History Literature / PeterPan

The [[Theatre/PeterPan original play]] is fairly [[{{Disneyfication}} Child-Friendly]]: Captain Hook is a [[BigHam blustering]] [[HarmlessVillain comic villain]], the violence is usually [[ThePratfall a pratfall]] or similar form of {{Slapstick}}, and death is treated more like a time-out (in the famous 1954 version with Mary Martin, every pirate Hook kills lies dead on the floor for a few minutes, then gets up again and joins in the pirate crowd scenes without comment). In contrast, the [[Literature/PeterAndWendy book version]] later written by Sir James M. Barrie is a [[Satire sly]] {{Deconstruction}} of the [[ChildrenAreInnocent Victorian notion of the sacred innocence]] of [[ChildrenAreCruel children]], full of ParentalBonus [[BlackComedy dark humor]] and subtle GallowsHumor; Barrie was a master satirist for his time, though few of his satires are remembered today.

The [[Theatre/PeterPan original play]] is fairly [[Disneyfication Child-Friendly]]: Captain Hook is a [[BigHam blustering]] [[HarmlessVillain comic villain]], the violence is usually [[ThePratfall a pratfall]] or similar form of {{Slapstick}}, and death is treated more like a time-out (in the famous 1954 version with Mary Martin, every pirate Hook kills lies dead on the floor for a few minutes, then gets up again and joins in the pirate crowd scenes without comment). In contrast, the [[Literature/PeterAndWendy book version]] later written by Sir James M. Barrie is a [[Satire sly]] {{Deconstruction}} of the [[ChildrenAreInnocent Victorian notion of the sacred innocence]] of [[ChildrenAreCruel children]], full of ParentalBonus [[BlackComedy dark humor] and subtle GallowsHumor; Barrie was a master satirist for his time, though few of his satires are remembered today.

** Captain Hook usually doesn't die in most versions.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Is it Tinkerbell, Tinkerbelle, or Tinker Bell? The ''Fanchise/KingdomHearts'' series uses Tinker Bell, and so does the new Disney movie that centers around her. It's likely that Tinker Bell is the official spelling, as it is spelled that way in the original novel.

James M. Barrie was a prolific writer at the turn of the 20th century, but his most-beloved works are his play and novels about Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up and lives in Neverland, a MagicalLand. He has a feisty fairy {{Sidekick}} in Tinker Bell.

** In just about any theatrical or film version, Peter was played by a woman, until [[Film/PeterPan the 2003 version]] came in.
** Disney's ''[[Disney/PeterPan Peter Pan]]'' had Peter voiced by a boy, Bobby Driscol.
** The only male to have played Peter Pan on Broadway is Jack Noseworthy, who was an understudy in ''Jerome Robbins' Broadway'', a musical revue of highlights of choreographer Jerome Robbins' work, which included the Mary Martin Broadway version.

Peter Pan is a {{t|heTrickster}}rickster, only nominally human. In his first appearance, ''Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens'' (which was one of several stories included in the book ''Literature/TheLittleWhiteBird''), Peter is alluded to as being [[LiminalBeing half bird]]; as all children in fact come from birds, but only Peter is close enough to his youth to remember ''being'' a bird. In Neverland, he is more like a playful demigod, with aspects of Puck and Pan. The character has become something of a cultural symbol for youthful exuberance and innocence, especially if it persists into adulthood; it also evokes the poignant flip side - never becoming truly mature. Music/MichaelJackson identified with the character so much he named his estate (with an amusement park, et. al. on the grounds) "Neverland Ranch". The darker implications of eternal youth and perpetual irresponsibility is likely why a well-remembered 1987 film about teen vampires was called ''Film/TheLostBoys''.

Peter Pan is a {{t|heTrickster}}rickster, only nominally human. In ''Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens'', Peter is alluded to as being [[LiminalBeing half bird]]; as all children in fact come from birds, but only Peter is close enough to his youth to remember ''being'' a bird. In Neverland, he is more like a playful demigod, with aspects of Puck and Pan. The character has become something of a cultural symbol for youthful exuberance and innocence, especially if it persists into adulthood; it also evokes the poignant flip side - never becoming truly mature. Music/MichaelJackson identified with the character so much he named his estate (with an amusement park, et. al. on the grounds) "Neverland Ranch". The darker implications of eternal youth and perpetual irresponsibility is likely why a well-remembered 1987 film about teen vampires was called ''Film/TheLostBoys''.

%% * CluelessChickMagnet: Peter.

* MeaningfulEcho: "Boy, why are you crying?"

* ''Series/{{Neverland}}'', a 2011 {{Syfy}} miniseries, which acts as another prequel to the story. By same guy who directed ''Series/TinMan'' and ''Series/{{Alice|2009}}''.

'''Tropes from the authorized sequel, ''Peter Pan In Scarlet'':'''

!!Tropes:

'''Tropes from all or most adaptations''':

* ''Literature/PeterAndTheStarcatchers'' by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, a novel series that acts as a prequel to the original story.
** Which was also adapted to stage, having a popular run on Broadway.
* ''Peter Pan In Scarlet'', by Geraldine [=McCaughrean=]. The offical sequel approved by rights-holder Great Ormond Street Hospital. [=McCaughrean=] was selected during a competition in 2004, and the book was published in 2006. [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfWindsor Her Majesty Elizabeth II]] recieved a specially printed copy.

* Hook appears as TheDragon to the first BigBad in season 2 of ''Series/OnceUponATime'', but by the end of the season, and throughout the first half of season 3, Peter himself is the BigBad, and Hook is on the side of the heroes.

* ''[[{{Film/Pan}} Pan]],'' another retelling of Pan's origin focusing on Peter's friendship with Hook before they became enemies.

--> -- '''The original directions Peter gives to Neverland''' (although it turns out there isn't really a 'direction' as such. He just gets there. He only gives these directions to sound clever to Wendy.)

Between licensing by Great Ormond Street Hospital (who still holds certain rights in the UK) and the expiration of copyright in most of the world, there are clashing Sequel and {{Prequel}} books and films. In addition to the 1953 Disney film and a 2002 sequel, there was a 41 episode Anime adaption as part of the WorldMasterpieceTheater series in 1989, the 1990 animated series on the first season of FoxKids, Steven Spielberg's ''Film/{{Hook}}'' (1991), a sequel that posits what would have happened had Peter eventually decided to grow up, and a 2003 live-action adaptation. See also ''Film/FindingNeverland'' (2004), a VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory drama about Barrie's conception and initial production of the play.

* ShoutOut: Hook describes himself as "the only man whom Barbecue feared, and Flint himself feared Barbecue". Captain Flint was the pirate captain in ''TreasureIsland'', and "Barbecue" was the nickname of his cook -- Long John Silver.

Between licensing by Great Ormond Street Hospital (who still holds certain rights in the UK) and the expiration of copyright in most of the world, there are clashing Sequel and {{Prequel}} books and films. In addition to the 1953 Disney film and a 2002 sequel, there was a 41 episode Anime adaption as part of the WorldMasterpieceTheater series in 1989, the 1990 animated series on the first season of FoxKids, Steven Spielberg's ''Film/{{Hook}}'' (1991), a sequel that posits what would have happened had Peter eventually decided to grow up, and a 2003 live-action adaptation. See also ''FindingNeverland'' (2004), a VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory drama about Barrie's conception and initial production of the play.

* ''[[{{Film/Pan}} Pan]],'' another retlling of Pan's origin focusing on Peter's friendship with Hook before they became enemies.

* ''[[{{Film/Pan}} Pan]]'' another retlling of Pan's origin focusing on Peter's friendship with Hook before they became enemies.

* ''[[Film/Pan Pan]]'' another relling of Pan's origin focusing on Peter's friendship with Hook before they became enemies.

* LivingShadow: Peter's shadow is alive and tries to escape. Wendy sews it back on.

* MobySchtick: Barrie openly acknowledged that the enmity between Captain Hook and Peter, and the crocodile's relentless pursuit of Hook, were inspired by Ahab.

* ''Film/{{Hook}}'' (1991) which tells what happens after Peter, played by RobinWilliams, grows up and leaves Neverland.

** qWendy (until Peter saves her) and Hook (when he's eaten by the crocodile).

* PoliteVillainsRudeHeroes: Captain Hook and Peter Pan, respectively.
* ProudWarriorRace: The Piccaninnies.

* SociopathicHero: See Ambiguous Innocence. During the climactic fight against Hook and his crew, Peter actually attacks both sides in order to keep things "interesting."
* TheTrickster: Peter Pan.
* {{Tsundere}}: Tiger Lily.

* WeAreAsMayflies: Inverted in the novel - fairies have short lifespans, short enough that at the beginning of the book Tinker Bell hasn't yet reached adulthood, but a year later she's most likely reached the end of her natural life. Of course, [[EnsembleDarkhorse none of the adaptations have the heart to kill her off so soon]].

* [[spoiler: BackFromTheDead: Tinkerbell, who died in the original book, is in the last third of this one resurrected thanks to Fireflyer.]]

* ContinuityNod: Quite a few, sometimes even bordering on ContinuityPorn.

* ContinuitySnarl: Despite all the {{Continuity Nod}}ding, here are a couple of ''really'' noticeable contradictions here. Some, as mentioned, are seen as AcceptableBreaksFromCanon, while some seem a little off:

* DamselInDistress: [[spoiler:Tootles.]]

* [[spoiler:LoveAtFirstSight: Fireflyer and Tinkerbell, sort of. Fireflyer is revealed to have developed a crush on Tinkerbell long before he even meets her, thanks to Sightly's stories about her, and it's his wish that eventually calls her [[BackFromTheDead back to life]].]]