A Reel 70: PETER PAN (Part 2)

This month marks the 70^th anniversary of Walt Disney’s PETER PAN. In Reel Speak’s first part (HERE), we explored the film’s origins. Here in part 2, we look at where the character has gone since 1953. 

 

On February 5^th, 1953, PETER PAN flew into theatres and rightfully captured the imaginations of children and adults. It was the 14^th animated feature film by Walt Disney Pictures, and while it is often said that Disney started with a mouse, for the past seven decades it has soared and charmed generations with a boy who never grew up. For this Blogger, the charm of PETER PAN was felt when I first rode Peter Pan’s Flight at Magic Kingdom in 2021. From the opening flight through the nursey to the breathtaking flyover of London at night, this Blogger was turned into a kid again…which means the attraction certainly did its job. When I and my Disney Queen Wife visit Magic Kingdom, Peter Pan’s Flight is always high on the list no matter how long the lines get (and yes, they do get long). But how is it that a 70-year-old film clearly marked for children (?) can have such a draw? All it takes is a little fairy dust…

 

Even in the early days of PETER PAN, the popularity and importance of the film was not lost on Walt, who in 1955 opened Disneyland in California with Peter Pan’s Flight as one of the attractions. The suspended-rail “dark ride” recreated the storyline from the film, and was later expanded to Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland theme parks. The Disneyland version is one of the few remaining attractions that were operational when the park opened in 1955, a testament to its popularity. Peter, Hook, and Tink have become Disney icons, and have a constant presence in the park, including parades, live shows, scavenger hunts, and of course…merchandise. 

Back on the big screen, in 2002, PETER PAN officially became a film franchise for Disney when its sequel arrived: PETER PAN: RETURN TO NEVERLAND. Later, Peter’s sidekick Tinker Bell’s popularity was capitalized, with the magical fairy earning her own feature-length films and shorts. While Peter has been the name of the franchise, Tinker Bell has flown into a higher stratosphere. Tink has been flying over the castle in Disney’s opening film animations for years, and a live-action version of her has been soaring over the park castles for the grand finale of their fireworks display nearly every night since 1985…a feat that draws cheers every time. Tink has become the symbol of Disney magic, and her iconic look and jingle are recognizable anywhere.

 

In recent years the film has been rightfully criticized for its depiction and treatment of Native Americans, causing Disney’s streaming service to add a disclaimer in front of the film. Despite this, PETER PAN’s legacy has endured. While the story has its roots in a stage production, Peter, Tink, and Wendy have a staying power that comes from the film. When heavy metal band Metallica sings about Never Land in their hit single Enter Sandman, or when Captain Kirk orders the Enterprise to head towards the second star to the right…it’s impossible to not think of Disney’s PETER PAN. 

 

As Reel Speak wrote in Part 1 (again, HERE), PETER PAN has endured for many reasons. The structure, character, and execution make it feel very modern (the Native American scenes notwithstanding), and the artwork creating some gorgeous cinematography is stunning. There is a magic in the film that speaks to the kid in all of us; the kid that dreams of flying out of the window and crossing swords with buccaneers (and fight pirates too!), along with living a life like a Lost Boy: without rules or bedtimes. But all that, of course, comes with a price, and even PETER PAN knows it. Just like in the film, for 70 years PAN has asked us to choose Never Land or growing up. But perhaps the answer is somewhere in the middle, and that’s a place PETER PAN can always take us. 

 

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Special thanks to Jess, my Disney Queen, for assisting in research and photos.