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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kartoon Studios (NYSE American: TOON), today announced that acclaimed musician, songwriter, performer, and educator, Livingston Taylor has been cast as the iconic voice of Winnie the Pooh in the Company’s upcoming animated franchise, Hundred Acre Wood’s Winnie and Friends, based on A.A. Milne’s iconic literary masterpiece.

The announcement marks a major creative milestone for what Kartoon Studios believes will be the Company’s most significant long-term property. “Hundred Acre Wood’s Winnie and Friends” is more than a series, we are building it as a franchise with long-term, multi-generational vision. From serialized short-form stories and major holiday specials to a global consumer products program and future live immersive experiences, we are structuring this as a 360-degree global brand designed to endure for decades,” said Andy Heyward CEO of Kartoon Studios.

Taylor, known for his warm, distinctive voice and celebrated musical career, brings a tone and spirit to Pooh that is both instantly familiar and uniquely his own. His voice carries the same iconic Taylor timbre that has connected with audiences for decades, while still offering a character and charm that is uniquely Livingston.

“Livingston Taylor doesn’t just voice Winnie the Pooh, he embodies him,” continued Heyward. “From the moment he stepped into the recording booth, and sang Danny Elfman’s main title song, he gave life to the warmth, sincerity, charm, and gentle wisdom that define Pooh at his very core. There is a kindness in Livingston’s voice, and a musical honesty, which feels as though it rises straight out of the Hundred Acre Wood itself. Winnie the Pooh is one of the most beloved characters in the world, and Livingston captures his heart and spirit in a way that is truly extraordinary and deeply moving.”

“When audiences hear Liv, they will not be thinking of an actor portraying Pooh, they will be hearing Winnie-the-Pooh himself,” said Executive Producer, Linda Woolverton.

Woolverton, known for her work as the writer of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Alice in Wonderland, continued, “Hundred Acre Wood’s Winnie and Friends is such a special property and we needed the perfect voice to bring these characters to life. Livingston’s voice and singing performance exceed anything I could have hoped for.”

Woolverton, the first female screenwriter whose work on a single film surpassed one billion dollars at the global box office added, “Livingston Taylor will be the Winnie-the-Pooh this generation has been waiting for!”

“As we prepare to introduce this reimagined franchise to the world, we are especially excited to offer our audience both of industry professionals, and kids at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, a live ‘table read’ with one of the original songs that will appear in every episode,” continued Heyward.

“To voice Winnie the Pooh is a privilege that touches me deeply,” commented Taylor. “Pooh has lived in the hearts of children and adults for generations, my own heart included. Stepping into his gentle, thoughtful world has been nothing short of joyful. Bringing that to life, through voice, music, and heart, will be a treasure I am honored to pass along to children everywhere.”