I have to admit wasn’t really looking forward to seeing Tinker Bell. Something about direct to DVD films tends to put up a lot of red flags in my mind. Having seen a slew of direct-to -video sequels of quality films such as Tarzan, The Lion King, Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid, I think I can be forgiven for my trepidation; my guess is, few would argue that some of those endeavors are worth a minute of anyone’s time. However, unlike those other projects, Disney has been very excited about this one, promising that Tinker Bell will be the first in a series of a Tink-centered titles and most importantly, this marks the first time Tink talks!
The first thing Tinker Bell has going for it is top of the line voice talent. Meg Whitman, the actress who gave voice to Shanti in The Jungle Book 2 and Leslie in Teacher’s Pet steps in a Tinker Bell, Lucy Liu is Silvermist, Raven-Symoné is Iridessa, America Ferrera is Fawn, Kristin Chenoweth is Rosetta, and Angelica Huston is Queen Clarion. Also along for the ride are Jesse McCartney as Terrence, Kathy Najimy as the Minister of summer and Jane Horrocks as Fairy Mary.
Tinker Bell gives the backstory of the legendary sprite. For anyone thinking this is an extension of Peter Pan, the filmmakers make only the slightest mention of him. Instead, the film takes us from Tinker Bell’s “birth” to her arrival at Pixie Hollow in Neverland, her discovery that her “special talent” is tinkering (which of course she isn’t happy about), to her realization that she’s fine just as she is. Unlike the sweet mischief maker seen in Peter Pan, this Tink exhibits flashes of anger but she also has a possessive and ruthless streak. The promotional biography of Tinker Bell describes her this way, “She is spirited, rebellious, impatient, determined and persistent . . . yet, always charming and loveable. She has a talent for tinkering, and when she is called on to save the day, “Tink” discovers the importance of her own true talents.” Clearly, Tinker Bell has found her voice both literally and figuratively.
Like any society, Pixie Hollow has a hierarchy. Everyone has his or her place except for poor Tink, who was recently born (fully grown) into their midst. She’s so new that she doesn’t know what type of fairy she is. Some are flower fairies, some are animal fairies, some help each of the four seasons come each year, and some are tinkers, who invent and repair things. Tinker Bell shows an attraction for things humans lost or discarded. Tinker Bell tries invention after invention with no success, and is ridiculed for her trying. Tinker Bell does get vindication, though by the time this is over we’re still left wondering how in the world she hooks up with Peter Pan. Wendy peeks in briefly, and we get a flyover London, Pixie-style, but that’s as close as we get to the 1953 animated classic.
The CGI in Tinker Bell is wonderful and full of some of the most beautiful colors to grace a television screen– beautiful shades of red, purple, and green and gold that present an array of stunning vistas and beautifully detailed landscapes. The animation might be a tad disappointing–the female characters are drawn like dolls, rather than something fresh and exciting–most young children will be drawn in by the magical feel the vibrant colors help to create.
Tinker Bell has a Celtic inspired score by Joel McNeely, full of glorious quasi-reels and jigs, with some beatiful instrumentation. This subtle reminder that fairies were originally a Celtic cum Irish “tribe” is reinforced with the narration and song by Celtic superstar Loreena McKennitt and should provide some enjoyment for parents, watching Tinker Bell with their children.
Tinker Bell looks fantastic on Blu-ray. Disney presents the direct-to-video release in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video (at 1.78:1). The encode is flawless, with the meticulously-rendered CGI and bold, bright colors offering a wonderful high-def image.
A direct digital-to-digital transfer, there is not an imperfection to be found. The image is highly-detailed, with every last fine texture visible. Black levels and contrast are perfect, with even the darkest areas of the picture revealing the most minor detail. The sense of three-dimensions is terrific, with the “picture window” effect on full display. There are no compression issues or apparent artifacts. Tinker Bell is easily the best direct-to-video presentation I’ve seen on Blu-ray.
The uncompressed PCM 5.1 Surround mix (48kHz/24-bit) is top of the line. Disney has certainly spared no expense with Tinker Bell, and raises the bar for audio presentations on direct-to-video features.
Tinker Bell’s studio-constructed soundscapes are lush and full. Dynamic range fully extends itself from the highest highs down to the deep, tight low bass. Dialogue sounds well-balanced, too, with no words lost.
The special features Disney has produced for Tinker Bell are mostly aimed at younger viewers. All video materials are provided in 1080 video, with optional English subtitles.
• Featurette: “Creating Pixie Hollow” (HD, 10 minutes) – The Pixar team discuss the Tinker Bell project. Interviews are included with John Lasseter, producer Jeannine Roussel, screenwriter Jeffrey Howard, director Bradley Raymond and others, who give us a fairly thorough overview of the development of the story, the animation, and the final product
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 13 minutes) – There are six scenes, two fully animated and four in rough form. Raymond and Roussel provide brief introductions for most of them, explaining why they were snipped from the finished product.
• Music Video (HD, 4 minutes) – Disney Channel star Selena Gomez sings the tune “Fly to Your Heart.” The video is a straightforward mash-up of performance and an abundance of clips from the movie.
• Short Film: Ever Wonder (HD, 4 minutes) – This segment is a mix of live-action and CGI, that features Tinker Bell and other fairies changing a real location from Winter to Spring.
• Interactive Game: “Tinker Trainer” (HD) – A surprisingly complex, three-sequence game.
