Disney Teases Winnie the Pooh 100th Anniversary Merchandise With a Look at the Past

This year marks 100 years since the publication of the original Winnie-the-Pooh book by A.A. Milne in October 1926. Disney is honoring the milestone with a look at how the Walt Disney Archives and Disney Consumer Products preserves and reimagines the character’s legacy.

Walt Disney Archives is a “historical brain trust” for the company. Founded in 1970 by Disney Legend Dave Smith, the archives collects and preserves the physical history and heritage of the company, including theme parks memorabilia, consumer products, and studio production items.

Disney highlighted Winnie the Pooh items from the 1960s onward. Samples include apparel, board games, books, and a Disney Parks popcorn bucket, showcasing different styles of the character through the years.

Among the collection are early 1960s plush toys created by Gund, one of the longest-running Pooh licensees. Gund continues to make Winnie the Pooh products.

“This collection gives fans a rare opportunity to see some materials that would shape Winnie the Pooh’s on‑screen and consumer‑products legacy, from early merchandise to early studio production documentation that reflects the craft behind his charm,” said Kevin M. Kern, Sr. Manager, Research, Walt Disney Archives.

There’s a live-action reference stand-in from the 2018 Disney film Christopher Robin.Other products are a Winnie the Pooh Whirl-A-Tune Music Maker, a Little Golden Book titled Winnie the Pooh Meets Gopher, and an international storybook from Italy.

To celebrate Pooh’s 100th anniversary, Disney is launching a new global brand campaign and new product collections.

“Winnie the Pooh’s 100th anniversary gives us an incredible opportunity to celebrate the products that have shaped his legacy,” said Amanda Dhalluin, VP Global Brand Commercialization, Disney Consumer Products. “From classic storybook‑inspired collections to modern lifestyle lines, every item we create is designed to connect fans with Pooh Bear in a way that feels personal and joyfully nostalgic.”

Disney Consumer Products strives to understand and satisfy consumer trends but in a way that stays centered to the storytelling of Pooh and who he is at his core. The key is close collaboration with creative and development teams.

Dhalluin said, “Everything we do in product is to bring the characteristics of those characters out into the products, so that the consumers understand them. Pooh is a real character, and all of these friends – if you think about how he interacts with Piglet or how he interacts with Eeyore – that can go across any generation or any culture.”

Disney Legend Mark Henn, who took over animating Pooh for the 2011 film, said what makes the bear an enduring character is his sincerity, humbleness, and interactions with other characters.

“He’s naïve, maybe, but he has a real sincere heart,” said Henn, “which for me as an animator and as an actor is something I’ve always gravitated to in the characters I’ve enjoyed animating.”

Kern added, “I think one of the great things about the character is that he’s so steeped in wisdom that he himself does not always realize he’s giving, and that’s so timeless.”

New and Upcoming Winnie the Pooh Products

• Carter’s debuted baby apparel inspired by Winnie the Pooh and friends
• Disney Store launched several collections inspired by Winnie the Pooh, including mini and large versions of the Winnie the Pooh and Pals Disney Store Est. 1987 Canvas Tote.
• Funko expanded their Pop Nooks line with new Winnie the Pooh collectibles
• GAP introduced new baby apparel featuring timeless Pooh designs for seamless outfit pairing
• Old Navy rolled out playful adult female, kids, toddler, and baby apparel inspired by Winnie the Pooh and friends. 
• Primark dropped a 100th anniversary collection that channels the wonder of the Hundred Acre Wood and leans into cozy nostalgia. 
• Vera Bradley launched iconic bags and accessories adorned with whimsical Hundred Acre Wood patterns

New This Month

• Two LEGO Disney Winnie the Pooh sets
• The new Happy Haul line from Just Play brings Winnie the Pooh to life with the blind‑box Hunny Crew figures and Hunny Hugs Capsule Plush
• An assortment baby apparel from Kyte Baby, new adult apparel and accessories from Cakeworthy, tech accessories from PopSockets, and statement bags from Loungefly. Yogi Tea joins the celebration as well with a comforting honey chamomile tea inspired by Pooh’s love of slowing down and savoring simple pleasures. 
• Beauty essentials, including new Winnie the Pooh collections from Wet Brush, Wet n Wild, and Mad Beauty, will follow these top product drops, bringing Pooh‑inspired charm to personal‑care routines around the world.

Products Still to Come

Upcoming releases include a new kids’ footwear collection from adidas this June, infused with whimsical design touches and everyday comfort, a new addition to the popular Disney Darlings line from JAKKS Pacific, as well as special collections from Squishmallows, Steiff, Little Words Project, and Pandora. 

Upcoming publishing titles include: 

• Winnie the Pooh: Wonders of the Hundred-Acre Wood Treasury from Random House Children’s Books 
• Disney: Winnie the Pooh: The Hundred-Acre Wood Cookbook from Insight Editions 
• The Winnie the Pooh Book: A Centenary Celebration from DK

This fall, Disney will honor the anniversary of A.A. Milne’s original publication with the release of Winnie the Pooh: 100 Mindful Moments from Penguin Random House, arriving September 22. This newest addition to the Pooh literary tradition invites readers to explore the art of living simply, joyfully, and thoughtfully through Pooh’s perspective while finding balance in the everyday.

The campaign will continue to roll out with regional experiential activations from April to May across LA, Japan, Singapore, London, Paris, and Poland, supporting new product collections from LEGO, Just Play and Funko, alongside new publishing titles.

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