a crutch for the other characters. Whenever he was around, they didn't have to solve problems or face fears, because he did those things for them. Now that he's practically become The Ghost, his friends are made all too aware of how dependent they've been on him, and how helpless they are on their own.

Reconstruction

  • Despite their failures up to that point, everyone proves themselves during the climax in Skull, and their established roles are confirmed and fortified.
    • Pooh becomes a source of inspiration for the others when they thought he had been eaten by the Skullasaurus, as they push forward to honor his memory, not knowing that he's actually watching them from afar. On the flipside, Pooh is ecstatic to see them succeed, and is finally able to remember Christopher Robin's parting words by seeing his friends in action. Thus it is shown that The Heart not only provides much needed motivation for the others in a team, but (s)he receives strength and a sense of importance from them in turn.
    • Tigger agrees to bounce Piglet up to the ledge at Rabbit's urging, despite feeling incapable of completing the task, believing that doing so would make Pooh happy. He wills himself to successfully make the bounce, with Piglet clinging tightly to his shoulders. In doing so, he demonstrates that The Big Guy performs feats of strength not to boost or flaunt his own ego, but to support those around him in their times of need.
    • Rabbit is forced to confront a problem without the map or some other written guide, and has a major "Eureka!" Moment when he sees the vine hanging overhead. He convinces the others to follow through on his plan to get up the ledge, and said plan succeeds in spite of their trepidation. He thus proves himself as deserving to be The Smart Guy by using his own intuition and awareness of his surroundings to think and plan on the spot, rather than rely solely on memorized knowledge.
    • Piglet agrees to be brave and do his part to cross the small branch and get the vine down. Although he's afraid of the long distance, he's able to push his way through his fear, enabling Rabbit and Eeyore to join him and Tigger on the ledge. In spite of his small and unimpressive stature, Piglet is able to perform tasks that the other members of the team can't do, just like the best examples of the Tagalong Kid.
    • Eeyore is actually the first to suggest that the group try to get up the ledge to save Christopher Robin, prodding someone to come up with an idea to do so. While he may not have been the best at being funny, he is shown to have common sense and insight when he does speak his mind. The best examples of comic relief bring more to the party than just telling jokes, as Eeyore proves here.
    • Christopher Robin is proud of the others for their accomplishments, even though he was never in any real danger. He later tells Pooh that he would remind himself of his friends whenever he was having tough times at school, just like how they were always thinking of him whenever he wasn't around. While a Sixth Ranger isn't strictly necessary for a team to succeed, they are still helpful whenever they are around, and they also draw their own strength from being a part of the team.


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