10 facts you didn't know about Pinocchio.
1 - Pinocchio was originally a boy: The screenwriters adapted the original novel into an animated feature film, inspired by the book. Initially, the doll was portrayed as a cold, rude, ungrateful and inhuman child who often repels sympathy and only learns his lessons the hard way. However, later they decided to modernize the character and found the sweet boy.
2 - It was the first Disney film to win an Oscar: Despite being a box office failure, the children's story became the first animated feature film to win an Oscar. He won Best Original Song and Best Original Score for 'When You Wish Upon A Star'. It was also the first Disney film to win an Oscar.
3 - Walt Disney Hated the Original Design: The animators first designed the wooden boy as a puppet with a long, pointed nose, peaked hat, and wooden hands. However, the filmmaker was disappointed with the sketch and stopped production until they got the boy right. Later they were inspired by Mickey Mouse to make Pinocchio look like a real boy and only added wooden joints in his arms and legs.
4 - Jiminy Cricket was given a larger role: Disney had not planned to include the little creature in the film, but considered Pinocchio to be too helpless. He adapted Jiminy Cricket to guide Pinocchio to make the right decisions. At first, Jiminy was a realistic cricket, but Disney wanted something closer, so the animators came up with a new design.
5 - Jiminy Cricket Was Originally a Ghost: In the Disney film, the Blue Fairy hires Jiminy Cricket to act as Pinocchio's conscience. However, in the original book, Jiminy is a 100-year-old "old and wise" talking cricket who dies moments after meeting the wooden boy. He returns as a ghost to continue advising Pinocchio.
6 - Mel Blanc stars in the film: Bugs Bunny's voice actor was originally cast as Gideon the cat. However, Disney later decided that the cat would be mute, so all of Blanc's footage was removed. However, they kept a breathtaking recording of him that can be heard in the film three times.
7 - There was going to be a sequel: Disneytoon studios began planning a sequel to the popular film in the mid-2000s. The film would see Pinocchio explore why life seems unfair. However, John Lasseter canceled the sequel when he was named Creative Director of Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2006.
8 - It was a box office failure: 'Pinocchio' failed at the box office during its release due to World War II. The war cut off overseas European and Asian markets, and the film's grosses ranged from $1.4 to $1.9 million. However, after a series of re-releases, the film was able to turn a profit and grossed $84 million at the box office in the United States and Canada.
9 - Pinocchio was going to be Disney's third film: 'Pinocchio' was going to be the company's third feature film after 'Bambi'. However, the animators had trouble developing the story and animating the characters. The film was delayed and 'Pinocchio' became the company's second feature film.
10 - A live-action adaptation has been proposed since 1985: Jim Henson, creator of 'The Muppets', first proposed a live-action adaptation to Disney in 1985, but the studio rejected the idea. However, in 2015, Disney announced plans to create a live-action film. Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo and Oakes Fegley starred in the 2022 film.
