Check out Kidzworld’s review of the new “Tink” Blu-ray. Her fairy pal Fawn has a new pet. He’s huge, he’s furry, he flies and he might destroy Pixie Hollow!
By: Lynn Barker
Tinker Bell’s pal Fawn, an “animal fairy”, constantly rescues animals in need even if it means danger for Pixie Hollow. When she discovers a giant, furry critter with huge teeth, Fawn only sees that the beastie has a thorn in his foot. Will her determination to help the big guy destroy everything and everyone she loves?
Fawn tries to tell Tink about her new furry friendCourtesy of Disney
Story Goes
In the magical forest grove of Pixie Hollow, Fawn (voice of “Once Upon a Time’s" Ginnifer Goodwin), an “animal fairy” is secretly nursing a baby hawk back to health. This is bad because hawks (yikes) eat fairies. She is discovered and scolded by protector scout Nyx (Rosario Dawson) and noble Queen Clarion (Anjelica Huston) for recklessly and constantly looking after animals that pose a potential threat to fairies.
Nyx scolds FawnCourtesy of Disney
When a comet passes, bringing an eerie green light, growls and roars are heard coming from deep in the forest. Fawn’s discovery of the source; a ginormous, furry creature with scary teeth and spooky green eyes doesn’t make her afraid but again, concerned. See the big guy is “yelling” because he has a painful thorn stuck in his paw.
Tink sees the green cometCourtesy of Disney
Fawn trickily removes it and starts befriending the critter whom she names Gruff. She helps him with his mysterious building of four high towers of rocks which he does day and night. When Nyx discovers an ancient prophecy about a comet waking a NeverBeast that will sprout horns and wings and destroy Pixie Hollow, it will take Fawn and her fairy besties voiced by Lucy Liu, Raven-Symone, Megan Hilty, Pamela Adlon and Tink (voice of “The Duff’s” Mae Whitman) to prove that Gruff is really a good guy and his towers are there to save, not destroy the Hollow.
NeverBeast frolics with fairy friendsCourtesy of Disney
Special Features
- Five Essential Ingredients to getting Gruff – is the “making of” featuring filmmakers discussing story development, design, sound (including Gruff’s roar comprised of a cat, camel, dog, llama and hyena…together!). We see some of the actors recording their voice parts. Then we cover animation and hear about the design of Gruff. A fun extra.
- My Dad’s Movie: The Story of the NeverBeast – features director Steve Loder’s tween daughter explaining that dad grew up without pets in his home and is terrified of big dogs! She, on the other hand, loves all creatures, the bigger the better. On a dad/daughter trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo, they feed giraffes and elephants. This extra fosters respect for all animals. Cool!
- Jeff Corwin’s Guide to Real World NeverBeasts – Conservationist Jeff Corwin introduces real life, wacky-looking animals like, the star-nosed mole, Aye Aye Lemur, Red-lipped fish (really looks like “she” is wearing lipstick), mantis shrimp and more. Interesting as well as fun.
Fawn enjoys the Animal WorldCourtesy of Disney
- Deleted Scenes – some partially-animated or storyboarded missing scenes with the director telling us why they were cut. A couple of cute ones.
- Tink’n About Animals – In song, Fawn teaches her fellow fairies and us all about different groups of animals and what they are called. Ginnifer Goodwin sings and isn’t bad.
- Gruff Love – is really just a trailer for the film featuring the giant and lovable NeverBeast.
Wrapping Up
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast is the most ambitious of the fairy films so far in its visuals of green comets, clouds with lightning shooting to earth, etc. A ton of fun colors are used as the NeverBeast battles a supernatural storm. The beastie itself is pretty cool and lovable but does remind this reporter very much of Falcor, the flying, furry, dog-like beast in the classic film The Neverending Story (1984).
Fawn, as voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, is spunky and as concerned as she should be but if you are a big Tinker Bell fan, Tink is only marginally used in this new film. It’s really Fawn and Gruff’s story.
Ginnifer Goodwin voices FawnCourtesy of Disney
As with most Disney animated films, a few lessons are learned; use your head and your heart in making decisions; don’t judge a book by its cover (or a beastie by his big teeth and growl) and the movie also presents a slightly sad lesson on love and loss.
Rosario Dawson voices NyxCourtesy of Disney
Not groundbreaking in either animation or basic story, Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast is still well worth adding to your Disney animation collection. We go 4 stars.
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast
Blu-ray Rating:
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast Blu-ray CoverCourtesy of Disney
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast is now available on Blu-ray + DVD!
