Pixar's John Lasseter unveils 'Tinker Bell,' costly star of new Disney Fairies - Walt Disney Boards - Message Boards & Forum Discussing The Genius Of Walter Elias Disney!

**WDB News** · #1 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 05:17 PM

Cue the pixie dust.

Walt Disney Animation is taking direct aim at little girls with a business initiative called Disney Fairies whose long-awaited star is finally ready for her small screen debut.

John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, announced the much delayed "Tinker Bell" DVD on Friday, the first original title in a series of company-wide animation initiatives meant to capitalize on the fairy and princess craze among little girls.

"Tinker Bell," the first character to take wing from the Disney Fairy canon, is scheduled for direct-to-DVD release in late October, after being pushed back a year due to reported production complications. In this particular 2008 incarnation, Tink actually has a voice (actress Mae Whitman, although at one point Disney announced that Brittany Murphy would play Tink), and a lovely pair of iridescent wings.

Word has it that Tinker Bell's wings cost a pretty penny, too. At least $50 million, in addition to a key executive's job, two dozen versions of the script and a dozen different directors, according to Variety.

The female character's success should be an interesting test for Lasseter, whose Pixar animated films over the past decade have largely catered to boys. Consider the upcoming robot tale "Wall-E" (June 27), and earlier blockbusters "Cars," "Bugs," and "Monsters, Inc." Somehow Pixar and parent company Disney have managed to largely overlook a marketplace filled with little girls fixated on princesses and fairies.

Disney Animation hasn't introduced any new animated girl-centric titles and characters -- such as "The Little Mermaid" (1989), Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin" (1992), "Pocahontas" (1995) and "Mulan" (1998) -- in close to a decade. (Even "Enchanted," which was live action, was released just last year.)

But Disney's animated princess hiatus is about to change, both with the so-called Disney Fairies initiative and when Disney Feature Animation releases theatrically "The Princess and the Frog" (Christmas 2009) and "Rapunzel" (Christmas 2010).

Until then, it will be hard for parents to avoid the Disney Fairies juggernaut, which the Walt Disney Company promises to incorporate across its many divisions, including Disney Consumer Products, Disney Publishing, Disney Interactive Studios, Disney on Ice, Disney Parks and Resorts, and Disney Online.

And with that, Disney's finally going full-bore with faith, trust and pixie dust.

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ente...-john-las.html

spike417 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 04:04 AM

Looking forward to this release!

**PolynesianMedic** · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 12:59 PM

I have heard on some of the podcasts I listen to that Brittany Murphy is no longer going to be the voice of Tink. I am not sure if they mentioned who was, but I am fairly certain they have said it was not going to be here, even though she was named in the original press release. I'll see what I can find.

**PolynesianMedic** · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 01:10 PM

http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news...701941,00.html

This link will take you to the story that discusses the fact that Mae Whitman, from Grey' Anatomy, and voice work in Jungle Book 2, will now voice Tinker Bell, instead of Brittany Murphy. She has also appeared in the movies Independence Day, and When a Man Loves a Woman.

**WDBArnyVee** · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WDB News

In this particular 2008 incarnation, Tink actually has a voice (actress Mae Whitman, although at one point Disney announced that Brittany Murphy would play Tink), and a lovely pair of iridescent wings.

Yes, it was in the article Jeff.

You're just 'forcing' us to look at some additional pictures of Brittany Murphy, right?

**PolynesianMedic** · #6 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 01:52 PM

I wish I would have read the first one a little better. Apparently, I just got caught up on the Brittany Murphy thing. I actually think that she would have been a great voice for Tink. I wonder what the fall out was.

**go2WDW** · #7 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 02:18 PM

Considering the long delays involved in this project, it wouldn't surprise me if Brittany Murphy just wasn't available by the time they got around to recording. 2 years is a long time to push a project back and she's not likely to wait around for them to get started. Just a guess...

**WDBArnyVee** · #8 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 02:20 PM

Brittany has a somewhat questionable reputation (be it true or not) and I'm sure that Disney wanted to play it safe on this one.

Plus, it's probably A LOT cheaper to pay a lesser known person to take on the role. I can imagine Ms Murphy holding out for tons of money for Tink 2 or 3 or something. I also think that she would've been good for it.

**PolynesianMedic** · #9 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 02:27 PM

http://disney.go.com/fairies/

Here is a link to the Disney site for the Fairies movies. There are games, and a preview of the upcoming movie!