After the successful release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Walt Disney wanted to make an even better film. That film, released in 1940, is Pinocchio.
The plot in Pinocchio sounds like it would only resonate with children: a wooden boy learns to be honest, kind, and selfless so that he could become real. And yes, Pinocchio was adapted from Carlo Collodi's children's novel. However, the underlying themes of resisting temptations and becoming pure can resonate with viewers of any age. There's dark stuff in Pinocchio, too.
Even though the dark scenes, especially Lampwick's donkey transformation, has scared many children, these are part of why the film works. Pinocchio emphasizes purity, a message strengthened by horrific "or else" events: one who gives in to temptation could be trapped in a bird cage or, worse, become a donkey. There is also a Christian connection here. Jiminy Cricket represents the Holy Spirit and the donkey transformation eternal punishment in Hell.
Pinocchio may get scary at some points, but it is much lighter compared to Carlo Collodi's original novel. Walt Disney lightened the story by making Jiminy Cricket look more like a tiny gentleman than a cricket and Pinnochio more like a cute child than a puppet. Yet, as he did for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Disney believed young viewers could handle dark moments as long as there's a happy ending.
In addition to the dark moments, there are more Christian motifs in the film. The "blue fairy" who grants Pinocchio life represents an angel answering woodcarver Geppetto's prayer. In addition, when Pinocchio sings I've Got No Strings, it alludes to born-again Christians' "broken chains."
The animation in Pinocchio, alongside improving from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, is impressive. How can they animate so many wall clocks at once? The characters convey a lot of emotion, too.
One of the best parts of Pinocchio, though, is the music. When You Wish Upon a Star, the film's opening and closing scene, became Disney's anthem. Hi Diddly-Dee and I've Got No Strings have a jolly beat that makes them standouts, though.
The only problem I have with Pinocchio is the pace. It can be unpleasantly slow at times, especially during the underwater scene. Yet, it was never slow enough to make me fall asleep. A lot of older movies move at a slow pace, too.
Overall, Pinocchio truly is one of Disney's greatest, if not perfect, films. It has the Christian message of pure character growth along with engaging characters, animation, music, and some horror.
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