Since the honey-guzzling bear has been a part of pop culture since before the Disney brand was ever founded, the world has known all about Winnie the Pooh for generations. Even without the successful Disney franchise, it's safe to say we've all made his acquaintance.
Although it's been some time since we've seen stuff or fluff from Pooh and his pals from Disney, he's certainly been busy since entering the public domain. While other creatives might use him as the face of a new horror franchise, one talented artist has breathed new life into the Hundred Acre Wood.
A journey through The Hundred Acre Kingdom
Disney might have made Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and all the rest household names, but it was British author A.A. Milne who brought the characters to life in the original Winnie-the-Pooh books. Now, Hasani Walker, an artist with ties to LAIKA, Nickelodeon, and more, has rewritten the iconic story for a different kind of audience that just hit the shelves.
In Walker's new novel, The Hundred Acre Kingdom, Pooh, Piglet, Kanga, and Tigger are reimagined as fantasy-inspired personae who join Christopher Robin's daughter, Clover, on an epic quest through the mysterious and often dangerous wood.
Finding life on Kickstarter, the project promises to be a familiar story seen through a new set of eyes. The official description shares the following,
"The Hundred Acre Kingdom is a coming-of-age story about the worlds we create to escape to, the struggles of moving on from childhood, and the stories we inherit. First written as a weekly online post with artwork inspired by the Disney film, This story has been rewritten with over 100 new original images to make this it's own story that can sit comfortably next to the original A.A. Milne Books, Winnie the Pooh and the House on Pooh Corner."
As interested parties in this project, we reached out to Waker for a statement on Hundred Acre Kingdom, and the process behind it. they were kind enough to reply with the following quote,
"I believe that Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and all things in the Hundred Acre are wonderful pathways to imagination. They are reflections of different parts of childhood and a way to explore things we may not fully grasp while growing up. From times of great happiness to foreboding fear. These characters were there to help us through these moments and face challenges. This is an aspect I felt from the books, films and animated shows. With the Hundred Acre Kingdom, I wanted to explore this element with a character facing challenges in her life and finding a way to express her feelings and find help through playing in her own world. The anxieties of life hit us all in different ways, but there are ways to overcome them. Sometimes it takes a brave spirit to bounce into action, other times it’s the courage to admit when you feel small and scared, and then there are times when all it takes is time with a kind friend. The characters of A.A. Milne taught us this and continue to do so. I hope my book can help spread these ideas, while adding an adventurous spirit along the way."
Speaking as both a fantasy buff and a massive Disney fan, this story should definitely snatch the interest of anyone who grew up with Pooh Bear and the rest of his friends. It's one thing to see a beloved character reimagined for a new generation, but it's another to see them grow up beside us.
The Hundred Acre Kingdom is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.