The Tigger Movie
Director: Jun Falkenstein
Cast: Jim Cummings, Nikita Hopkins, John Fielder, Peter Cullen, Kath Soucie, Andre Stojka, Jen Sansom, Tom Attenborough, John Hurt
Inspired by the lyric in Tigger’s iconic song “The most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I’m the only one”, “The Tigger Movie” follows the vivacious feline - Tigger - as he embarks on a journey through the Hundred Acre Wood to find his “Tigger family”.
Family is a very powerful theme in this film and nowhere is it better illustrated than in the character of Tigger.
When one considers the character of Tigger, one of the most prominent things that stands out about this vivacious feline is his mantra; “That the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is that he is the only one”. A perfect irony is realized when Tigger discovers that he is indeed the “only one”, but his heart yearns for that which he does not have: a connection to someone who is like him; his family.
When his friends write Tigger a heartfelt letter expressing how much they care about him, this innocent gesture from his friends awakens Tigger’s desire to see his family and rather than seeing the truth of the letter’s heartfelt words, Tigger instead believes that he will finally be reunited with his “Tigger family”. That's why he is so devastated when he realizes the note was not from these other Tiggers (who he had exaggerated into this perfect, proud, amazing family in his imagination) but his friends dressed up as Tiggers. It is only after Roo and his friends save him, and recite the letter’s heartfelt words to him again after the avalanche, that Tigger understands who his true family is and makes peace with his identity. In the end, Tigger realizes that he never had to go looking for his family...his family was always right there.
Tigger’s golden, heart-shaped locket also plays a strong symbolic role in his quest to find his true family. When Tigger and Roo begin their search for Tigger’s family, he initially searches for his locket, believing that his family portrait would be found within and that it would give him a clue as to who his family was. When the locket opens, Tigger and Roo discover that it is empty…and Tigger mourns that it is “completely Tigger-less”. When Tigger discovers who his true family is, he gives his special locket to Roo – who he calls his “bestest little brother” – and the locket – as well as Tigger’s heart – is finally filled with a photograph of his real family: all of his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood.
“The Tigger Movie” is quite possibly the strongest and most heartfelt of all the Winnie the Pooh films I have seen to date. The animation, though simple, is stunning, and the story is a touching and humorous anecdote that both children and adults can fall in love with. The casting is also flawless…I particularly enjoyed Jim Cumming’s portrayal of Tigger; how he brought to life not only the comical and vivacious side of this beloved character, but the sweet, emotional side of him as well. One can truly empathize with his desire to find his family and have that unbreakable bond of love and we rejoice with him when he is finally surrounded by his real family. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves Disney at its best.
© 2013 – 2017 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Jun Falkenstein
Cast: Jim Cummings, Nikita Hopkins, John Fielder, Peter Cullen, Kath Soucie, Andre Stojka, Jen Sansom, Tom Attenborough, John Hurt
Inspired by the lyric in Tigger’s iconic song “The most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I’m the only one”, “The Tigger Movie” follows the vivacious feline - Tigger - as he embarks on a journey through the Hundred Acre Wood to find his “Tigger family”.
Family is a very powerful theme in this film and nowhere is it better illustrated than in the character of Tigger.
When one considers the character of Tigger, one of the most prominent things that stands out about this vivacious feline is his mantra; “That the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is that he is the only one”. A perfect irony is realized when Tigger discovers that he is indeed the “only one”, but his heart yearns for that which he does not have: a connection to someone who is like him; his family.
When his friends write Tigger a heartfelt letter expressing how much they care about him, this innocent gesture from his friends awakens Tigger’s desire to see his family and rather than seeing the truth of the letter’s heartfelt words, Tigger instead believes that he will finally be reunited with his “Tigger family”. That's why he is so devastated when he realizes the note was not from these other Tiggers (who he had exaggerated into this perfect, proud, amazing family in his imagination) but his friends dressed up as Tiggers. It is only after Roo and his friends save him, and recite the letter’s heartfelt words to him again after the avalanche, that Tigger understands who his true family is and makes peace with his identity. In the end, Tigger realizes that he never had to go looking for his family...his family was always right there.
Tigger’s golden, heart-shaped locket also plays a strong symbolic role in his quest to find his true family. When Tigger and Roo begin their search for Tigger’s family, he initially searches for his locket, believing that his family portrait would be found within and that it would give him a clue as to who his family was. When the locket opens, Tigger and Roo discover that it is empty…and Tigger mourns that it is “completely Tigger-less”. When Tigger discovers who his true family is, he gives his special locket to Roo – who he calls his “bestest little brother” – and the locket – as well as Tigger’s heart – is finally filled with a photograph of his real family: all of his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood.
“The Tigger Movie” is quite possibly the strongest and most heartfelt of all the Winnie the Pooh films I have seen to date. The animation, though simple, is stunning, and the story is a touching and humorous anecdote that both children and adults can fall in love with. The casting is also flawless…I particularly enjoyed Jim Cumming’s portrayal of Tigger; how he brought to life not only the comical and vivacious side of this beloved character, but the sweet, emotional side of him as well. One can truly empathize with his desire to find his family and have that unbreakable bond of love and we rejoice with him when he is finally surrounded by his real family. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves Disney at its best.
© 2013 – 2017 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.