Disney Fairies is a Disney franchise built around the character of Tinker Bell, whom Disney adapted in their 1953 animated film Peter Pan and subsequently adopted as a mascot for the company. In addition to the fictional fairy character created by J. M. Barrie, the franchise introduces many new characters, and expands substantially upon the limited information the author gave about the fairies and their home of Never Land. The characters are referred to within stories as "Never Fairies". The franchise includes children's books and other merchandise, a web site, a Tinker Bell film series, featuring the character and several of the Disney fairies as supporting characters.

Setting[link]

In Barrie's 1902 novel The Little White Bird, in which he introduced the mythos of Peter Pan and the fairies, he wrote, "When the first baby laughed for the first time, his laugh broke into a million pieces, and they all went skipping about. That was the beginning of fairies."^[1] The Disney Fairies are based on a similar idea: every time a newborn baby laughs for the first time, that laugh travels out into the world, and those that make their way to Never Land turn into a Never fairy.

The fairies generally reside in the Home Tree, a towering tree located in the heart of Pixie Hollow in Never Land. Various groups of fairies work and live nearby as well. Most of the fairy characters are young and female, but older and male characters are also included. The males are sometimes referred to as "sparrow men", though the term "fairies" is used to refer to both female and male characters.

Characters[link]

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Each fairy has a specific talent that they perform and a distinct personality, intended for young girls to each relate to a fairy with a similar personality.^[2]

• Tinker Bell: (voiced by Mae Whitman in the films) Tinker Bell, also known as "Tink", is sassy, brave, and beautiful. Although she is initially resistant to becoming a "tinker" (the fairies who create and fix things, also in the books known as a "pots-and-pans" talent fairy), she embraces the identity when she comes to recognize the value of her talent. She is inexperienced, but a good problem solver. She can be easily impatient and annoyed, yet she is extremely loyal. According to her starring film, she has invented two things; the acorn crusher and the flower sprayer. Her wish is to go beyond Pixie Hollow to find lost things.

• Silvermist: (voiced by Lucy Liu in the films) Silvermist is a beautiful water-talent fairy of East Asian appearance. She looks on the positive side of life and acts as an influence between Tinker Bell and Iridessa.

• Rosetta: (voiced by Kristin Chenoweth in most of the films, and Megan Hilty in Tinker Bell and the Pixie Hollow Games) Rosetta is a garden-talent fairy who is red-haired and speaks with a Southern American accent. She loves beauty and good manners and is always giving good beauty tips to her friends and plants.

• Fawn: (voiced by America Ferrera in the first film and Angela Bartys in the second^[3] and third films) Fawn is an animal-talent fairy and can therefore speak the languages of all creatures except butterflies, but in a clip she was seen helping a butterfly out of its cocoon, meaning that her inability to communicate with butterflies might be a mistake.

• Iridessa: (voiced by Raven-Symone in the films) Iridessa is a light-talent fairy of African appearance. She could be described as a perfectionist. She is Tinker Bell's best friend of all but sometimes gets angry at her because she plays around. However, if Tinker Bell needs help, Iridessa will always come to her aid. She is usually very cheerful and practical.

• Vidia: (voiced by Pamela Adlon in the films) Vidia is the fastest of the fast-flying-talent fairies. She often uses terms such as "dear", "sweetie" and "cupcake" without sincerity, makes cruel remarks, and is impatient when she is kept waiting. She's also independent, crafty and opinionated. She lives alone in a Sour Plum tree. Although she dislikes the other fairies, she has a soft spot for Prilla and later Wisp. She is principally an antihero, but sometimes an antagonist. Vidia becomes the sixth main fairy in the third film.

• Terence: (voiced by Jesse McCartney in the films) Terence is a dust-talent sparrowman, who hands out pixie dust to other fairies each day so they may do their magic, and is calm and kind. He has a strong crush on Tinker Bell, which she is unaware of.

• Queen Clarion: (voiced by Anjelica Huston in the films) Queen Clarion is the Never Fairies' leader, wise and dignified. Her ultimate concern is the health and well-being of her subjects. Sometimes, she is called Queen Ree or just Ree. She might possess every fairy talent.

Publications[link]

Novels[link]

At the opening of the 2005 Bologna International Children's Book Fair, the Walt Disney Company revealed its plan to introduce a children’s illustrated novel for girls 6–10 years of age.^[4] Disney Fairies debuted September 2005, when Disney Publishing Worldwide unveiled the novel Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg, written by Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine. The book's illustrations were inspired by the tradition and craft of early twentieth century European children's book illustration.^[5] It was released in 45 countries and 32 languages with a US$1 million marketing and publicity campaign. It became a New York Times bestseller and has already sold over 1 million copies worldwide ^[6]

The story begins in Fairy Haven/Pixie Hollow, located in the heart of Never Land. Prilla, who is a brand-new fairy, born of a baby's laugh, arrives in Never Land and discovers that she has no talent for any of the fairy avocations. Tinker Bell takes Prilla to see Mother Dove, but before the wise bird can advise Prilla, Never Land is shaken by a terrible hurricane. Mother Dove is thrown off her nest, and her precious egg, which holds all the secrets of Neverland, is shattered. Immediately, all those who live in Never Land begin to age. The island's only hope is for some brave fairies to take the egg pieces to Kyto the dragon and ask him to restore it with his fiery breath.

The book was followed in 2007 by a sequel, entitled Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand. Another sequel, Fairies and the Quest for Never Land, was released in 2010.

In the Year of a Million Dreams celebration, book stores released a form submitting a fairy character. The winner is said to be put in his/her own fairy's book.

Chapter books[link]

Random House has published a series of chapter books under the banner "Tales of Pixie Hollow".^[7]

• The Trouble with Tink ~ by Kiki Thorpe
• Vidia and the Fairy Crown ~ by Laura Driscoll
• Beck and the Great Berry Battle ~ by Laura Driscoll
• Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand ~ by Gail Carson Levine
• Lily's Pesky Plant ~ by Kirsten Larsen
• Rani in the Mermaid Lagoon ~ by Lisa Papademetriou
• Fairies and the Quest for Never Land ~ by Gail Carson Levine
• Fira and the Full Moon ~ by Gail Herman
• A Masterpiece for Bess ~ by Lara Bergen
• Prilla and the Butterfly Lie ~ by Kitty Richards
• Tink, North of Never Land ~ by Kiki Thorpe
• Beck Beyond the Sea ~ by Kimberly Morris
• Dulcie's Taste of Magic ~ by Gail Herman
• Silvermist and the Ladybug Curse ~ by Gail Herman
• Fawn and the Mysterious Trickster ~ by Laura Driscoll
• Rosetta's Daring Day ~ by Lisa Papademetriou
• Iridessa, Lost at Sea ~ by Lisa Papademetriou
• Queen Clarion's Secret ~ by Kimberly Morris
• Myka Finds Her Way ~ by Gail Herman
• Tinker Bell Takes Charge ~ by Eleanor Fremont (included in Tinker Bell: Two Pirate Tales, published separately by HarperCollins)
• Lily in Full Bloom ~ by Laura Driscoll
• Rani and the Three Treasures ~ by Kimberly Morris (included in Rani: Two Friendship Tales, published separately by HarperCollins)
• Vidia Meets Her Match ~ by Kiki Thorpe
• Art Lessons for Bess ~ by Amy Vincent (included in Bess: Two Colorful Tales)
• Four Clues for Rani ~ by Catherine Daly
• Trill Changes Her Tune ~ by Gail Herman
• Tink in a Fairy Fix ~ by Kiki Thorpe
• Rosetta's Dress Mess ~ by Laura Driscoll

Step Into Reading books[link]

• The Great Fairy Race (Step 3)
• A Fairy Tale (Step 3)
• A Game of Hide-and-Seek (Step 3)
• Tink's Treasure Hunt (Step 3)
• Beck's Bunny Secret (Step 3)
• Vidia Takes Charge (Step 3)

• The Fairy Berry Bake-Off (Step 4)
• Pixie Hollow Paint Day (Step 4)
• A Dozen Fairy Dresses (Step 4)
• A Fairy Frost (Step 4)

Other books[link]

• In the Realm of the Never Fairies: The Secret World of Pixie Hollow ~ by Monique Peterson. (Contains information about Pixie Hollow.)
• Mysterious Messages ~ by Tennant Redbank
• Prilla's Prize ~ by Lisa Papademetriou

• Secret Fairy Homes
• A Poem for Tink - Terence writes a secret poem about Tinker Bell and in the end she receives it.
• The Disappearing Sun
• The Shell Gift
• Fairies in Flight ~ by Posner

Disney Fairies Magazine[link]

In June 2006, Egmont Magazines launched a new monthly magazine for girls for 5–9 years old, produced by The Walt Disney Company Italia, S.p.A. and published in Italy a couple of months prior to the Egmont translations. The magazine, entitled Fairies, began with an initial print of 110,000 copies and a cover price of £1.99. The magazine's content is centered on Tinker Bell, and her fairy friends from the Pixie Hollow. Each issue features a collectable pull-out story, games, puzzles, posters and colouring pages.^[8] Fairies Magazine has been launched in Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Poland, Russia, Spain, the Nordic countries, Portugal, Germany, and Benelux.^[9]

Merchandising[link]

In addition to the Published work, The Walt Disney Company provides support for the Disney Fairies across all business units. The campaign includes The Disney Fairies Website, where visitors can explore and discover information about the Disney Fairies. The website allows users to learn about the fairies, create a fairy, visit the Pixie Hollow, and explore related merchandise.

Disney Consumer Products have also produced a line of dolls and role play assortments. The first Disney Fairies Products were a series of 10-inch dolls, which were a Disney store exclusive in January 2006.^[10] Since then, Playmates Toys Inc teamed up with Disney in October 2005 to design and produce a line of toys for the Disney Fairies, which will include 3.5" small dolls, 8" fashion dolls, playsets & activity sets with DVDs and collectible story cards. Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg was the inspiration for the line of toys.^[11] Disney Consumer Products launched a wide variety of Disney Fairies branded items, consisting of everything from apparel to stationery.^[10]

Film series[link]

A computer-animated feature film, Tinker Bell was developed by DisneyToon Studios, and released on DVD and Blu-ray by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on October 28, 2008.^[12] They also announced four other direct-to-DVD sequels to follow this film, also digitally animated:

• Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (October 27, 2009)
• Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (September 21, 2010)^[13]
• Pixie Hollow Games (November 19, 2011)^[14]
• Secret of the Wings (October 23, 2012)^[15]

Theme park attractions[link]

In October 2008, two Pixie Hollow locations opened at Disney Parks. One opened at Disneyland near the Matterhorn in the area where Ariel's Grotto was formerly located, and the other at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Mickey's Toontown Fair.^[16] Another version opened at Hong Kong Disneyland on January 21, 2011 as one of the festivities to celebrate the park's 5th anniversary. At these Pixie Hollow locations, guests have the opportunity to meet and greet Tinker Bell and other fairies from the franchise, as well as dine with them.

The Magic Kingdom location closed in February 2011 as part of the ongoing Fantasyland expansion. A larger Pixie Hollow area was included in the original plans for the expansion, but they have since been abandoned.^[17] On July 28, 2011, Tinkerbell and her fairy friends returned to the Magic Kingdom in "Tinkerbell's Magical Nook", located at the Adventureland Veranda.

Online game[link]

Pixie Hollow is an MMOG created by The Walt Disney Company and released September 8, 2008.^[18] The basic version of the game is free to play online. The website is based partly on the Disney fairy books written by Gail Carson Levine. Players with free accounts can create a female Fairy or male Sparrow Man avatar who each come with a small selection of furnishings to decorate a virtual room. Basic accounts can make friends with other players and have access to both 'speed' chat with pre-selected phrases and full chat where they are able to type their own messages. They can also play various "Talent Games," or fairy themed mini-games, found in the various meadows and forests of Pixie Hollow. While playing, the player can pick up leaves, seeds and flowers which are the currency for buying items in the game. Players also play games and visit places to earn badges that they can see in their "leaf journal," which also serves as a handbook and inventory. Players can purchase a monthly, semi-annual or annual membership allows access to additional features, such as the ability to make or buy additional clothes and furniture for the player's avatar and buy furniture to decorate a virtual room.^[19] In January 2012, "Pixie Diamonds" were introduced, an in-game currency that can be purchased with real-world money and used to buy or upgrade items without an active membership. Though the website is geared towards young girls, on April 22, 2010, the game introduced a male character named Slate; he is referred to as a "Sparrow Man" rather than a male fairy.^[20]

Postage stamps[link]

A series of ten postage stamps were issued by Japan Post in 2006. Each stamp has a face value of 80 JPY, and they were distributed in a hardcover case, including some information about the Fairies. The stamps could be ordered at some post offices in Japan, and were delivered by mail to a Japanese postal address.

References[link]

• Bradley, L. (2002). Fairy Diaries Rebecca’s Quest: Rebecca's Quest. Penguin Young Reader Group.
• "Brittany Murphy Gives Tinker Bell Her Voice" Consumer Products: 2006 Press Releases, June 20, 2006. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• Coleman, S.M.(1939). The Myth of the Fairy Birth. Psychoanalytic Review 26. pp. 301–314.
• "Disney Fairies franchise gets ready to take flight" Jim Hill. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• "Disney hopes fairies will fly into girls' hearts" USA TOday.com, August 25, 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• "Disney Publishing Sprinkles Fairy Dust on New Children's Book" LPWire, April 14, 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• "Disney Publishing Worldwide Announces Unprecedented Global Initiative: Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg" Disney Consumer Products: 2005 Press Releases, August 26, 2006. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• Egmont unveils Disney Fairies magazine in UK Media Bulletin, May 31, 2006.Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• Factsheet Disney Consumer Products. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• "Fairies from Never Land Arrive at Disneyland" Disney Consumer Products: 2005 Press Releases, August 28, 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg Amazon.com. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg Disney Consumer Products. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• Franchise Overview Disney Consumer Products. Retrieved November 11, 2006.
• Franklin, A (2005). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fairies. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
• Leland, C. G. (2004). Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches. Kessinger Publishing
• Levine, G.C. (2005). Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg. New York: Disney Press
• Peterson, M. (2006). In the Realm of the Never Fairies: The Secret World of Pixie Hollow. New York: Disney Press
• "Playmates Toys Enters the Fairy World of Disney's Newest Franchise - Disney Fairies" Consumer Products: 2005 Press Releases, October 27, 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
• Publishing Disney Consumer Products, April 2006. November 11, 2006.
• Disney Fairies: Books Random House: Disney Fairies. Retrieved November 10, 2006.

Footnotes[link]

External links[link]

• Disney Fairies Official website
• Disney Fairies Official website in the UK
• Official Disney Fairies Book Web Site
• Pixie Hollow