In case you missed my first blog post in this new series, I’m going to be watching and reviewing all of the Disney Animated Classics, starting from Snow White (1937) and I’ll just keep going forever! (I guess?)
If you want to see the full list of films and links to all of my reviews so far, head to the Disney Animated Classics tab on my A-Z Index page.
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“Someday, I’m gonna be a real boy!”
With his faithful friend Jiminy Cricket by his side, wooden boy Pinocchio embarks on fantastic adventures that test his bravery, loyalty and honesty until he triumphs in his quest for his heart’s desire: to become a real boy. – Description from Disney+
Title: Pinocchio
Year: 1940
Duration: 89 mins
Director: Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske
Starring: Dickie Jones, Christian Rub, Cliff Edwards, Evelyn Venable, Walter Catlett, Charles Judels
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Seen before: I think so? I remember liking Jiminy Cricket as a kid, and I remember the weird blue fairy (more on that in the review), but before rewatching, I didn’t remember a lot about the film itself.
Date (re?)watched: March 26, 2020
Review
The first thing I picked up on was that I love how this film is narrated by Jiminy Cricket, an actual cricket, and some of it is seen from his perspective sometimes too; for example, when he hopped over to the toy shop and the “camera” bounced like we were watching through his eyes. I wonder who came up with the concept of a whole story being narrated by a cricket who wears a dapper suit, sleeps in a matchbox, and becomes a puppet’s conscience?!
The animation has already improved in three years since Snow White. Beautiful rooftop scenery, the cozy shop front, the warmth of the fire and the intricacies of the toys inside the shop; you can really start to see their use of textures and layers, rather than the background being flat. There are so many tiny moving parts!
(I also desperately want a little kitten like Figaro. By this point, they’re already nailing the animation of super cute animals. He has his own little bed!!!)
However, one thing that has always freaked me out a bit in this film is the fairy who brings Pinocchio to life. It’s the same as Snow White again: her animation feels so different to the rest of the film’s style, and she feels a bit out of place.
One of the complaints I had about Snow White was the lack of characterisation or depth, and this one already steps it up a notch. The film focuses on Gappetto and his yearning for a child, so much so that he wishes his puppet would become a real boy. Why is he alone? Why does he have such a longing to have a child? Is he just a kooky toy maker with a big imagination, or is there a real reason why he hasn’t already had children of his own? I want to learn so much more about his character, which instantly makes me care more about the film as a whole.
Pinocchio really captures the essence of a real child: running around without knowing the dangers of anything, asking “why?” to every single thing Gappetto says to him, and being fascinated by the world around him.
The story deals with Pinocchio finding out that he’s different, and figuring out how he can become more like the “real” boys. It deals with him coming to terms with the idea that he could be taken advantage of because of his differences. You can see him realise that people are laughing at him, and his reactions — whether they’re reactions of disappointment, fear, confusion, or elation — really help to humanise him. Through the way he acts and moves, you subtly begin to see the transition from a clumsy, wooden puppet to a real boy who moves with fluidity and flexibility like a real person would.
There’s also the introduction of talking animals in this film, which quickly became a staple in Disney animations with the likes of The Jungle Book, Robin Hood, and more. I’m never a big fan of talking animals in books or films, but it seems like a normal thing in Disney films because they’ve been such a big part of them for decades!
Pinocchio really ramps up the emotion compared to Snow White. It shows us how much people are truly needed, even if they don’t think they are. We see the sadness and desperation of Gappetto potentially losing his new “son”, and Pinocchio wishing he could be back with him. You know the writers and the animators have done well when you feel emotions towards a wooden puppet and a cricket!
There’s even a moral element in this one: a lesson that you shouldn’t lie or you’re not a good person. As the blue fairy said, “A boy who won’t be good might as well be made of wood.” Maybe a little harsh in delivery, but it gets the lesson across nonetheless.
(Incidentally, for some reason, I always thought Pinocchio’s growing nose played a much bigger part in this film, when we only really see it, like, once. Weird.)
It’s great to see the vast improvement in storytelling and animation in just three short years between Snow White (1937) and Pinocchio (1940). With a combination of emotional turmoil, a bond between father and son, a message about the importance of listening to your conscience, and a look into the dark side of the circus (which is revisited again later on in Dumbo – I’m already upset just thinking about it), it kept my attention from start to finish and had me rooting for each and every one of the characters. (Well, the good ones.)
Despite only being Disney’s second feature film, you can already see them taking a step towards more complex storylines and characters with their own unique motives and emotions. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
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Enjoyment rating: 4 / 5
Would watch again: Yes – it was fun!
Question of the day… If you’ve seen Pinocchio, did you think it paved the way for more complex plots and characters with more emotional development? And what do you think is Gappetto’s situation – why does he long for Pinocchio to be a real boy?
Useful Links:
For a full list of films and links to all of my reviews so far, head to the Disney Animated Classics tab on my A-Z Index page.
