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Last week, I had the chance to participate in a roundtable interview with Director, Klay Hall and Producer, Sean Lurie of “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure”. The movie comes to DVD and Blu-ray on October 27th and it is one very good movie!
Hall and Lurie answered all kinds of questions from what they think the key to Tinker Bell’s success is to how long the movie production took. I’ve pulled a few questions from the interview that I think might interest you. I’ll break the interview up into two parts. Here’s Part 1. Enjoy!
Q: Why do you think it is important to bring the character of Tinker Bell to the forefront after many decades from the original?
Klay Hall: She is such a great iconic character that hadn’t been tapped to her full potential. It seemed like it was a good time to showcase her to a new generation, yet still embrace the classic Tinker Bell. I want to say, once again, how real she is with all her little flaws and feistiness, yet she is relatable to every generation.
Q: Which is the secret to Tinker Bell’s success?
Sean Lurie: I think it’s her charm, curiosity, and that she is not perfect. These things make her relatable. And she can FLY!
Q: How long did the production for the movie overall take?
Sean Lurie: It took about two and a half years.
Q: Is it all computer-generated?
Sean Lurie: Yes. We start with "flat" designs and storyboards drawn with a stylist in the computer (they resemble pencil drawings). We then construct those characters, environments and props as models in a 3d digital environment. Even though the shots are computer generated there are many talented animators animating each shot and character.
Q: What are the differences you can see comparing the new Tinker Bell and the older one, being a co-star of Peter Pan?
Sean Lurie: The biggest difference has to be that she can talk in these movies. Even though she couldn’t talk in the Peter Pan movie she was very expressive. You always knew what she was trying to communicate. We tried to keep her very expressive, and maintain her key personality traits. Translating her from 2D drawings to a fully 3 dimensional character is also a visual difference. We tried to be as accurate in her appearance as possible. It was important that people recognize and accept her as the Tink they know and love.
Q: Can you describe Tinker Bell’s new costume and how you arrived at its design?
Klay Hall: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is set in the autumn. So it seemed proper to update Tinker Bell’s outfit. In the earlier films, she wears her iconic little green dress. However, it being fall and there being crispness in the air, in addition to this being an adventure movie, her dress just wouldn’t work. So I, John Lasseter, Ellen Jin, the Art Director, and the costume designers from the parks all weighed in on an approach to a new design. We landed on her wearing leggings, a long-sleeve shirt, a shawl, a hat and high boots with her iconic pom-poms still attached. The costume also had to feel as if a fairy made it, so all the materials, textures and elements are organic and easily found in nature.
Q: Tink has come a long way since her first incarnation as a spot of light on stage and since her voiceless sidekick role in "Peter Pan." What is the source of her enduring appeal and what essential parts of her remain unchanged?
Sean Lurie: I think it’s because Tink is very relatable. She has emotions like we do, and is very expressive. She has a temper, she gets jealous in the Peter Pan movie. She’s very feisty. We have tried to maintain these personality traits in Tink, and think that part of what people love about her.
Q: Do you anticipate any of the other Peter Pan characters making appearances in Tinker Bell films?
Klay Hall: You never know! It would be great.
Q: Who is your favorite fairy?
Klay Hall: It’s got to be Tinker Bell. What I love about Tinker Bell is she is feisty, has a bit of an attitude and tends to make mistakes. Yet, these attributes make her feel real and relatable to me.
Q: How did you come up with ideas for this new enchanting story?
Sean Lurie: The story is loosely inspired by a Disney chapter book called Tinker Bell North of Neverland. There was an idea about friendship in that story that inspired us to make that the heart of the story. We also wanted to make an adventure where Tink has to go on a journey. These were the initial ideas that developed from there.
Source & Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios and Click Communications