Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast Review!

My niece absolutely adores mythical and make-believe creatures - whether it's mermaids, friendly vampires, or fairies - if she can break from reality and indulge her imagination for bit, she's in! I couldn't help but think of her when I got invited to Los Angeles in February for an advanced screening of DisneyToon Studio's release of Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast. I knew she'd love it, and after seeing the film I suspect I know what she'll be asking for for her upcoming birthday.

In Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast, you'll return to Pixie Hollow for a new, heartwarming adventure. In this animated film, an ancient myth of a massive creature sparks the curiosity of Tinker Bell and her good friend Fawn, an animal fairy who’s not afraid to break the rules to help an animal in need. Unfortunately, this creature is not welcome in Pixie Hollow, and the newly introduced scout fairies are determined to capture the mysterious beast, who they fear will destroy their home. Fawn must convince her fairy friends to risk everything to rescue the NeverBeast. This thrilling action-adventure roared to life with never-before-seen bonus extras on Disney Blu-ray and DVD on March 3rd, 2015.

As I mentioned last week, I had the opportunity to sit down for an interview with Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast's Director Steve Loter and Producer Makul Wigert. Loter explained how this movie is really about his family and how the DNA of those he loves is tightly woven into the story. His young daughter is the inspiration behind the character Fawn, as she's a lover of animals and sometimes thinks too much with her heart instead of her head. Loter went on to tell us that the new fairy character Nyx is modeled after himself, as the typical helicopter parent that sometimes thinks too much with their head instead of their heart.

photo courtesy of Disney

My first impressions of the film were brought about by the musical score and bright, colorful animation. Right away I noticed the music was unique and just lovely really, especially in Fawn's first scene where she's flying high with birds around Pixie Hollow. The earthy tones used in the film are vibrant and the animation is just gorgeous.

photo courtesy of Disney

Soon, you begin to see Fawn's character unfold and realize that while she's always trying to do the right thing for the animals she loves, these very things may put her and her fellow fairies in danger. In the opening scene of the movie Fawn is tending to a baby hawk (and hawks are a real threat to the fairies in Pixie Hollow) and she's about to attempt to release it back into the wild. Unfortunately for Fawn, things go a little awry and she gets in a bit of trouble for sneaking the baby hawk into Pixie Hollow. She vows not to do it again, but everyone sort of knows that Fawn can't resist an animal in distress. So, it's no surprise that when she hears a loud groan in the distance, that she seeks out its origin. Here is where we're introduced to a huge new creature that Fawn has never seen before.

photo courtesy of Disney

Ginnifer Goodwin voices Fawn and she does a spectacular job. Although she told us in an interview that voice acting was much more difficult for her than live action on television or in movies, you'd never know it. She is a perfect fit for Fawn and does an amazing job countering "Gruff" the NeverBeast (who, like any animal, doesn't speak).

Gruff is a mysterious character and he's extremely occupied with some sort of mission, although Fawn has no idea what it might be. Like any good animal fairy, Fawn begins studying him to learn more about him, and they form an unlikely bond in the process. But, like her baby hawk, Fawn knows that Gruff will not be welcomed in Pixie Hollow, especially by the Scout Fairies.

photo courtesy of Disney

Nyx (voice of Rosario Dawson) is the leader of the Scouts and comes across as a villain, although she only has the best interests of Pixie Hollow in mind. She's is a protector and is just doing her job, while Fawn thinks that she's protecting Gruff and just doing hers. They counteract each other nicely and you can see that they're both right and could learn a lot from each other.

photo courtesy of Disney

The Director told us that he wanted to create a film with many emotional peaks and valleys, and he certainly succeeded. The ending of the movie is quite emotional and more than a few adults were wiping tears from their eyes as we left the theater. I don't want to spoil it for you, but I almost wish the ending could have been a bit happier. Overall though, I thought the story was beautifully written, the animation was perfection, and the voice casting was spot on. This is definitely a film for all ages and genders.

There's also an assortment of different Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast
games and activities on the Disney Fairies website!

Disclosure: I reviewed this film on a recent press trip sponsored by Disney and ABC. All opinions are my own.