About Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell is one of the most prominent characters in the history of Walt Disney's creations. The diminutive fairy went from a minor character in the "Peter Pan" movies, plays and books to a familiar image in Disney's marketing campaigns. While kids are accustomed to a jovial Tinkerbell flying past Cinderella's Castle in Disney commercials, the character has a richer past than many people know. An understanding of Tinkerbell's evolution over the last century helps Disney fans give life to statues, posters and prints of her likeness.

History

Tinkerbell was introduced to the world by author J.M. Barrie in his 1904 play "Peter Pan or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up." The character was detailed further in Barrie's 1911 novel "Peter and Wendy." While the character was used in smaller stage shows and books over the next four decades, Walt Disney brought Tinkerbell to the big screen in the 1953 animated movie "Peter Pan." Tinkerbell has been reinvented in recent years including Julia Robert's mischievous depiction of the character in the 1991 movie "Hook" and a modern animated version in the 2008 DVD "Tinker Bell."

Features

Tinkerbell is best known for her ability to make average people fly with the help of fairy dust. The fairy dust only works if the person in question believes that they can fly and thinks good thoughts. The character's small stature allows her to zip around by flapping her wings quickly and fitting into small spaces like keyholes. Tinkerbell's voice sounds like a ringing bell in earlier movies and books, making it difficult to hear her voice unless she is nearby.

Misconceptions

Depictions of Tinkerbell in recent years have obscured J.M. Barrie's original intent for the character. The origin of the name Tinkerbell comes from the character's ability to fix pots and cauldrons, a skill that has been foregone in favor of her use of fairy dust. Young fans of the Tinkerbell character may not know that J.M. Barrie depicted the character with a mercurial attitude in his works. Tinkerbell would play pranks on other characters, express anger and switch over to happiness within the course of a few pages.

Significance

Walt Disney Co. has leveraged Tinkerbell's enduring popularity to earn profits on DVD sales, souvenirs and prints. The Disney Fairies line of products led by Tinkerbell has generated $800 million in 2008 according to The Disney Blog. Visitors to Disney parks worldwide can find ceramic figurines, posters, plush dolls and cups with Tinkerbell's likeness in every Disney souvenir shop. The significance of Tinkerbell on impressionable children is the promotion of whimsical notions of childhood wrapped up in fairy dust, flying and high-pitched voices that can be difficult to find in modern cartoons.

Function

Tinkerbell's role in the pantheon of Walt Disney characters has expanded rapidly since 1953. The character is used in Disneyland and Disney World commercials, zooming through the night's sky toward Cinderella's Castle. Walt Disney Co. has also used Tinkerbell as the centerpiece of its Disney Fairies series, headlining a group of lesser fairies with strong personalities popular among young viewers.

Resources

• Disney Fairies page
• TinkFanatic