A Bear Named Winnie (2004)

This Canadian TV Movie based on a true story is one that rachealcarol might like as it is an animal tale that manages to be heart-breaking and soppy at the same time.  During the run-up to World War I a Canadian Horse Division soldier buys a bear cub en route to his training ground which he names Winnie after his home town of Winnipeg.  The cub becomes something of a mascot to the young soldiers, but a thorn-in-the-side to the officers.  Attempts to abandon it in the wild come to nought and eventually the cub is smuggled with the troops to Salisbury Plain.  Finally knowing that the bear can not go with him to France, she is left at London Zoo for the duration.  The bear pines for her master but after saving a small girl who has fallen into her enclosure, her gentle nature is realised and she becomes a firm favourite of youngsters visiting the zoo. She also manages to raise some tears in the susceptible viewer.

One day an author named A. A. Milne visits the zoo with his young son...