Tinker Bell - Definition and Overview

Tinkerbell or Tinker Bell is a fictional character in J.M. Barrie's play and subsequent novel Peter Pan. She is a sometimes ill-behaved but loyal fairy who is Peter Pan's companion. In one famous scene, Tinkerbell will die if not enough people believe in fairies. The resultant plea to the children watching the play or movie is an example of "breaking the fourth wall". (In the novel and the 2003 movie, Peter calls out to dreaming children within the storytelling universe to sustain her.)

After Disney's 1953 animated film version, Tinkerbell became something of a mascot for the Walt Disney Company, appearing in commercials and program openings to spread fairy dust from her magic wand.