Friday, February 5, 2010
You’re Never Too Old For Tinker Bell’s Magic!
On February 5, 1953, Disney’s® Peter Pan opened at the Roxy Theater in New York. An adaptation of a well-loved book and stage play by J.M. Barrie, it’s the quintessential childhood fantasy of never having to grow up and join the harsh adult world. Naturally this sounds great to kids, but it appeals to many adults too—case in point: Walt Disney himself, a grown man who managed to never let adulthood steal away his sense of child-like wonder.
My favorite character from the movie was, and still is, Tinker Bell®, the tiny sprite with bells for a voice, known for flitting about and leaving a trail of pixie dust in her wake. I like that she wasn’t one dimensional, all sweetness and shimmering light—in fact, I love that she was a bit naughty and prone to pouting in order to get her way! But upon her debut, a few movie critics didn’t share my opinion. They complained that the pixie’s sassy attitude and exaggerated hourglass figure were “too suggestive and a bit vulgar!”
Nevertheless, Tinker Bell went on to become an icon, as the Disney animators and writers made sure she evolved into a very lovable little fairy, still a bit mischievous, but full of whimsy and charm. As a result, she and her ever-present pixie dust have been the symbol of “the magic of Disney” for over half a century.
As far as growing up goes, well, it did happen, but we can still find plenty of our favorite memories of childhood right here in Betty’s Attic!
posted by Betty at
9:05 AM
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