Still young with Peter Pan
A timeless icon of childhood, Peter Pan continues to delight children, and the children in adults. The world of Peter Pan is available in the Shop for Geek shop, in the form of figurines, decorated accessories and even gold-plated jewellery. Meet up with the flying child, Tinkerbell, Wendy and the horrible Captain Hook for new adventures.
From Scotland to Walt Disney
In 1953, the Disney studios released their famous cartoon "Peter Pan", which was a huge success. The film followed on from "Alice in Wonderland", released two years earlier. These two tales of the fabulous adventures of children's characters were adaptations of popular British children's novels.
The character of Peter Pan was imagined and written by the Scottish writer J.M. Barrie in his novel "Peter and Wendy", published in 1911. It was actually a literary adaptation of his own plays featuring the character of Peter Pan. The first of these plays was staged in London in 1904, entitled "Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up".
Peter Pan's adventures were so successful that they were adapted for the big screen in 1924. In this silent film, the character of Peter Pan was played by the actress Betty Bronson. The story of this film bears a strong resemblance to that of the future Disney cartoon.
Disney's Peter Pan
Based on the story of the silent film, the 1953 cartoon tells the story of how Peter Pan and his jealous friend Tinkerbell take Wendy and her little brothers to Neverland. When they get there, they come up against the furious madness of Captain Hook, who is looking for Peter Pan's secret hideout to take revenge on him.
This cartoon gave the characters the appearance we know today. Young Peter Pan and his Robin Hood outfit, Wendy, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook, Mr Smee, the pirate ship's boatswain, and the lost children.
The evolution of the Peter Pan universe since 1990
In addition to a TV series, Peter Pan made his big return to popular culture with the 1991 film Hook. Directed by Steven Spielberg, it was a sort of sequel to the adventures of Peter Pan. According to the story, Peter Pan finally decided to become a responsible adult and father, but forgot all about his past and lost his magical powers. The infamous Captain Hook kidnaps his children, and Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reconnect with his past. He is played by adult/child specialist Robin Williams, with Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook and Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell.
In 2003, Australian director Paul John Hogan proposed a live-action remake of the 1924 silent film and Disney cartoon. Peter Pan was played by Jeremy Sumpter, but the film was not a great success despite its qualities.
Finally, in 2023 the Disney studios themselves released a live-action film, with the young Alexander Molony in the lead role and Jude Law as Captain Hook.
Follow the imagination with ShopForGeek
In our geek shop, you'll find a whole range of figurines and accessories from or inspired by the Peter Pan universe and other Disney licences. Particularly popular are our 'Believe' necklaces, reminding the child in us to always believe in our dreams.
You should also know that the copyright on Peter Pan was bequeathed to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital (GOSH). The UK government has authorised GOSH to collect royalties in perpetuity. Your purchase of products from the Peter Pan franchise will help a good cause.