Pinocchio (February 7, 1940)

This is Walt Disney’s second feature film, released a little over two years after their first, Snow White. It originally was a box office failure due to the onset of World War II closing off foreign film markets but was a success when it was subsequently reissued multiple times starting in 1945. I had not watched this film in years. I remember the general story of a puppet named Pinocchio created by an old clockmaker named Geppetto who wishes he could become a real boy but gets more than he bargained for in the process! Besides that, however, the details are foggy. The film also serves as the introduction to one of the most beloved Disney characters, Jiminy Cricket. Starting off, you can tell how far Disney had advanced in their animation techniques in just this short span! It is quite impressive- in fact, I kept getting distracted by the delicate intricacies of the figures in the background instead of focusing on the plot. This film looks more polished and has a harder overall look than its predecessor. This film also includes the iconic songs “I’ve Got No Strings” and “When You Wish Upon A Star”, the latter of which is a childhood favorite of mine. Moving on to the characters, they are all super expressive and endearing. From Geppetto and Figaro, to Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket (even the Blue Fairy) they all are likable and memorable (an improvement from Snow White) with great designs as well. The story is simple, (with dry humor sprinkled throughout) but it has an important moral of the importance of hard work and resisting temptation as well as being honest and kind. Pinocchio is a masterpiece, well worth seeing, and one of the best Disney Animated films ever produced.

Final Rating: 8.5/10