Tinker Bell (G, 2008)

common sense media says

Sweet, simple story is best for young Tink fans.


parents & educators say
  • 61% say there are positive messages
  • 45% say there are positive role models

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the Fast Play feature that lets you start the DVD without the remote also pushes you to four previews for Disney movies and an ad for Disney Rewards. It would actually be faster to go to the menu and hit "play." There's also plenty for sale in the Tinker Bell line: dolls, toys, books, a magazine, a video game, and more. This simple story is mild on violence -- only one scene with a hawk snapping its jaws at fairies may be frightening -- and has a few good lessons about accepting and enjoying your own talents.

Positive messages: Tinkerbell must learn to appreciate the fairy talent she has rather than attempting to change it. 
Positive role models: Tinker Bell tries very hard to have a different fairy talent and eventually accepts and appreciates what she's best at. Her talent as an inventor and fixer goes against girl stereotypes. A mean-spirited fairy gets her comeuppance.
Violence & scariness: A hawk swoops down menacingly on the fairies, cornering two in a tree and snapping its jaws. Some slapstick humor when things fall apart and animals get bonked. Renegade thistles destroy a section of Pixie Hollow, but no one gets hurt.
Sexy stuff: Tinker Bell gets ogled briefly by her fellow tinkers when she dresses in her very short dress for the first time.
Language: "Tushie" is the most you'll hear.
Consumerism: Disney and Tinker Bell are huge brands with merchandise nearly everywhere. There's a line of Pixie Hollow products (dolls, toys, etc.), a website, a video game, a book series, and even a magazine. Most things are highlighted in the booklet insert, along with food and airline offers and more Disney DVDs.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Tinker Bell

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about how Tinker Bell learns to accept her talent, even if it isn't as glamorous as what the other fairies do.

  • Why is Tinker Bell's talent so important to all fairies?

  • Do you like to invent or fix things?

  • Would it be more fun to you than pollinating flowers or making dew drops on spider webs?

What's the story?

What's the story?

TINKER BELL tells the fairy's story from her creation after a baby's first laugh (as in the Peter Pan book by J. M. Barrie) to her first adventure. After landing in Pixie Hollow, Tink (voiced by Mae Whitman) finds that she's a tinker fairy -- one who builds and fixes things for the other fairies to use as they change the seasons. When she finds out that this means she doesn't get to go to the real world with the other fairies, she decides she doesn't want to be a tinker and tries to find a new talent, with disastrous results. Only by embracing her original talent can springtime be saved.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

This sweet and simple straight-to-DVD story is geared especially to kids of the age most likely to clap their hands and exclaim "I believe in fairies!" It does a lovely job of introducing the world of Pixie Hollow with some lush animation and a dreamy, Celtic-infused soundtrack featuring Loreena McKennitt.

But the story is a little too simplistic and mild for older kids who love the world of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. Tinker Bell makes a mistake, learns a simple lesson, and saves the day. Her sidekick fairy friends -- all voiced by some great talent -- will doubtless do more for doll sales than they do for this story; except for the "mean one" Vidia (Pamela Adlon), their personalities aren't very fleshed out.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Bradley Raymond
Cast: America Ferrera, Mae Whitman, Raven Symone
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 78 minutes
Theatrical release: October 22, 2008
DVD release: October 27, 2008
MPAA Rating: G
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This review was written by Anne Louise Bannon
 
 

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What parents & educators say

3
Based on 31 parent & educator reviews:
  • 61% say there are positive messages
  • 45% say there are positive role models

Most useful reviews by all members

patricia09
parent of 2 and 4 year old
 

bouba
parent of 3 year old
 
Very rare to find a movie actually without any kind of violence/monsters/really bad guys. Not much nastiness around except for maybe a very mild rivalry between Tinkerbell and on other fairy. Not too long, lovely little music, my 4 year old daughter enjoyed it a lot. And I can assure anyone that I am VERY VERY VERY careful when choosing a DVD as I feel alreadya bit guilty of letting her sit and watch for 90mns.... First was Aristocats, now Tinkerbell has passed my PG!

 
so cute

 
One of the best Disney has managed to churn out in the last several years
I really like this movie, Disney actually did good. I was a little worried they'd dumb it down, but instead they managed to keep it simple without being condescending. Yes, there is a lot of marketing based around it, but seriously people - it's toys and t-shirts. I'd rather see little ones playing with fairy toys than plastic guns, and I would think it's much easier to clothes-shop for kids when they have something to relate to. Tweens and teens might get embarassed to say they like it, but my whole family (me, mom, dad, and a 12-yr old boy) all love it enough to get the sequel.

Andy and Lynne
parent of 6 and 8 year old
 
Not only does this movie send a positive message to girls about being yourself and being proud of who you are, but the animation is beautiful. It was a joy to watch b/c of the story but also the beauty.

magasalee
parent of 5 , 5 , and 8 year old
 

 
Great Family Movie
My kids (and I) LOVE this movie! Even my two year old can sit through most of it. It is action packed, and the animation is great. It's SO nice to see a female Disney character who is not dumbed down, who can do things independently, can recover from mistakes made, and who is not dependent on a male character to "save" her! There is some name calling and at one point, Tinker Bell says being a tinker is "stupid". This generated a good discussion in our household about that word and how it can be hurtful. I really liked the message of the movie too, that everyone has a purpose and that every individual person has value and worth.

piper0137
parent of 4 and 4 year old
 
best from Disney since...ever!
I never gave much thought to the female protagonists in Disney animated movies until I had children. Since then, it's hard to believe it took THIS LONG for Disney to develop a strong, admirable female lead for their animation franchise. When our family first watched this film, I thought it was a little cheesy, but, by the second viewing, really loved the film. The writers don't dumb things down for their audience, which I appreciate (my girls know what "elucidate" means because of this movie!) and the overall theme is really wonderful for girls of any age, but especially preschoolers. Tinker Bell is hardworking, creative, strong-willed, and a true inventor. There's a brief lovey moment with a boy fairy, Terrance, but this is a girl-centric Disney movie with NO ROMANCE! It is fantastic! There's no prince to rescue her, no damsel-in-distress scenario here -- Tinker Bell can figure things out for herself, and, happily, does.

PuppyDog725
teen, 14 years old
 
I loved this movie very much. Its great for younger children. I think it also sends a good message about being yourself.

NVan Mom
parent of 4 and 6 year old
 
Watched again and again
Our two girls, ages 3 and 5, love this movie and both a very sensitive to anything sad or scary. The first time they were initially nervous about the sprinting thistles but there was nothing super scary like we've seen in other popular kids movies (e.g. sharks eating mom fish, etc.) and now they are fine with the thistles too. The music makes it enjoyable to have on too.

AbbyJMom
parent of 4 year old
 
You can watch this one over and over w/out going insane
both my daughter and I find this our favorite of the tink movies. tink has a hard time adjusting, but in the end it all works out. I like the messages and that it isn't always easy. Cute movie. Yes, there are commercial products for Tink but that doesn't bother me.

EspumaMarina
teen, 15 years old
 
Cute, but Tink seems so.... 'innoccent'
I love it! I thought it was so cute! And I love Mae Witman, she's a great voice actress. I also love the voices of Jessie McCartney, Raven Symone, America Fararaya, and Lucy Lu. Its a good movie for little kids, it still has Tinkerbells' attitude she had in Peter Pan, although they made her seem too sugary for my taste, and I don't think in Peter Pan Tinkerbell would be upset about being a Tinker. They also made Tink's eyes really small and her cheeks were huge (nothing wrong with that, she just doesn't seem much like tink that way) Clank and Bobble were neat, a little weird, but neat. Although they did stare at Tink up and down when she wore that dress, at least in the cartoonish version there was something under it! She just reminded me of Barbie in a way, except a tad better, the scenery was beautiful, and I like most of the characters, yes, Vidia too, I think its rude of them to be mean about Vidia on Disney*, they say "she's a loner.. wonder why?" and "She lives in a Sour Plum Tree, ALL alone" and in the movie they make her attitude worse by mocking her (I know she has no right to be that way, but mocking her makes it worse) Its neat, but I really can't imagine Tinkerbell really being that way, in those old "Pixie Previews" Tink seemed to look like herself, and more funny. I guess I'll stick with Peterpan, but this was cool for little kids, just let them see PeterPan first. I'm not a big fan on the whole worlds season's being changed by Fairies, but its just a cartoon. Plus, they're trying to get Tinkerbell to have a love interest, I know her and Terence seem more buddy-buddy, but on the site they quoted that they are friends "but maybe more" Yeah, go figure they'd try that.

MuffinsMummy
parent of 4 year old
 
Sophisticated enough to be fun, without the scare factor
This is a fantastic movie for young kids. There's nothing too scary in it (the scene with the hawk is a bit scary but very short, and the scene with the sprinting thistles never bothered my daughter, who is generally hyper-sensitive to anything frightening). It has nice little moments of humour (both slapstick and a little more sophisticated types). It has a strong, independent female protagonist with definite character flaws that she has to work hard to overcome. And best of all, it's beautiful and a lot of fun. I expected to be a little bored by this, but I wasn't, and am happy to sit and watch it with my girl.

Love 4 kids
parent of and 3 , 3 , 4 , 5 year old
 
great movie
All of my kids like this movie! my two year old twins my three year old and my four year old love it

motheroftwins2
parent of 9 and 9 year old
 
For girls of all ages!
I watched this film with 8 girls between 5 and 8, and their parents. We all loved it! Tink learns to accept herself for who she is, and accept others. She is a little mean to the others in her "talent" at first, because being a Tinker is not "cool", and she'd rather have a different talent. The Tinkers are drawn very "geeky" on purpose, but Tink learns that there is more to life than looks. All in all great fun, no violence, no tears, no language etc. Small boys may enjoy it also, but it is VERY girlie.

AnswerLion
parent of 8 year old
 
Great Family Movie, Even Good for Older Kids
This is a great family movie. Even though it is rated for 4+, don't skip it if you are looking for a movie for the 7 - 9 group. My seven-year-old daughter and I have watched this movie 3 times in the past year. Tinkerbell is a gentle story about friendship and doing what you are best at with pride. The animation is lush and developed, with not many quick cuts. My daughter doesn't like quick action or violence, so she loved Tinkerbell-- but neither was she bored. The rivalry between Tink and Vidia gives the movie some edge, and Tink's mistakes as she tries to go against her talent make my daughter cringe and root harder for her to turn back to her true talent. There is simple joy and humor in the the two tinker boy characters.

T Dv
parent
 
Tinkerbell good for the toddler set
My daughter loves this one, and dances around like a fairy off-and-on through the whole thing. The "bad guys" in this movie are a mean girl and what my kid calls "bad corns" which are some weeds that go wild and make a big mess. Both of these are appropriate for her age and this genre. I admit I was shocked and disappointed when Tinkerbell puts on her green dress and it is so incredibly short--especially since the white dress she was wearing was so nice. Even a few inches longer would have made the green dress better. Oh well. I would ground my teenager if she tried to leave the house wearing something that short. But, eh, as far as "bad" stuff goes, that's mild.

Girl That ...
kid, 8 years old
 
I like Tinker Bell
I think that this movie is really good. I like it a lot.

 
We love it. It does have some scenes that could be considered "sexy". There is the scene with the egale that is scary/violent that upset our sensitive 4 yr old-- over all we all enjoyed it and she asks to see it often. Often enough we should probably own it.

mhfloding
parent of 4 and 7 year old
 
Cute, cute, cute
My kids (girl age 2, boy age 5) really like this movie. Sure, Disney has tons of marketing surrounding this movie, but at least you have an idea for Christmas and Birthday presents. Tink is much sweeter in this movie than in Peter Pan.

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