Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.
Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.
And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize
Before starting this entry, I wanted to make a note that last year happened to be my Fifth Anniversary of my blog. It's incredible how time has flown and after all these years, I've still kept publishing new entries. First of all, I want to thank all my readers. As hackneyed as this sounds, without you, I wouldn't have my blog going. You guys makes me motivated!
And besides, this entry also happened to be remarkable on itself (I hope this doesn`t sound conceited). Since it also happens to be my 50th entry!
It's incredible how I've happened to publish so many entries. How long I'll still going to keep with this blog, depends on time and subjects. Cause I know there will come a day where I have nothing left to publish. But as it's said in Norway (where I come from); That time, that grief. In the meantime, it's a perfect synergy that this 50th entry will center about one of Disney's most critically acclaimed animated features of all time. Who happened to have it`s 80th Anniversary last year.
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| Just pretend that I'm an angel and I'm giving ya light :) |
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| I'm doing the Toy Story mold: freezing when humans are around :) |
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| Don't have my look fool ya, it is uncomfortable :) |
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| Yes, I'm so happy that we're reaching land, that it made me oblivious :) |
There are many declarations about Pinocchio simply being one of the greatest animated films of all time. Yet the original story was pretty relevant at it's release. Since it was a series of serialized stories written for a children's magazine by Carlos Lorenzini in July of 1881 (Collodi was just his pen name, named after the city that he spent his primary school time on with his relatives. And who wrote the story in order to pay a gambling debt). Pinocchio also happened to be the first journal ever written for children in Italy (Collodi was originally going to end the stories of having our titular puppet hanging. And was pleaded by readers to continue with the story). Yet the tales weren't translated to English before his death (Collodi translated Charles Perrault's tales from French to Italian).
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| Can you hear me? :) |
A stage play adaptation of the story got Walt Disney intrigued with the novel. Yet the premise has been so ingrained in our culture that it's most famous scenes are instantly recognizable. Still it would be fair to say that Disney's version is essentially the most well known version. And sure, Disney's version is essentially a departure from it's radical
novel. And serves the Disneyfication that Disney would forever be panned for.
The Production of Pinocchio
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| We're not the Knights from the round table :) |
Being
the official follow-up to the very successful Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio
had a lot to live up to. Walt was intrigued by the visual possibilities; of having Pinocchio swallowed by a whale and the boys turning into donkeys. Yet Walt wanted this picture to be better than Snow White; More mature and less derivative. So that's why more elaborate detail was put into the artwork (of course even the crew drew comparisons to Snow White). According to Frank Thomas, Walt was at his most creative on Pinocchio and also at his most collaborative (Ken Anderson felt that the work that was done here was better than in Snow White).
And frankly, it made Walt’s staff
confident and cocky enough to make another picture, so Walt felt that he didn't needed to be as catious this time. So it's production was put into high gear. But regardless of
that, it proved to be a serious miscalculation. Since the crew
learned that each pictures had their own challenges (despite that Walt cited that they weren't going to repeat the mistakes from Snow White). So Walt put his staff on others assignments, until the problems had been ironed out. Ironically however, when it was announced that Walt's second feature would be Pinocchio, there were other properties released of this wooden tale.  |
| My eyebrows are not for free :) |
While Bambi was originally intended to be the second
feature, Pinocchio was going to be the third picture (it's production number was F-3, actually). But was risen up at the end of 1937. It was during a preview of Snow White in Pomona when Walt realized that Bambi would take more time, due to it's technical and anatomical difficulties (while funny enough, none of their production numbers changed). It was Frank Thomas who suggested that Pinocchio should be made first, since it felt like a full-length Silly Symphony feature. Originally it was scheduled for a December 1939 release. Walt was eager to push the writing of Pinocchio (while apparently he was more engaged with Snow White than with the latter film). The story was of course originally much longer, so it was trimmed down (as claimed to have lasted two days if they've included all the story material. Since Geppetto would've read a bedtime story to Pinoke about an Mighty Tree. And the finale of the marionette sequence would be a jungle setting. And the ending would have Geppetto carv another wooden puppet boy just like Pinocchio).
feature, Pinocchio was going to be the third picture (it's production number was F-3, actually). But was risen up at the end of 1937. It was during a preview of Snow White in Pomona when Walt realized that Bambi would take more time, due to it's technical and anatomical difficulties (while funny enough, none of their production numbers changed). It was Frank Thomas who suggested that Pinocchio should be made first, since it felt like a full-length Silly Symphony feature. Originally it was scheduled for a December 1939 release. Walt was eager to push the writing of Pinocchio (while apparently he was more engaged with Snow White than with the latter film). The story was of course originally much longer, so it was trimmed down (as claimed to have lasted two days if they've included all the story material. Since Geppetto would've read a bedtime story to Pinoke about an Mighty Tree. And the finale of the marionette sequence would be a jungle setting. And the ending would have Geppetto carv another wooden puppet boy just like Pinocchio).
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| Quasimodo is busy at the moment :) |
It's production was shorter than Snow White's, yet both productions overlapped. As production on Pinocchio began right around the time where Snow White was finishing. Yet six months into production, Walt halted it and reworked the story, despite that some animation had already been made (2,300 feet, to be exact). Pinocchio was an extremely expensive movie to make, as it cost $ 2.6. million dollars (even a simple shot of the opening shot of the village costed as much as $ 25,000. And the Off to School-sequence costed $ 45,000). The overall production was during two years (while Walt was also doing pre-production of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Wind in the Willows at the time, as both appear on the book shelf at the opening). Pinocchio Himself
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| Walt couldn't make it :) |
But perhaps the most significant change from the original tale is to portrayal of Pinocchio himself. Being changed from a mischevious and malicious know-it-all Charlie McCarthy-type guy to an innocent, good-willed boy (the crew wanted to have McCarthy's voice actor, Edgar Bergen, to voice Pinoke). Mostly because to appeal to audience. But frankly it’s a satisfying choice. Since it makes him one of the most endearing Disney leads ever, which he rarely gets enough credit for. And this makes Pinocchio pretty much an epitome of a Disney character, since Disney characters are usually labeled as good or bad archetypes.
Pinocchio was pretty much the first of several child protagonists from Walt to come. Originally Pinoke was animated with simple, almost automated movements and lack of expression. To remind the audience that he was a puppet brought to life. So he was redesigned from being angular to be rounder and boylike. Yet the issue if he was going to be treated as a puppet or as a small boy turned out to be one story issue that Walt dealed with in the first draft (as book illustrations of the original story tended to show Pinocchio as very puppetlike). 
However, the puppet issue was a problem with his design. As he was designed too much as a marionette. So the crew figured that he would benefit more from looking like a boy (Milt Kahl did some drawing tests of him with Donkey ears). Pinocchio himself was animated by famous Disney veterans as aforementioned Kahl, Frank Thomas, and Ollie Johnston (who loved this picture). Who animated 150 feet of film, using the speed-up voice of Ted Sears as a sound track. Originally his dialogue didn't consist of other phrases than "why" or "why not?". Which therefore made him initially too passive. |
| Flying umbrella's. It's gonna be big :) |
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| Don't get used to this, Pinoke :) |
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| Look, both my arms are equally long :) I'm not balancing :) |
Pinocchio is cherished for it’s lavish visuals, which is completely deserved. It's often labeled for being the most polished of Walt’s features. But it’s also remarkable that, just like with Snow White, it never confirmes it’s location. As Pinocchio takes place in an Italy that pretty much has a Germanic style (and yes, Collodi's nephew sued Disney because Pinocchio didn't look Italian enough). Yet the town was based on a town in Barbaria that production designer Gustaf Tenggren and Claude Coats based the film on. 
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| Don't worry, the light will fade away afterwards :) |
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| We're happy about you're being not alive :) |
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| Yes, we're all trying to outshine each other :) |
Pinocchio`s Allegorical Themes, Antagonists & Pleasure Island
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| I'll whip you with this tail :) |
It's also remarkable how the film is filled with several antagonists during the way. While they're all meant to serve as temptators to Pinocchio, it’s clear that he doesn’t really have one specific villain to struggle against. But probably the villain who's often credited more than his counterparts, is Stromboli. Animated by Bill Tytla (who was known for handling big characters), Stromboli is truly menacing in his few scenes. Freddie Moore animated Lampwick (who was voiced by actor Frankie Darro, who was known for playing similar roles as Lampwick). Who was somewhat of a self-caricature, after having animated the Dwarfs (and was known for handling cute characters). While Lampwick may not be the main villain or even an antagonist, he does comes across as a tempter for our dear Pinoke. 
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| Yes, a canine and a feline can get along :) |
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| This is my way of limboing :) |
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| And we thought Sharks were Dangerous :) |
Pinocchio`s Dated Approach & Episodic Nature
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| I'm glad mommy can't see me :) |
While Walt originally wanted to keep a certain timelessness to his movies, it's still hard to dismiss that Pinocchio is a product of it’s time. And yes, regardless of the praise Pinocchio receives, the aforementioned issue is evident due to it’s slow pace. And expanding certain sequences that today wouldn't been expanded in the same way. But regardless of it, it still was somewhat catered to a current audience. At least in terms of Jiminy Cricket's savvy widecracks. 
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| At least I'm not a glitch :) |
But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Pinocchio is it’s
episodic structure. While the crew was initially hesitant towards that way of telling the story, the narrative still comes fluidly, nonetheless. But the episodic nature also served to Collodi’s original tales (Walt faced criticism that Pinocchio was essentially three different movies done by three different animation units). Yet aforementioned Claude Coats still said that Pinocchio was the most complex story the studio had ever created.
episodic structure. While the crew was initially hesitant towards that way of telling the story, the narrative still comes fluidly, nonetheless. But the episodic nature also served to Collodi’s original tales (Walt faced criticism that Pinocchio was essentially three different movies done by three different animation units). Yet aforementioned Claude Coats still said that Pinocchio was the most complex story the studio had ever created.
Pinocchio`s Scary Moments
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| I hope I'll win the most freaky contest instead of Mad Hatter :) |
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| At least I'm not a faun :) |
Walt was always eager to incorporate both drama, pathos, ethos and comedy. The blend of all of those elements were pretty evident in his first features. Pinocchio is certainly no exception. But perhaps the thing Pinocchio pulls off quite effectively is it’s dark and scary moments. Whether Pinocchio is truly the darkest among Walt's pantheon, it’s up to you to decide. But Pinocchio is labeled and cherished for it's portrayal of it's harrowing and grim moments. And deservedly so. It has traumatized countless children for life because of it.
Pinoccchio`s Sidekicks
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| I'm the bug Version of Cinderella :) Just not in drag :) |
To talk about the other characters, it's impossible to notmention what Pinocchio is also known for, Jiminy Cricket (voiced by popular actor Cliff Edwards, also known as Ukulele Ike. Who introduced Singing in the Rain in the first talking Musicals. And also appeared in Gone With the Wind). Jiminy was added to the story in June 1938 and was named by Walt after the famous expression at the time. Jiminy deliberately serves as a spokeman to the audience. It’s easy to label him as the first official Disney sidekick, but to be fair, Snow White had various ones. But Jiminy is considered from the Disney crew to be the very best sidekick. 
While the cricket in Collodi’s tale had a brief encounter with Pinoke and got smashed by him (and appeared again as a ghost later on in the story), Jiminy's screentime gets more expanded in Disney's version. He became a replacement for Pinocchio's splitting personality, who originally was going to argue with himself. Even Jiminy has an arc of his own in this movie, as he becomes mature and responsible.  |
| The Rabbit is invisible at the moment :) |
Remarkably his designs doesn't resemble a cricket, since when the crew drew him as one, he became less cute and appealing (which repulsed his animator Ward Kimball, while he still hated that he was labeled as cute). So therefore he was given other features (Walt said that he looked like his uncle Ed). Walt casted 45 additional performers before landing on aforementioned Ike.
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| I had garlic for dinner ;) |
Even his characterization was originally going to be different. He was supposed to be more pompous and preachy. Yet Jiminy became the certain sidekick to have a life of his own. His discarded song I'm a Happy Go-Lucky Fellow was used later on in Fun and Fancy Free and segments of The Mickey Mouse Club. Jiminy also hosted the weekly Disney TV program and also was a part of a preview for sponsors about Health and hygiene (which Jiminy also infused the aforementioned Mickey Mouse Club in all New animation. Where it was said that Jiminy was a bigger star of the show than Mickey himself). He also was the conscience of Ebenezer Scrooge in Mickey's Christmas Carol. He also hosted Disney Sing Along Songs series of videos. And the annual From All of Us To All of You show. Walt helped Edwards financially by producing one of his records with him singing 1920's hits.
Ward Kimball made 14 versions of Jiminy before settling on the final design. He was given the task as a replacement for having his Soup sequence in Snow White deleted. Wolfgang "Woolie" Reitherman (who later on became a director for The Jungle Book) and Don Towsley also worked on Mr. Cricket. Who was a challenge to animate due to his wee size, with the exceptions of closeup. Cliff Edwards even recorded together with Pinoke's voice actor. Give a Little Whistle was the first sequence that was put into story reel. And one test animation of Jiminy saying "hold it boy" made the crew laugh. |
| There's a reason why the fish bowl is separating us :) |
However, Jiminy isn't the only Pinocchio sidekick who's managed to live a life of his own. Figaro (animated by Eric Larson) and Cleo have also become Disney veterans in their own right. Appearing in several short cartoons. Both of them weren't from the book and the inspiration for Figaro came from a stage play version where there was a cat involved. Figaro was delibaretely made for Geppetto to have someone to confide in. Figaro always had both a dry brush and highlight airbrushed onto him on every single cel he appeared in. Due to the sheer perfection that Walt wanted to achieve. And Cleo had real rogue on her cheeks.
The Remaining Characters
Regarding the other characters, it's impossible to not like Geppetto. Who originally was going to resemble Doc from Snow White more. He was also going to be more stoic, before Walt based him on Swedish actor Christian Rub. Who was known for portraying European roles (and also did some live action reference with a similar wig on). The original actor for Geppetto didn't set the tone right. While Geppetto is overall lovable, kind and endearing, he's still got a mischevious side to him. Since he likes to make fun of Figaro. 
Both Honest John and Gideon are effective enough in their roles, while it would be tempting to scrutinize if they could've been able to redeem themselves (thus Honest John has a slight moment where he shows concerns for the mischevious boys when the Coachman tells about his evil scheme). Gideon was originally going to be voiced by Mel Blanc, who even recorded his lines. Before the crew realized that he worked better as "mute" (even the remaining hiccup was recorded by Blanc, which was his only gig for Disney). And yes folks, people have ranted about why a talking fox and a cat would be baffled over the sight of a walking puppet. But we'll just have to accept it (which is a contrast from Collodi's tales. Where nobody questioned the fact that a wooden puppet came to life).
The ethereal and divine Blue Fairy was intended to be "the most loveliest and perfect character ever seen in animation". And was originally intended to have blue hair as well. The Ink and Paint Department attented classes of facial anatomy. But Walt was also concerned with her inner beauty. And that she didn't have to look like a glamour girl. Evelyn Venable, who held the torch of the Columbia Picture logo in the 1930's through the 70's, voiced her (and also worked with Shirley Temple at the time),. And Snow White's Marge Champion was her live action model. Which was a simple role for Champion, who was a teenager at the time and appreciated doing an adult role (Champion later on married Disney animator Art Babbit. Who animated Geppetto, who happened to be his favorite character to animate). Electric organ (who were relatively new at the time), strings and celesta were used to her appearance and the crew achieved of having switched every background with an increasing light with the scenes of her glowing.
More Trivia, Deleted Story Ideas & Other Disney Versions of Pinocchio
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| Yes, donkeys can carry a wagon, not only horses :) |
However, there was a couple of inconsistensies in the story that bothered Ward Kimball. How the Blue Fairy declares "it's the last time she can help Pinocchio" during his famous nose scene. Yet later on sends a letter to him about Geppetto's whereabouts as a dove. And how Pinocchio was perfectly able to move under water, but drowns after escaping Monstro. Yet regarding the story, there were various ideas who got discarded.
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| We're trying to be Sylvester and Tweety :) |
Originally Pinocchio was going to seek out the grave of the Blue Fairy. Geppetto was going to explain to a police officer that he was looking for a wooden boy. Originally Pinocchio would enter both puppet heaven and hell and being rejected by both places. The multiplane camera (who stood 14 feet and costed over $ 70,000) was used more fully in this movie. As opposed to Snow White where it wasn't advanced yet. Walt was especifically impressed by the use of mutliplane in Pinocchio. 
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| It's raining stardust, Hallelujah, it's raining stardust :) |
Yet due to the costs, the crew managed to invent simpler devices. All but the bottom lyer were painted onto glass, while oil Paint was used for this purpose. A single scene that shows a steamer crossing an expanse of calm Ocean that was made by putting a single cel with simple effects. And it impressed Disney and the audience at the premiere.
Albert Hurter influenced the character designs, taking cues from the illustrations by Collodi's book. While Gustaf Tenggren contributed with the European Book Illustration look as Walt wanted. Opaque pigment came into general use to the backgrounds. Walt wanted even the sounds to be innovative. Live action rain was incorporated to the rain sequence.
Albert Hurter influenced the character designs, taking cues from the illustrations by Collodi's book. While Gustaf Tenggren contributed with the European Book Illustration look as Walt wanted. Opaque pigment came into general use to the backgrounds. Walt wanted even the sounds to be innovative. Live action rain was incorporated to the rain sequence.
After the success with Snow White, Walt wanted to make his animation more realistic, impressive and pretentious. Pinocchio was also the very first time the studio used their famous maquettes for the characters. Who Disney veteran Joe Grant was behind (the first maquette was of Pinocchio himself. And Frank Thomas was instructed to move him like a real marionette for reference). Some puppeteers actually made a marionette for the animators to work on. Animating the marionettes was a overall big challenge. Still funny enough, one guy, Bob Jones, who was a professional puppeteer, tried to convince Walt to make puppet films (yes, it's true). Animating Pinocchio in the moving wagon was a challenge (and there was even made a maquette model for the wagon). So for reference a wagon that moved on a tread mill over a rough surface was filmed. While taking that film and blowing it to the size of animation paper.  |
| Yes, I know you want to be taller, but you can't be my wee friend :) |
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| Don't jump at the bowl while I'm painting :) |
The way to make Pinocchio and Jiminy to talk under water was to record their dialogue on 35 mm film. And having it stuck on the projector gate. And re-record it to sound it like they were under water. The underwater effect was worked on about a year. Walt even offered rewards for the gags the storymen came up with (with $ 10 dollars). Walt was also lucky enough to gather many talented artists during the Great Depression because of that era.
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| Geppetto needed to be brought to life this time :) |
Pinocchio was also theatrically re-released in 1945, 1954, 1962, 1971, 1978, 1984, and last, but not least 1992. It also was among the first of Walt's features to receive a VHS release in 1985. And becoming the best-selling home video title of the year, selling 130-150,000 units at $80 each. A musical named Geppetto was made for The Wonderful World of Disney in 2000, starring Drew Carey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, with original songs written by Stephen Schwartz (Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame).
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| We want to make the Choice between us difficult :) |
As aforementioned, Pinocchio’s moments have been widely remembered and has become iconic in Disney’s history. Mostly because how certain scenes have been presented in the aforementioned From All of Us To All of You show. As I’ve Got No Strings (who originally wasn't going to open with Pinocchio singing and therefore was simply just called No Strings) and his transformation from puppet to life (depends of which version you've seen).
Yet regardless of this, it's impossible to not mention what is definitively the most iconic component of Pinocchio: The growth of his nose (animated by Ollie Johnston). It's such a well known element in the Pinocchio tale that it's automatically labeled for it in more sense than one.
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| Yes, there's nobody here :) |
The music in Pinocchio is of course just as iconic as the movie itself. But it's not just a laudatory statement. The music has truly managed to have a life beyond the movie (yet at first people didn't found it's music superior to that of from Snow White). 
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| There's snow inside :) |
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| I can do a hoedown :) |
The overall production of the songs began in 1938. Several songs for the movie were recorded, but not used in the final film. Pinocchio won the Oscars for Best Original Score and for When You Wish Upon a Star, Which was the first time Walt won an Academy Award for the Music alone (still the credit for Washington's lyrics got some controversy among the musicians). Which was a first for an animated full-length feature. Some parts of the score were originally segments of songs which got discarded. Yet the theme song for the Figaro shorts were originally going to be a part of Pinocchio. Disney also had purchased the rights to private Pinocchio collector named Bert Barry to one of his written songs named after our titular Pinoke. However, remarkably enough, the music was worked on during the very last year of Production.Epilogue
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| Yes, this is how many weirdo's you can spot :) |
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| At least they're not Elsa's gloves :) |
Not only because of nostalgia, as it 
does with most Disney, but due to it's everlasting qualities. It is a endearing and captivating film and truly deserves to be among all the lists that it's been listed on. It's daunting and even incredible that it's now turned 80, which means that it's not far from being 100 years old. So Happy 80th Anniversary, Pinocchio and may you continue to have many more.
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| Yes, my world is completely mad :) |
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References:
Pinocchio Platinum Edition
Pinocchio Walt Disney Signature Collection
Pinocchio Exclusive Deluxe Video Edition Box Set.
Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection: Pinocchio.
Pinocchio - The Making of the Disney Epic (J.B. Kaufman).
Mouse Under Glass (David Koenig)
Disney's Art of Animation - From Mickey Mouse to Hercules (Bob Thomas)
The Art of Walt Disney - From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond 2011 Edition (Christopher Finch)
https://books.google.no/books?id=DvxHAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=Disney+version+of+Pinocchio+the+most+famous+version&source=bl&ots=Tlm1UHGi0S&sig=ACfU3U0D5hePoJMveQNn1t8-Pm850ulCPQ&hl=no&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKy-e11avnAhVx-SoKHWyfDkoQ6AEwHHoECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=Disney%20version%20of%20Pinocchio%20the%20most%20famous%20version&f=false
https://books.google.no/books?id=zDJXnzMh7bkC&printsec=frontcover&redir_esc=y&hl=no#v=onepage&q=Bambi&f=false
Pinocchio - The Making of the Disney Epic (J.B. Kaufman).
Mouse Under Glass (David Koenig)
Disney's Art of Animation - From Mickey Mouse to Hercules (Bob Thomas)
The Art of Walt Disney - From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond 2011 Edition (Christopher Finch)
https://books.google.no/books?id=DvxHAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=Disney+version+of+Pinocchio+the+most+famous+version&source=bl&ots=Tlm1UHGi0S&sig=ACfU3U0D5hePoJMveQNn1t8-Pm850ulCPQ&hl=no&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKy-e11avnAhVx-SoKHWyfDkoQ6AEwHHoECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=Disney%20version%20of%20Pinocchio%20the%20most%20famous%20version&f=false
https://books.google.no/books?id=zDJXnzMh7bkC&printsec=frontcover&redir_esc=y&hl=no#v=onepage&q=Bambi&f=false
https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/24/movies/slipsliding-between-animation-and-reality.html
Walt Disney's Bambi: The Story and the Film (Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas)
Walt Disney's Bambi: The Story and the Film (Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas)
Bambi Walt Disney Signature Collection
