It was back in 1924 that “Edward Bear” would be created, and renamed as the iconic “Winnie the Pooh” just two years later in 1926. Today, Winnie the Pooh is one of the most iconic fictional characters in history, and is one of the most popular characters ever for Disney.
Here are five fascinating facts about Winnie the Pooh!
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- Winnie the Pooh was briefly banned in the United Kingdom. (source) Along with Charlotte’s Web, Winnie the Pooh was briefly banned in public schools in the United Kingdom back in 2003. The reason for the ban was the fear that Muslim children would be offended by the inclusion of a talking big, but the ban didn’t last long, as the Muslim Council of Britain had requested that the ban coming to an end, mentioning that it was a “well-intentioned but misguided policy.”
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- The Hollywood Walk of Fame has a star for Winnie the Pooh. (source) A stroll through the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame features countless celebrities, but also characters like Winnie the Pooh, Snoopy, and Mickey Mouse. Winnie the Pooh was honored with his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame back in 2006.
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- Contrary to popular belief, Winnie the Pooh’s last name is not “Sanders.” (source) Above Winnie the Pooh’s door is a sign that reads “Sanders,” which led to fans of the bear assuming that was his last name, but it’s not. The creator of Winnie the Pooh once explained in a tongue-in-cheek way that it was just the name on the sign that he lived other. This has led to fan speculation of the previous tenant being named “Sanders” and Pooh just hadn’t replaced the sign yet.
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- Winnie the Pooh is the fourth highest-grossing character ever. (source) Since his debut back in 1924, Winnie the Pooh has generated $48.8 billion, making him the fourth highest-grossing character of all-time, with the only characters and franchises having made more all-time being Pokemon ($76.4 billion), Mickey Mouse & Friends ($52.2 billion), and Star Wars ($51.8 billion).
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- Winnie the Pooh didn’t always have his trademark red shirt. (source) When Disney bought the rights to the character, Winnie the Pooh received his iconic red shirt, but the original drawings and sketches of the character just showed an adorable bear without any clothes at all.
For nearly 100 years, Winnie the Pooh has been one of the most memorable and iconic fictional characters out there. If you have any more fun facts to share about Winnie the Pooh, let us know about them in the comments below!
