As a fan of Winnie the Pooh, 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' was always one of my favourite shows as a child. Not all childhood favourites have held up, but 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is one of the strongest examples of those that have.
While the original three 60s-70s short films ('Honey Tree', 'Blustery Day' and 'Tigger Too') and the 1977 'The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' are just a little better, 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is one of the Winnie the Pooh franchise's high points. "Paw and Order" is a masterpiece of anything Winnie the Pooh and animation in general. While "Cleanliness is Next to Impossible" was the scariest episode and "Find Her Keep Her" the most poignant, "Paw and Order" is one of the show's funniest, so many parts being a hilarious riot, with a unique premise, the best soundtrack of the whole show and one of the show's best supporting characters.
The animation is very bright, well drawn and colourful, everything looking lush, detailed and smooth. Really loved the wild west setting and it was so believable that you forget that the characters were putting on a play often, only really being reminded in the scene before the showdown. The music has always been great in 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh', but "Paw and Order" stands out as the most unique, being the only episode from memory to not include the familiar themes and have a new soundtrack of its own.
"Paw and Order's" instrumental scoring is rootin' tootin' rousing and whimsical, with a little pathos when Piglet is convinced to facing Nasty Jack, but even better are the songs, mostly sung by Owl and Gopher as singing-narrators. While brief, they are the kind that you only have to hear once but never forget them, the showdown song ("Here Comes the Masked Bear") is the catchiest but the one with the funniest, and boy are they hysterical, lyrics was the song after the gang's first encounter with Nasty Jack.
Writing has a perfect mix of whimsy, drollness, wit, charm and childhood innocence, with the dialogue being some of the show's funniest and wittiest in perfect keeping with a play heavily focused on comedy set in the Wild West, most of the best lines coming from Nasty Jack. The story uses its unique premise to its fullest potential, with the events in the saloon being so much fun but with a sense of foreboding, including an inspired ice cream fight in which Pooh accidentally gets the upper hand. The showdown is like a nostalgic throwback to the old westerns as well, and Piglet's speech does not feel over-the-top or overly-didactic.
The characters are great as ever, Pooh is so lovable and for an endearingly dim-witted character, which is still evident, the whole masked bear stuff shows him as a quick thinker in a dire situation, Eeyore is a great faithful steed. Owl and Gopher are hilarious singing-narrators and once again Piglet overcomes his fears and it was touching to see. Rabbit and Tigger have some great moments, such as Rabbit's scream before encountering Nasty Jack again or Tigger's attempted rescue/distraction.
Nasty Jack is an unforgettable villain with a real sense of threat and some funny lines, though didn't completely buy his reform, too easy. Definitely one of the show's best supporting characters along with Crud and Kessie. The voice acting is excellent, especially from a brilliant Jim Cummings as Nasty Jack.
All in all, one of 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh's' masterpiece episodes and in animation. 10/10 Bethany Cox
While the original three 60s-70s short films ('Honey Tree', 'Blustery Day' and 'Tigger Too') and the 1977 'The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' are just a little better, 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is one of the Winnie the Pooh franchise's high points. "Paw and Order" is a masterpiece of anything Winnie the Pooh and animation in general. While "Cleanliness is Next to Impossible" was the scariest episode and "Find Her Keep Her" the most poignant, "Paw and Order" is one of the show's funniest, so many parts being a hilarious riot, with a unique premise, the best soundtrack of the whole show and one of the show's best supporting characters.
The animation is very bright, well drawn and colourful, everything looking lush, detailed and smooth. Really loved the wild west setting and it was so believable that you forget that the characters were putting on a play often, only really being reminded in the scene before the showdown. The music has always been great in 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh', but "Paw and Order" stands out as the most unique, being the only episode from memory to not include the familiar themes and have a new soundtrack of its own.
"Paw and Order's" instrumental scoring is rootin' tootin' rousing and whimsical, with a little pathos when Piglet is convinced to facing Nasty Jack, but even better are the songs, mostly sung by Owl and Gopher as singing-narrators. While brief, they are the kind that you only have to hear once but never forget them, the showdown song ("Here Comes the Masked Bear") is the catchiest but the one with the funniest, and boy are they hysterical, lyrics was the song after the gang's first encounter with Nasty Jack.
Writing has a perfect mix of whimsy, drollness, wit, charm and childhood innocence, with the dialogue being some of the show's funniest and wittiest in perfect keeping with a play heavily focused on comedy set in the Wild West, most of the best lines coming from Nasty Jack. The story uses its unique premise to its fullest potential, with the events in the saloon being so much fun but with a sense of foreboding, including an inspired ice cream fight in which Pooh accidentally gets the upper hand. The showdown is like a nostalgic throwback to the old westerns as well, and Piglet's speech does not feel over-the-top or overly-didactic.
The characters are great as ever, Pooh is so lovable and for an endearingly dim-witted character, which is still evident, the whole masked bear stuff shows him as a quick thinker in a dire situation, Eeyore is a great faithful steed. Owl and Gopher are hilarious singing-narrators and once again Piglet overcomes his fears and it was touching to see. Rabbit and Tigger have some great moments, such as Rabbit's scream before encountering Nasty Jack again or Tigger's attempted rescue/distraction.
Nasty Jack is an unforgettable villain with a real sense of threat and some funny lines, though didn't completely buy his reform, too easy. Definitely one of the show's best supporting characters along with Crud and Kessie. The voice acting is excellent, especially from a brilliant Jim Cummings as Nasty Jack.
All in all, one of 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh's' masterpiece episodes and in animation. 10/10 Bethany Cox
