Winnie the Pooh has had a long and involved history with the Walt Disney organization. Created in a series of short stories by author A. A. Milne (none of which I have read, so you won't find any pithy commentary here), Winnie the Pooh was first brought to life by the Disney animators as a 1966 short entitled Winnie The Pooh and the Honey Tree. Widely regarded at the time as the loveliest, most charming, and the most purely "Disney" creation in decades, Disney returned to the well twice more with two additional shorts: Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968) and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974). All three shorts were edited together with some new material and released as a feature film in 1977 entitled The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh . Since then, Pooh and Co. have become a cornerstone of the Disney marketing empire. Pooh merchandise is consistently at or near the top of Disney Store sales, generating millions in revenue for the House of Mouse. The stories and characters continue to appeal to youngsters, who soak up their bright, beautiful colors, simple characterizations, gentle humor, and storybook atmosphere.

The Pooh Machine has kept churning along with video material since the animated debut in 1966. A television series entitled The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ran for three seasons in the late 1980s, and continued with a series of television specials and direct-to-video releases, including A Very Merry Pooh Year, Boo to You Too, A Winnie The Pooh Thanksgiving, and dozens of more sing-alongs, educational videos, videogames, and CD-ROMs. In 2000, beloved supporting actor Tigger got a chance to headline his own movie in his feature-film debut, the aptly named The Tigger Movie. The film grossed a healthy $45 million, notable for a release that could have just as easily gone straight-to-video. Another feature film, Pooh's Heffalump Movie, is being prepped for theatrical release in 2005, continuing Winnie the Pooh's theatrical legacy.

Of course, the quality of such releases is up to the eye of the beholder, and some believe that there haven't been any Pooh-related releases of late that compare to the classic shorts of the 1960s and 70s. I'm a diehard Disney Geek, but the Pooh stories have never been favorites of mine. I liked... no, I loved the original The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh film when I was a kid. The characters were so sweet, so endearing, and lived in a world so bright, colorful, and inviting, that the film completely mesmerized me. Returning to the Pooh-verse as an adult, I appreciate the film for its sweet charms, but it doesn't have the appeal that crosses generational lines. Until my dying day, I will always be able to procure enjoyment out of various segments of Disneyana; Fantasia, Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmations, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan... these can be continuously enjoyed throughout a lifetime. In comparison, Winnie the Pooh seems permanently mired in childhood. That's not to say Pooh-related stories aren't enjoyable; they just don't have the lasting resonance that most other Disney films retain.

That's about the best way to sum up Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo. It's a sweet little tale that's perfectly satisfying entertainment for children. The story, in which little Roo attempts to spread Easter-time cheer amongst his pals, even the anal-retentive Rabbit, is an enjoyable little confection. It provides breezy, sweet-natured entertainment that won't engage you at all if you're above the age of nine, but will keep the youngsters entertained throughout its scant sixty-four minute running time. Diehard Pooh fans of all ages will definitely enjoy it; animation fans will probably find it acceptable if forgettable animated product.