DisneyToon Studios’ final venture into the world of Disney Fairies makes its debut on Blu-Ray, DVD and HD-Digital on March 3rd. After an impressive six film run, Disney has decided to end the franchise with Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast. While this is sad news for any fan of the series, the good news is this is the best one yet.
Oddly enough, Disney has added Tink’s name back to the title for this film (it was dropped from Secret of the Wings and The Pirate Fairy in an attempt to appeal to boys…). The reason this is puzzling is Tinker Bell is barely in NeverBeast. The real star of the film is Fawn, the animal fairy that was previously voiced by America Ferrera (first film) and Angela Bartys (films 2-5). Disney wanted a recognizable name for her this time around, so Ginnifer Goodwin (Mary Margaret/Snow White on ABC’s Once Upon a Time) was cast in the lead role.
When a mysterious green comet flies above Pixie Hollow, Fawn follows some strange animal noises into the woods and discovers a strange creature she’s never seen before. Against his monstrous nature, she befriends the beast and names him Gruff, keeping him a secret from the fairies that keep Pixie Hollow safe. When one of them reveals the legend of the NeverBeast, a creature whose presence is believed to bring about Pixie Hollow’s destruction, Fawn must trust her heart and her instincts to do what is right for Gruff and her fairy friends.
Legend of the NeverBeast is definitely the most emotional film in the Disney Fairies series. I had tears in my eyes several times, particularly because Gruff is so dog-like and reminds me of one of my rescue dogs. I first saw the film at the El Capitan Theater and lots of kids were crying due to how loud and scary Gruff is in some scenes, but also because of a very emotional ending. While there’s no objectionable content and it has a G rating, your littlest ones might have a hard time with this film.
The music in this series has always been a pleasant surprise. Joel McNeely returns to score the film, but this time with a little assistance from Bleu and K.T. Tunstall. Bleu wrote two of the songs, assisted with the score, and sings the end credit duet. K.T. Tunstall serves as the musical narrator this time around, roles previously filled by Lorena McKennitt and Natasha Bedingfeld. The most impactful song is “Strange Sight,” which is about Gruff and has a heartfelt melancholy reprise towards the end. The opening song is as uplifting as its title (“Float”) and the end credit duet between Tunstall and Bleu is called “1,000 Years,” another winner. The soundtrack is available on iTunes and I recommend it if you’re a fan of the music from this series.
It’s a shame that the series has to come to an end, particularly when the creative output of DisneyToon Studios is at an all time high. However, the series is going out with a bang and this film will stay with you for a while if you’re an animal lover. I’m a bit saddened that they couldn’t do one more film to connect the series to Peter Pan. I think most fans wanted to see Tinker Bell find Peter and make the tough decision to leave Pixie Hollow behind, but alas that adventure will be left to your own imagination.
Video
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast looks amazing on Blu-Ray. The film’s color palette boasts bright colors that pop off the screen. I didn’t detect any flaws with the transfer.
On DVD, colors seem less vivid and sharp detail looks blurred in comparison to the Blu-Ray. However, it looks as good as the film can in standard definition and the presentation is consistent with how the other films looked on DVD.
Audio
The main audio track is English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. This film uses the full sound field better than past ventures, mostly because of Gruff’s loud noises that make use of the subwoofer and rear speakers. Other options are French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital.
Audio options on DVD are English, French and Spanish in Dolby Digital 5.1.
Bonus Features
- 5 Essential Ingredients To Getting Gruff (5 minutes) – The creative team takes you through the story process and talk about how the film came together. The title sounds like it’s aimed at kids, but it’s surprisingly more informative for adult fans who already understand how animated films are made.
- My Dad’s Movie: The True Story of the NeverBeast (5 minutes) – Calista, daughter of director Steve Loter, talks about why this film was made while walking through the Santa Barbara Zoo and talking about her love of large animals.
- Jeff Corwin’s Guide to Real-World NeverBeasts (3 minutes) – Jeff Corwin reveals his cameo in the film and narrates this piece on unbelievable animals that really exist.
- Deleted Scenes (11 minutes) – Four deleted scenes are offered individually or with a Play All feature. They are “Breakfast with Fawn,” “Hawk Search,” “Feeding Gruff,” and “Fawn and Gruff Get Going.” There is also an introduction by director Steve Loter.
- Tink’n About Animals (2 minutes) – This sing along that reuses footage from The Pirate Fairy features a song sung by Fawn about wild animals.
- Gruff Love (1 minute) – This promotional piece plays like an extended trailer/music video featuring the song “Strange Sight.”
The only bonus features on the DVD are 5 Essential Ingredients To Getting Gruff, Tink’n About Animals, and Gruff Love.
Packaging & Design
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast is housed in a standard-sized Blu-Ray case with the Blu-Ray disc on the right, DVD on the left. Inserts include a Tink-themed Disney Movies Anywhere/Disney Movie Rewards/Digital copy fold out and an ad for Disney Movie Club. The case is housed in an embossed slipcover that features a glitter effect on Tinker Bell and Fawn’s wings, with a shimmery background that makes Gruff’s eyes glow.
The menu features the animal training section of Pixie Hollow while various characters and animals walk past. The disc opens with ads for Disney Movies Anywhere, Inside Out and Aladdin Diamond Edition. Selecting “Sneak Peeks” from the menu plays ads for Disney Movie Rewards, Disney Parks and Miles from Tomorrowland.
Final Thoughts
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast is the best film in the series, but offers a more emotional adventure than fans of the series are used to. Disney has assembled a nice, if not brief, assortment of bonus features that will please adult fans as well as children. It’s sad the series has to end, but NeverBeast is worth your time and is sure to warm your heart.