Pinocchio (1940) User Reviews

Tough To Beat These First Disney Efforts

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 5 July 2006]

When I - and I assume, most people - think of Pinocchio, we think of his nose growing longer when he tells a lie. Yet, that is only one scene in this movie - the first one ever done on this famous fictional character, I believe.

This is strictly a fantasy-adventure story, not a parable or a full story about lying, although that obviously is one of the messages. There are several moral messages in here, so it's a worthwhile story for kids to see.

Sometimes I think these totally-innocent first few Disney efforts (Bambi, Fantasia) are still better than all the stuff they have put out since.

The colorful scenes are another attraction. particularly in the beginning in the old man's house with all the fancy clocks and toys. That part is better than much of the adventure story, as it turns out. The story lags a bit in the middle and then picks up with a rousing finish with a big whale.

Overall, I enjoyed "Jiminy Cricket" the best and also appreciated that they didn't overdo the songs in here: short and sweet, and not that many. They don't make 'em (normally) like they used to!!

A Very Memorable Childhood Film

[Rainey-Dawn · 8/10 · 23 October 2014]

A very wonderful film - one I remembered from my childhood (but then again so are most of the classic Disney films). Pinocchio is a type of film the entire family can love. Nothing offensive about this motion picture, quite the contrary there are good lessons to be learned from Pinocchio. Pinocchio learns what it takes to be a good *human*. So the film is good for young kids.

This movie also contains another one of Walt Disney's most memorable songs: When You Wish Upon A Star sung by Cliff Edwards.

If you like Disney movies like "Peter Pan" or "Peter and the Wolf" then you might like Pinocchio.

8.5/10

Not Just Great Animation -- A Great Movie

[frankebe · 10/10 · 19 August 2009]

It certainly is interesting reading other viewers comments. I can't imagine anyone being "bored" with this film. But then, I don't even go to movies anymore, because I find those made today to be either horrific and traumatizing, or brain-numbingly stoopid and poorly made. Pinocchio, on the other hand, is the ultimate in everything that is "movie" : camera-work, special effects, background music, musical numbers, characterization, story development with narrative sweep, high-drama and low-comedy (but never Lockerroom-low), color, motion, editing, use of sound, artwork, audience manipulation... and in the end, life-affirming! I cannot possibly recommend this movie too highly. In my opinion, considering cinematic effectiveness, Pinocchio rates way up with Citizen Kane, Sherlock Jr., and Battleship Potemkin.

Disney's earliest masterpiece...the art of animation never finer...

[Doylenf · 14 July 2001]

Darker in tone than most Disney animated features (except for 'Hunchback of Notre Dame'), 'Pinocchio' came shortly after 'Snow White' and showed marked improvement in the art of animation technology to produce startling special effects.

The first twenty-five minutes alone raise the film to the level of true animation art. Gepetto's inventive clocks come to life as realistically as any real-life photography could do. The warmth and cosiness of his dwelling and the charming shenanigans of Figaro the kitten and Cleo the goldfish, are all perfectly realized. The imaginative use of music and animation art is never finer than in these opening scenes.

Afterwards, as the plot thickens, the special effects are just as impressive. The scene of Gepetto searching for Pinocchio with a lantern on a rainy night after he has been captured by Stromboli is unforgettable imagery. The wagon lurching along roads with Pinocchio in a cage is a frightening thing. Even darker are the adventures that await Pinocchio when he reaches Pleasure Island. The scene of the boys turning into donkeys is probably one of the most awesome and frightening moments in the film.

Altogether charming are the underwater sequences before the meeting of Monstro the Whale. The climactic chase after the escape from the belly of the whale is handled brilliantly. The music perfectly accents the dramatic chase for this sequence and the songs throughout are in keeping with the mood and characters of the story. It is the sharp contrast between the lighter moments and the darker ones that gives the film a correct blend of fantasy and horror.

Parents should be cautioned that very young children may be frightened. Has to be considered one of the most beautifully animated Disney features of all time. A treasure to see again and again.

Eerie and bizarre early Disney animation that delivers principally through its ambiguous atmosphere and world in which it's set.

[johnnyboyz · 7/10 · 20 October 2008]

Pinocchio seems to be a film about dreams; about people who can become something that in the real world they cannot; about achievement, but not on an ordinary level. This is best highlighted throughout the film when events and themes of real life situations such as having to go to school and having to carve a trade (in the toy making business, in this case) are counter balanced with walking, talking foxes and magical fairies coming down from the sky. The best thing about the film is that it manages to set the film in an ordinary and everyday village located within the Alps mountain range and yet incorporates these elements of the bizarre and of the unnatural seamlessly.

The scene that best highlights this is when Pinocchio himself is running to school and Hounest John (Catlett) notices the wooden puppet in question doing exactly that. He stops, thinking it very odd and intervenes. And yet I suppose nobody is supposed to batter an eyelid if they themselves saw a fox walking down the street with a top hat and cigar. So if the film could be about dreams in the sense Pinocchio's father Geppetto (Rub) wants a son and Pinocchio himself (Jones) wants to be a 'real boy' then the film certainly recognises this and compliments the theme with a number of bizarre and surreal scenes that even today, very much work on a level of recognition and respect but also surrealism.

The creepiest thing the film has going for it throughout is the manner in which it gives animals such as Figaro the cat, Cleo the goldfish and Monstro the whale such humane characteristics. Figaro is able to understand Geppetto's English and display certain reactions but is not able to reply; Cleo is able to become aware of what's going on around her despite being inside a bowl and is able to display all the necessary human emotions of panic, fear and is able to blush when necessary situations arise. Monstro the whale is a beast displaying copious amounts of greed and sloth in the sense he sleeps and eats whenever one of the instincts takes over and is able to identify the a certain character's boat before unleashing a wrath of anger.

This idea is actually toyed with by the film later on in one of the more bizarre sequences during which human beings turn into animals, those being donkeys, and it's this scene that stays with most people. This is most probably because the boundaries between animal with human instincts and human with human instincts (albeit the want to smoke and drink) are blurred resulting in human characters becoming animals and submitting to the lowly 'braying' noise donkeys make as they sit in their cages, beaten and consequently submissive. What's quite interesting here is Pinocchio's overall characteristic in the sense he is wooden and thus; being a 'real' boy or a 'real' human as it were further brings attention to the film's study of the escapist-come-realist universe.

As a study of character, Pinocchio's is the most emphasised. As a character, he is new to the world and naïve as a consequence; failing to spot evil and wrong-doers no matter how obvious. He even has the manners to shout 'goodbye' to one of his oppressors, thus risking re-capture. If the film is about things and animals that 'come alive' and perform beyond their capabilities, it is fitting the protagonist's quest should revolve around becoming something he is not and this acts as a further example of transgression. If we analyse most of the other boys at the doomed fair ground and look at their transgression into another being, it can be read into quite obviously that cigars, beer and hustling take you one way: the salt-mines or the circus (as printed on the donkey's cages) but resisting the urge and listening to a conscience or generally not taking to the temptation will lead you to be a 'real' boy, then onto a 'real' man since after boyhood comes manhood.

This is Disney's morality tale and it's the sort of material that is always going to be bleak no matter who takes it on, cartoon or no cartoon. But Disney's attention to animation is also key, having their antagonists come across as large, booming men in Stromboli and the Coach Driver (both Judels) and having Hounest John a fox; an animal most animated films since would have you think the sliest and slimiest animal of them all; this film may well have broken that particular mould. I also liked the manner in which the antagonistic figures smoked their cigars, creating shapes and bizarre circles with their smoke whereas Pinocchio himself on the other hand can barely smoke it right and consequently goes green, the beginning of a short stint whilst under the influence of Marijuana, given that the Marijuana symbol is in his mouth following a botched pool shot.

In terms of aging, the film is faultless on the animation side. The painstakingly slow process of each frame can only be marvelled at and with computers doing more of the films nowadays, the marvelling will definitely continue. I don't like the character accents and the issues I have with type casting involve Stromboli being an unnecessarily oddball Italian and his show comprising of all the clichés you'd expect with Russians, French and Dutch puppets complete with stereotypical imagery. But the film remains powerful and eerie at other times, even if it is down to the oddball mesh of a universe it is set. This is no doubt an impressive film.

Wonderful

[Studio Morye Reviews · 10/10 · 17 February 2001]

Last night I watched Pinocchio, Disney's second feature-length film and in my opinion one of the studio's best features. Based on the 19th century book by Carlo Collodi, but not half as unpleasant, Pinocchio combines winning animation with great humor and excitement. There are songs, but they're never like the huge production numbers that last four minutes and feature the voice of some up-and-coming princess of pop (who'll be gone in a year) that the studio later adopted with the applicable exception of When you Wish Upon a Star. My favorite song is "Little Wooden Head" which is featured in the beginning and is a truly wonderful scene as Gepetto and Figaro play happily with the new puppet.

The movie takes a sadistic, cruel, heartless little wooden boy (Collodi's character) and turns him into an interesting, 3-dimensional kid with a good heart but who is weak-willed and doesn't always listen to reason. The animation makes brilliant use of the multiplane camera, featuring a sprawling opening sequence in which the viewer practically sees the entire village at night. The characters are colorful and fun (I especially love Honest John Foulfellow and his sidekick Gideon) and the story has never a dull moment. This film is a reminder of the sort of efforts Disney put int o their films; the man himself had a great storytelling passion that was lost in later works (Alice in Wonderland, 101 Dalmatians). Pinocchio was never as famous as some of the others, and this is unfortunate because it is his masterpiece.

imaginative and moral

[rebeljenn · 7/10 · 3 March 2006]

Pinocchio is a Disney animated story about a wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy. Together, with his conscious Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio learns some morals to bring him onto a path to becoming a real boy. Pinocchio learns that lying is wrong and that greed is wrong, and he is lured into danger by wanting to fulfill the wrong needs. This is a pleasant little story with plenty of imagination and lessons to be learned, and this will appeal to smaller children. I enjoyed this film when I was younger because it portrays life in a more realistic way, and Pinocchio must learn the consequences to his actions and poor judgement. It is a pretty dark film for a children's film, but it does have a happy and insightful ending.

One of Disney`s finest movies

[action-6 · 9/10 · 9 March 2000]

Pinocchio is a true classic in the world of movies. Pinocchio is based on the Italian story about the puppet who became a real boy. Pinocchio is one of Disney`s finest and it beats all the new ultracommercial cartoons, which the company produces nowadays. The story is good, the characters are very likable and warmhearted, and the music is sheer perfection. These old Disney classics are cartoons that are suitable for the WHOLE family, not just the small kids. Watch it, and prepare to be stunned! 9/10

When you wish...

[hall895 · 7/10 · 16 October 2013]

Make a full-length feature cartoon? It couldn't be done. And why should it be anyway, nobody is going to want to watch a 90-minute cartoon. After proving those commonly held thoughts to be oh so wrong with the triumph of Snow White what would Walt Disney do for an encore? Pinocchio came next and showed Disney was not going to rest on his laurels. For as magnificent an achievement as Snow White was the animation on display in that film could be said to be a little crude compared to what was to come. Pinocchio advanced the art form. Visually there is nothing to quibble with here, everything looks fantastic. And what great action too, imagination is not limited to what the animators might be able to achieve. It seems they could achieve whatever they wanted. There are some big, bold sequences in this film that show the great jump the Disney team had made in just three years since Snow White. Disney had succeeded in making the impossible possible.

Everyone is familiar by now with the famous story of Pinocchio, that of the wooden puppet magically brought to life. But while he can walk and talk and sing and dance he is still made of wood and wishes to be a real boy. His quest to become real will take him to some very interesting places. Some very bizarre places too. If you're going to accept the basic premise of a wooden puppet brought to life I guess you can accept pretty much anything. But there is the sense that maybe the story ultimately gets a little too weird for the film's good. The second half of the film is not as much fun as the first. It even gets a little scary, poor Pinocchio in almost constant peril. Luckily our puppet hero has some helpers. There's Jiminy Cricket who serves as his conscience, trying to help the incredibly naive Pinocchio know right from wrong. Whenever Pinocchio's really stuck you can count on the Blue Fairy to show up and help out. And of course there is kindly, old Geppetto, Pinocchio's maker, his "father" so to speak who has his own strange misadventure.

The story lags somewhat in the middle and does take those truly bizarre turns toward the end. But as a whole the story is satisfying, sure to leave a smile on your face. It's so easy to love Pinocchio, the character, that you are willing to overlook any minor quibbles with Pinocchio, the film. And the main character is not the only thing to love. Jiminy is a lot of fun, Geppetto is one of the most kindhearted characters you'll see in any film. And as much as you like the good guys the film gives you some stellar bad guys to hiss at too. The score is terrific. There is the iconic When You Wish upon a Star to open the film and some other good songs sprinkled in along the way. The film provides laughs, charm, suspense, drama, pretty much everything you could ask for. And it looks absolutely magnificent, taking animation to new heights. Pinocchio is one of those films which is not just appreciated but beloved. One of Disney's crown jewels, a film which will live forever.

"I've Got No Strings"

[bkoganbing · 9/10 · 16 August 2009]

For it's second full length animated feature, Walt Disney Studios picked the Carlo Collodi children's classic Pinocchio. The wooden puppet boy who turns into flesh and blood because of a heroic deed has been done a few times on screen, but the Disney version remains the standard.

In some of the animated features of recent years we've come full circle in the fact that a lot of well known Hollywood figures have sought to lend their voices to animated productions. Coming to mind immediately are Mel Gibson as Captain John Smith and Eddie Murphy as the donkey in the Shrek movies. It wasn't as chic a thing to do back in Disney's day, still Walt came up with several good ones like young Dickie Jones as Pinocchio, Walter Catlett as J. Worthington Foulfellow, Frankie Darro as Lampwick, and most important Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket.

These folks lend their voices to one of Disney's best musical scores with Catlett making immortal the thespians ballad An Actor's Life For Me, Jones celebrating the fact he's been liberated from all manner of restraint with I've Got No Strings and Cliff Edwards talking about his new responsibilities as the puppet boy's conscience in Give A Little Whistle.

Most important though is the Academy Award given to that most plaintive song of yearning When You Wish Upon A Star as introduced by Cliff Edwards. Edwards was a major performer in the Twenties and early Thirties with his ukulele Ike character and introduced many popular songs like It's Only A Paper Moon and Singing In The Rain. But he had come up on hard times with a lot of substance abuse problems when Walt Disney offered him the part of Jiminy Cricket's voice. The movie Pinocchio and the songs he sang there resurrected his career and even when down and out, Edwards could always get work at the Disney Studio because of Jiminy Cricket's enduring popularity.

Animation never really dates and the best animation in the world was pioneered at Disney Studio. People can see Pinocchio on the same bill as Shrek even today and I daresay the audience would be equally responsive.

And you can appreciate Pinocchio today as much as your grandparents and great grandparents did through the magic of YouTube or Amazon. If not wish upon a star and fate will step in and see you through.

Pretty Uncomfy

[jace_the_film_guy · 4/10 · 13 January 2022]

I really don't like this movie. A story designed to scare kids to be obedient, Pinocchio crosses the line into uncomfortable territory more than once. The entire Pleasure Island sequence is disturbing and off-putting. All complaints aside, the music and characters are iconic.

Additional Note: I was surprised by how little screen-time Geppetto had in this film.

Finest Disney Movie Ever!

[Amyth47 · 9/10 · 22 November 2018]

My Rating : 9/10

This is a very complete movie. The artwork is perfect and colorful, everything is carefully drawn and painted. The film is a clever combination of some of the funniest moments in cinema history and some of the darkest and most sinister ever. Animation is terrific. The soundtrack is excellent, with lots of musical pieces to enjoy.

This is an Italian tale, so it takes place in Italy, which is great, for it benefits from a certain Italian touch of film-making and Italian charm.

Bill Peet was uncredited contributor to Pinocchio

[davidl_1958 · 7/10 · 20 February 2006]

My son just read "Bill Peet An Autobiography". In pages 95-108, Peet describes his involvement in Pinocchio, as well as his disappointment that the long list of screen credits didn't include his name. According to Peet's account, he did the storyboard for the Bogeyland sequence, which was ultimately cut from the film. After that, he remained on the Pinocchio staff for another year and a half, sketching for many story men working on nearly every section of the story. His sketches influenced the final versions of some of the characters, and some of Peet's ideas were incorporated into the story.

From a look at his career, Peet was one of the main writers for several of Disney's most beloved animated films (The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmations, Cinderella, Dumbo, Peter Pan, and several others).

Disney's greatest star

[Atreyu_II · 10/10 · 1 July 2007]

The 2nd animated Disney classic is Disney's finest movie ever. A favorite of mine and a very dear film to me. It is an improvement over "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and more captivating.

"Pinocchio" is a masterpiece. It is so good that I can't find any faults in. Perfection is notorious in every way: the excellent artwork, palette colors and attention to detail. All of them obey to very high standards. Everything is so well drawn and painted with heart and soul: the sceneries, the characters, the backgrounds, the wonderful details...

Although the atmosphere is quite dark and creepy in some parts, most of the time it is a sweet movie that is also great fun, entertaining, heartwarming and magical. Animation and soundtrack are superb as well. I just love all those songs. The movie is also a full plate when it comes to classic humor, thanks to many funny moments and hilarious lines.

Being an Italian tale, it takes place in Italy. To be more specific, in a nice village interestingly named Collodi - nothing less than the name of the book's author, Carlo Collodi.

This movie also had the honor of being a pioneer in camera use: just notice that nice close-up of a church and how the camera goes straight to the heart of the village.

This is a timeless classic. No question about that. In fact, it stands the test of time so well that it's difficult to believe this movie is from the year 1940 because it doesn't look any dated. No, sir! It always looks fresh and modern.

Fabulous voice performances is another thing this film doesn't lack. All of them terrific: Dickie Jones, Christian Rub, Cliff Edwards, Charles Judels, Walter Catlett, Evelyn Venable and even some brilliant ones in the art of making sounds like Mel Blanc and Marion Darlington...

As for the characters, they're also part of the movie's appeal. Cleo and Figaro are such cute and adorable creatures. Who wouldn't want to have a gold fish and a kitten like that? Geppetto, the kind woodcarver, is so distracted that he's hilarious. Pinocchio is cute, innocent and lovable like a human child, although stubborn and prone to temptation at times. Jiminy Cricket is humorous and cool, but a bit impatient sometimes.

Stromboli is hysterical and explosive. His nasty temper makes him so funny, especially whenever he mouths off in Italian! The Blue Fairy has got to be one of the kindest and most beautiful Disney ladies ever. She's so pretty! The coachman looks harmless, but behind his kind looks he's corrupt and a demon.

Honest John and Giddy are a perfect comic relief. Giddy is a cat and a funny mute character (like Dopey). Honest John is the epitome of the sly fox: not *really* evil, but clever, hilarious, charming, shameless, unscrupulous and greedy. Ironically, despite his aristocratic manners, he is incapable of hiding a certain rudeness and lack of culture. For example, he can't spell the name "Pinocchio" correctly. Honest John's real name is never mentioned in the movie: J. Worthington Foulfellow, likely the strangest name I ever heard.

Monstro, the enormous sperm whale, is one of the most impressive animated beasts of all time.

This should definitely be on Top 250.

The story of a wooden boy who dreamed so much of becoming a man

[alekspredator87 · 7/10 · 3 October 2023]

"Pinocchio", released in 1940, is a great example of a classic animated movie. This cartoon, based on the story of Carlo Collodi, won the hearts of viewers of all ages and became one of the most popular works of the Disney studio.

One of the main reasons why Pinocchio stands out among other cartoons of its time is the highest quality of animation. Each frame is overflowing with amazing details and wonderful elaboration of the characters. The design solutions of the cartoon are bright and attractive, and the visual effects create the impression of magic on the screen.

But it's not just the visual component that makes Pinocchio so exceptional. This story is about a wooden doll that aspires to become a real boy, has deep and relevant meanings. It touches on such important topics as sincerity, friendship, moral choices and the consequences of our actions. The cartoon teaches not only children, but also adults to appreciate honesty and fight temptations.

The musical component also deserves a special mention. "Pinocchio" contains a number of unforgettable compositions. Music and songs perfectly accompany the story and help convey the emotions of the characters.

Pinocchio is still famous today. This is a great work that exists outside of time. Confirmed by two "Oscars" won by the cartoon. In 1941, he was awarded the award in the categories "Best Song" and "Best Original Soundtrack". These awards are recognition of the skill and quality of the work of a team of artists and musicians who have put their soul and talent into the cartoon.

Communicating with the audience for more than 80 years, Pinocchio continues to inspire and delight with its wonderful story, great animation and music. This cartoon remains an important part of the cultural heritage and the personification of the highest standards in animation. I recommend the cartoon to everyone who wants to plunge into the magical world and get unforgettable emotions.

7 out of 10.

After some thinking I'm going to call it. "Pinocchio" is the best animated film of all time.

[wwe7961 · 10/10 · 19 September 2010]

This movie is just impossible not to love. For the fantastic music to the AMAZINGLY likable characters this film is simply a masterpiece. Now it was hard to pick the best. You have the "Toy Story Trilogy", other Pixar works, "The Little Mermaid", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "The Lion King", "Beauty and the Beast", "Spirited Away", and many other great movies to pick from. After all the time choosing I pick this. Why? Well honestly I have to say the characters in this movie are as likable as movie characters can get. Also it has a lot of good bad guys. My personal favorite is the Honest John and Gideon. I consider them to be the most underrated Disney villains ever. Honest John is a slimy jerk who wants to trick Pinocchio. Gideon is his sidekick who is a brainless idiot. Both of them together create a great villain team. Then I have to mention "When You Wish Upon a Star". I think we all know that it is a masterpiece. Disney sure knows it because they put their logo to that song at the beginning of their movies. Then you have the most revolutionizing animation in film history. "Snow White" was a revolutionary film, but it was simply baby steps into animated filmmaking. This just a few years later takes the first animated leap into the air. Overall this movie is a masterpiece.

4 stars out of 4

A timeless classic

[kokkinoskitrinosmple · 6/10 · 14 March 2024]

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was already incredibly spectacular but Pinocchio sees Disney take the next step.

There are some similarities in the two concepts (the main character comes out of nowhere and suddenly gives meaning to Geppetto's/the Seven Dwarfs' monotnous lives and of course the ending where both Pinocchio and Snow White lie in bed presumed dead before the final twist) and they are both groundbreaking visually but here the narrative is tighter, the plot is richer, the adventure is more exciting and creates more suspense, the morals of the story come through crystal clear and have aged much better, the songs are more entertaining and they are used more wisely, they don't get in the way and of course the characters are more developed.

Pinocchio is a wooden puppet that has a simple goal: he wants to become a real boy. In his fascinating -and highly bumpy - journey he encounters all sorts of people.

By his side stand Geppetto, a gentle and compassionate father figure, Jiminy Cricket, who is supposed to be Pinocchio's conscience but despite his good intentions he always seems to be one step behind and of course the Blue Fairy, the one who granted Geppetto's wish by bringing Pinocchio to life and expects from him to prove he deserves to become a real boy. Despite their support, Pinnochio must make the critical decisions on his own by resisting temptation and separating good from evil and that's a powerful message for every kid watching.

On the other hand, the group of villains is equally memorable. The colourful, witty and charismatic Honest John the Fox has no problem gaining Pinnochio's trust. He makes a nice comedic duo with his simple minded companion Gideon the Cat. Stromboli is a way more cruel figure, driven by his greed and prone to violent outbursts. He puts Pinocchio in a cage so that he can exploit him as an attraction and throw him to the fire after he's made a fortune though him. Equally dark is the Coachman who lures naughty boys to skip school and come in the Pleasure Island, where a nasty surprise waits them and the dream turns into a nightmare pretty fast. One of those boys is Lampwick, who quickly becomes Pinocchio's best friend. He isn't a villain per se, but he is another person that acts as the voice of temptation.

Even Geppetto's sidekicks, Figaro the cat and Cleo the goldfish come across as characters with a real soul and have deservedly earned their place in the audience's hearts.

In terms of iconic scenes there's too many to mention, Geppetto's clocks, Pleasure Island, Monstro the Whale, and obviously Pinocchio's lies to the Blue Fairy.

The triumph of Disney's Nine Old Men

[Kingkitsch · 10/10 · 24 November 2014]

Having just re-watched Pinocchio after many years, it's evident that this remarkable feat of animation is the great triumph of Disney's "Nine Old Men". These artists were the core of Disney's animation studio for many years, turning out what are now revered as the classics from Disney.

What sets Pinocchio apart from every other Disney feature is the sheer depth of care those nine old men (and their assistants) put on the screen. No other Disney feature looks this tremendous, only Snow White comes close. Every, and I mean every, background painting is superb. The medium used for the backgrounds was a water-based paint called gouache. No other animated film looks like this. To think that the entire film was done by hand is amazing, the spectacle of Pleasure Island and the last underwater segment are brilliant compositions by illustrative geniuses. As the darkest fable Disney would bring to the screen, each of the nine old men brought their A game to their characters. Bill Tytla, the studio's "villain master" (he was responsible for the unforgettable Chernobog in Fantasia's "Night on Bald Mountain" sequence) brings Stromboli to energetic life here. Watch carefully for the table sequence in which Stromboli is eating. He has swallowed part of an onion before berating Pinocchio and shaking the puppet. His breath brings tears to Pinocchio's eyes...this goes by very quickly, but shows the attention to detail crafted in every frame of this terrific film.

Many reviews here seem to dwell on the voice acting and the use of "nobodies" to speak the lines. One review casually suggests that the actors were simply picked off the street. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even though the actors are uncredited here, the roster of talent was very top-notch for 1940. Comedian Walter Catlett voices the Fox, Catlett was extremely popular at the time and known for his signature round spectacles. The Fox wears these same specs for a brief moment, a nod given to Catlett by the artists. Frankie Darrow was a well known juvenile actor, most famous for his leading role in 1933's "Wild Boys of the Road". He voices Lampwick, which is a thinly veiled caricature of the real actor. Dickie Jones, the voice of Pinocchio was another child star who kept a remarkable career alive for many decades. Mel Blanc, the "man of 1000 voices" lends his talent to the hiccups of Giddy the Cat, Evelyn Venable is the warm and lovely voice of the Blue Fairy, Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck for years, supplies both Figaro and the donkey brays by the doomed boys of Pleasure Island. Last but not least is Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards, the voice of Jiminy Cricket. Edwards will always be known as the man who sang "When You Wish Upon a Star" so brilliantly. He owns that song as surely as Judy Garland owns "Over the Rainbow". No real voice talent in Pinocchio? Not true. These actors were as famous in their day as the current crop of voices used for animated features. Their work brings the heart to the skill of the animator's art.

Still a thrilling experience for fans of the nine old men. In this day of computer technology, it's worth remembering that a computer can't bring the same humanity and love delivered by these great artists.

Pinocchio

[0U · 20 February 2020]

This is absolutely, without a doubt one of the best movies ever made. Keep in mind, this movie is only the second feature length animated movie. This is Walt Disney's masterpiece. It's filled with vibrancy and charm. It goes to dark places, and takes so many risks. For me though, every single one of them pay off. Pinocchio is so gullible and charming, and Jiminy Cricket is one of the best mentor characters ever put to film. I love this movie, because I actually care about these characters. They're written in a way that is unbelievably amazing, the script is phenomenal, and the incredible performances, help too. The musical numbers are fun and beautiful. This movie can shift emotions so easily, it goes from heartwarming, to heartbreaking. I remember as a young kid, I really didn't like this movie. It wasn't until I was age thirteen, that I recognized how beautiful this movie was. Everything about this movie is outstanding. If I were to recommend only five films, this would be one of them. Sheer cinematic bliss.

When You Wish Upon a Star!

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 25 February 2009]

This is a beautiful movie, not as good as Snow white and Bambi, but it is right up there with the classics. The animation is flawless, and I loved how they animated the Blue Fairy. She was beautiful! The songs are absolutely magnificent, the best being "When You Wish Upon a Star", which strangely reminds me of Christmas and never fails to bring tears to my eyes. The characters are unforgettable, and what a talented voice cast to bring Carlo Collodi's characters to life. Pinocchio is appealing enough, and Geopetto was inspiring. Figaro was really funny, although he never speaks,but his facial expressions are priceless, and Jiminy Cricket is my favourite character. Honest John and his feline sidekick were also great fun, as well as the cruel Stromboli. And I mustn't forget the terrifying Monstro the whale-and the coachman(prepare for nightmares)- who reminds me of a larger version of Jaws the Shark. Another scene that scared me was the donkey transformation. Watch this movie, because it is so relaxing to watch and a timeless Disney masterpiece. 10/10 Bethany Cox

A wonderful, whimsical animation.

[BoydudeReviews · 7/10 · 28 October 2018]

Disney's second animated feature is a fun, feel good, well acted, visually appealing film, with some truly scary scenes. The soundtrack is amazing and nostalgic and is just a fun film. Not thw best Disney film, but defiantly not the worse.

To Wish Upon a Star

[Prince-P · 7/10 · 23 November 2023]

The Italian novelist Carlo Collodi wrote "The Adventures of Pinocchio" back in 1881. But Collodi's wooden puppet was quite different from the brave young kid we know today. In the book, Pinocchio is a selfish, ill-mannered petty criminal. When his external conscience - a moralizing little cricket - tries to point this out, he is squashed with a mallet. And Pinocchio himself ends up being hanged from a tree. Not exactly material for a typical Disney film, in other words.

Fortunately, Walt Disney thought differently. In 1936 he bought the rights to the story with a view to making his second cartoon feature. Disney then assigned his team of writers to transform Pinocchio into a likable and well-intentioned character. But that turned out to be easier said than done. As a puppet brought to life, Pinocchio remained wooden and expressionless. And the talking cricket - now named Jiminy - was still an unattractive little bug.

Walt Disney was utterly dissatisfied. So, in the middle of 1938 he stopped the whole project. Six months of work was discarded and the animation team re-focused on making the leading characters more engaging. Twelve guys now dealt exclusively with Pinocchio himself and they worked for eighteen months to give him a more "rounded" human quality. Another group took on little Jiminy Cricket. The result was a diminutive, deeply charming creature who would croon the newly written theme song "When You Wish upon a Star".

In the end, perfectionist Walt Disney threw out more than 2,300 feet of footage (700 meters) because the content didn't live up to his great expectations. But despite all those efforts, the movie was something of a financial disappointment. The outbreak of World War II, just months before the film had its world premiere, had a negative effect on the box office. Today, though, most agree that "Pinocchio" is one of the company's greatest cultural achievements.

Still a magical film

[Sober-Friend · 10/10 · 5 May 2018]

This is by far my favorite "Disney" film. I was a small child when I first saw this at the Drive-in with my family in 1971. It is still one of my favorite childhood memories.

This film is about a puppet coming to life. He is aided by a cricket who is his conscience. If "Pinocchio" acts brave worthy and unselfish he will then become a real boy. His journey to become a real boy is feast for your "eyes and ears"

This film is a masterpiece. Any frame of the film you could blow up and hang as art.

There are not many "perfect" films however "Pinocchio" is one of the few that are perfect.

How is this NOT 10/10 by user review?

[jamoe-49431 · 10/10 · 13 August 2019]

This might be the best Disney fil ever made folks. It's entertaining, Oscar winning song and music. Unforgettable characters...action and suspense, makes you laugh and cry. Idk what's else anyone would look for. Maybe the whole of idea having to "brave, truthful and unselfish" to grow up and be a "real boy" makes some uncomfortable.