Pinocchio 1940
The Italian fairy tale written by Carlo Collodi has some dark moments that were removed by Disney when they bought the story. However, not all of them. The enduring appeal of Pinocchio’s animated film shows that not all changes made by the studio worsen the situation; and most of the horrifying details are still prevalent. Even today, the dangers Pinocchio faces as he befriends those who lead him astray from becoming a real boy add a scary element to this classic. Guided by the “conscience” cricket Jiminy Cricket (though he doesn’t always keep his word), Pinocchio must learn both a sense of responsibility and the courage and love on his clever but innocent path to becoming human. After Snow White, Disney’s second feature film Pinocchio shattered the still untouched world of animation; telling the story of magical and celestial beings like the Glowing Blue Fairy, daring escapes from Pleasure Island, and thrilling encounters with the whale Monstro. With songs like “When You Wish Upon a Star” that have now become classics, is it surprising that “Pinocchio” stands at the pinnacle of animated film standards?
