Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast Parent Guide

Tinker Bell’s name may be on the marquee, yet she is more of an executive producer than a star in this animation. Although she (voice of Mae Whitman) lends her celebrity clout to the film and makes a couple of appearances, this story really should have been called “Fawn” and the Legend of the NeverBeast.

For a direct-to-DVD series, Disney’s Tinker Bell franchise boasts a lot of big names and this one is no different. Mae Whitman, Anjelica Huston, Lucy Liu, Rosario Dawson, Timothy Dalton, Kristen Chenoweth, American Ferrera, Tom Hiddleston and Raven-Symoné have all lent their vocal talents to the inhabitants of Pixie Hollow. Now the DisneyToon Studio is releasing its seventh Tinker Bell adventure, this time featuring the voice work of Ginnifer Goodwin as the animal loving fairy Fawn.

Fawn, who apparently has a new look for this movie as well, is one of those naive, saccharine-sweet, trusting types than somehow tootles through life sidestepping all kinds of potential hazards. In her case, those risks are most often associated with animals. Her penchant for bringing home injured or abandoned “pets” is legendary and we’re not talking lost kittens and puppies. In the past she he has brought home rats and a baby falcon, both animals that like to lunch on fairies. Fawn’s fondness causes huge concerns for Nyx (voice of Rosario Dawson) and the other security fairies that have to protect Pixie Hollow. So it is no surprise Nyx wants Queen Clarion (voice by Anjelica Huston) to make Fawn live by the same rules as everyone else.

Fawn promises, but of course we know that won’t last long because from the very beginning of this movie the message is hammered home that Fawn never judges a book (or an animal) by its cover. Instead, she looks inside their heart and only sees the good. (This production might be aimed at 3 to 7-year-olds, however you can bet when they are older some kids will try to use this same argument when bringing home a boy or girl you’re not wild about them dating.)

This time Fawn’s rescue project happens to be a humongous NeverBeast with glowing green eyes and sharp teeth. He roars and smashes things, and according to legend, is supposed to destroy Pixie Hollow. Still, Fawn isn’t concerned when her new friend Gruff wipes out part of their sunflower crop, or sprouts wings, or apparently contributes to the gathering storm clouds. In her mind, “everything is awesome.”

Unfortunately all is not so awesome. And before the inevitable syrupy ending arrives, where Fawn is proven right (which we never doubt will happen), the fairies experience numerous moments of peril and some outright danger including a huge lightening storm, explosions and serious injury for two little fairies.

While that content might be okay for older children, it may prove to be a problem for younger or more sensitive viewers who are expecting a little more pixie dust and a little less action warfare from a Tink adventure.

About author

Kerry Bennett

Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for over 15 years. As a parent herself, she believes parents play a powerful role in teaching media literacy in their homes.