Gopher was original
The Winnie the Pooh stories originated in England, and the Walt Disney company was American.
So Walt wanted to add in an American character to attract American audiences.
So they came up with Gopher. A gopher is pretty American, huh?
The quality where he whistles his S's came from the beaver in Lady and the Tramp.
The crew liked the character, but were worried that they'll offend people because English people LOVE Winnie the Pooh.
So Larry Clemmons added the line where he says "I'm not in the book, but I'm at your service".
The line was actually supposed to have a double meaning.
He was saying outwardly that he wasn't in the phone book, but he was never in the A. A. Milne book either.
That part was implied when Pooh says "After all, he's not in the book, you know."
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Top 20 Winnie the Pooh facts
Fiksi PenggemarTwenty facts about the many adventures of that silly old bear.