Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet and their friends are back in the first Pooh adventure from Disney animation. It’s been more than 35 years since the “hunny” hungry bear appeared on the big screen. 

Disney sent me these two charming and whimsical images from Hundred Acre Wood and Winnie the Pooh, which is directed by Stephen J. Anderson and Dan Hall.

Anderson directed Meet the Robinsons and worked on Brother Bear, The Emperor’s New Groove and award-winning Bolt.  Hall is a veteran story artist at Disney with credits including The Princess and the Frog, Meet the Robinsons, Brother Bear and Tarzan. 

The late A.A. Milne penned two books and several poems about the beloved Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin (named after Milne’s son). His books are actually collections of stories, five of which inspired the film.  A.A. Milne’s son’s teddy bear inspired the beloved character. The child named his bear after Winnie, a Canadian black bear from London Zoo.  Pooh was the name of a swan they encountered together.

Winnie the Pooh arrives in theaters July 15, 2011.