- “Nonsense, child. If you'd lost all your faith, I couldn't be here. And here I am.”
- ―The Fairy Godmother to Cinderella[src]
The Fairy Godmother is a supporting character in Disney's 1950 animated feature film Cinderella. She is a kind-hearted, albeit absent-minded fairy and the physical embodiment of hope, who is devoted to making dreams come true for the pure-hearted and noble, which is made possible by proclaiming the magic words "bibbidi-bobbidi-boo."
The Fairy Godmother is based on the character of the same name from the 1697 fairy tale Cendrillon by Charles Perrault.
Quick Answers
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What is the Fairy Godmother's role in Disney's Cinderella?
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What makes the Fairy Godmother's magic possible?
Background[]
As she herself explains, the Fairy Godmother is the embodiment of Cinderella's hope. She did not appear until Cinderella was at her weakest point — in the case of the film, the moment Cinderella nearly loses hope of escaping her abusers and living a better life – and introduced herself as a physical beacon of hope. When her arrival nears, twinkling lights will surround the area in which the Fairy Godmother is to appear; said lights will then gather and form themselves into the godmother.
The Fairy Godmother is equipped with a magic wand that she can summon from nothingness. Said wand holds incredible power, such as metamorphosis and the ability to warp reality, among others. The wand's magic is not exclusive to the Fairy Godmother, however, as mortals can also wield its power and use it as they so please, be it for good or evil. How much magic the Fairy Godmother holds without her wand is questionable, as the only powers she demonstrated without using her wand was her ability to appear from thin air surrounded by sparkles and, as mentioned above, summoning said wand.
Apparently, she has a connection with her wand as she was able to find it in Anastasia's hands after losing it in the picnic she made for Cinderella and the Prince, despite the long distance.
Development[]
- “The Fairy Godmother should have a kindly voice with a certain age in it. I don't see her as being goofy or stupid, but rather as having a wonderful sense of humor.”
- ―Walt Disney
The Fairy Godmother's design underwent numerous changes in development, with the original source becoming difficult to narrow down. Eventually, layout artist Ken O'Connor looked to his wife Mary Alice O'Connor for inspiration. The Fairy Godmother's design was what Ken tried to imagine how she'd look a few decades older. Dedicated to community work and charities, Mary Alice's personality served to fit the character as well.
Personality[]
The Fairy Godmother is a motherly, kind and genuine character with an optimistically pure heart. She serves as a physical symbol of hope in Cinderella's life and speaks with a gentle tone. Though wise to a degree, the Fairy Godmother tends to be comically absent-minded, continuously loses sight of the obvious and has a habit of both losing her wand and forgetting her magic words "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo". Even so, she can piece together her mind quickly enough and enjoys her ability to ensure dreams come true, treating Cinderella as her own daughter, in a sense.
For all of her sweetness, however, she doesn't sympathize with those who are cruel or unforgiving towards others. This is evidenced by her scene in the original film, where Lucifer tries to attack Gus, only to be scared off after she turns the mouse into a majestic horse. As Lucifer retreats in fear, the Fairy Godmother teasingly blasts sparks of magic from her wand towards him, while tauntingly saying, "Serves him right!"
Physical appearance[]
The Fairy Godmother is a short and robust elderly woman with fair skin, black eyes, a pink lower lip, and short white hair tied in a bun. She wears a long simple blue dress with a light blue bodice under a faded blue-hooded cloak with a pink interior and loose sleeves, which is tied by a large magenta bow on the front, pale blue pantalettes, and blue flats.
Powers and abilities[]
The Fairy Godmother is a very powerful fairy, she has been seen performing several magical spells, such as transforming objects and animals, turning Cinderella's tattered dress into a beautiful blue dress, her mice into white horses and a pumpkin into a beautiful chariot.
Appearances[]
Cinderella[]
Fairy Godmother in the original film.
After her wicked stepsisters cruelly destroy the dress she plans on wearing to the ball when they recognize the beads and sash that they had thrown away earlier, Cinderella runs out to the backyard of her stepmother Lady Tremaine's château near her father's fountain, where she breaks down in sorrow as she has no way of getting to the ball now, beginning to lose her faith in dreams. However, her faith is still strong enough to summon her Fairy Godmother, who explains that she has arrived to help Cinderella in her hour of need. To get her to the ball, she transforms an ordinary pumpkin into a carriage and four of Cinderella's mice into white horses for the carriage. She attempts to transform Lucifer into something, but he flees, and it is unknown what he would have transformed into, or if he managed to dodge it.
She then turns Cinderella's horse, Major, into a coachman, and her dog Bruno into a footman. Finally, after Cinderella points out her tattered gown, Fairy Godmother measures Cinderella with her wand and bestows a beautiful white dress upon Cinderella, complete with two enchanted glass slippers that only Cinderella can wear due to their small size. Before she departs, the Fairy Godmother gives Cinderella a word of caution: at the stroke of twelve, the spell will be broken, and everything will return to normal. Grateful for the gifts anyway, Cinderella thanks her Fairy Godmother and happily rides off to the ball as Fairy Godmother bids her farewell before vanishing.
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True[]
Fairy Godmother in Cinderella II: Dreams Come True.
In the second installment of the Cinderella series, Cinderella II: Dreams Come True, the Fairy Godmother is shown at the very beginning telling the story of Cinderella to the mice. Jaq, Gus, and the other mice then decide to create a storybook of their own, reflecting on various events that occurred since they first arrived at the castle.
The Fairy Godmother happily assists the mice in creating the book and actually appears in the second story: Tall Tail. Here, Jaq desperately wants to help Cinderella with her daily duties around the castle, but he cannot because of his small size. Soon enough, Fairy Godmother appears and offers to help Jaq by turning him into a human - Sir Hugh - which he accepts. However, he causes more trouble as a human than he ever did as a mouse.
At the end of the segment, Fairy Godmother returns again, changing Jaq back into a mouse so he could calm down an angry elephant that was rampaging across the fair. Though he learns a great lesson from his human adventure, Jaq apparently grows a disliking of magic. At the end of the film, Fairy Godmother helps the mice take their completed book to Cinderella, who gladly reads her new book together with the mice.
Cinderella III: A Twist in Time[]
Fairy Godmother in Cinderella III: A Twist in Time.
In the third installment of the Cinderella film series, Cinderella and Prince Charming are celebrating an entire year together filled with magic and romance. Unfortunately, during the festivities, the Fairy Godmother accidentally loses her wand, which falls into the hands of Anastasia, one of Cinderella's stepsisters, who quickly takes it to her mother and sister Drizella.
As she witnessed Fairy Godmother's magic doings with the wand, she tries to convince her mother and sister that it is magical. Lady Tremaine and Drizella think that she has lost her mind until Fairy Godmother arrives, requesting the return of her wand. Anastasia refuses and fights her back, accidentally turning their cat Lucifer into a half goose, half-cat hybrid. The astonishing sight convinces Tremaine, and Anastasia accidentally transforms the distracted Fairy Godmother into a stone statue (much to Anastasia's horror).
With the magic of the wand in her hands and no one to stop her, Lady Tremaine alters time and history so that Anastasia was the one to fit the slipper. Fortunately, Cinderella, Jaq, and Gus catch on her plans and battle against Lady Tremaine for the wand, win the battle, retrieve the wand and restore the Fairy Godmother. Alas, the Fairy Godmother retrieves her wand, and she lastly uses it to restore Cinderella's wedding attire, which was destroyed by Lady Tremaine. Before the film ends, Fairy Godmother asks if Cinderella and Prince Charming would like to return to their normal lives, but sees that the couple is happy enough as it is, and chooses to let them continue on from there.
In the credits, a painting of her is shown where she gets a 1st place blue ribbon by growing a giant pumpkin at a fair.
House of Mouse[]
Fairy Godmother in House of Mouse.
Fairy Godmother is a guest character in the series, often seen with Cinderella.
In "Goofy's Menu Magic" after she eats her meal, Fairy Godmother accidentally places her wand on her plate. It is taken to the kitchen and Goofy accidentally uses it to make an incredible stew. In the end, the club is flooded with stew but is saved when Fairy Godmother regains her wand.
In "House of Magic", the wand is stolen by Daisy Duck in order to do a magic trick.
In "Ladies' Night", Minnie Mouse wears Cinderella's ball dress in a fashion show, but Fairy Godmother accidentally forgets to warn her that it will eventually transform back into ragged clothes, just like in the film.
She also appears in a non-speaking cameo in Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse.
Other appearances[]
An emoticon version of Fairy Godmother appeared in the Cinderella entry of the As Told by Emoji short series.
In Once Upon a Studio Fairy Godmother uses her wand to make Goofy and the repaired camera float up to the ladder to take a successful group photo for Disney's 100th anniversary, which she joins in.
Printed media[]
Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy[]
The Fairy Godmother appears in flashbacks in the fourth book written by Serena Valentino. She works as an instructor at the Fairy Academy. Maleficent, the Blue Fairy, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather are some of her pupils.
It is revealed that Fairy Godmother has a sister (dubbed "Nanny" in the books), who is the headmistress of the Fairy Academy and later serves as a nanny to Princess Tulip. Nanny also adopted Maleficent at a few months old. Fairy Godmother does not get along well with her sister because of her adoption of Maleficent, whom she believes to be evil. She also does not trust her sister's allies: Lucinda, Ruby, and Martha, and their younger sister, Circe.
Rise of the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel[]
The Fairy Godmother appears in the third novel by Melissa de la Cruz. Fearing that their disabled talismans of evil caused the freak storm strikes to end King Triton's celebrations, the VKs decide to have the Fairy Godmother destroy them (as she is the most powerful magic user besides Maleficent). Retrieving her wand from the Museum, Fairy Godmother improvises a version of Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo to destroy the talismans. It works, though the wild burst of magic that is released causes the barrier around the Isle to disappear briefly (though because it is invisible no-one noticed).
She also appears later on in the novel, when she catches the VKs trying to "borrow" a speedboat from the marina. Refusing to listen to their excuses, Fairy Godmother escorts them back to Auradon Prep, believing that they simply couldn't help misbehaving. However, right before Fairy Godmother can punish them, the VKs are saved by Ben, who gives them the cover that they had been on a secret mission for him.
Kingdom Keepers[]
The Fairy Godmother makes a small cameo in the final book of the saga Disney At Last, where she helps Mary Poppins and Peter Pan gather all of the heroes to attend a meeting at the Fantasyland Theatre.
Video games[]
Kingdom Hearts series[]
In Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, which sets ten years before the first game, the Fairy Godmother watches over the poor Cinderella, who begins the world's storyline serving Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella like in the classic Walt Disney film. When she finds herself unable to attend the ball, the Fairy Godmother appears before her, dressing her in an elegant gown for Prince Charming's royal ball, and creating a carriage using a pumpkin with her magic. After Cinderella was sent off to the ball, she asks Terra if he has a heart that believes in dreams.
When Prince Charming begins his search for Cinderella, Lady Tremaine locks the poor girl in the attic room. The Fairy Godmother appears before Aqua, asking her to help Cinderella before shrinking her to the size of a mouse and transporting her into the inside of the manor where she helps Jaq get the key to Cinderella. She is seen at the gate with Aqua when they observe the reunion of the couple, and she tells her about Terra and renews Aqua's hope.
During the ending credits, she can be seen watching over Cinderella and Prince Charming from the balcony with Jaq and then filling the ballroom with joyful fireworks.
Sometime prior to the events of Kingdom Hearts, her world, Castle of Dreams, was destroyed by the Heartless, but she managed to escape safely. Sora and friends first met her in Traverse Town, where she was living with Merlin in his house. She stayed in the form of a small carriage (similar to the one that Cinderella uses to arrive at the Ball) and only assumed her true form when Sora needed to talk to her. Somehow, she knows that Cinderella is still alive somewhere and shares her worries with Sora.
Whenever Sora found a new Summon Gem, he gave it to her so she could restore that being's spirit, allowing Sora to summon them in battle. After Sora obtains all six summons, she gives Donald the Lord Fortune staff.
After Sora seals Kingdom Hearts, the Fairy Godmother returns to her world with Cinderella.
She reappears in the ending of the ReMind DLC of Kingdom Hearts III, having been asked by Merlin and Yen Sid to help out in the search for Sora by looking into Riku's dreams.
Fairy Godmother then appears in the ending of Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory where she and Riku show up in Radiant Garden, where after she introduces herself to a stunned Ansem the Wise, Even, and Ienzo, she explains that the clue of finding Sora involves three people which includes both Riku's dreams and Kairi's memories. After Ienzo explains that they examined Kairi's heart and discovered another world that is not of darkness nor light. After Riku mentions the dreams he was having of a city with large buildings, Ansem recognizes that this place is actually outside their reality. When Kairi mentions she was planning to ask Mickey or Yen Sid about this, Fairy Godmother states it is unlikely that either of them would known, but reminds her there are three people, and she would introduce them to that third person.
Fairy Godmother then transports Riku and Kairi to the Final World to introduce them to the Nameless Star, who reveals that this character came from the other side, because though her form was taken from her, she managed to cross over into their reality, but would lose her heart for sure if she tried to go back to her reality. Fairy Godmother states that if it weren't impossible, she would gladly have reverted the Nameless Star to her true form, though Fairy Godmother believes her dream would come true very soon. When Riku asks if this can lead them to Sora, Fairy Godmother explains that first, the Nameless Star must open a path to her world, so they could use the power of waking to go there. After Riku and Kairi realize that the Nameless Star knows Sora, the information they provide her realizes that he is her world Quadratum. While Fairy Godmother points out there is no way of knowing if Sora is there, she believes it is possible.
After Riku uses his Keyblade to open a path, Fairy Godmother explains this is all she can do for them, and after Kairi reluctantly declines to accompany him so she can finish her Keyblade training as well as explain the information they gathered to their friends, Fairy Godmother urges Riku to be careful and avoid being too reckless and only come back if there is trouble. She and Kairi then watch as Riku departs.
Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey[]
The Fairy Godmother is a supporting character in the game. Cinderella's world has been frozen and only Cinderella and the heroine can set things straight. The Godmother was found at Cinderella's château using her magic to assist the young heroine.
Disney Emoji Blitz[]
- “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo! Upgrades powerups on the board!”
- ―The Fairy Godmother's Power description.
The Fairy Godmother appears as a Rainbow Emoji, granted to players who reach Level 200 in the game, and then upgraded through Rainbow Boxes. When her Power is used, the Fairy Godmother floats across the board, transforming any powerups into the next strongest powerup if possible. Fairy Godmother appears in two separate group collections, being the Cinderella group (alongside Cinderella, Prince Charming, Jaq, and Gus), and the Fairies group (alongside Tinker Bell, the Blue Fairy, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather), requiring the player to collect and upgrade these emojis to receive special prizes.
Disney Heroes: Battle Mode[]
- “With a wave of her wand, Fairy Godmother appears on the battlefield, ready to help her allies with her magical powers.”
- ―Fairy Godmother's in-game Hero description.
Fairy Godmother's portrait in Disney Heroes: Battle Mode.
Fairy Godmother appears as a backline Support Hero, and belongs to the Blue Team alongside other Cinderella characters. Fairy Godmother is unique in that she does not show up during a battle until one of her teammates loses enough HP, then she materializes onto the battlefield and helps heal allies and Energize them to charge their skills faster. Fairy Godmother does not directly attack opponents herself, but does have one skill where she accidentally drops a pumpkin carriage atop of them. Like all characters, Fairy Godmother has two unique Friendship Campaigns, pairing her up with another Hero. Her first campaign, "Wish Granted", has her accompanied by Madam Mim as she goes to grant the wishes of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Scar, only for Mim to secretly corrupt each wish. The second campign, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi Bungle", has the Fairy Godmother accidentally transform Maximus's horse guards into mice, and accompanying him (and Flynn Rider) to change them back. Additionally, Fairy Godmother appears as a partner Hero in Friendship Campaigns for Cinderella, Princess Aurora and Eda Clawthorne.
| Skill Type | Skill Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| White Skill | "Just in Time" | Passive: Fairy Godmother does not enter battle until an ally is at 50% of their max HP and fully heals this ally. Instead of a Basic Attack, Fairy Godmother heals the ally with the least HP an amount of HP. She cannot heal herself in this way.
Active: Fairy Godmother heals herself and allies an amount of HP per second for 15 seconds and increases the entire team's Reality for 8 seconds. |
| Green Skill | "Magical Enchantment" | Fairy Godmother enchants the frontmost ally, granting them 3 stacks of Hardy and making them Energized for 10 seconds. Allies Energized by Fairy Godmother gain 100 extra energy each time they use their basic attack. |
| Blue Skill | "Pumpkin Transformation" | Fairy Godmother summons a pumpkin above enemies and accidentally transforms it into a carriage, dealing damage and stunning enemies for 4 seconds. |
| Purple Skill | "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" | After Fairy Godmother has cast "Just in Time" 3 times, the next cast grants herself and allies an amount of Armor for 10 seconds, removes all of their debuffs, and grants them 3 stacks of Hardy. |
| Red Skill | "Wish Granting" | Fairy Godmother gains 200 Energy each time an Energized ally uses their basic attack. Every 2 times Fairy Godmother heals an ally, instead of her basic attack, the next ally healed in this way is also energized for 9 seconds. Additionally, Fairy Godmother gets a stat boost to her Skill Power, Reality, and the Armor granted to allies by "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo". |
| Friendship Disk 1 | "Dual Deeds" | After the first 8 seconds of each wave, Fairy Godmother and her team gain extra Reality for the remainder of the wave. Additionally, Fairy Godmother and her team take reduced damage from Reflected attacks, and any Control role enemies or Red Team enemies lose an amount of Skill Power upon equipping this disk. This disk is unlocked and upgraded by playing through Fairy Godmother's Friendship Campaign with Madam Mim. |
| Friendship Disk 2 | "Mousey Mistake" | While allies are Energized, their attack and movement speeds are increased. Additionally, Fairy Godmother gets a stat boost to her Skill Power, and the entire team receives a basic damage boost upon equipping this disk. This disk is unlocked and upgraded by playing through Fairy Godmother's Friendship Campaign with Maximus. |
Disney Sorcerer's Arena[]
Although the Fairy Godmother does not physically appear in Disney Sorcerer's Arena, there is a unlockable Spell, Clock Tower, which takes inspiration from her role in Cinderella. When the Spell is used, the Clock Tower appears and inflicts a status effect on all enemies called "Midnight Countdown", which, after 2 turns, will transform all affected enemies into pumpkins for 1 turn.
Disney Parks[]
The Fairy Godmother as she appears at the Disney Parks.
Fairy Godmother is seen at the parks as a meetable character. She appears as a face character in the US and Paris parks and an atmosphere character in the Asian parks (although she appeared as an atmosphere character during the finale in the Walt Disney World version of Fantasmic! from 2001 to 2004).
Walt Disney World[]
Formerly, at the live celebration of the Christmas season in the Magic Kingdom park, the Fairy Godmother appeared as the mistress of ceremonies. In the event, Fairy Godmother used her magical abilities and the power of dreams and imagination to turn Cinderella Castle into an ice castle. She was replaced by Elsa from Frozen in 2014.
Fairy Godmother has her own spell card known as "The Fairy Godmother's Pumpkin Bash" in the attraction Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.
The Fairy Godmother appears in Disney's Hollywood Studios' version of Fantasmic!, the Fairy Godmother appears in both the bubble montage and riding Steamboat Willie (as an atmosphere character).
The Fairy Godmother once hosted the fireworks spectacular Magic, Music and Mayhem during the Princess and Pirate Party. In the show, Fairy Godmother along with the Three Good Fairies and King Triton host several elements including romance and adventure. Later on, they are joined by Tinker Bell, who helps defeat Captain Hook and his crew when they attempt to take over Cinderella Castle.
Tokyo Disney Resort[]
The Fairy Godmother prominently appears during the Cinderella segment of Once Upon a Time at Tokyo Disneyland, in which she creates Cinderella's gown for the ball.
Disneyland Paris[]
In Mickey's Magical Celebration, Fairy Godmother was one of Mickey Mouse's mentors who help make his dreams of becoming a magician come true. Fairy Godmother helps him out by giving him his Sorcerer's Apprentice costume.
In Mickey and the Magician, the Fairy Godmother is the first to encounter Mickey on his quest to become a magician.
Disney Cruise Line[]
In the show Believe, onboard the Disney Dream cruise ship, Fairy Godmother is one of the "magic makers" who help Dr. Greenway believe in dreams and miracles. Fairy Godmother is assisted by Cinderella, Prince Charming, Aladdin, and Jasmine.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In 2010, Fairy Godmother christened Tiana for her welcome into the Disney Princess court in New York City, New York.
- Verna Felton, the Fairy Godmother, provided the voices for many other famous Disney roles, including the Elephant Matriarch and Mrs. Jumbo in Dumbo, the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Aunt Sarah in Lady and the Tramp, Flora in Sleeping Beauty, and in her last film role as Winifred in The Jungle Book.
- Her actual name is unknown.
See also[]
- Fairy Godmother (1997)
- Fairy Godmother (The Price of Gold)
- Fairy Godmother (Hyperion Heights)
- Fairy Godmother (Cinderella 2015)
- Fairy Godmother (Descendants)
- Fairy Godmother (Goldie & Bear)
- Gustavo
References[]
- ↑ Cinderella is My Babysitter
External links[]
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