EXCLUSIVE: Veteran Hollywood screenwriter Linda Woolverton, whose credits include Beauty And The Beast, The Lion King, Alice In Wonderland and Maleficent, has joined Kartoon Studios‘ Hundred Acre Wood’s Winnie and Friends project as an executive producer.
John Rivoli, the veteran character, poster and creative products artist who has worked on projects including Harry Potter, Wicked, Lord of the Rings, Batman, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Looney Tunes, has joined as Creative Director.
Due to launch at the end of this year, the animated series is based on A.A. Milne’s beloved children’s properties, and material is due to include 200 six-minute shorts as well as a package of five-holiday specials. Michael Maliani is producer. We revealed a first look trailer earlier this year.
The series incorporates a “yarn-based animation style blending AI and hand-drawn characters and backgrounds”. Voice cast is being worked out now. The kids show will debut on the Kartoon Channel, which is distributed through Prime Video Channels.
“The opportunity to reimagine Winnie-the-Pooh for a new generation is truly an honor,” said Woolverton, who was most recently a producer on Netflix movie Spellbound and is a writer on Maleficent 3. “These beloved stories hold a special place in so many hearts, including my own. I’m excited to craft fresh narratives that capture the warmth, charm, humor, and gentle wisdom, of the Hundred Acre Wood while introducing new layers of storytelling, celebrating the neurodiversity amidst these most special characters.”
“Bringing Winnie-the-Pooh to life in a fresh, visually enchanting way is an incredible honor,” added Rivoli. “The Hundred Acre Wood is a world filled with warmth, nostalgia, and charm, and our unique animation style will create an immersive experience that resonates with both new audiences and lifelong fans of A.A. Milne.”
“In a world that can often feel overwhelming for children, Winnie-the-Poohremains an ‘oasis of goodness,’ commented Andy Heyward, CEO of Kartoon Studios. “Our new interpretation stays true to A.A. Milne’s vision while introducing fresh, heartfelt stories, highlighting the neurodiversity of Milne’s beautiful characters. With Linda’s creative brilliance and John’s artistic vision, we are poised to create a defining new chapter in the legacy of Winnie-the-Pooh. It is a particular honor for me to work with Linda, whom I had the privilege to work with early in our careers when she was one of the incredibly talented writers of the animated Real Ghostbusters series I produced.”
