Tinker Bell: The Secret of the Wings – Secret of the Wings (2012)

Directed by: Roberts Gannaway, Peggy Holmes | 75 minutes | animation, action, family, fantasy | Dutch voice cast: Angela Schijf, Lizemijn Libgott, Bert Cosemans, Hero Muller | Original voice cast: Mae Whitman, Anjelica Huston, Lucy Liu, Timothy Dalton, Lucy Hale, Megan Hilty, Matt Lanter, Raven-Symoné, Debby Ryan, Pamela Adlon, Angela Bartyrs, Jeff Bennett, Gray DeLisle, Jane Horrocks, Rob Paulsen, Bella Thorne

Four seasons, four movies. Even before the release of the first animated film in the Disney Fairies series, ‘Tinker Bell’, launched in 2008, it was already clear that at least four films had been made around the central, iconic figure of the fairy Tinker Bell, once conceived by JM Barrie. would become. Spring was central in ‘Tinker Bell’ (2008), summer was central in ‘Tinker Bell – The Lost Treasure’ (2009), and in ‘Tinker Bell and the Great Rescue Operation’ (2010) it was all rain and mud puddles… so autumn. Put a nice warm coat over your prettiest princess dress or fairy wings, because in ‘Tinker Bell: The Secret of the Wings’ (‘Secret of the Wings’), the first 3D film in the franchise, we enter a beautiful, but treacherous cold winter landscape.

Tink, Hamel, Bel and the other craft elves are very busy making baskets in which to store snowflakes. A group of beautiful snowy owls, coming straight from the winter forest, collects the braided pieces of art. As in the previous adventures, Tinker Bell can’t contain her curiosity about the unknown this time. Tink’s friend Faun is responsible for transferring the animals to the off-limits area for warm elves. Tinker Bell offers her help, but is disappointed to learn that they are not allowed to enter the winter white landscape, a law instituted by King Frost. When Faun has her attention elsewhere for a while, Tinker Bell sneaks into the winter landscape after all. Shivering from the cold, but overwhelmed by the sight of the beautiful nature around her, Tink suddenly has a special feeling. That feeling is enhanced by the breathtaking brilliance that her wings suddenly take on. Faun immediately retrieves the disobedient fairy, but it is already too late: Tinker Bell’s wings are frozen. Fortunately, the craft elf doesn’t take too much damage, but from then on she’s determined to discover the secret of her sparkling wings. What that secret is, is left in the middle here, but

‘Tinker Bell: The Secret of the Wings’ (released in the US under the title ‘Secret of the Wings’) is a delightful animation adventure that girls (as well as boys) and their parents will enjoy. The story is brought with speed and humor and although you can predict halfway through the playing time where the makers want to go, they still have some surprises in store for the audience. Themes such as family, friendship, perseverance and sacrifice are neatly woven into the scenario and attention is paid to the changing climate, without this being experienced as disturbing. Kudos to the script writers!

But the animation department also deserves a compliment. The animation is again of a high level, with a lot of attention to details. Not Oscar-worthy material of course, but there will be few children in the target group who complain about the lesser quality of the film compared to ‘Brave’ or ‘Rapunzel’. The ‘Tinker Bell’ films are among the better productions of the Disney Toon Studios and ‘TinkerBell: The Secret of the Wings’ is no exception. The power of the medium is used to the fullest, whereby certain emotions are presented very subtly on the screen, without the need for words. The colors of nature are breathtaking – even in the white winter landscape (because snow is never just white, of course) – and the figures are captivating. For example, notice the cute bunny in the beginning of the movie! ‘Tinker Bell: The Secret of the Wings’ is a heartwarming film.