Winnie the Pooh release date set

Variety has posted the official release date for Disney’s upcoming new Pooh movie: July 15th, 2011. Earlier predictions put the film at an April or May release, but it’s been pushed back further into the summer. It’ll now be out on the same day as the final Harry Potter.

The release date for Disney Animation Studio’s next film after the new Winnie the Pooh was also revealed – Reboot Ralph will see release on March 22nd 2013. That leaves an almost two-year gap, so I wonder if they’ll find room for a 2012 project? With two films from Pixar (Brave and Monsters, Inc. 2) they don’t really need to.

Back in September last year, we learned a few tidbits about the new Pooh, including the fact that it will retain the art style of the original shorts, and that it will be based on five of A.A. Milne’s stories. Burny Mattison, who worked on Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, is lead story artist on the new movie. Apparently the film will feature a sequence in which the cast try to find a replacement for Eeyore’s tail, and Rabbit’s “friends and relations” will make an appearance. They “aren’t as socially aware as the other residents of the Hundred Acre Wood” – that line in itself makes them sound hilarious already. All in all, it’s enough for me to be on board.

While I haven’t yet watched The Princess and the Frog, I’m optimistic about Disney’s future, what with John Lasseter in charge of creativity in the company now (although the less said about Pixar’s sequel-filled line-up, the better). The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – which compiled the three original short films – is one of my absolute favourite Disney movies, and I’d love to see a new one do it justice. The information we have already is promising, and I guess we’ll see with Tangled later this year if Disney’s Animation Studios are on the right track.

Thanks to Latino Review and Blue Sky too.