Christopher Robin is a character created by A. A. Milne. After the rights were sold, he has subsequently appeared in Disney cartoons.
He appears in Milne's poems and in the two books: Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928). In the books he is a young boy who is one of Winnie-the-Pooh's best friends. His other friends are Piglet, Tigger, Kanga and Roo (taken separately from kangaroo), Eeyore, Rabbit and Owl. His catchphrase is "Silly old bear", and is characterized by his uneven socks. In the second book, there are hints that Christopher Robin is growing up. In the final chapter, the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood throw him a farewell party after learning that he must leave them soon. It is implied that he is to attend boarding school.
Christopher Robin was based upon the author A. A. Milne's own son, Christopher Robin Milne, who in later life became unhappy with the use of his name, writing in one of a series of autobiographical works: "It seemed to me almost that my father had got where he was by climbing on my infant shoulders, that he had filched from me my good name and left me nothing but empty fame". In addition to the two Pooh books the character was immortalized in other works by A. A. Milne including two books of poems: When We Were Very Young (1924) and Now We Are Six (1927). One of the poems, Vespers, was said by Christopher Milne as "the one work that has brought me over the years more toe-curling, fist-clenching, lip-biting embarrassment than any other".
Stephen Slesinger acquired the rights to Winnie-the-Pooh and related characters from A. A. Milne in 1930. His widow licensed the rights to Disney in 1961. Since 1966, Disney has released numerous features starring Winnie-the-Pooh and related characters.
