Winnie-the-Pooh published in 1958, and, in 1960, became the only Latin book ever to have been featured on "The New York Times" Best Seller list. Hyphens in the character's name were omitted by Disney when the company adapted the Pooh stories into a series of features that would eventually become one of its most successful franchises. In popular film adaptations, Pooh has been voiced by actors Sterling Holloway, Hal Smith, and Jim Cummings in English, and Yevgeny Leonov in Russian. A. A. Milne named the character Winnie-the-Pooh after a teddy bear owned by his son, Christopher Robin Milne, on whom the
Winnie the Pooh (Disney character) Pooh" (1977). Hal Smith (1980–1987) took over for the 1981 short "Winnie the Pooh Discovers the Seasons", and would maintain the role until Jim Cummings (1988–present) began voicing Pooh in the animated series "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" (1988–1991). Cummings continues to voice Pooh (as well as Tigger) to this day. In 1961, Walt Disney Productions licensed certain film and other rights to the characters, stories and trademarks from Stephen Slesinger, Inc. and the estate of A. A. Milne. and made a series of cartoon films about him. The early cartoons were based on several of the original