D23 Presents Destination D: 75 Years of Disney Animated Features - Day 2
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TINKER BELL: THE EVOLUTION OF A DISNEY CHARACTER

After a short break, the morning sessions concluded with Tinker Bell: The Evolution of a Disney Character. Author Mindy Johnson marshaled an amazing array of history, research, and “pixie dust” to tell the story of the Peter Pan’s feisty friend, starting over a hundred years ago. Johnson, who has been working on a new book about Tinker Bell that will be released in the fall of 2013, stated that she felt Tinker Bell was Disney’s greatest character. 

It all began, of course, with author J. M. Barrie. His visits to Kensington Park with family friends George, Jack and Peter Llewellyn-Davies led him to imagine a “fairy pantomime,” a type of British stage presentation popular at the time. The Llewellyn-Davies youngest child, Michael, would sometimes wave his toe at his older brothers, garnering him the nickname “Tippy Toe.” This was the name originally given to the pixie in the pantomime.

The name was changed to Tinker Bell during rehearsals for the pantomime in 1904. Tinkers were tradesmen who would travel door to door, mending pots and pans. Tinkers announced their arrival by hanging handmade bells on their wagons, which they trundled through the streets. During the highly secret rehearsals, the voice of Tippy Toes was provided by a set of tinker’s bells. Repeated requests to “Cue the tinker bell” suggested the new name. As far as performers went, Tinker Bell was always billed as Miss Jane Wren or Miss Jenny Wren in the program.

In 1906, the novel Peter Pan in Kensington Garden appeared, but Tinker Bell was not included. In 1911, however, the stage production was novelized as Peter and Wendy, which did include her. In 1928 the first full stage play was produced. In 1924, Adolph Zukor of Paramount released a silent film version of the popular British stage production. Barrie wrote the screenplay. Tinker Bell was portrayed by both a bright light fastened to a fishing line, and (in close up) by actress Virginia Brown Fairy (her real name).

Walt Disney’s interest in Peter Pan went back to his youth. As a child he had seen a stage production, accompanied by his older brother Roy. In the 1930s, Disney began actively exploring producing Peter Pan. During development of Pinocchio studies were drawn of Marge Champion posing as the Blue Fairy. One of these studies, showing her standing on a pincushion is very reminiscent of Tinker Bell. The fairies in Fantasia were also precursors of many of the ideas that Disney would later incorporate into his version of Peter Pan.

At one point, it was suggested that Tinker Bell could have a retinue of fairy servants. She would also have a variety of costumes, based on natural materials and the seasons. Hair color and “sex appeal” were considered. Disney even looked at different film stars as inspiration for Tinker Bell, including Shirley Temple. It was during this time period that British artist David Hall created a set of evocative drawings for an early version of the animated Peter Pan.

By 1940 there were detailed model sheets for Peter Pan, including Tinker Bell, now with red hair. A three-dimensional model of this version can be seen briefly in the live action film The Reluctant Dragon. Just as it seemed that Peter Pan would go into full production, the Disney Studio strike and World War II intervened. The last major decision made before the project was shelved was to eliminate the scene in which Peter Pan pleads with the audience to clap their hands to save Tinker Bell’s life.

As the studio emerged from the War, Mary Blair was assigned the task of updating the look for Peter Pan, although she did little work with the character of Tinker Bell. In 1946, Marc Davis started on story work. By the end of the decade, it was in full production, albeit in competition with others. It would have the distinction of being the only animated feature to include the work of all of Disney’s “Nine Old Men” of animation.

Marc Davis was selected to animate Tinker Bell. Rare photos of Marc with character sketches were shared-- photos that had been discovered only a week earlier by Marc’s wife, Alice, among his personal papers. The photos included a charming young woman, with familiar features and blonde hair piled on her head. The identity of the young woman had been something of a mystery around the studio, but author Mindy Johnson revealed her story for the first time.

Joining Johnson was the woman herself, Ginni Mack, a former Disney ink and paint girl. Ginni was shown in other publicity photos, with Bing Crosby for Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Kathy Beaumont for Alice in Wonderland, and Walt Disney himself. Ginni admitted she was nervous when Walt walked into Ink and Paint with a photographer, but he put her at ease, saying, “Just look at my ears and pretend I’m Clark Gable.”

Ginni Mack was the official face model for Tinker Bell. In addition to the recently discovered photos with Marc Davis, there had been photos of Roy Williams with the unknown model. Mack was identified just this last June, and introduced to the public at this event.

While Ginni Mack was selected as the face of Tinker Bell, the director and animator were still seeking a body model. They first tried out Kathryn Beaumont as a youthful version of Tinker Bell. Beaumont was also under contract to Disney at the time, so she was readily available. After testing, it was determined that a more mature quality was also required, and a search brought actress and dancer Margaret Kerry to the studio. Kerry, a child actress who had continued in the business, had just won a contest for “The Most Beautiful Legs in Hollywood.” To the delight of the crowd, Margaret Kerry was then introduced, and joined the panel. She spoke warmly of her first experience at the Disney studio, and her great pleasure at being part of the creation of Tinker Bell.

Author Johnson next turned to the technical aspects of Tinker Bell’s screen appearance. Tinker Bell was not only a tiny character; she also had some special requirements. Special paint to render her transparent wings had to be kept refrigerated, and could be applied only by the most skilled painters. At 24 frames per second, there were many images to be done by hand.

Tinker Bell’s “voice” was the task of Disney’s sound expert, Jimmy MacDonald. “No bell was left unrung,” said Johnson. Eventually, just the right combination was selected, and Disney’s Peter Pan was released to theaters on February 5, 1953. It was an instant hit.

Johnson next turned to Tinker Bell’s television career. Disney had been interested in the new medium as early as 1950. That year he appeared in his first Christmas special. The year 1951 saw a second Christmas special, with the first on screen appearance by Tinker Bell. Starting in 1954, the Disneyland TV series would feature her every week during the opening credits. She continued to be seen through the program’s various titles and network changes. She is the longest running icon in the history of network television—over 50 years.

Tinker Bell also began making “live” appearances about this same time, according to Johnson. In 1958 she first flew at a special concert at the Hollywood Bowl, and began regular flights at Disneyland starting in 1961. Other animated appearances included TV commercials (NBC Bread, the American Dairy Association, and Peter Pan Peanut Butter) and comic books. Tinker Bell even made cameo appearances in The Black Cauldron and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

In recent years, a new wave of interest in Tinker Bell has been driven by Disney’s publishing arm. The adventures of Tinker Bell and her fairy friends have been inspired by the work of those who have gone before. In addition to new books and videos, Tinker Bell has her own attraction at Disneyland (Pixie Hollow), was named Ambassador of Green in 2008, and is the smallest wax figure ever displayed at Madame Tussauds. In 2010 Tinker Bell received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

To wind up the evolution of Tinker Bell, the newest adventure, “Secret of the Wings” was discussed. Director Peggy Holmes spoke of her meeting with John Lasseter, and her desire to share what winter would look like in Pixie Hollow. Joining Holmes was voice actress Mae Whitman, who spoke about her love of the character. When she auditioned for the role, they did not tell her exactly what it was. She admitted that had she known, she would have been much more nervous about portraying such an iconic character. Together, Holmes and Whitman spoke of The Secret of the Wings. They revealed that the video would include a new character, Periwinkle. Periwinkle, it turns out, is Tinker Bell’s sister, born of the same laugh.

Over a hundred years had been covered in an hour—and a final quote summed up what many feel about Disney’s favorite pixie. It was Walt Disney himself who said, “I believe you’re going to like Tinker Bell… We fell in love with her."