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. 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is, as said a few times already, a rare example of a show with not a bad episode for the whole four seasons it ran, and has something for kids and adults alike. Both "Cloud Cloud Go Away" and "To Dream the Impossible Scheme" are excellent episodes, providing much affection and hilarity as well as an adorable innocence impossible to resist.
Like with all the episodes of the show, one remembers at least one thing about "Cloud Cloud Go Away" and "To Dream the Impossible Scheme" for a long time after and this is just on first viewing, furthermore there is so much to it that makes one want to re-watch them more than once due to their enormous re-play value. With each viewing, there's always something new to like about them each time and what came over as particularly good on first viewing have yet to become stale.
The animation in both episodes is very bright, well drawn and colourful, everything looking lush, detailed and smooth. In addition to that, the music is playfully jaunty and beautifully orchestrated, enhancing sadder moments with poignant and particularly lush and emotional scoring, whimsical parts with an energy but also pathos and the more playful moments with a jaunty touch. The theme tune is very rousing and one of the catchiest theme songs of any animated show of the late 80s.
Writing has a perfect mix of whimsy, drollness, wit, charm and childhood innocence, shining in both episodes.
"Cloud Cloud Go Away" is a lovely episode, with a simple, sweet story, a lot of charm, great animation and beautiful music. Tigger is my favourite character, and as always he is wonderful to watch with some great lines and marvellous vocal work. And it isn't the same with the odd funny quote, and there are at least two here, especially with "Hey, who turned out the sky?", "I think it wants to grow up to be a storm" and Pooh's "My, what a large apple, and since this isn't an apple tree I bet its a disguised bee hive. Oh bees that's a very nice apple you have and its probably just filled with honey. (Rumble, Rumble) How thoughtful its trying to fall off the tree for me". Oh, and if this episode makes you want to hug a cloud, you know it's done its job well. The ending is also very touching.
Conversely, the joy of "To Dream the Impossible Scheme" is Grand Pappy(who is kind of reminiscent of Wylie Burp from 'Fieval Goes West') who is marvellously voiced by Jim Cummings, the fast-paced story that is littered with lots of fun. Also liked that Gopher had more to do here and the droll dialogue. Have to admit though, the part where Gopher gets blocked with the shovel looks and sounds painful, but for some reason it's funny, maybe it is to do with the chaotic nature of the scene.
Once again, all the characters are impossible to dislike and the voice acting is very good all round, Jim Cummings rarely if ever disappoints but Michael Gough really does deliver in any Gopher-centric episode.
All in all, two more excellent episodes in a consistently great show. 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. 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is, as said a few times already, a rare example of a show with not a bad episode for the whole four seasons it ran, and has something for kids and adults alike. Both "Cloud Cloud Go Away" and "To Dream the Impossible Scheme" are excellent episodes, providing much affection and hilarity as well as an adorable innocence impossible to resist.
Like with all the episodes of the show, one remembers at least one thing about "Cloud Cloud Go Away" and "To Dream the Impossible Scheme" for a long time after and this is just on first viewing, furthermore there is so much to it that makes one want to re-watch them more than once due to their enormous re-play value. With each viewing, there's always something new to like about them each time and what came over as particularly good on first viewing have yet to become stale.
The animation in both episodes is very bright, well drawn and colourful, everything looking lush, detailed and smooth. In addition to that, the music is playfully jaunty and beautifully orchestrated, enhancing sadder moments with poignant and particularly lush and emotional scoring, whimsical parts with an energy but also pathos and the more playful moments with a jaunty touch. The theme tune is very rousing and one of the catchiest theme songs of any animated show of the late 80s.
Writing has a perfect mix of whimsy, drollness, wit, charm and childhood innocence, shining in both episodes.
"Cloud Cloud Go Away" is a lovely episode, with a simple, sweet story, a lot of charm, great animation and beautiful music. Tigger is my favourite character, and as always he is wonderful to watch with some great lines and marvellous vocal work. And it isn't the same with the odd funny quote, and there are at least two here, especially with "Hey, who turned out the sky?", "I think it wants to grow up to be a storm" and Pooh's "My, what a large apple, and since this isn't an apple tree I bet its a disguised bee hive. Oh bees that's a very nice apple you have and its probably just filled with honey. (Rumble, Rumble) How thoughtful its trying to fall off the tree for me". Oh, and if this episode makes you want to hug a cloud, you know it's done its job well. The ending is also very touching.
Conversely, the joy of "To Dream the Impossible Scheme" is Grand Pappy(who is kind of reminiscent of Wylie Burp from 'Fieval Goes West') who is marvellously voiced by Jim Cummings, the fast-paced story that is littered with lots of fun. Also liked that Gopher had more to do here and the droll dialogue. Have to admit though, the part where Gopher gets blocked with the shovel looks and sounds painful, but for some reason it's funny, maybe it is to do with the chaotic nature of the scene.
Once again, all the characters are impossible to dislike and the voice acting is very good all round, Jim Cummings rarely if ever disappoints but Michael Gough really does deliver in any Gopher-centric episode.
All in all, two more excellent episodes in a consistently great show. 10/10 Bethany Cox
