40 Films in Robotech: Peter Pan (1953)

     

Yes, it has horrible stereotypes. But it is referenced in Robotech and remains a significant title in Disney’s history…and is still a ride at Disney World and Disneyland.

 ROBOTECH MENTION:  

In Jack McKinney’s novelization of Robotech Episode 76 entitled Metamorphosis (McKinney’s book has the same title), gender-bending Lancer meets a beautiful woman with a unique look (and origin)…and McKinney uses Peter Pan to describe her hairstyle – along with some less flattering descriptions…

This excerpt is from page 186 of the Jack McKinney Robotech book Metamorphosis (1987).

 SYNOPSIS:  

This is the synopsis found on the back of the Platinum Edition of Walt Disney’s Peter Pan 2-Disc DVD set…

"Fantastic adventures await Wendy and her brothers when Peter Pan, the hero of their stories, whisks them away to the magical world of Never Land. After following Peter and his feisty sidekick Tinker Bell past the ‘second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning,’ they explore the island and Peter’s secret hideout with the Lost Boys, and leap into high-flying battles with swashbuckling pirates and the infamous Captain Hook!"

 AWARDS & KUDOS:  

Last year, Peter Pan won the Online Film & Television Association’s OFTA Film Hall of Fame Motion Picture Award.

 OTHER COOL FACTS:  

In their 2001 book Emotion Marketing, Scott Robinette and Claire Brand explain Disney’s “secret sauce” in their brand. Hint: it’s in the graphics of the trailer above. Here’s what they wrote: “Disney excels in so many different industries because it’s deliberately avoided defining itself too narrowly. Instead, Disney aspires to provide many different experiences, all with one thing in common: They’re steeped in emotion. In a word, Disney wants to provide magic. Whether you’re watching a Disney animated film or visiting a Disney theme park, it’s very clear the company intends for every experience to be truly special." (p.45)

 ROBOTECH REASON:  

In Robotech, the mystery woman Lancer meets in Metamorphosis is named “Sera,” and she is both like and completely unlike Peter Pan. Like Peter Pan, she comes from a far-off place, potentially near the ‘second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning.’  Like Peter, she has no concept of falling in love, and when she does (unlike Pan), she’s completely dazed and confused and obsessed with these new emotions. While living in a violent world like Peter Pan, she doesn’t enjoy fighting like Pan. She also isn’t a strong-headed, independent leader like Pan. It’s an odd tie McKinney makes between Sera and Peter Pan – but it works.

To read my ⭐⭐⭐(out of a possible 5 star) rating for Peter Pan on Letterboxd, click here.