Winnie the Pooh and a Day For Eeyore
Director: Richard Reinhart
Cast: Ralph Wright, Hal Smith, John Fielder, Kim Christianson, Paul Winchell, Will Ryan, Dick Billingsley, Julie McWherter, Laurie Main
Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore is a 1983 American animated featurette based on the sixth chapter of “The House at Pooh Corner” by author, A.A. Milne, in which Winnie the Pooh and friends decide to throw a birthday celebration to cheer up gloomy, old Eeyore (Ralph Wright). Eeyore is gloomy, like always, but more so now. His birthday is right around the corner, and everybody has forgotten all about poor Eeyore. It didn't cheer Eeyore up when Tigger "accidentally" bounces Eeyore into the river. Pooh invents a new game, "Pooh Sticks", and everyone contributes to Eeyore's party. It turns out to be a happy birthday celebration for Eeyore after all.
The river plays a strong, symbolic role in the story, particularly in how the river connects with the character of Eeyore, as both a sad, and a happy place to be.
The river represents a very sad memory for Eeyore, and this memory is revealed in two different moments. When we first see poor Eeyore, he is floating alone in the river, having been bounced there by the ever-vivacious feline, Tigger. While Tigger tries to deny this allegation (claiming that he only coughed) Pooh and Piglet see Eeyore floating down the river and they rescue their poor friend. When Pooh follows Eeyore to his gloomy place, we find Eeyore sitting by the river, gazing down at his reflection in the water and feeling very lonely and forlorn. When Pooh asks what is wrong, Eeyore tells Pooh that he is very sad, because it is his birthday…what is supposed to be the happiest day of the year…and Eeyore believes everyone has forgotten his special day.
The river witnesses a moment of joy when Eeyore is waiting at his special place by the river and Piglet and Pooh bring Eeyore his birthday gifts. Although Piglet and Pooh are embarrassed by their gifts and they cannot see any value in them (the gifts being a popped balloon and an empty jar of honey) when Eeyore sees the deflated balloon, rather than being disappointed by this gift, Eeyore appreciates the deeper value of his friend’s gift. He likes the balloon because it is his favorite color - red - and his favorite size, and Piglet gave Eeyore the balloon for his birthday, and this makes the gift special. When Pooh gives Eeyore the honey pot, he tells Eeyore that he can put things in the pot. While Eeyore could have been disappointed by this gift, since Pooh ate the honey, thus ruining the gift, Eeyore sees the true value of this gift, as well, and this kind gesture compels the gloomy little donkey to actually smile. He appreciates the kind message from his friend, and he finds the gift to be a very good one, because now, he can keep his birthday balloon in his new honey pot. Eeyore’s friends give him a grand birthday party and they play "Pooh Sticks" on the old, wooden bridge…and Eeyore won more times than any of them...but Eeyore proved that he was a gracious winner, as well as a worthy friend, when he shared his secret to winning Pooh Sticks with Tigger, rather than relishing in Tigger’s defeat, since Tigger had nearly ruined Eeyore’s birthday by bouncing him into the river and eating his cake.
“A Day for Eeyore” is quite possibly one of the most charming and the most heartfelt of all the Winnie the Pooh films that I have seen to date. The animation, though simple, is stunning, and the story is a touching anecdote that both children and adults can fall in love with. The casting is also flawless…I particularly enjoyed Ralph Wright’s portrayal of Eeyore; how he brought to life not only sad and gloomy side of this beloved character, but the wise and emotional side of him, as well. One can truly empathize with his desire to have his friends share this special moment with him, and we rejoice with him when he is finally surrounded by his family, and he is able to feel their love for him as they celebrate. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves Disney at its best.
© 2023 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved
Director: Richard Reinhart
Cast: Ralph Wright, Hal Smith, John Fielder, Kim Christianson, Paul Winchell, Will Ryan, Dick Billingsley, Julie McWherter, Laurie Main
Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore is a 1983 American animated featurette based on the sixth chapter of “The House at Pooh Corner” by author, A.A. Milne, in which Winnie the Pooh and friends decide to throw a birthday celebration to cheer up gloomy, old Eeyore (Ralph Wright). Eeyore is gloomy, like always, but more so now. His birthday is right around the corner, and everybody has forgotten all about poor Eeyore. It didn't cheer Eeyore up when Tigger "accidentally" bounces Eeyore into the river. Pooh invents a new game, "Pooh Sticks", and everyone contributes to Eeyore's party. It turns out to be a happy birthday celebration for Eeyore after all.
The river plays a strong, symbolic role in the story, particularly in how the river connects with the character of Eeyore, as both a sad, and a happy place to be.
The river represents a very sad memory for Eeyore, and this memory is revealed in two different moments. When we first see poor Eeyore, he is floating alone in the river, having been bounced there by the ever-vivacious feline, Tigger. While Tigger tries to deny this allegation (claiming that he only coughed) Pooh and Piglet see Eeyore floating down the river and they rescue their poor friend. When Pooh follows Eeyore to his gloomy place, we find Eeyore sitting by the river, gazing down at his reflection in the water and feeling very lonely and forlorn. When Pooh asks what is wrong, Eeyore tells Pooh that he is very sad, because it is his birthday…what is supposed to be the happiest day of the year…and Eeyore believes everyone has forgotten his special day.
The river witnesses a moment of joy when Eeyore is waiting at his special place by the river and Piglet and Pooh bring Eeyore his birthday gifts. Although Piglet and Pooh are embarrassed by their gifts and they cannot see any value in them (the gifts being a popped balloon and an empty jar of honey) when Eeyore sees the deflated balloon, rather than being disappointed by this gift, Eeyore appreciates the deeper value of his friend’s gift. He likes the balloon because it is his favorite color - red - and his favorite size, and Piglet gave Eeyore the balloon for his birthday, and this makes the gift special. When Pooh gives Eeyore the honey pot, he tells Eeyore that he can put things in the pot. While Eeyore could have been disappointed by this gift, since Pooh ate the honey, thus ruining the gift, Eeyore sees the true value of this gift, as well, and this kind gesture compels the gloomy little donkey to actually smile. He appreciates the kind message from his friend, and he finds the gift to be a very good one, because now, he can keep his birthday balloon in his new honey pot. Eeyore’s friends give him a grand birthday party and they play "Pooh Sticks" on the old, wooden bridge…and Eeyore won more times than any of them...but Eeyore proved that he was a gracious winner, as well as a worthy friend, when he shared his secret to winning Pooh Sticks with Tigger, rather than relishing in Tigger’s defeat, since Tigger had nearly ruined Eeyore’s birthday by bouncing him into the river and eating his cake.
“A Day for Eeyore” is quite possibly one of the most charming and the most heartfelt of all the Winnie the Pooh films that I have seen to date. The animation, though simple, is stunning, and the story is a touching anecdote that both children and adults can fall in love with. The casting is also flawless…I particularly enjoyed Ralph Wright’s portrayal of Eeyore; how he brought to life not only sad and gloomy side of this beloved character, but the wise and emotional side of him, as well. One can truly empathize with his desire to have his friends share this special moment with him, and we rejoice with him when he is finally surrounded by his family, and he is able to feel their love for him as they celebrate. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves Disney at its best.
© 2023 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved