Tinker Bell - The Tiny, Jealous and Tenacious Disney Fairy Who Managed to Become a Disney Icon

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies. 

Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.

And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize

 

This entry may be seen as redundant, due to me having already written an entry about Peter Pan priorly! But Tinker Bell had her own anniversary the same year as Pan, so therefore she's was ought to have her own entry the same year that my entry for Pan was written (2018).

 

This was my best way of posing like Britney :)

I'm the friendly version
of Tamatoa :)

It's simply impossible to mention Disney without mentioning it`s huge cast of characters! These characters have even won the heart of the audience or been deeply loathed! However, in Disney's long and evergoing history, some characters have managed to become iconic in their own right. And having managed to live outside their movie and becoming representative in other productions. While the popularity and marketing applies normally to the protagonists or villains, this position has mostly applied to some Disney sidekicks.

Grumpy taught me this pose :)

One of these sidekicks who's received such recognition is Tinker Bell. This fiery and tenacious little fairy is Peter Pan's own sidekick and shares a good deal of screentime with him. Tinker Bell was originally inspired by a twinkle that both James Barrie and the boy from the family that he knew, Michael, found. Barrie had encountered several tales about fairies in his childhood. Despite how fairy mania had invaded litterature in the early past century when Barrie became inspired to write his own fairy play, Barrie wanted to set our dear Tink apart from other fairy play offerings.

Of course Tinker Bell was not the very first Disney fairy, as Disney had explored them earlier with both Pinocchio and Fantasia (which was rumored to be the most popular segment of the film at the time). And despite how our sprite is a departure from The Blue Fairy from Pinocchio, at least she was inspired from her. Her personality was also inspired from Shirley Temple, of all people. And she was designed by Bianca Majolie, who created Elmer Elephant. 

Tinker Bell`s Origins

This is the latest trend,
of having a flower like
 a dress :)

Originally called Tippytoe (because of Michael's foot-waving), Barrie's Tinker Bell was originally meant to be an abandoned creature who was a tinker (duuuh) who mended pots and kettles. And she would be the last of her kind, since her people vanished as children stopped believing in them. And yes, even Barrie's Tink was fiery (and was going to be a redhead, since some concept art had her a redhead. Despite that Disney were considering making her a brunette) and originally was given dialogue (which even the crew at Disney were considering doing) And given her own nook in the Tree Home of the Lost Boys. 

Mad Hatter would've
been proud of me :)

Theatrically, Tinker Bell was a challenge to design for Barrie. Rumored that she was inspired by a lamp, her portrayal was through "Pepper's Ghost" effect (which is a light spot). That solution was due to simplicity reasons (despite how Barrie joked with crediting her the name Jane Wren, which even the British government joked about).

Something that happens with the theatrical Peter Pan is how Tinker Bell gets revived with applause from the audience (which moved her debut actress Nina Boucicault). That her pixie dust makes people fly was requested from parents. However, in the 1924 movie version of Peter Pan, Tinker Bell was for the first time portrayed by a real woman (Barrie insisted that there would be no closeups of her. Due to the illusion, despite how that wish was declined).

This was one of my
rare adorable
moments :)

Tinker Bell was a character that went through many iterations when she first was designed for Walt Disney's Peter Pan. Originally she was inspired by contemporary haute coutoure designs and was going to change outfits several ways. Until realizing that cartoon characters rarely changes outfits. She was officially designed in 1940.
However, one deliberate choice was to make her human, since animation could portray her as such. And Tinker Bell was one of the reasons for Walt to make the story. That she communicated through her bell chimes was also a conscious choice.

It's repetive to say that she was modeled after live action actress Margaret Kerry. But she was also by inspired studio artist Ginni Mack and supervised by Marc Davis. Even Kathryn Beaumount did some live action footage for Tinker Bell! Yet several actresses served as models for our dear Tink, as Rosalind Russell, June Preisser, Anita Louise and Ann Rutherford. 

All of Peter Pan's animators were drawn to her sexy persona, yet some Barrie purists didn't think much of her. Yet her sex appeal was meant to appeal to the adult audience. And if she became too sexy, her tiny nature could've been revealed to compensate for it.

However, when Peter Pan premiered, the production notes of the film was described Tink's character with praise in anticipation (as did the director of the original 1924 silent film of Peter Pan, actually). Several Disney staff has remarked their affection for this tiny fairy, as John Lasseter and Don Hahn. Yet Tinker Bell was in Walt's time a fairly expensive character to produce, compared to other characters in Walt's time. Due to her changing eye colors. Yet it was concept artist David Hall who defined the character. And it was a deliberate choice to make her jealous.

There was some discussion of including her hiding place from the novel, but it was excluded. There were even talks about giving her a little caterpillar that looked like a Pomeranian as a sidekick. Originally she was going to have both a wand and a purse. But the storyteam felt it was enough to just have her pixie dust to do the trick. It was even suggested that our small Tink would be able to step through glass. Even her glow was given care of.

 

 

 

Tinker Bell`s Characterization

I'm striking a
Mummy pose :)

It's my umbrella :)

Whatever could be said of Tinker Bell's popularity, she's been featured more merchandise than any other Peter Pan character. But regardless of the different opinions around her, at least we could at least summarize her original characterization in these words; She's naughty, assertive and somewhat callous! And she acts out of jealousy! While she may not be exactly evil, she acts in many ways in menace to make Peter her own!

At least these traits makes Tinker Bell quite human, but also flawed! Yet there's no denial that she goes huge lengths to get her will. However, it's been confirmed that fairies are capable to feel just one emotion at the time, due to their wee nature.

These issues would make her popularity something of a headscratcher! She's the most popular of all the Disney fairies, yet she's the naughtiest of all of them (with the exception of Maleficent, but let's not take her into this list, shall we?). Due to how Disney characters are usually perceived as being archetypes who represents either good and evil (despite how they're more layered than people give them credit for), Tinker Bell is usually perceived as belonging to the good side, despite being naughtier than what we assume of the usual Disney fairy.

Be glad that I'm not a bee :)

Perhaps her arc isn't as overt in Walt's Peter Pan. Yet on it's cheapequel, Return to Neverland, she manages to get a closure with her female nemesis, Wendy's daughter Jane. Who Tinker Bell gets of course jealous of, yet Jane's disbelief almost causes her Death! Perhaps it's not the greatest arc for Tink. But to her credit, she does urge Peter to approach the grown up Wendy at the end and does greet her! Which is at least something.

 

 

 

Tinker Bell`s Strenghts, Credit and Theories About Crushing on Peter

Of course Bell's characterization makes her a departure from her fairy counterparts. Yet to take some legit comparisons, she has the beauty and sex appeal of the Blue Fairy. Otherwise, it would be easy to presume that Tinker Bell's prominent use in Disney in general was because of something as shallow as her wee size. Since a tiny fairy is usable for that reason alone.

Yet regardless of my aforementioned rants, Tinker Bell has actually managed to gain praise for her strengths and proactive nature by some Disney historians! For being ahead of her time in Peter Pan. Several fans have assumed that Tinker Bell is crushing on Peter, which is understandable enough. However, that theory has been denied several times by Margaret Kerry, who've rather labeled Tink as a groupie. That she was rather worried about with Wendy, was that Peter wouldn't take her on the adventures anymore.

 

 

 

 

Tinker Bell`s Appearances on Previous Disney Properties

Welcome to Air Tink :)

As aforementioned Tinker Bell has managed to live a long life of her own through Walt's days and beyond. As a hostess for many of Disney's live-action television programming and in every Disney film advertisements flying over Disneyland.

With her magic wand and her fairy dust beginning with Disneyland (which first introduced the theme park to the public while it was still
under construction), to Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, and The Wonderful World of Disney. She's also starred alongside other Disney characters, such as Chip 'n Dale, in many Disney comics, where she was also able to speak.

I don't belong there, since
I'm not a mouse. Duuh :)

Tinker Bell made numerous cameo appearances in the animated series House of Mouse. In Mickey's Magical Christmas, Tink appears at the very end to close out the film. In Mickey's House of Villains, Tink restores the House of Mouse's logo after Mickey successfully foils the Disney villains. Tinker Bell made her first appearance on Jake and the Neverland Pirates in the special Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Never Land Rescue.

I'm the drag version :)

In Once Upon a Time, Tinker Bell appears in Season 3 played by Rose McIver. She's also made her cameos in The Black Cauldron, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Lion King 1½ the animated short Electric Holiday. In Aladdin and the King of Thieves, just before the song There's a Party Here in Agrabah, Genie briefly transforms into Tinker Bell. From 1994-1999, Tinker Bell appeared on the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection intro logos. Sprinkling pixie dust on the bare version of the logo to the completed version of the logo.

Originally she was a part of the Disney Princess franchise for a while. But was removed for her own franchise. Yet her status has been milked in other ways, as she's in November 2008 became the smallest waxwork ever to be made at Madame Tussauds. Measuring only five and a half inches.
Tinker Bell was presented with the 2,418th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in september 2010, becoming the thirteenth fictional character and the fifth Disney character to receive this honor. Her popularity racks up an annual $400 million in retail sales with no particular effort on Disney’s part. Tinker Bell is a recurring character in the Kingdom Hearts series and Tinker Bell appears as a cameo in the Nintendo 3DS version of Disney INFINITY.

We're playing Ogre-tag ;)

Tinker Bell's arrival day is November 19, as evidenced by the Nintendo DS game. It appears that time passes differently in Pixie Hollow that it does on the Mainland. It's rumored that Tinker Bell served as the inspiration for the character of Joy, the protagonists of the emotions of Riley Andersen from the 2015 Pixar movie Inside Out. And last, but not least, she's made a brief cameo in Ralph Breaks the Internet.

 

 

 

Disney Fairies Franchise

 

But at the end, Tinker Bell was given a entirely new franchise of her own! Which were first in forms of books. Originally written in 2005, Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg was the first chapter book designed to introduce girls to Tink and her Pixie Hollow pals to a new generation. 
The novel spent 18 weeks on The New York Times children’s best-seller list. The purpose of the book was to explore Tinker Bell's friendships. The backgrounds for the books were inspired from the First Golden Age of Disney Animation (from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Bambi). Award winning Author Gail
Carson Levin was the writer, which were overall five in total. Despite how this series wasn't the only origin stories ever written about our wee fairy, as Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson had written their own series. John Lasseter got to know the books through Disney Publishing. However, in October 2008, Tink made the huge leap towards the CGI world with her own movie. One would wonder why it took so long for Tink to receive her own movie for the status. And while it may seem like a contrived gimmick to give her one, it wasn`t unexpected by any means. The planning began in 2006 and originally slated for a Fall 2007 release, it was delayed due to serious story problems (and also rumoring that it lacked appeal for older girls).

At least it's copyright
ourselves :)

Originally called Tinker Bell and the Ring of Belief, it was simply titled Tinker Bell at the very end. Made by DisneyToon Studios, the new franchise showed her surroundings and life in the fictional Pixie Hollow. To make this an origin story was a deliberate choice.
The visuals were inspired by painter Albert Bierstadt and the crew tried to view nature through the point of view of a fairy. The crew even brought things they found in nature.

Lasseter suggested that the costumes should've been inspired by nature and the creators tried to use flowers as clothing on the dolls. The architecture of the houses were actually inspired by indigenous cultures. Whatever you could say about it's dedication to it's original source, at least it takes the cue that a fairy is born of a child's first laugh. Of course our dear Tink lives up to her name of being an actual tinker.

This first Tinker Bell movie became a hit, generating more than $53 million in DVD sales. However, what's the most noteworthy (and controversial) with this franchise is that Tinker Bell was actually given a voice (by Mae Whitman, depsite how late actress Brittany Murphy was initially chosen to provide her voice. But was replaced due to scheduling conflicts).

I was too sexy,
so I had to hide :)

This issue was something that made several Disney fans scream foul, since it detracted from Bell's nature. Which is of course understandable. But perhaps the biggest change is of her personality. As Tink came across as more gentile and subdued in these movies. And while she had her moments where she had some tantrums, she was definitively less hostile and aggressive in these series (truth to be told, she had no real personality to distinguish her, which people ranted about).

In this universe, humans
are Our pets :)

Whitman said in an interview with USA Today that "kids would like Tink's energy and feistiness because it never comes from a malicious place. It's always out of the goodness of her pure heart." While of course this franchise depicted Tink's time before with Pete, it would be easy to assume that this could lead up to him. Since at least The Pirate Fairy setted up a young Captain Hook (Tom Hiddleston) and somewhat Mr. Smee and the Crocodile. Margaret Kerry liked the series.

Other (famous) voices in this franchise included Anjelica Huston as Queen Clarion, Raven-Symoné (of Disney Channel's That's So Raven) as Iridessa, Kristin Chenoweth as Rosetta, America Ferrera as Fawn, British actress Jane Horrocks as Fairy Mary, Loreena McKennitt as the narrator, Jesse McCartney as Terence and Kathy Najimy as the Minister of Summer.

For the 2009 addition Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Tinker Bell was finally given her first new outfit in over 50 years. Which reflected the autumn setting of the movie. According to director Klay Hill, the tomboyish outfit reveals the curves she originally had. 

Flik from A Bug's
Life made this
outfit for me :)

Until you catch me ;)

On October 25, 2009, an event was held at the United Nations world headquarters in New York City for the world premiere of The Lost Treasure. Just before the screening of the movie, Kiyo Akasaka, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information, introduced her to the audience, while Director Klay Hall and Producer Sean Lurie gave her a plaque for the work that she has done promoting environmental conservation and, perhaps most notably, for her work in a campaign for the Ad Council that she was in. 

 

The Disney Fairies franchise was also made to be a spin-off from the Disney Princess line. Originally planning to release four films between two years (from 2008 and 2010), the final period spanned between seven years. Remarkably, the first four films centered around each season, while the two latter films took a different direction.

If we're going to analyze those films, there's no denial that they're strictly made for a pre-school audience in mind. Yet to summarize their overall quality, they were still quite cute and endearing. Harmless and innocent, but made with some heart, magic and care to them. Being released in a time where the Disney Channel franchises were dominating a lot (*cough, High School Musical and Hannah Montana, cough*). Yet unspursingly enough, Disney Channel stars as Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Bridgit Mendler were providing the end credits songs.

Beware my bottom, I have
poison :)

Yes, even fairies can
be pirates. Get used to
it :)

However, whatever could be said, the Disney Fairies franchise and regardless of it's cynical intentions, at least they were a more healthier and inspired addition to Disney's Pantheon of franchises. At least they were something that  Disney truly stands for. But the franchise took an immediate stop in 2015 with Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast, despite not being an actual conclusion. And the franchise haven't been revived ever since.

 

 

.

Epilogue

Usually in my entries I tend to conclude my writings by having a final conclusion. But it's certainly more challenging with Tinker Bell. Due to my aforementioned summary over her bad qualities, it may seem like I'm trying to completely tarnish her character. Which certainly isn't my intention.
While my entries are usually analyses and rarely direct attacks at Disney properties (or at least trying to not be attacks), it's a challenge to praise a character that is deliberately as flawed a Tinker Bell (at least in both Peter Pan movies). Yet her complete change of personality may be something of a redemption for her. However, destiny had different plans for her and allowed her to rise to fame, despite her callous nature. Yet whatever can be said about Tinker Bell, regardless Walt's one or the Disney Fairies one, at least we could be glad that Tinker Bell has achieved such a high degree of fame. We could be happy that she has reached to many people, regardless. And at least we could be glad that her movies were neat additions to the Disney Pantheon. It's just a pity they suddenly stopped to be made.

She was gone for this photo :)

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References:
Tinker Bell An Evolution (Mindy Johnson).
Tinker Bell DVD
Peter Pan Diamond Edition
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinker_Bell
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Tinker_Bell
https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/Meet-Margaret-Kerry-The-Woman-Who-Gave-Tinker-Bell-Wings-189451441.html
https://moviechat.org/tt0823671/Tinker-Bell
https://www.awn.com/news/tinker-bell-immortalized-madame-tussauds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osV_SPm7aE (Meet Tinker Bell Margaret Kerry Q&A at Animate Miami 2015)
https://web.archive.org/web/20070105003150/http://disney.go.com/vault/archives/characters/tinker/tinker.html
http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Disney/Tinkerbell.html
https://disneymouselinks.com/Tinker-Bell.aspx
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/magazine/24princess.t.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&ei=5088&en=8e5a1ac1332a802c&ex=1324616400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
http://disneyfairies.wikia.com/wiki/Tinker_Bell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinker_Bell_(film)
https://www.dvdizzy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17783 (Tinker Bell Movie - official date: October 2007)
https://www.dvdizzy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30042&hilit=Tinker+Bell (The Tinker Bell Film Series)
http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2006/12/17/monday-mousewatch-disney-s-500-million-tinkerbell-problem.aspx
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-tinker-bell-became-disneys-692559