Open Up the Book of Pooh on Disney Channel Monday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 a.m. ET/PT; All-New Playhouse Disney Original Series Follows Pooh & His Pals for Adventure in the Hundred Acre Wood

Business Wire, Jan 18, 2001

Entertainment Editors & Television/Cable Writers

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2001

Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood will open "The Book of Pooh," a new Disney Channel original series premiering Monday, Jan. 22, 2001, at 7:30 a.m. ET/PT on Playhouse Disney, Disney Channel's programming block for preschoolers and their caregivers.

Inspired by the stories written by A.A. Milne for his son Christopher Robin, "The Book of Pooh" is unique in that it utilizes the 300-year-old art of Japanese "Bunraku" (boon-ra-ku) puppetry and computer-generated virtual sets.

"The Book of Pooh" features that "tubby little cubby," Winnie the Pooh, and his pals -- exuberant Tigger, gloomy Eeyore, shy Piglet, persnickety Rabbit and all-knowing Owl, as well as a new friend, a precocious bluebird named Kessie. With imaginative storylines and whimsical songs, the series follows the "silly ol' bear" and his neighbors as they explore their surroundings, all while learning about the exciting world of pre-literacy, wordplay and language appreciation through "The Book of Pooh's" underlying curriculum.

According to Mitchell Kriegman, executive producer for "The Book of Pooh," the series is a landmark in Winnie the Pooh's history.

"Up to this point, Pooh has been presented through the wonderful cel animation of Disney animators," said Kriegman. "With the use of Bunraku and today's technology, we're able to bring Pooh and his friends to life. And after all, what are Pooh and his friends but stuffed toys brought to life. For the first time, we can introduce little kids to the `real' Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet and Rabbit."

At "The Book of Pooh's" foundation is a preschool curriculum of pre-literacy and learning powered by imagination. With the support of Harvard Project Zero and a team of educational consultants, Disney Channel is proud to add "The Book of Pooh" to its already impressive line-up of Playhouse Disney series, including "Bear in the Big Blue House," "Out of the Box," "Rolie Polie Olie" and "Disney's PB&J Otter," aimed at teaching and entertaining preschoolers.

"The Book of Pooh" is produced by Shadow Projects in association with Disney Channel. Kriegman is president of Shadow Projects, which is based in New York.

Playhouse Disney, Disney Channel's diverse programming block for preschoolers and their caregivers, encourages creative play with an emphasis on imagination and positive messages. With distinctive, remarkable and winning characters, series within Playhouse Disney foster interaction between kids and their caregivers while creating an active playground for its young audience.

Disney Channel, combining original series, movies and specials with timeless classics, is the first full-time general entertainment television network designed for kids and families. Disney Channel is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co.