As a fan of Winnie the Pooh, 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' was always one of my favourite shows as a child. Not all childhood favourites have held up, but 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is one of the strongest examples of those that have.

While the original three 60s-70s short films ('Honey Tree', 'Blustery Day' and 'Tigger Too') and the 1977 'The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' are just a little better, 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' is one of the Winnie the Pooh franchise's high points. "The Wishing Bear" for me has to up there with one of the best episodes of 'The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh'. The show is one of the very rare examples of a show with not a bad episode in it, but then there are episodes that are particularly special. "The Wishing Bear" is one of these.

The animation in both episodes is very bright, well drawn and colourful, everything looking lush, detailed and smooth. The music is playfully jaunty and beautifully orchestrated, enhancing sadder moments with poignant and particularly lush and emotional scoring and the more playful moments with a jaunty touch. The theme tune is very rousing and one of the catchiest theme songs of any animated show of the late 80s.

Writing has a perfect mix of whimsy, drollness, wit, charm and childhood innocence. That chant/rhyme makes one inspired to wish for something and is quite catchy. This is also another example of Pooh facing a dilemma of thinking that he's caused damage, but it turns out, as a way of bringing in another one of the show's many beautifully realised and important morals, that there is another explanation entirely. As ever there is the ideal balance of humour and sentiment, notably Tigger's "If only there was two of me...then things would be fun".

Once again, the story is beautifully told, and is one of the show's most whimsical and heart-warming. Complete with an ending that is both touching and sweet. All the characters are wonderful, especially Tigger and Pooh. Love the love and loyalty Christopher Robin shows. All the voice acting is faultless too, who can go wrong with Jim Cummings and the incomparable Paul Winchell? In summary, fantastic and quite special episode to a consistently great show. 10/10 Bethany Cox

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When Pooh thinks that he used up Christopher Robin's wishing star, he tries to fulfill his friends' wishes.

Jim Cummings and Tim Hoskins in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988)

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Jim Cummings, John Fiedler, and Ken Sansom in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988)

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John Fiedler, Ken Sansom, and Paul Winchell in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988)

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The Wishing Bear

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