What’s The Works?
The Winnie the Pooh franchise, rooted in A.A. Milne's classic stories, revolves around the adventures of a honey-loving bear, Pooh, and his group of animal friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. The franchise centers on themes of friendship, companionship, and navigating the everyday joys and challenges of life, often with a focus on lessons for children about facing fears, learning responsibility, and the importance of teamwork.
Who Is He?
Tigger is the deuteragonist of the Winnie the Pooh franchise. He is a fictional tiger character originally introduced in A. A. Milne's book The House at Pooh Corner.
He is Winnie the Pooh's energetic, fun-loving friend and one of Christopher Robin's stuffed animals, who often goes on adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood. One of Tigger's defining characteristics is his ability to hop on his tail, which he often does when he gets excited.
From 1968 to 1999, he was voiced by the late Paul Winchell, who also voiced Boomer in The Fox and the Hound, Dick Dastardly, and as Sam-I-Am and Guy-Am-I in Dr Seuss on the Loose. From 1990 to 1999, Winchell shared the role with Jim Cummings, who also voices Winnie the Pooh, Darkwing Duck, Hondo Ohnaka, & the Tasmanian Devil; following Winchell's retirement and death, Cummings permanently took over the role.
What Makes Them a Shonen Hero?
- Heroic/Honorable: He stands out as one of the most admirable characters in a fairly low-stakes franchise, given he has saved the world on one occasion and rescued his friends on multiple occasions.
- Courageous/Reckless: Tigger often jumps into unfamiliar situations without hesitation, although he acts without thinking.
- Energetic: Tigger is rarely still. He's almost always bouncing on his tail, leaping or pacing with an irrepressible spring in his step.
- Stubborn: Once Tigger has an idea in his head, it can be quite difficult to dissuade him. In "The Tigger Movie," despite feeling lonely, he stubbornly believes there must be other Tiggers out there like him, rather than accepting that he might be unique.
- Pursues a Big-End Goal: While Tigger's methods can sometimes be a bit chaotic, his intentions are usually good. He wants to include his friends in his fun and often tries to help them in his own way.
- Unintelligent: Tigger acts before thinking. He often bounces into situations without considering the consequences or whether he's even wanted there.
- Optimistic: Tigger tends to focus on the enjoyable aspects of any situation. Even when things go slightly awry, he usually finds a way to laugh it off or see the positive side.
- Determined: Tigger is fiercely loyal to his friends. When they need help or when he feels he should be involved, he is determined to be there for them, even if his methods are a bit chaotic.
- Confident/Cocky: Tigger often emphasizes that he is "the only one," taking pride in his distinctiveness. He rarely doubts himself and approaches new situations with the assumption that he'll excel.
- Unpredictable: He has a tendency of sneaking up and playfully pounce on his friends.
- Believes in the Power of Friendship: Tigger is a loyal friend. He sticks by Pooh, Piglet, Roo, and the others, even when his bouncing causes a bit of chaos. His consistent presence and participation in their lives show his loyalty.
- Possesses Plot Armor: Tigger survives an avalanche while trying to his friends in “The Tigger Movie”.
- Mischievous: He's always looking for fun and games. Sometimes, Tigger's playful interactions can border on gentle teasing, like when he playfully pesters Rabbit.
- Rebellious: Tigger frequently bursts into situations without warning, often disrupting the peace and quiet that some of the others (like Rabbit and Eeyore) prefer.
- Forgiving: In “The Tigger Movie”, after the danger passes, his friends confess that they wrote the letter and dressed up. Tigger realizes that their actions, though misguided, came from a place of caring. He understands that they are his family and the ones who care about him.
VERDICT
I say YES because I think Tigger deserves some praise, but what do you guys think?