The young actor holds his own against A-list voice acting talent, including the scene-stealing Cate Blanchett, who does remarkable and unrecognizable voice work as abused monkey Spazzatura. Gregory Mann impresses most as the mischievous puppet with a heart of gold and the singing voice of an angel. Gris Grimly’s character design for Pinocchio, the impressive puppeteer work by the Mackinnon & Saunders ( Corpse Bride ) team, the animation, and the score brings the Jim Henson Company production to life in a bold, breathtaking new way. It enriches the lush worldbuilding already made transcendent by the breathtaking artistry of stop-motion animation. Explorations of Catholicism and interpretations of Death (also voiced by Tilda Swinton) make their way into Pinocchio’s adventures in ways that feel distinctly del Toro. The ominous emphasis on Fascism brings balance, grounding the whimsy when necessary and lending an almost magical realism quality to the affecting tale.Įven when faithfully interpreting Collodi’s work, including the return to the Terrible Dogfish sea monster over the Disneyfied whale, del Toro’s imprint permeates every facet of this retelling. It gives chapters in Pinocchio’s story a more somber edge and turns his penchant for disobedience into a triumphant asset. Cr: Netflix © 2022ĭel Toro and Patrick McHale’s script recontextualizes the classic tale with the simple shift in setting it during Mussolini’s Fascist Italy, a move that adds dramatic and thematic heft. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio – (L-R) Gepetto (voiced by David Bradley) and Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann). The wooden puppet’s curiosity for life, vivacious naïveté, and desire to earn his papa’s approval send him on a profound adventure that’ll teach him what it means to live.

Cricket ( Ewan McGregor ), the narrator of this story. That includes his appointed guide, the raconteur Sebastien J. But Pinocchio isn’t like the obedient Carlo, despite many pleas to conform to rules and society by everyone around him. Geppetto’s refusal to relinquish his steadfast grip on grief moves the Wood Sprite ( Tilda Swinton ) to grant Pinocchio life in the hopes of bringing Geppetto happiness.

Fox) to helm a deeply enchanting journey full of heart, breathtaking craftsmanship, and poignant themes set against a backdrop of Fascism.Ī preamble shows how master woodcarver Geppetto ( David Bradley ) came to carve the wooden boy Pinocchio ( Gregory Mann ) from the pine tree grown by his beloved son Carlo’s grave. The patron saint of monsters and misfits teams with award-winning, stop-motion legend Mark Gustafson ( Fantastic Mr.

Del Toro’s lifelong passion project is by far the more fascinating, inventive, richly layered, and magical of the two. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio isn’t the first adaptation of Italian author Carlo Collodi’s classic fantasy novel to release this year.

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