WIL WHEATON dot NET: 1.5

I'm with you, Wil, this is just ridiculous! A.A. Milne is probably turning over in his grave. I'm all for equality of the sexes, but this is just stupid.

I am in shock. What a stupid idea. This will not go over well at all...it's completely laughable.

The stories are not the same without 'the boy and his bear'.

Cripes.

I smell a domain registration and a grassroots campaign to save christopher robin

I couldn't even follow the link to the article you provided because I knew it would make me too irate if I read it.

I can only hope that they will hear enough negative fedback that maybe they won't go through with it, the woozles.

Where have we seen this kind of corporate idiocy before?

Oh, yah - Star Trek...

;>

I'm betting Alan Milne is rolling in his grave right now... geebus. And the fact that Christopher Robin was his son? All I have to say Disney, is "brilliant."

Replacing Christopher Robin??

To borrow your Mickey Mouse analogy, Wil, that's like replacing Pluto with a cat.

...

Pardon me while I go throw up.

Disney has had a little war going with the Milne estate for quite a while. I have a feeling this has less to do with "freshness" as it does with adding elements that they can copyright and squeeze more money out of the property without sharing with the Estate -- because now it becomes "proprietary."

So they went off together. But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.

first bugs bunny & the like, now pooh? gah. is nothing of our childhoods sacred?

Disney have a long history of creating a female counterpart. Mickey's got his Minnie, Donald's got his Daisy, Goofy's got his... wait, what's goofy again?

The real Christopher Robin is rolling in his grave right now.

Not only bugs & pooh, but also Hostess Fruit Pies! The little magician dude is gone; replaced w/ nothing b but really boring packaging.

You think that's bad, checkout this link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383010/

Its a sad sad world...

Sadly this opens up the avenues for whole lines of slash fiction. Do you hear that sound? It's the sound of pedophiles having their way with my childhood. Find a happy place!

I saw this travesty and thought to myself, "that's wrong. But why is it wrong?"

Self answered: The 100-acre wood is the place where Christopher Robin's imaginary toy-based friends come to life. A different child would have different toy-pal/imagined friends.

The 100-Acre wood is exactly like Silent Hill!

Disney fails to understand: If the girl needs pals in the 100-acre wood, she has to bloody invent her own!

*sigh*

Hopefully this will meet the same fate as the 'reimagined' bugs bunny characters.

How about we reimagine the stories? Not the originals mind you, but the 10 years worth of crap they've called Winnie the Pooh on TV. I remember the 'grand adventure' that came out in '96 or so. My wife was a huge Winnie the Pooh fan and we ran out and bought it.

Before the show was over it was so depressing we wanted to commit suicide. They could have gone so much better directions with Christopher Robin going to school for the first time, but instead they dwelled on them being 'alone' and 'forgotten' and how each of them went off on their own before realizing he came home.

Just sad

WHAT?! No more Christopher Robin?! Grrrrrr . . . . I too am a huge Disney fan. I always have been. I especially loved Winnie the Pooh. Anyway, I am mad that Christopher Robin is, for lack of a better word, gone. Amber J earlier established that A.A. Milne's son's name is Christopher Robin. Among the many reasons why we don't want Christopher to be replaced, that is probably the biggest one, imo. Plus, Christopher Robin is Pooh's best friend. Geez.

Disney desecrating its past again, filmed at 11 :-(

I wish they would just leave good enough alone. I’m all for keeping kids interested in the story, but surely the difference between a having Christopher be a boy or a girl wouldn’t ensure more viewers, likely just the opposite. Bah humbug.

I think Neil Gaiman said it best on his blog.

Q. Why did Mickey divorce Minnie?
A. Because she was fucking Goofy!

"Christopher Robin is still out there in the woods, playing," she says.

It's like when your parents tell you they took old Rover to live on a farm where he can play in fields all day long, but really he's making his final visit to the vet.

blasphemy.

"A breath of fresh air..."

**wretch**

Looks like Disney wants a "Dora the Explorer" of their very own.

No way are my twins (who will be in kindergarten when this show airs) going to watch this drivel.

Yeah, this is complete and utter BS. I'm guessing the angle they'll go for is that it's Christopher Robin's daughter or some such thing.

A lot has changed in the world in the last 80 years. However, think of Sesame Street. It is also timeless, and it hasn't done any of this gender-bending crap as far as I can tell. I mean, new characters have been introduced, but I don't think they've turned Grover or Cookie Monster into ladies. They've added new characters instead, and incorporated modern concepts.

Based on the screen they show, it looks like the child is going to be the center of attention rather than being the source of imagination, which was all Christopher Robin really was. I mean, if I remember the original correctly, he doesn't even show up in his own imaginings until near the end, though my memory is slightly sketchy on that. I do, however, remember that his role largely remained as that of puppetmaster rather than active participant in the events that unfolded.

I'll tell you this though; if this turns out to be a "Dora the Explorer by Disney", I'm going to laugh my ass off when it fails and Dora stays number one.

I'm a fan of the blog and the new podcast. As well as your other creative works.

But I am surprised that a liberal whimp like you seem to be would have a problem with the politcal correctness Disney is injecting into this story.

Wow, GlockMann that's the weakest and most pathetic attempt to troll I've ever seen in my life.

You get an F-.

Why would making anything from a boy to a girl be PC, or non-PC... Things are what they are people. Being a liberal doesn't mean you want everything to reference women, but unfortunately, dumbasses like yourself think that in order to be PC, you need to say her/she, JUST IN CASE... Well, I have two sons. Prior to thier birth, my wife and I recieved many emails/mailings etc for new parents and whatnot. 95% of references to babies were using a female pronoun. Not both, just female. That is not equality, that was a kneejerk, ill informed, ham handed attempt at PC, much like your post Glock...

For an interesting read, check out a book called The War Against Boys.

Maybe Disney was just tired of those phone calls from Michael Jackson asking for Christopher Robin's phone number.

This makes me sad. I was hoping that my kids (who have yet to be concieved) would be able to follow Pooh and Christopher Robin on their adventures like I did when I was little. *shaking head in disgust* When will they learn that messing with an old favorite is never going to be welcomed.
PS. Todder: LMFAO!!!!!! :o)

I blame Eisner.

First the Narnia books get deliberately put all out of order, and now this.

Clearly, nothing is sacred in the pursuit of the almighty buck. :P

What's next, Calvina and Hobbes? or maybe they'll make The Little Prince into a movie and cast Dakota Fanning.

I guess if they can give the Care Bears botox and put Strawberry Shortcake n' crew into miniskirts and fake birkenstocks...

Oy.

I had the thought "Who is wanting their little girl in the movies??" Has the part been casted? I'm just thinking this could be the next Brittany.

I hope that isn't the case but it was the first thing I thought of. Maybe enough people will tell them that they won't go see it or buy it that they will change their minds.

Now my next thought is - girls buy more stuff than boys. So it maybe getting more toys sold by changing to a girl.

Isn't it funny how "well written scripts" or "quality animation" haven't been discussed for "bringing new life" into the franchise...

Gah. Come on, Bob Iger. Turn away from the dark side... Don't make us get you fired, too...

If the Disney company keeps messing with Walt Disney's original dream, Walt Disney himself will get so ticked off that he's going to defrost himself and do some major ass kicking.

Fresh air, indeed. If they want some fresh air, all they need to do is listen to NPR.

It's odd that I saw your post Wil, right after reading this story about the 9th Circuit's ruling on the Winnie-the-Pooh merchandising rights case. It seems Disney will be likely facing a lawsuit for royalties next year.

As Kathy Kirkman's blog post puts it, "It is a bit ironic that Disney's attempt to avoid a termination of transfers with the 1983 agreement led to today's ruling where their attempt to assist Clare Milne in severing that agreement failed. Clearly Disney is opportunistically doing whatever it takes to preserve its financial interest in the Pooh franchise."

Actually, Christopher Robin (Milne) isn't out in the forest, I'm sorry to say, unless by that they mean out UNDER the forest: Christopher Robin Milne was born on 21 August 1920 and he died on 20 April 1996.

As for changing timeless characters. I think Mickey & Donald should come out of the closet. They'd be so much more comfortable here at Disney World during 'Gay Days' (every June)...

There is a sort of deep irony here: The reason Christopher was called "Christopher Robin", had such nice long hair, and wore that little smock-outfit is that Mrs. Milne desperately wanted a girl. She kept little Christopher in dresses much longer than was considered normal, even back then, when dresses were fairly common garb for babies and toddlers. She was only able to have one child, and she was devastated when she had a boy.

Christopher Milne's story was not a terribly happy one. . .

You said it, Wil.

And I was delighted by Mark J. Musante's allusion to "Stand By Me" in the comments above. :)

"I have an idea: if Disney is so serious about breathing fresh life into classic characters, why not let Mickey Mouse enter the Public Domain? Okay, how about Goofy? Donald Duck? Admit it: those characters are getting a little stale, and could really use a breath of fresh air that only derivative works can provide."

The most intelligent thing I've heard in a long fucking time. Way to be Wil!

Being named "Christopher" myself, I can't say I'm happy about the character change in the Pooh franchise. Christopher Robin was the first same-named fictional character I encountered at a young age. At least Disney is making the Narnia movies in the original book order.

Said it before, saying it again.
You rock, Wil

Sounds like a bunch of feminist threw a little bitch fit to me. God forbid we keep a boy character a boy. Heaven help us if we don't let the Vagina's have their say.

Liberal wimp? Oooooo *hiss* That was...laughable. Honestly, I laughed.

Pooh Bear, I know you're out there! It's me and it's you, and silly ol' Winnie The Pooh!! (yeah baby, I was a pooh girl back in the day)

Well, all I have to say is, judging by the *stellar* product Disney has been putting out lately (Chicken Little, Home on the Range, etc.) Disney Animation is skating on thin ice and hoping that they can "jazz up" one of their perennial favorites and squeeze more money out of the wallets of parents whose children will see this travesty and, not knowing any better because, hey, they're 4 years old, will yell and scream "Daddy! Buy me Pooh Bear! I want it, I want it, I want it!"

You get the idea.

In the immortal words of Yosemite Sam, "Rattsa-frattsa-durn-it-all-ta-tarnation!"

Hasta,
Rob Chambers
Exile in Dallas

And this after the Superman V sellout (from Slashdot). Is this becoming some sort of morbid trend?

that's just stupid! it makes no sense! arrrrrgh.. why does disney do things like this?? i heart disney and all, but pixar had the right idea... it shouldn't be all about the money! :(

That sucks. Enough said.

OK. This has really pissed me off!
I live near Ashdown Forest in Sussex England. The very place that inspired Alan Milne to invent Christopher Robin and his animal friends. As a child I played Pooh sticks on the very bridge that Alan Milne did when he was a boy. Why the hell does Disney like so many other film studios have to alter a timeless tale that has been enjoyed by kids for years, and make it more commercial for their own particular company wishes. The tales of Pooh will always appeal to kids. Who else other than Disney will get anything out of changing the characters. I hope the family of Alan Milne have somthing to say about this.

Will I actually have those two movies you did for Disney. Disney isn't like it use to be. Now it's about money and power. I wonder if Walt Disney is turning in his grave, since his love was always to make kids happy, not about making money. I'm appalled that they would want to change anything with Winnie The Pooh at all, but then again it's about making a buck and not about kids anymore. I hope a petition comes out, cause I'll sign it in a minute.

They should never have closed down "SaveDisney.com" - contact Roy Disney at Shamrock Holdings and scream. He listens

Wil,

You shouldn't take my reference to you as a liberal whimp as an insult. Why is it that liberals think that to be labeled a "liberal" is somehow bad. From previous posts, you appear to be against the war in Iraq, so pacifist = whimp in some minds, including mine. But that is an argument for a different forum.

In so much as it was not my intent to insult you personally, but to point out that to me, it's obvious that Disney is trying to please the PC movement by turning this character into a young girl, and that I was suprised that someone of your political ilk would have a problem with it.

Regardless of the perspective or opinion on Chrstopher vs. Christina, I don't understand what "weakest and most pathetic attempt to troll" means, so I won't take it as an insult either, as I have no idea what "to troll" references.

*ahem*

GlockMann,

If you're going to take potshots at someone on their own 'blog, you'd better be prepared to get a rap on the knuckles for your efforts.

Wil, I'm surprised at your constraint. Good on 'ya.

------

Disney isn't making this decision lightly, nor based on ONE factor like to make the whole story PC. Having said that, I'm still going to throw my hat into the ring against the idea.

Modern history is replete with examples of this kind of nonsense and though it offends us, it obviously appeals to someone otherwise they wouldn't do it. ( I am using a rather baseless assumption that the people at Disney are not complete morons and did some kind of survey, albeit likely inaccurate. )

It blows my mind how corporate goons can be so out of touch with their loyal base.

Stupid, beyond stupid.

Of course, having been named Christopher Robin Kessel by my parents biases me a bit. Grew up loving Winnie the Pooh. I'm Christopher Robin dammit and it's my 100 acre woods!

Oh, it gets worse, Wil. According to this report by Kim du Toit, old cartoons (like Road Runner, Tom and Jerry, and so forth) are being censored to exclude their "graphic" violence. You'll never see Wile E. Coyote going *SPLAT* into the face of a cliff anymore, for instance. I'll let Kim have the last word on this: "Myself, I think it’s A Pathetic Thing, and these Nannies who are turning our entertainment into pablum either need to get a real job, or else need a swift knee to the nads. If they have any, which I seriously doubt."

I'm a self proclaimed Disney Dork, but I can't stand some of the things that they're doing. It's all for money. First the Disney Princess crap, now Christopher Robin. What's next? Cinderbobby lives with his evil stepfather then meets a princess and with the help of his Fairy Godfather wins her heart...(*hopes no Disney people reads Wil's blog and steals this idea*)

it's definately connected to the copyright thing. Disney fuckin' LOVES their copyright protection!

They own the copyrights to the "Schoolhouse Rock" stuff, and won't let them be used for public domain as the copyright law allows for teaching purposes! Now how's THAT for fuckin' STUPID!

Can't they just leave good things alone and make up something NEW? Isn't that kinda what they get paid for?

I just wanted to comment on some of the other comments here. First off, this isn't all that different from other changes Disney's made to the franchise throughout the years. For example, the first animated short they produced replaced Piglet with Gopher, and gave Christopher Robin an American accent. And their recent program, "The Book of Pooh" replaced Kanga with Kessie, another bird.

For the person that said that CR was dressed as a girl because his mother wanted a girl... Christopher was dressed in the nursery based on Little Lord Fauntleroy. Lots of boys in England at that time were dressed the same way. This is similar to Alan's youth, where he had long blond curls until he started attending school. Also, Daphne wasn't exactly a hands-on mother (some may claim the same for her talents as a wife), and much of Christopher's style was probably due to his nanny.

I hope they don't make the character Christopher Robin's daughter. First off, it may lead kids to find out about Christopher Milne's real daughter. Claire isn't exactly the active sort of character that Disney is probably looking for. Also, it may lead the general public into discovering that Christopher Milne married his first cousin. That alone would cause enough of an outcry that Disney probably won't want to go that route.

This is inexcusable!! the powers that be at disney are all the children or grandchildren of the original creators of these characters. how can they bastardize these wonderful characters for a profit!? whats next...song of the south with an all jewish cast!?

Its time to end permanent copyright extensions and let every year provide new stuff for the public domain .. amen brother ... Lawrence Lessig is right!

Interesting topic, I have two boys. It seems in public school, boys are not allowed to have an imagination.

My SEVEN y/0 boy was sent to the "Solution Room" (detention) for two recesses last Thurday and had a referral placed in his student file for "Play Fighting". Yes Virgina, little boys are now sent to the office for playing star wars (or Gavin's case, Narnia). My husband and I showed up in the school office Friday morning and raised Hell. I believe in rules to keep kids safe at school, and I support public education whole heartedly, but when little boys are punished for PLAYING PRETEND at recess, I have issues with this.

My son has NEVER harmed another child and there is no malice in his personality whatsoever. He just loves Army men and Dinosaurs.

What Makes Winnie the pooh so classic is that it is the imagination of a little boy playing in forest. It is what it is. There is no need to change.

Little girls have Louisa May Alcott, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Caroline Keene, Anne McCaffrey. These are all authors that I just now looked over my shoulder and picked off my bookcase.

Boys need to be allowed to be what they are, different from girls. When My 12/y/o was small, I tried the gender neutral theory. Kyan was allowed to watch no violence, no play guns allowed in the house (not even squirt guns). I gave up and saw the light when he started building them out of leggos.

Wil, thanks for the book suggestion and I offer one of my own,

"The Wonder of Boys" by Michael Gurian

Interesting topic, I have two boys. It seems in public school, boys are not allowed to have an imagination.

My SEVEN y/0 boy was sent to the "Solution Room" (detention) for two recesses last Thurday and had a referral placed in his student file for "Play Fighting". Yes Virgina, little boys are now sent to the office for playing star wars (or Gavin's case, Narnia). My husband and I showed up in the school office Friday morning and raised Hell. I believe in rules to keep kids safe at school, and I support public education whole heartedly, but when little boys are punished for PLAYING PRETEND at recess, I have issues with this.

My son has NEVER harmed another child and there is no malice in his personality whatsoever. He just loves Army men and Dinosaurs.

What Makes Winnie the pooh so classic is that it is the imagination of a little boy playing in forest. It is what it is. There is no need to change.

Little girls have Louisa May Alcott, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Caroline Keene, Anne McCaffrey. These are all authors that I just now looked over my shoulder and picked off my bookcase.

Boys need to be allowed to be what they are, different from girls. When My 12/y/o was small, I tried the gender neutral theory. Kyan was allowed to watch no violence, no play guns allowed in the house (not even squirt guns). I gave up and saw the light when he started building them out of leggos.

Wil, thanks for the book suggestion and I offer one of my own,

"The Wonder of Boys" by Michael Gurian

One thought I have is that the Disney Pooh is already far enough afield from the book(s) that I don't get why this is such a big deal. Disney changes classics all the time. Consider The Little Mermaid. Have you read the original story?

Speaking of which, what the heck is up with the American release of "Pride and Prejudice" and it's Happy Ending???

SIGN THE PETITION HERE!!!

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/nocr