Jim Cummings Brings a Whole Lot of Disney Magic to Three Panels at D23 Expo - News
The legendary voice behind Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck and countless childhood favorites is taking fans on a trip through Disney history, nostalgia and plenty of unforgettable memories.
Jim Cummings, the beloved, longtime voice of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck, Star Wars’ Hondo Ohnaka and 1,500+ more characters, will take the stage for three panels at D23, the ultimate Disney fan event, this weekend in Anaheim.
That is a lot of characters, a lot of voices and quite possibly enough Disney history to fill several enchanted forests.
Cummings will be featured during the following three star-studded panels, the latter two including singing contributions from popular Disney productions:
On Friday, August 14, Cummings will join “Making Disney Magic with Ron Clements” from 2:45-3:45pm on the Archives Stage. Clements, one of Disney Animations’ true stars of the past four decades, will take fans inside his new book, “Making Disney Magic,” along with very special guests from his prolific legacy of animated films – which includes Cummings’ sweet portrayal of Ray, the Cajun firefly in “The Princess and the Frog,” as well as roles in “Aladdin,” “Hercules” and “Treasure Planet.”
In other words, expect a little Disney history, a little movie magic and at least one very good reason to suddenly hear a familiar voice in your head saying something wonderfully animated.
On Friday and Saturday, Cummings will be featured on the “Disney Rewind Concert,” on the Premier Stage. Friday’s concert is slated for 7:00-8:30pm, while Saturday’s concert is set for 6:30-8:00pm. Disney Rewind Cummings is billed as the ultimate throwback event showcasing the very best Disney hits of the ’80s and ’90s, and Cummings was an essential part of the Disney Afternoon slate with roles in virtually every series in that lineup.
Cummings will be spotlighted along with other Disney Animation and Broadway stars like Bill Farmer, Jodi Benson and Susan Egan. For anyone who grew up with the Disney Afternoon, this may be less of a concert and more of a highly organized ambush of childhood nostalgia. Bring tissues. Or at least pretend you remembered to.
It’s been a busy summer for Cummings, who was bestowed a prestigious Inkpot Award by Comic-Con International in late July. Essentially an induction into Comic-Con’s Hall of Fame, the Inkpot Awards are given to individuals for their contributions to the worlds of comics, science fiction/fantasy, film, television, animation, and fandom services.
“I am truly humbled and blessed to receive such an incredible honor, and I proudly share it with my fans – who’ve always been so wonderfully supportive of my work,” Cummings said.
As the instantly recognizable voice of your childhood, Cummings’ award-winning career spans more than four decades as the auditory talent behind numerous landmark animated characters. Cummings has given life to more than 1,500 different animated characters across nearly 200 films, 134 television series (2,500+ episodes), 175 video games and 25 animated shorts.
At this point, Cummings’ résumé is less a résumé and more an animated encyclopedia.
Cummings’ spotlight is even more timely than ever in 2026 as the world celebrates the 100th anniversary of Winnie the Pooh, a role so closely associated with Cummings that he recently stood alongside the Queen of England to hail the Silly Ol’ Bear’s centennial. A two-time Annie Award winner and recipient of the prestigious Winsor McCay Award, Cummings also serves as the host of the incredibly popular “Toon’d In! with Jim Cummings” podcast, where he shares behind-the-scenes stories, interviews industry legends, and offers fans an inside look at the world of animation and voice acting.
Outside of entertainment, Cummings is deeply committed to charitable work, particularly in bringing joy to sick children. He has worked closely with organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, often using his iconic voices to uplift young patients. Whether through personal visits, charity events, or recorded messages, Cummings’ generosity and compassion have left a lasting impact on countless lives.
And really, that may be the most fitting part of the story. For decades, Cummings has helped make imaginary worlds feel real, turned animated characters into lifelong friends and given generations of fans voices they never forgot.
Now, with Winnie the Pooh celebrating 100 years and D23 Expo gathering Disney fans from near and far, Cummings gets to do what he has been doing all along: bring a little more magic to the room.
And if Tigger happens to bounce by, well, nobody said D23 Expo had to behave itself.