Peter and Wendy influenced Die unendliche Geschichte (The NeverEnding Story)

The Neverending Story reflects ideas associated with Peter Pan, particularly the relationship between childhood, imagination, and growing up. Both works feature a child who leaves the ordinary world for a fantasy realm and undergoes a personal transformation there. Michael Ende also shared J. M. Barrie's view of imagination as something that should be preserved rather than abandoned in adulthood, although The Neverending Story presents this theme through its own original story and symbolism rather than borrowing characters or plot.