Das Geheimnis der Feenflügel (Secret of the Wings)
U.S.A. 2012

Opening 15 Nov 2012

Directed by: Roberts Gannaway
Writing credits: Roberts Gannaway, Peggy Holmes, Ryan Rowe, Tom Rogers
Principal actors: Timothy Dalton, Lucy Hale, Megan Hilty, Anjelica Huston, Matt Lanter

The Disney Fairies sprinkle their golden fairy dust on the silver screen in their fourth animated feature film The Secret of the Wings. The Disney Fairies franchise from Disney Toon Studios produces original stories focused on Tinker Bell and her adventures: Tinker Bell (2008), Tinker Bell and The Lost Treasure (2009), Tinker Bell and The Great Fairy Rescue (2010), Tinker Bell and The Secret of the Wings (2012). You could say that the Disney Fairies franchise has given Tinker Bell a life of her own after her original debut in J.M. Barrie’s play Peter Pan, following a variety of other adaptations with Peter Pan, including animated versions from the Walt Disney Company.

The Secret of the Wings storyline, earning the “G” rating, is brilliantly written by Tom Rogers and Ryan Rowe. The age appropriate content brings to light real child-like patterns of thought, questions and intrigue. It’s a portrayal of how children discover the world using their unique innocence. Film and animation directors Peggy Holmes and Bob Gannaway lean into the expertise of producer John Lasseter to create a special effects narrative in 3D just as compelling for adults as children. The Secret of the Wings offers a little something for every age, including a fabulous soundtrack featuring the original musical score composed by Joel McNeely and, to name a few artists, feature songs from the McClain sisters and Selena Gomez.

Synopsis:

Life in Pixie Hollow, the home of Tinker Bell (voice of Mae Whitman) and her fairy friends is a hustling and bustling community hard at work. The fairy inhabitants produce specially-made baskets for the winter forest fairies. The baskets can only be made in a warm climate similar to the location of Pixie Hollow. The baskets are used by the Great White Owls for transporting goods and fairies throughout the winter forest. Pixie Hollow residences never venture to the frosty winter perimeters because it is forbidden. The ban set by Queen Clarion (voice of Anjelica Houston) and Lord Milori (voice of Timothy Dalton) is for the protection of those like Tinker Bell who live in the warm colorful forest. They are not used to the intense snow and cold weather; therefore, their wings would freeze and break, to which there is no cure for wings that are broken.

Tinker Bell joins fellow Fawn, the animal fairy (voice of Angela Bartys), taking the animals to the border crossing (the point where the warm world meets the winter world) to enter the winter forest for hibernation. Tinker Bell touches the winter snow with her nose, loses her balance and accidentally falls into the winter forest. What a coincidence! Tinker Bell is delighted with what she sees and encounters a strange phenomenon – her wings have a sparkling glow in the snow fall. Tinker Bell is fascinated with the wonder but becomes faint. Her little body begins to freeze, putting her beautiful wings in harm’s way. Fawn comes to Tinker Bell’s rescue but scolds her for being too curious, putting them both in danger. The sorrowful Tinker Bell takes heed but her curiosity puts her on a path of research to find out why her wings could sparkle only in the winter forest. The Pixie Hollow Librarian tells Tinker Bell that the only one who will know the answer to her question is the keeper of all fairy knowledge known as The Keeper, under the alias name, Dewey (voice of Jeff Bennett). Dewey is Lord Milori’s longtime friend who lives in the Winter Forest.

Tinker Bell discovers how to protect herself in the winter elements and sets out to find The Keeper. She is anxious to understand why her wings made a sparkling transformation in the falling snow. In the process of her meeting with The Keeper, Tinker Bell finds out more information than she bargains for involving a long lost relative. Tinker Bell has a twin sister, Periwinkle, who lives in the winter forest under the care of The Keeper. The secret of the wings tells the story of how the sisters became estranged and the process each must journey to live as normal siblings in two very different worlds. (Karen Pecota)