Man, you really left this on a scary note. Again all the villains are realistic because you have people out there in the world who will exploit and take advantage of your nativity and send you somewhere that no one can retrieve you.
You make the same point I've often said about Pinocchio's villains. They represent temptation and the consequences of giving into it. Jiminy even says so about Honest John. And you can't destroy temptation. You can't punish it. You can only learn to overcome it and be stronger than it.
And if you notice some details, you would realize the first three villains (except for Monstro) are opposite to other characters. Honest John and Gideon are opposite to Jiminy Cricket. Both Jiminy and John wear gentlemen like clothing and Gideon wears yellowish worn out clothing, the same kind of clothing Jiminy wore before becoming Pinocchio’s conscious. While Jiminy tries to do good for Pinocchio, John and Gideon try to use him for their own gain. Stromboli on the other hand is opposite to Gepetto. Both are puppet masters, and have a collection of puppets and toy boxes in their rooms, and act like a father figure to Pinocchio (in Stromboli’s case an abusive one). Difference is Gepetto cares for Pinocchio dearly, while Stromboli only saw him as his golden goose (or puppet). Finally, with the Coachman, he’s opposite to the Blue Fairy herself. Now, it’s been implied once or twice that the Coachman is a demon, a being of the unknown. The Blue Fairy also serves as a being of the unknown that have Pinocchio life. While she tries to lead Pinocchio to the good path, Coachman tries to lead Pinocchio and a bunch of disobedient boys to a chaotic and destructive path. And while she offers Pinocchio humanity once he proves himself, Coachman literally strips the other boys of their humanity (if they had it to begin with). With Monstro, while he’s not a direct foil to any of the characters, I would consider him as a test for Pinocchio to repent for his follies, and to truly become a real boy.
I watch this movie once as a kid and never again because I was so horrified. Seeing the donkey transformation scene and specifically them taking the clothes off of the donkeys... reminded me why I was hated it as a kid
Pinnochio is punished for ditching school to be a star under Stromboli and he's punished for going off to Pleasure Island instead of returning to his worried sick father, but he is NEVER punished for leaving the other children to their fate. Neither Jiminy Cricket acting as his conscience, nor the movie by extension, ever judged or shamed the kid for saving himself. If anything, Pinocchio is killed in his one attempt at selfless bravery, and saved only by literal divine intervention. Luck. After all, it's a giant maneating whale, and he's a child literally born yesterday. I always appreciated that in our modern time where kids are depicted as game shakers destined to save the world, and Moana's grandmother telling her that she shouldn't _have_ to be the one to save her home on her own is practically novel, Pinocchio 80 years ago said that working on yourself is good enough. Some evils are just too great to expect the kids watching to overcome. I could see the upcoming remake botching this idea by having a new scene where Jiminy berates Pinnocchio for leaving his friends and an hour long B plot to extend the film's runtime, where an 8 year old and a bug single-handedly bust an expansive trafficking ring run by the Italian mob. That would easily make Pinnocchio more like its contemporary, digestible, kiddie-cushioning counterparts and less like itself. On another note, you lightly touching on the time that this movie came out, when tensions for WWII were escalating, kinda makes this the only anti-war movie that has literally nothing to do with war. No, young men, you _don't_ have to die trying to fight monsters that are bigger than you. _Save yourself._
My golly that just gave me a whole new door of ideas for my stories! Subverting expectations of the main characters normally taking on big fish challenges. I will instead have my main character realize the challenge was too big and learn that while this it's great to challenge yourself, you need to recognize your limitations. To learn when it is the right time to stay in that limitation, instead of pushing yourself further. That their not worthless for not being able to stay strong for long, and that even small baby steps go a much longer way. Even if your name does not go down in history, your identity is not determined by being glorified.
Save yourself first, then live to tell your tale. When you're as young, powerless, & inexperienced as a child, or when your enemy is far bigger & stronger than you, you can't fight them alone. If you stay, you could suffer (& die). Save yourself, escape, get back to friendly territory, & there you can tell your story to people who can help you. Pinocchio on his own couldn't get Honest John arrested, but by telling Geppetto he could have the police called on him. Pinocchio on his own couldn't overthrow the coachman or rescue the children turned into donkeys, but by finally making it to school & telling children, parents, & teachers, he could get the whole village to rescue the donkeys, return the donkeys to children, & then punish the coachman. Pinocchio alone couldn't end Stromboli's business, but by telling the good townsfolk, he could get them to boycott him, get Geppetto's help in rescuing the puppets, & help see Stromboli broke & miserable. TL; DR: the enemy often can't be fought without help, so live long enough to escape, then find help in defeating them. Everybody from political prisoners to people in bad relationships can find hope & comfort in that. Get out today, recover tomorrow, then later, face your enemy with your friends by your side.
Pinocchio doesn't get the recognition it deserves because unlike other Disney films, it doesn't star a princess to sell to little girls, it doesn't star an action hero to sell to little boys, and it doesn't star a cute animal to sell to everyone. It just has harsh reality.
The whole thing with pleasure island, and Lampwick especially, really chills people to their core (adults, too). And I think it's because we know, deep down, it reflects reality. Sometimes our bad decisions can't be undone. Sometimes there aren't any second chances. Sometimes one stupid mistake means lights out. And there's nothing you can do about it. That scene with Lampwick calling for his mom oddly didn't bother me as much as a kid, but as an adult, it almost makes me cry. He realizes how foolish he was, he wants to go back to the safety and comfort of his mother he probably thoughtlessly cast aside, but now it's too late. And we know his mom probably would have accepted him back if only he'd changed his ways a bit sooner and returned to her. And now she'll never see him again. It's such a tragic thing, imo. So happy you're back making these videos. If you ever set up a Patreon, I'd be glad to donate. 🙂
A few video games also deal with that; Megaman X4 has Magma Dragoon as one such example; where when Zero slays him, he realizes how foolish he was, but it's far too late for him to do anything about it; and he returns for the Boss Rush and X's story, having become an unrepentant monster, locked into a life of sin. X-Challenge sells things even more; the tragic mistakes of Doppler and General, which they seemed able to atone for in life, still damned them in the end, where now they blow to smithereens as countless Mavericks before them did.
That’s a fear we all have to grapple with. The fear that our bad decisions cannot be undone and we have to live with them. We need to acknowledge that our decisions have consequences and make them carefully.
No kidding, I used to be married and I cheated on my wife with eight different women. I didn't get caught the first seven times I had an affair or a one-night stand but the last one that I had with my sister-in-law did me in because she couldn't hold water. My life and my reputation have been completely ruined and now I spend whatever I can on scratch-off lotto tickets in a vain effort to be well-off again.
I knew this one was going to be about the darkness of the film but I wasn’t anticipating the depth of the message. Disney punishes every other villain ever but doesn’t do a thing to the child traffickers and slave laborers in this one… because the Holocaust was happening and the only message he wanted to convey was “they’re coming for you, better run and hide.” Pinocchio leaves the other kids to die and runs for his life and never talks about it again?! not because he’s a bad person but because he knew instinctively it was an evil too big for him to take on. This sucks; the Happiest Place on Earth and it turns out the inspiration behind it was ‘Lets all hide from Hitler.’ Thanks a lot.
I thought it was more about letting the KIDS “hide from Hitler,“ not really a message for the adults. This was more of a lesson of survival, something that must be done before you’re even old enough to have the chance to fight that evil. Nowadays, a voice can raise an army of millions, but when this movie came out, a single voice among the common man could only do so much. Pinocchio had to become a real boy before he had a chance to consider making a difference in the world. This is where the power of a parent and child relationship really comes into play! I know that I intend to talk about this with my daughter when she is old enough to see this film. Not because I don’t want her to stand up for what is right, but I want her to focus on becoming a strong individual first. And when evil rears its head early on, she can confide in me and trust me to fight for her until she’s strong enough to fight for herself.
@@swanpride but that lines up with the movie's message of "sometimes good fails and evil wins". Sometimes it *really is* a lost cause, and in trying to save those boys or fight against The Coachman, Pinocchio would've put *himself* in more danger. Sometimes the best choice you can possibly make is to save yourself
As an adult who went through childhood trauma a young age (around the age of 7) - I probably only watched this film once as a child because it terrified me and I never could put into words why. I haven't watched that film in over 20 years now and just realised that I erased 95% of the film from my brain. It took me about 7 years (when I was in my early teens) to remember my trauma because I had just buried it somewhere in my brain in order to survive and keep living life "normally". It took several more years to actually tell someone in person what happened to me as a child. I can't even imagine what the horrors Pinocchio had to witness would do to a young boy around his age. I was always well above my peers regarding my vocabulary and reading skills but I couldn't put what happened to me into any words after it happened. The feeling of helplessness was crushing and overwhelming (and about 22 years later it still is). So Pinocchio not telling anyone about what he witnessed is absolutely plausible. It might actually make him even more human. That the villains in the film never get punished is something I completely erased from my memory - probably because it hits way too close to home for me. Speaking out against "evil" things/people is extremely hard as a child, especially when you can't put it into words (or know nothing would be done about it, which was the case for what I went through because legally in my country my perpetrator was about 6 years too young to face any consequences for what she did to me and I KNEW that and that I was supposed to tell my parents about what happened - but I just couldn't) and just want to forget what happened and "move on" with your life... Pinocchio is the most terrifying thing Disney ever released in my opinion. The only other Disney films that actually scared me as a child were "Fantasia" and then to some degree "Alice in Wonderland"...
Most people weren't even aware of the Holocaust, nor the atrocities committed by the Communist regime of the USSR, at the time. They may have been aware of stuff like what Imperial Japan was doing, but there was enough racism in America to dismiss the perpetrators and victims as subhuman. If Walt was aware of this, though... That's actually pretty cool. It also puts the Pink Elephants from Dumbo in a much darker light.
I feel like this has been one of the most forgotten Disney films, at least by my generation; I honestly haven't thought about Pinocchio in probably 20 years, well before VHS went defunct, and it's a shame. Thank you for bringing this back to memory, this "well, that was scary" movie has a lot more depth than anticipated, I really enjoy these videos.
Talking about villains who are the embodiment of darkness, who are never punished and who hurt people just because they can and that this was a deliberate message on Walt’s part, I think it’s fitting that the only other piece of Disney media to rival Pinocchio’s darkness or display such an equally terrifying villain is from another project Walt created. The Night on Bald Mountain sequence from Fantasia, starring Chernabog, the Disney universe’s interpretation of the devil. Fantasia almost rushes into the snoozefest that is the finale of Ave Maria, as if trying to distract and pacify censors, parents and moralists alike, after fully revelling in one of the most breathtaking displays of darkness ever put to screen, seemingly hoping you’ll forget that Chernabog hasn’t been punished for his actions, nor has he been defeated, only temporarily inconvenienced. And just like the donkey scene still sticks in the minds of viewers today, despite Disney trying to push nowadays that Fantasia is remembered for Micky as the sorcerers apprentice, it’s the Night on Bald Mountain scene that sticks with people. If Walt was trying to send a clear message and warning about the presence of darkness in the world, boy did he succeed.
I probably should have watched Pinocchio more closely as a youth, because it is taking a lot of therapy to undo the damage of being taught that bad people get punished. Bad people don't always get punished, and sometimes - a lot of the time - good people get terrible circumstances. Accepting this is difficult.
While Pinocchio became a real boy and danced with Gepetto, the Coachman probably was still kidnapping and traficking little boys. This is what makes him one of the scariest villains of all time.
Okay I'll be honest, Pinocchio is not one of my favorite disney movies. But your final thesis about villains of pinocchio really puts the movie in a different perspective for me. I really appreciate that!
Okay, that Disney villain comeuppance montage was so. Darn. Cool. And I loved that it finished up with Dr. Facilier, who ranks high on my list of favorite Disney villains largely due to the voicework of the legendary Keith David. But yes, Pinocchio withholds the comeuppance. These villains live on to do more harm. Justice isn't served. And it is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the film. That clip from Education for Death gives me chills. Pinocchio also has, maybe not the best, but certainly my favorite voice cast of all Disney animated films made during his lifetime. In nearly all the others, I can think of at least one character whose voice is... well, if not quite right, then could be better. In Pinocchio, every single performance is exactly right. I'm particularly fond of Walter Catlett's turn as Honest John, and of course Cliff Edwards is nothing less than iconic as Jiminy Cricket. The Kermit the Frog analogy is on point.
Something no one really thinks about: the village they live in is extremely small. So what are the chances of Gideon and Honest John running into Pinocchio again? Rather high. And what if Stromboli or the Coachman comes back? Stromboli wouldn't care as Pinocchio is a real boy now and can't be used in a puppet show, but the Coachman doesn't care whether he's a puppet or not.
Pinocchio has never been one of my favorite movies. As a child, it terrified me. And as an adult, the theme of child abuse often makes me shy away from it. I agree with what you say, due to its figures, themes, and villains it is the darkest Disney film, especially from the perspective of a child.
This work is mindboggling in scope and deep insight. Re Lampwick's 'terror-transform'; it and Cinderella's dress tearoff by stepsisters haunted me most after seeing them as a boy.
Cinderella really doesn’t get the respect it deserves for how brutal that scene is. The painfully realistic way it portrays what it feels like to have your dreams crushed and be completely at the mercy of someone who hates you is such a gut-punch in the middle of what is otherwise a rather light, silly movie. I hadn’t experienced bullying yet at that age (and thankfully never experienced an abusive household), but even as a small child, that scene was as scary as Mufasa’s death.
I think is pretty obvious why he ran away to never look back again. First of all he's just a little boy with a cricket. What can he do against a whole child trafficking organization? It's obvious if he stood a little longer in the cursed island, the transformation would be complete and the Coachman already said the transformation is undoable and irreversable. Pinocchio's friend is supposed to end terribly bad, he represents bad friendships those friendships that undoubtely will turn out to be your doom, which finally happened, he could not be saved, for him it was already too late, since nothing could be done for him Pinocchio could only watch in silent horror to witness the terror of his transformation. The final message to the audience would have lost his power if he was saved at the very last moment, which fortunately didn't happened for the sake of the story. *By the first part of the third act, when he decides to go after his father eaten by a murderous whale, no mather what; he proves himself to be: BRAVE *By the end of the first part of the second act, after he appologizes with the blue fairy for telling lies and promises not to tell lies again anymore; he proves himself to be: TRUTHFUL *By the end of the second act, by running away from pleasure island and hedonism, to stop selfishness, giving up on the search for self-pleasure and hedonism in the pleasure island; then proves himself to be: UNSELFISH Pinocchio is not a hero who saves the entire world and the children in it, only saves his father, and there is also a reason why none of the villains get any kind of punishment, they are supposed to still be set free in the world as a warning from part of Disney and the animators to tell the kids that evil is still out there running rampant ready to take them at first sight.
The movie honestly scared me shitless and to this day i always knew it was because of the unforgiving danger and evil in it that are very much a real thing in our world. I used to dislike the movie as a kid but i appreciate it nowdays. Great video! i’m glad you came back with a banger like this!
Pinocchio: Disneys' Darkest Nightmare. The Black Cauldron: enters the chat You are just so adorable. The Coachman: the literal Devil himself that wants to steal children, especially boys, get them drunk and high in order to sell them to circuses and mines as donkeys Horned King: a literal walking corpse that is a necromancer kidnaps princess for some rule the world prophecy Never mind. I'm not that dark and creepy after all.
Man that ending from the beginning of the villain defeat montage to the repeating of “No children, You’re wrong” all throughout these 3 part. To the chilling ending. Bravo! No wonder these take you so long to write such magnificence.
Okay, I have to say, bravo with that ending, that was utterly chilling. It's also clever you put nearly all the other content like the main motifs and the final ranking in the second video, like you knew the villain context would be the bit many would be less willing to sit through. I definitely think Pinocchio is a story everyone appreciates the legacy of but many don't really like to go back to, and I think it's that pure hard truth darkness that's the reason. And it's in its core, be it the novel, the Disney film, the anime series or the stop motions, few could whitewash it no matter what changes they made, they're all unsettling despite the iconic characters like Pinocchio, Jiminy and Figaro that are so whimsical and trying to make you ignore the darkness surrounding them.
Good and evil and how sometimes, evil goes unpunished. Taking the entertaining aspects of an animated film and digesting some underlying themes. Something that we don't necessarily think about. Great work of review.
I never saw this film as a kid, which I'm really happy for; I watched it years later, in my twenties, and it still was nightmarish experience, rivalling films like Coraline.
Yes because the children were never saved or changed back I had nightmares about the movie when I was a kid, I’d have nightmares about me, my siblings, and cousins being turned into donkeys, shoved into crates, and being at the bottom of a ship headed for an unknown destination.
I'm not so sure Monstro is among those who got away scot-free, he did smash his face into a rocky cliffside in attempt to kill Pinocchio, if that did not kill him, at the very least must have injured him.
Once when I got heat stroke as a kid, my dad took me home and laid me on the couch ...and while I was pretty much hallucinating he put Pinocchio on and I remember being **extremely** scared by it and even to this day in my 30s I'm extremely frightened by it. the scenes with the little boys turning into donkeys and being put into the crates still makes me cry!! it's such a beautiful movie though... and yes I agree Figaro is def the best cat... Plus I love how geppetto brings his fish and his Kitty everywhere with him! geppetto is just so likable and wonderful 🖤🖤🖤🖤
BRO. That villain-justice montage is one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen, and this whole series is fantastic. I know it’s been ages but I do hope you continue when you’re able because I love this kind of stuff.
Fudd, you've really got a knack for this. I didn't actually grow up with Pinocchio, I only saw it when I was a teenager. But damn, I was missing out! I really do hope this vid takes off too, your commentary on these movies is amazing.
I can’t tell you how much the Pleasure Island scenes (particularly the donkey transformation) terrified me. I was 6 when it was rereleased in theaters in 1971.
What a great series, I really enjoyed this. That long slow montage of Disney villains getting their comeuppance and realising that none of the Pinocchio villains does was just a fantastic bit of editing, really nicely done.
I absolutely adore your videos, you really know how to express how these movies are more than just silly old cartoons. Too many people now a days brush them off and refuse to see them for what Disney was trying to convey. People reading BuzzFeed articles asking about "Why didn't Pinocchio go back and save the children?" are missing the point. Thank you for being one of the few people that don't treat these movies at face value. I've always said that Pinocchio is the most Disneyish Disney movie and I could never put into words why. Your videos are fantastic and I can't wait for the rest of them.
Something else to note about the villains: their progression from very humanly evil (Gideon) to elemental evil (Monstro) is very similar to the villains of Beowulf. Grendel is very human, Mother is less so, and the dragon is completely elemental.
I never liked Pinocchio...until now. Now I'm going to have to suffer through the anxiety Monstero gives me just so I can experience this movie with this context. And as a result I'm probably going to enjoy it for the first time. Thank you.
I'm glad your here to give us these analyzations. When it comes to older films, especially cartoons, I feel too many people seem to just view them in a somewhat lesser light than modern day features, or at least don't take enough time to understand them below the surface. You go into extreme depth and really bring out sides of these films I've never seen before. I certainly hope you continue and If you make a patreon, I will be happy to support it.
My church shared this movie to our youth group. I didn’t attend because I already knew what was going to happen. And the next day they relayed this entire message to us. Not to scare us, but to warn us. They knew our souls were in danger, and they wanted us to be prepared. And it still haunts me sometimes to know my soul will always be in danger. Until the day God saves me.
I have to comment, I love your videos. I love Disney's old movies, and as popular as Disney is today, I still think the old movies don't get enough credit or are remembered enough. I enjoy videos analyzing animated movies, and I rarely see ones that analyze old Disney like this. Thank you for your ideas and your videos.
These videos are wonderful, awesome work! I love seeing discussions about the classic Disney movies, as a casual Disney fan I only usually see people discussing the modern work. Your insights and thoughts on Pinocchio are really interesting!
I'm commenting, because you told me to like, comment and subscribe, and I decided to dedicate my life to doing exactly what you tell me to do in order to get all of those videos you promised as soon as possible.
Thank you for this video essay and for framing Pinocchio’s horrors in a way I haven’t considered before. I’ve always loved the technical beauty of the animation, but understanding the storytelling details that make it such a strong, emotionally compelling film makes me appreciate it on a whole other level. I know plenty of animation lovers who I must share this with. Keep up the fantastic work, Success will definitely come with it!
"Just remember this, Bomberman. That the evil in all the hearts of all lifeforms have created me. And i shall never disapear! I shall always! ALWAYS RETURN!!!" - Lord Buggler
Makes me dislike the remake more (then again at least it was only Stromboli who I think is less evil then Foul Fellow or someone who may or may not be the devil)
Once the songs were gone, I wouldn't like the movie anymore. I guess there was a reason why I anyways watched the first half ad a kid. As an adult, it's even more terrifying because it reflects the reality of our world, evil isn't always punished, the good doesn't always survive, and one wrong move (no matter of ridiculous it is) can cost you everything. I really appreciate the movie more now since not many other Disney movies have this kind of theme in their Disney universe. And way to leave it on a scary note. I just love your stuff!
I once had a conversation with someone who said the blue fairy is just as much to blame for the consequences that Pleasure Island bestowed on the boys, since she never bothered to appear and remove the spell. I pointed out that we don’t even know if she could, it’s never revealed that she’s all powerful or even what exactly triggers this transformation, plus it would overall taint the message that Coachmans actions show, which is that some people are just pure evil. I believe that to be the message because both the author of the original story and Disney, it was never stated that the victims HAVE to be kids, the fact that he exploits those who haven’t fully grasped that actions have consequences,sometimes severe ones, paints him as one of the most evil characters in all media in my eyes.
I can't wait to see your outlook on Disney's post-war movies. You've already drawn out a thread of survival and endurance shaped by the hard times America was experiencing. I wonder which movie will turn to another theme, and where it goes next. I'm sure Dumbo and Cinderella still have hints of it, and I don't really remember enough of Peter Pan to recall much more than general creepiness and a very porly-aged scene. Sleeping Beauty has some agency and character, but I remember the fairies being much more prominent--same as Merlin in Sword in the Stone, so maybe there's a maturing mentality of caretaking and bringing up the next generation. Looking forward to seeing if I'm guessing right here.
This series was a great analysis, I had not even considered a lot of the points before, and yet make total sense as to why it's one of my favourite (if not my definitive favourite) Disney films. You know, I think I like it so much is because it very much feels like a dream. The "and then this happened" type story progression, but also the real world/fantasy setting with very real subject matters presented in a more abstracted way. It's a type of feeling that's very rare and difficult to replicate, but I think the film does it very well.
After Watching this as a child, rewatching and processing life now with 33 years of life experience... There are many plot points that remind me of Stoic philosophy on boyhood to manhood, the ultimate alchemy (fool to hero, lead to gold, wood to flesh). Being honest and truthful are very important components to Pinocchio's tale. The nose growing, for me was the epitome of transformation from boy to man, lower, sacral, urges/the natural desires. Pinocchio being trapped in the s3x ring seems to be a secret, sacred symbolism of being locked/trapped/bound by animalistic desires (sex, death...). SO many little boys become the grown a-dolt men thay pray on young humans (boys, girls, any other identification). There is SO much that watching these movies that are "my nostalgia" and meditating on them/how they ***Changed/Transformed (Reason for Pinocchio's story) my personal path. Uhmmmm. Okay thanks again for the awesome content 🎉
Only just discovered this and wow, I rewatched Pinnochio a few years ago and it didnt click with me, but I really appreciate an essay that can give me a Best Case lens for the films story. Now I really appreciate what its going for, and its terrifying. Looking forward to the rest of them!
God, I remember getting Foulfellow & Gideon’s autographs at Disney World when I was 4 (I still have my autograph book somewhere), and honestly I think I got more villain autographs than heroes, which explains a lot tbh. 😅 Edit: I thought I recognized Stromboli’s voice from another film, so I went to look it up and found on the IMDB page that he & the coachman were actually voiced by Charles Judels, who was uncredited for the role for whatever reason, not sure how accurate IMDB is, but I thought I’d come back & mention it.
Spectacular video man. Your speech explaining the villains gave me goosebumps. I had never thought about it that way but it makes so much sense. Pinocchio has always scared me the most of any Disney film and this video series perfectly captures why it is so unsettling.
I had subscribed to you and hit the bell after I saw the Snow White video, but somehow I didn't get to see these ones when they came out, I just watched them along with your Disney Dumpster Dive. I just wanted to say that these videos are incredible and definitely your work doesn't go unnoticed! I really do hope your channel continues to grow and that we get to see a lot more of you! All the best and hope to see the third installment in this series soon!
This was a really interesting look at Pinocchio and very well made videos! I don't really have anything to contribute to the discussion, but I'm commenting for the algorithm. Keep up the great work!
I was waiting for you to mention the scenes where that kid turns into a donkey. That scene scared the shit out of me as a kid, and it stuck with me for a long time
Granted concerning its time I think it also maybe botches its message in one regard; that Pinocchio not only runs from these forces, but also forgets about it and doesn't inform ANYONE. That it tries to whitewash everything and say nothing is wrong, that is also where the ending feels dissonant. At that point in time, getting safe was important, but so was informing authorities of ANY supicious or unscupulous behaviour should it expand into something worse. A kid running from the sight of a Nazi is logicial, a kid not warning a single solider or police officer about it when they were safe is stupid.
What I was hoping you would talk about is the whole "I want to be a real boy" thing. Because as far as I remember this wasn't part of the original storybook, but ever since the Disey version, 'wanting to be a real boy' is the first thing people think about when Pinocchio is mentioned. I have always wondered what 'becoming a real boy' is a metaphore for. What does not being a real boy represent? Is it a metaphore for some kind of disability? Some form of otherness? Identity issues? What does it say to children that they are supposed to identify with someone who doesn't feel (and really isn't) real? Also- why does Pinocchio want to be a real boy? I have always wondered this as a child. It seemed to me like a very minor cosmetic difference, as he is able to do and say anything he wants as a puppet throughout the entire movie. What does being real really give him? Is it mortality? Is that what Pinocchio wants? A chance to eventually die?
My mom expressed it in a way I feel very compelling: "He's made of wood because the adults around him see him as merchandise or a toy. His goal is to stop being objectified."
@@lilyovalle7254 That makes sense! I'll rewatch it with your mom's version in mind. I was also thinking about it, and I came up with another versionas well: he's not "real"- because he is a fabrication of Gepetto's imagination. That's why he is depicted as something he fabricated out of wood. As TWBF observed- Gepetto is the one who wishes upon a star. Gepetto wants a kid, but before he can really have one, he first has to imagine and face all of his fears regarding the dangers of bringing a new and innocent life into this world that he sees as nightmarish and dangerous. But once he reconciled with the possibility of every evil he imagines might befall his son, he is ready to have a real boy.
I always thought the point of Pinocchio was that we're all born as "puppets", as in we don't have the wisdom and intelligence necessary to use our free will to its fullest extent. And the cost of using free will, is that you put an end to the almost limitless potential of your early childhood, by choosing the path that's right for you and assuming your personal responsibility. In a sense, Pinocchio faces several illusions of freedom (with the illusions of success and fame, then with hedonism and indulgence), and it's only when Gepetto is in danger that he goes down the straight and narrow path, ending ultimately in sacrifice. Gepetto's capture could be seen as the child's realization that their parents aren't omnipotent and won't be there forever. And when Pinocchio is willing to go down in Monstro's belly, and faces death itself in an act of selflessness... that's the point where he fully accepts his duties and responsibilities, and it's the first time he uses his ingenuity to get out of danger. That trial costs him dearly (= he shows he's ready to risk death so that someone else can live): but it is rewarded by a new life. Much like the trials we face in childhood eventually lead us to become autonomous, self-reliant, and able to make meaningful choices, even to sacrifice ourselves for others out of love. In a way, when he claims he wants to be "a real boy", I'd say Pinocchio doesn't want a chance to eventually die, but rather a chance to finally live.
@@officaldaelight Thanks! I revisited that movie after watching video essays and some of J. Peterson's lessons on it, and there's just an incredible amount of meaning you can draw from it, it's amazing ^^
Man, watching these videos again after visiting the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. I'm so glad you're making content that explores the animation of this period. I truly hope you make more of these!
It's amazing how as the years have gone by, this movie continues to pop up in my mind of the most horrifying things of all time. And holy crap that ending of this video with the disturbing whistling has caused me to now make Hi Diddlee Dee the scariest song of all Disney.
I knew this would be an amazing ride! My baby cousin loves this movie a lot and wouldnt stop watching so in short i just recently watched the movies and it is truly a dark narrative with amazing godly visuals and the videos made me appreciate them more! I cant wait to see your take on the "dark ages" films off disney
I adore your videos and unironically this helped me process my childhood trauma with this movie, i hates it as a kid but couldn't realise why, literally peering from between my fingers during the near gorey transformation scene. I also didn't understand why every adult found it funny and laughed when i was terrified. It's good to know that i had a reason to be scared cus it was *intended* to scare. Oh my god wait..... is this why i have an unhealthy level of personal guilt and fear when doing "wrong"? Oooooooo can't wait to explore that subconscious internalisation :3c Pls keep doing your vids!!! They're f*cking awesome!!
I don't get how people can laugh at that scene possibley outside of it being an absurdly horrifying scene. I would have thoguh that when you're a child, it terrifies you for the reasons outlined here and presumably not having watched body horror outside of that scene, and adults because of the extremity of harm perpetrated against boys -who are still young children at the end of the day- by a seemingly demonic force.
What makes The Coachman the most vile, evil and down right sickening, is that he is REAL! Also, the whole scene with kids skipping school and being stupid, who at the end up as donkeys is that it is a allegory for how in real life back in the 1930s and 40s if you drop out, not learn to read and write, the only job prospects you have is manual labor, like a donkey. I always felt that scene was to get kids to stay in school, to be literate and educated, so they can avoid being easily manipulated and being treated like a mule, ie. a donkey, aka a jack-ass. People today take for grated of free education between the ages of 4 and 24, but there was a time in which kids were either living in the streets or used as a labor in the family... childhood is a modern construct after WW2 to learn and develop morals to be productive, educated members of society... before that children were seen as extra labor force or worse. It is even worse when you were born with disabilities of any type. You are stuck by the label you were forced into since birth, living a wretched life in institutions as lab rats and at the mercy of "doctors". Modern kids have no idea how good they have it. So stay in school and be productive, active citizens to the society you are in, ungrateful brats!!!
I really enjoy these essay videos you do. They're fascinating to listen to and hear your take on them and able to learn to think about them in a more critical light.
As I watched this three parter I can't help but think of how just about everyone these days have doped themselves into thinking that Kingdom Hearts _"is Disney at its strangest, darkest and most moving, actually allowing the cookie cutter family friendly image of the Disney catalog to be more mature and nuanced than it has ever been, how it has much more bite than any of the animated classics in its depictions of the fight between good and evil."_ And most of all, I can't help but think of all the jackasses who think that the likes of Organization XIII and Xehanort are the best villains that have ever come out of any Disney sanctioned production. And as I do, I can't help but laugh and pity them... *For they clearly know nothing of what true darkness looks like....*
Man, you really left this on a scary note. Again all the villains are realistic because you have people out there in the world who will exploit and take advantage of your nativity and send you somewhere that no one can retrieve you.
"Fairy tales should confront real fears. They're a part of growing up." - Terry Gilliam
You make the same point I've often said about Pinocchio's villains. They represent temptation and the consequences of giving into it. Jiminy even says so about Honest John. And you can't destroy temptation. You can't punish it. You can only learn to overcome it and be stronger than it.
But the best option is usually to run away.
And if you notice some details, you would realize the first three villains (except for Monstro) are opposite to other characters. Honest John and Gideon are opposite to Jiminy Cricket. Both Jiminy and John wear gentlemen like clothing and Gideon wears yellowish worn out clothing, the same kind of clothing Jiminy wore before becoming Pinocchio’s conscious. While Jiminy tries to do good for Pinocchio, John and Gideon try to use him for their own gain. Stromboli on the other hand is opposite to Gepetto. Both are puppet masters, and have a collection of puppets and toy boxes in their rooms, and act like a father figure to Pinocchio (in Stromboli’s case an abusive one). Difference is Gepetto cares for Pinocchio dearly, while Stromboli only saw him as his golden goose (or puppet). Finally, with the Coachman, he’s opposite to the Blue Fairy herself. Now, it’s been implied once or twice that the Coachman is a demon, a being of the unknown. The Blue Fairy also serves as a being of the unknown that have Pinocchio life. While she tries to lead Pinocchio to the good path, Coachman tries to lead Pinocchio and a bunch of disobedient boys to a chaotic and destructive path. And while she offers Pinocchio humanity once he proves himself, Coachman literally strips the other boys of their humanity (if they had it to begin with). With Monstro, while he’s not a direct foil to any of the characters, I would consider him as a test for Pinocchio to repent for his follies, and to truly become a real boy.
Monstro is akin I the whale that swallowed up Jonah.
@Mike Phelps you can technically also say the same thing about lampwick since he is technically a foil to Pinocchio himself
The scene where the donkeys are being shipped off literally makes me cry. I feel so bad for all those poor boys and I wish I could save them. 😭
I watch this movie once as a kid and never again because I was so horrified. Seeing the donkey transformation scene and specifically them taking the clothes off of the donkeys... reminded me why I was hated it as a kid
Pinnochio is punished for ditching school to be a star under Stromboli and he's punished for going off to Pleasure Island instead of returning to his worried sick father, but he is NEVER punished for leaving the other children to their fate. Neither Jiminy Cricket acting as his conscience, nor the movie by extension, ever judged or shamed the kid for saving himself. If anything, Pinocchio is killed in his one attempt at selfless bravery, and saved only by literal divine intervention. Luck. After all, it's a giant maneating whale, and he's a child literally born yesterday.
I always appreciated that in our modern time where kids are depicted as game shakers destined to save the world, and Moana's grandmother telling her that she shouldn't _have_ to be the one to save her home on her own is practically novel, Pinocchio 80 years ago said that working on yourself is good enough. Some evils are just too great to expect the kids watching to overcome. I could see the upcoming remake botching this idea by having a new scene where Jiminy berates Pinnocchio for leaving his friends and an hour long B plot to extend the film's runtime, where an 8 year old and a bug single-handedly bust an expansive trafficking ring run by the Italian mob. That would easily make Pinnocchio more like its contemporary, digestible, kiddie-cushioning counterparts and less like itself.
On another note, you lightly touching on the time that this movie came out, when tensions for WWII were escalating, kinda makes this the only anti-war movie that has literally nothing to do with war. No, young men, you _don't_ have to die trying to fight monsters that are bigger than you.
_Save yourself._
My golly that just gave me a whole new door of ideas for my stories! Subverting expectations of the main characters normally taking on big fish challenges. I will instead have my main character realize the challenge was too big and learn that while this it's great to challenge yourself, you need to recognize your limitations. To learn when it is the right time to stay in that limitation, instead of pushing yourself further.
That their not worthless for not being able to stay strong for long, and that even small baby steps go a much longer way. Even if your name does not go down in history, your identity is not determined by being glorified.
Save yourself first, then live to tell your tale. When you're as young, powerless, & inexperienced as a child, or when your enemy is far bigger & stronger than you, you can't fight them alone. If you stay, you could suffer (& die). Save yourself, escape, get back to friendly territory, & there you can tell your story to people who can help you. Pinocchio on his own couldn't get Honest John arrested, but by telling Geppetto he could have the police called on him. Pinocchio on his own couldn't overthrow the coachman or rescue the children turned into donkeys, but by finally making it to school & telling children, parents, & teachers, he could get the whole village to rescue the donkeys, return the donkeys to children, & then punish the coachman. Pinocchio alone couldn't end Stromboli's business, but by telling the good townsfolk, he could get them to boycott him, get Geppetto's help in rescuing the puppets, & help see Stromboli broke & miserable.
TL; DR: the enemy often can't be fought without help, so live long enough to escape, then find help in defeating them. Everybody from political prisoners to people in bad relationships can find hope & comfort in that. Get out today, recover tomorrow, then later, face your enemy with your friends by your side.
Pinocchio doesn't get the recognition it deserves because unlike other Disney films, it doesn't star a princess to sell to little girls, it doesn't star an action hero to sell to little boys, and it doesn't star a cute animal to sell to everyone. It just has harsh reality.
The whole thing with pleasure island, and Lampwick especially, really chills people to their core (adults, too). And I think it's because we know, deep down, it reflects reality. Sometimes our bad decisions can't be undone. Sometimes there aren't any second chances. Sometimes one stupid mistake means lights out. And there's nothing you can do about it.
That scene with Lampwick calling for his mom oddly didn't bother me as much as a kid, but as an adult, it almost makes me cry. He realizes how foolish he was, he wants to go back to the safety and comfort of his mother he probably thoughtlessly cast aside, but now it's too late. And we know his mom probably would have accepted him back if only he'd changed his ways a bit sooner and returned to her. And now she'll never see him again. It's such a tragic thing, imo.
So happy you're back making these videos. If you ever set up a Patreon, I'd be glad to donate. 🙂
Thanks so much! I'll be sure to hold you to that someday!
A few video games also deal with that; Megaman X4 has Magma Dragoon as one such example; where when Zero slays him, he realizes how foolish he was, but it's far too late for him to do anything about it; and he returns for the Boss Rush and X's story, having become an unrepentant monster, locked into a life of sin. X-Challenge sells things even more; the tragic mistakes of Doppler and General, which they seemed able to atone for in life, still damned them in the end, where now they blow to smithereens as countless Mavericks before them did.
That’s a fear we all have to grapple with. The fear that our bad decisions cannot be undone and we have to live with them. We need to acknowledge that our decisions have consequences and make them carefully.
No kidding, I used to be married and I cheated on my wife with eight different women. I didn't get caught the first seven times I had an affair or a one-night stand but the last one that I had with my sister-in-law did me in because she couldn't hold water. My life and my reputation have been completely ruined and now I spend whatever I can on scratch-off lotto tickets in a vain effort to be well-off again.
@@Firguy_the_Foot_Fetishist yeah, so believable... At least change your name if you want to troll
I knew this one was going to be about the darkness of the film but I wasn’t anticipating the depth of the message. Disney punishes every other villain ever but doesn’t do a thing to the child traffickers and slave laborers in this one… because the Holocaust was happening and the only message he wanted to convey was “they’re coming for you, better run and hide.” Pinocchio leaves the other kids to die and runs for his life and never talks about it again?! not because he’s a bad person but because he knew instinctively it was an evil too big for him to take on.
This sucks; the Happiest Place on Earth and it turns out the inspiration behind it was ‘Lets all hide from Hitler.’
Thanks a lot.
That was always the reason why I disliked the movie. To me it always felt as if the movie didn't care about all the poor boys turned into donkeys.
I thought it was more about letting the KIDS “hide from Hitler,“ not really a message for the adults. This was more of a lesson of survival, something that must be done before you’re even old enough to have the chance to fight that evil. Nowadays, a voice can raise an army of millions, but when this movie came out, a single voice among the common man could only do so much. Pinocchio had to become a real boy before he had a chance to consider making a difference in the world. This is where the power of a parent and child relationship really comes into play! I know that I intend to talk about this with my daughter when she is old enough to see this film. Not because I don’t want her to stand up for what is right, but I want her to focus on becoming a strong individual first. And when evil rears its head early on, she can confide in me and trust me to fight for her until she’s strong enough to fight for herself.
@@swanpride but that lines up with the movie's message of "sometimes good fails and evil wins". Sometimes it *really is* a lost cause, and in trying to save those boys or fight against The Coachman, Pinocchio would've put *himself* in more danger. Sometimes the best choice you can possibly make is to save yourself
As an adult who went through childhood trauma a young age (around the age of 7) - I probably only watched this film once as a child because it terrified me and I never could put into words why. I haven't watched that film in over 20 years now and just realised that I erased 95% of the film from my brain. It took me about 7 years (when I was in my early teens) to remember my trauma because I had just buried it somewhere in my brain in order to survive and keep living life "normally". It took several more years to actually tell someone in person what happened to me as a child. I can't even imagine what the horrors Pinocchio had to witness would do to a young boy around his age.
I was always well above my peers regarding my vocabulary and reading skills but I couldn't put what happened to me into any words after it happened. The feeling of helplessness was crushing and overwhelming (and about 22 years later it still is). So Pinocchio not telling anyone about what he witnessed is absolutely plausible. It might actually make him even more human. That the villains in the film never get punished is something I completely erased from my memory - probably because it hits way too close to home for me.
Speaking out against "evil" things/people is extremely hard as a child, especially when you can't put it into words (or know nothing would be done about it, which was the case for what I went through because legally in my country my perpetrator was about 6 years too young to face any consequences for what she did to me and I KNEW that and that I was supposed to tell my parents about what happened - but I just couldn't) and just want to forget what happened and "move on" with your life... Pinocchio is the most terrifying thing Disney ever released in my opinion. The only other Disney films that actually scared me as a child were "Fantasia" and then to some degree "Alice in Wonderland"...
Most people weren't even aware of the Holocaust, nor the atrocities committed by the Communist regime of the USSR, at the time. They may have been aware of stuff like what Imperial Japan was doing, but there was enough racism in America to dismiss the perpetrators and victims as subhuman. If Walt was aware of this, though... That's actually pretty cool. It also puts the Pink Elephants from Dumbo in a much darker light.
I feel like this has been one of the most forgotten Disney films, at least by my generation; I honestly haven't thought about Pinocchio in probably 20 years, well before VHS went defunct, and it's a shame. Thank you for bringing this back to memory, this "well, that was scary" movie has a lot more depth than anticipated, I really enjoy these videos.
Thanks, glad you liked it!
Talking about villains who are the embodiment of darkness, who are never punished and who hurt people just because they can and that this was a deliberate message on Walt’s part, I think it’s fitting that the only other piece of Disney media to rival Pinocchio’s darkness or display such an equally terrifying villain is from another project Walt created.
The Night on Bald Mountain sequence from Fantasia, starring Chernabog, the Disney universe’s interpretation of the devil.
Fantasia almost rushes into the snoozefest that is the finale of Ave Maria, as if trying to distract and pacify censors, parents and moralists alike, after fully revelling in one of the most breathtaking displays of darkness ever put to screen, seemingly hoping you’ll forget that Chernabog hasn’t been punished for his actions, nor has he been defeated, only temporarily inconvenienced.
And just like the donkey scene still sticks in the minds of viewers today, despite Disney trying to push nowadays that Fantasia is remembered for Micky as the sorcerers apprentice, it’s the Night on Bald Mountain scene that sticks with people.
If Walt was trying to send a clear message and warning about the presence of darkness in the world, boy did he succeed.
I probably should have watched Pinocchio more closely as a youth, because it is taking a lot of therapy to undo the damage of being taught that bad people get punished. Bad people don't always get punished, and sometimes - a lot of the time - good people get terrible circumstances. Accepting this is difficult.
While Pinocchio became a real boy and danced with Gepetto, the Coachman probably was still kidnapping and traficking little boys. This is what makes him one of the scariest villains of all time.
Okay I'll be honest, Pinocchio is not one of my favorite disney movies. But your final thesis about villains of pinocchio really puts the movie in a different perspective for me. I really appreciate that!
Glad you liked it!
All the girls wanted to BE Malificent's dragon. We even made paper dragon masks.
Okay, that Disney villain comeuppance montage was so. Darn. Cool. And I loved that it finished up with Dr. Facilier, who ranks high on my list of favorite Disney villains largely due to the voicework of the legendary Keith David. But yes, Pinocchio withholds the comeuppance. These villains live on to do more harm. Justice isn't served. And it is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the film.
That clip from Education for Death gives me chills.
Pinocchio also has, maybe not the best, but certainly my favorite voice cast of all Disney animated films made during his lifetime. In nearly all the others, I can think of at least one character whose voice is... well, if not quite right, then could be better. In Pinocchio, every single performance is exactly right. I'm particularly fond of Walter Catlett's turn as Honest John, and of course Cliff Edwards is nothing less than iconic as Jiminy Cricket. The Kermit the Frog analogy is on point.
Watching this video essay before going to bed was the worst mistake I made in my entire life. With that said: great video!
Same, have to go watch something cute and not terrifying now 😅
Haha, thanks!
Something no one really thinks about: the village they live in is extremely small. So what are the chances of Gideon and Honest John running into Pinocchio again? Rather high. And what if Stromboli or the Coachman comes back? Stromboli wouldn't care as Pinocchio is a real boy now and can't be used in a puppet show, but the Coachman doesn't care whether he's a puppet or not.
Pinocchio has never been one of my favorite movies. As a child, it terrified me. And as an adult, the theme of child abuse often makes me shy away from it. I agree with what you say, due to its figures, themes, and villains it is the darkest Disney film, especially from the perspective of a child.
This work is mindboggling in scope and deep insight. Re Lampwick's 'terror-transform'; it and Cinderella's dress tearoff by stepsisters haunted me most after seeing them as a boy.
Cinderella really doesn’t get the respect it deserves for how brutal that scene is. The painfully realistic way it portrays what it feels like to have your dreams crushed and be completely at the mercy of someone who hates you is such a gut-punch in the middle of what is otherwise a rather light, silly movie. I hadn’t experienced bullying yet at that age (and thankfully never experienced an abusive household), but even as a small child, that scene was as scary as Mufasa’s death.
Alas poor Lampwick ... he's was good friend but a terrible influence . he will be missed by everyone !
I think is pretty obvious why he ran away to never look back again.
First of all he's just a little boy with a cricket. What can he do against a whole child trafficking organization? It's obvious if he stood a little longer in the cursed island, the transformation would be complete and the Coachman already said the transformation is undoable and irreversable. Pinocchio's friend is supposed to end terribly bad, he represents bad friendships those friendships that undoubtely will turn out to be your doom, which finally happened, he could not be saved, for him it was already too late, since nothing could be done for him Pinocchio could only watch in silent horror to witness the terror of his transformation. The final message to the audience would have lost his power if he was saved at the very last moment, which fortunately didn't happened for the sake of the story.
*By the first part of the third act, when he decides to go after his father eaten by a murderous whale, no mather what; he proves himself to be: BRAVE
*By the end of the first part of the second act, after he appologizes with the blue fairy for telling lies and promises not to tell lies again anymore; he proves himself to be: TRUTHFUL
*By the end of the second act, by running away from pleasure island and hedonism, to stop selfishness, giving up on the search for self-pleasure and hedonism in the pleasure island; then proves himself to be: UNSELFISH
Pinocchio is not a hero who saves the entire world and the children in it, only saves his father, and there is also a reason why none of the villains get any kind of punishment, they are supposed to still be set free in the world as a warning from part of Disney and the animators to tell the kids that evil is still out there running rampant ready to take them at first sight.
That ending gave me chill
Glad you liked it!
The movie honestly scared me shitless and to this day i always knew it was because of the unforgiving danger and evil in it that are very much a real thing in our world. I used to dislike the movie as a kid but i appreciate it nowdays. Great video! i’m glad you came back with a banger like this!
Thanks!
Pinocchio: Disneys' Darkest Nightmare.
The Black Cauldron: enters the chat You are just so adorable.
The Coachman: the literal Devil himself that wants to steal children, especially boys, get them drunk and high in order to sell them to circuses and mines as donkeys
Horned King: a literal walking corpse that is a necromancer kidnaps princess for some rule the world prophecy Never mind. I'm not that dark and creepy after all.
I love that Disney villain defeat montage!
Thanks!
all it needed was Hugh Laurie going "oh bollocks" in Tomorrowland
Man that ending from the beginning of the villain defeat montage to the repeating of “No children, You’re wrong” all throughout these 3 part. To the chilling ending. Bravo! No wonder these take you so long to write such magnificence.
Okay, I have to say, bravo with that ending, that was utterly chilling. It's also clever you put nearly all the other content like the main motifs and the final ranking in the second video, like you knew the villain context would be the bit many would be less willing to sit through.
I definitely think Pinocchio is a story everyone appreciates the legacy of but many don't really like to go back to, and I think it's that pure hard truth darkness that's the reason. And it's in its core, be it the novel, the Disney film, the anime series or the stop motions, few could whitewash it no matter what changes they made, they're all unsettling despite the iconic characters like Pinocchio, Jiminy and Figaro that are so whimsical and trying to make you ignore the darkness surrounding them.
Good and evil and how sometimes, evil goes unpunished. Taking the entertaining aspects of an animated film and digesting some underlying themes. Something that we don't necessarily think about. Great work of review.
Realizing the point you were making by showing the clips of villains gave me chills
I never saw this film as a kid, which I'm really happy for; I watched it years later, in my twenties, and it still was nightmarish experience, rivalling films like Coraline.
Yes because the children were never saved or changed back I had nightmares about the movie when I was a kid, I’d have nightmares about me, my siblings, and cousins being turned into donkeys, shoved into crates, and being at the bottom of a ship headed for an unknown destination.
Never realized the vilains in Pinocchio were never punished…actually never thought of it because the protagonists were victorious. Evil does exist.
I'm not so sure Monstro is among those who got away scot-free, he did smash his face into a rocky cliffside in attempt to kill Pinocchio, if that did not kill him, at the very least must have injured him.
Once when I got heat stroke as a kid, my dad took me home and laid me on the couch ...and while I was pretty much hallucinating he put Pinocchio on and I remember being **extremely** scared by it and even to this day in my 30s I'm extremely frightened by it. the scenes with the little boys turning into donkeys and being put into the crates still makes me cry!! it's such a beautiful movie though... and yes I agree Figaro is def the best cat... Plus I love how geppetto brings his fish and his Kitty everywhere with him! geppetto is just so likable and wonderful 🖤🖤🖤🖤
BRO. That villain-justice montage is one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen, and this whole series is fantastic. I know it’s been ages but I do hope you continue when you’re able because I love this kind of stuff.
The ominous tone you gave this genuinely creeped me out. I LOVE IT!!!
7:49 - 8:12 - Good villains' defeat montage. Nice work.
Fudd, you've really got a knack for this. I didn't actually grow up with Pinocchio, I only saw it when I was a teenager. But damn, I was missing out! I really do hope this vid takes off too, your commentary on these movies is amazing.
Thanks so much!
I think this movie might be what planted the seeds of my fear of the ocean.
I can’t tell you how much the Pleasure Island scenes (particularly the donkey transformation) terrified me. I was 6 when it was rereleased in theaters in 1971.
What a great series, I really enjoyed this. That long slow montage of Disney villains getting their comeuppance and realising that none of the Pinocchio villains does was just a fantastic bit of editing, really nicely done.
Giving me chills with that closing statement!
I absolutely adore your videos, you really know how to express how these movies are more than just silly old cartoons. Too many people now a days brush them off and refuse to see them for what Disney was trying to convey. People reading BuzzFeed articles asking about "Why didn't Pinocchio go back and save the children?" are missing the point. Thank you for being one of the few people that don't treat these movies at face value. I've always said that Pinocchio is the most Disneyish Disney movie and I could never put into words why. Your videos are fantastic and I can't wait for the rest of them.
Thanks so much! Really glad you liked it!
Something else to note about the villains: their progression from very humanly evil (Gideon) to elemental evil (Monstro) is very similar to the villains of Beowulf.
Grendel is very human, Mother is less so, and the dragon is completely elemental.
I never liked Pinocchio...until now. Now I'm going to have to suffer through the anxiety Monstero gives me just so I can experience this movie with this context. And as a result I'm probably going to enjoy it for the first time. Thank you.
Thanks! I hope you like it this time around!
I watched all three in this series twice today. Excellent analysis. I can’t wait for your take on other classic Disney animation.
Thanks so much!
Man I loved this! I like how you included the historical context of the movie too, same with the snow white video you made.
Thanks, glad you liked it!
I'm glad your here to give us these analyzations. When it comes to older films, especially cartoons, I feel too many people seem to just view them in a somewhat lesser light than modern day features, or at least don't take enough time to understand them below the surface. You go into extreme depth and really bring out sides of these films I've never seen before. I certainly hope you continue and If you make a patreon, I will be happy to support it.
Thanks! I really appreciate it!
Man, these video essays are fucking amazing. Great writing!
My church shared this movie to our youth group. I didn’t attend because I already knew what was going to happen. And the next day they relayed this entire message to us. Not to scare us, but to warn us. They knew our souls were in danger, and they wanted us to be prepared. And it still haunts me sometimes to know my soul will always be in danger. Until the day God saves me.
1:14 Burned into my fucking memory I’ll never not be afraid of this scene
Oh. My. Gosh. I wish I can like this a thousand times
I have to comment, I love your videos. I love Disney's old movies, and as popular as Disney is today, I still think the old movies don't get enough credit or are remembered enough. I enjoy videos analyzing animated movies, and I rarely see ones that analyze old Disney like this. Thank you for your ideas and your videos.
These videos are wonderful, awesome work! I love seeing discussions about the classic Disney movies, as a casual Disney fan I only usually see people discussing the modern work. Your insights and thoughts on Pinocchio are really interesting!
Thanks, really glad you liked it!
I'm commenting, because you told me to like, comment and subscribe, and I decided to dedicate my life to doing exactly what you tell me to do in order to get all of those videos you promised as soon as possible.
Aww, thanks! I'll do my best!
This movie creeps me out to this day, thanks for the video! This ends on a creepy note and has a moral that sticks with you.
Thank you for this video essay and for framing Pinocchio’s horrors in a way I haven’t considered before. I’ve always loved the technical beauty of the animation, but understanding the storytelling details that make it such a strong, emotionally compelling film makes me appreciate it on a whole other level. I know plenty of animation lovers who I must share this with. Keep up the fantastic work, Success will definitely come with it!
Thanks so much!
"Just remember this, Bomberman. That the evil in all the hearts of all lifeforms have created me. And i shall never disapear! I shall always! ALWAYS RETURN!!!" - Lord Buggler
That ending was creepy
Makes me dislike the remake more (then again at least it was only Stromboli who I think is less evil then Foul Fellow or someone who may or may not be the devil)
Once the songs were gone, I wouldn't like the movie anymore. I guess there was a reason why I anyways watched the first half ad a kid. As an adult, it's even more terrifying because it reflects the reality of our world, evil isn't always punished, the good doesn't always survive, and one wrong move (no matter of ridiculous it is) can cost you everything. I really appreciate the movie more now since not many other Disney movies have this kind of theme in their Disney universe. And way to leave it on a scary note. I just love your stuff!
That ending was chilling 😂
I once had a conversation with someone who said the blue fairy is just as much to blame for the consequences that Pleasure Island bestowed on the boys, since she never bothered to appear and remove the spell. I pointed out that we don’t even know if she could, it’s never revealed that she’s all powerful or even what exactly triggers this transformation, plus it would overall taint the message that Coachmans actions show, which is that some people are just pure evil. I believe that to be the message because both the author of the original story and Disney, it was never stated that the victims HAVE to be kids, the fact that he exploits those who haven’t fully grasped that actions have consequences,sometimes severe ones, paints him as one of the most evil characters in all media in my eyes.
I can't wait to see your outlook on Disney's post-war movies. You've already drawn out a thread of survival and endurance shaped by the hard times America was experiencing. I wonder which movie will turn to another theme, and where it goes next. I'm sure Dumbo and Cinderella still have hints of it, and I don't really remember enough of Peter Pan to recall much more than general creepiness and a very porly-aged scene. Sleeping Beauty has some agency and character, but I remember the fairies being much more prominent--same as Merlin in Sword in the Stone, so maybe there's a maturing mentality of caretaking and bringing up the next generation. Looking forward to seeing if I'm guessing right here.
This series was a great analysis, I had not even considered a lot of the points before, and yet make total sense as to why it's one of my favourite (if not my definitive favourite) Disney films. You know, I think I like it so much is because it very much feels like a dream. The "and then this happened" type story progression, but also the real world/fantasy setting with very real subject matters presented in a more abstracted way. It's a type of feeling that's very rare and difficult to replicate, but I think the film does it very well.
Chills. Legit goosebumps.
After Watching this as a child, rewatching and processing life now with 33 years of life experience... There are many plot points that remind me of Stoic philosophy on boyhood to manhood, the ultimate alchemy (fool to hero, lead to gold, wood to flesh). Being honest and truthful are very important components to Pinocchio's tale. The nose growing, for me was the epitome of transformation from boy to man, lower, sacral, urges/the natural desires. Pinocchio being trapped in the s3x ring seems to be a secret, sacred symbolism of being locked/trapped/bound by animalistic desires (sex, death...). SO many little boys become the grown a-dolt men thay pray on young humans (boys, girls, any other identification). There is SO much that watching these movies that are "my nostalgia" and meditating on them/how they ***Changed/Transformed (Reason for Pinocchio's story) my personal path. Uhmmmm. Okay thanks again for the awesome content 🎉
Pinocchio is the most real movie when compared to the real world
Only just discovered this and wow, I rewatched Pinnochio a few years ago and it didnt click with me, but I really appreciate an essay that can give me a Best Case lens for the films story. Now I really appreciate what its going for, and its terrifying.
Looking forward to the rest of them!
God, I remember getting Foulfellow & Gideon’s autographs at Disney World when I was 4 (I still have my autograph book somewhere), and honestly I think I got more villain autographs than heroes, which explains a lot tbh. 😅
Edit: I thought I recognized Stromboli’s voice from another film, so I went to look it up and found on the IMDB page that he & the coachman were actually voiced by Charles Judels, who was uncredited for the role for whatever reason, not sure how accurate IMDB is, but I thought I’d come back & mention it.
Your channel is very underrated and these videos made my day
Thanks so much!
@@therewillbefudd of course 😊
Spectacular video man. Your speech explaining the villains gave me goosebumps. I had never thought about it that way but it makes so much sense. Pinocchio has always scared me the most of any Disney film and this video series perfectly captures why it is so unsettling.
I had subscribed to you and hit the bell after I saw the Snow White video, but somehow I didn't get to see these ones when they came out, I just watched them along with your Disney Dumpster Dive. I just wanted to say that these videos are incredible and definitely your work doesn't go unnoticed! I really do hope your channel continues to grow and that we get to see a lot more of you! All the best and hope to see the third installment in this series soon!
Thanks so much! Next one is in the works!
You know I came here watching all the versions of pinocchio vid and now I'm invested with all of your videos. Keep up the work and hope to see mroe
This was a really interesting look at Pinocchio and very well made videos! I don't really have anything to contribute to the discussion, but I'm commenting for the algorithm. Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much!
I was waiting for you to mention the scenes where that kid turns into a donkey. That scene scared the shit out of me as a kid, and it stuck with me for a long time
I really wished u would've talked about Lampwick more ...He's my favorite character and he(along with the other Donkey Boys ) had The worst fate!
This review is what sold me. Subscribed.
*Kids, do you think you could lighten up a little?*
There was no ride back home ('30's & 40's), there was probably no talk w/parents either.
You walked 🚶♂️ to theater.
Dude, this is such a good video!
Granted concerning its time I think it also maybe botches its message in one regard; that Pinocchio not only runs from these forces, but also forgets about it and doesn't inform ANYONE. That it tries to whitewash everything and say nothing is wrong, that is also where the ending feels dissonant. At that point in time, getting safe was important, but so was informing authorities of ANY supicious or unscupulous behaviour should it expand into something worse. A kid running from the sight of a Nazi is logicial, a kid not warning a single solider or police officer about it when they were safe is stupid.
What I was hoping you would talk about is the whole "I want to be a real boy" thing. Because as far as I remember this wasn't part of the original storybook, but ever since the Disey version, 'wanting to be a real boy' is the first thing people think about when Pinocchio is mentioned.
I have always wondered what 'becoming a real boy' is a metaphore for. What does not being a real boy represent? Is it a metaphore for some kind of disability? Some form of otherness? Identity issues? What does it say to children that they are supposed to identify with someone who doesn't feel (and really isn't) real?
Also- why does Pinocchio want to be a real boy? I have always wondered this as a child.
It seemed to me like a very minor cosmetic difference, as he is able to do and say anything he wants as a puppet throughout the entire movie. What does being real really give him? Is it mortality?
Is that what Pinocchio wants? A chance to eventually die?
My mom expressed it in a way I feel very compelling: "He's made of wood because the adults around him see him as merchandise or a toy. His goal is to stop being objectified."
@@lilyovalle7254 That makes sense!
I'll rewatch it with your mom's version in mind.
I was also thinking about it, and I came up with another versionas well: he's not "real"- because he is a fabrication of Gepetto's imagination. That's why he is depicted as something he fabricated out of wood. As TWBF observed- Gepetto is the one who wishes upon a star.
Gepetto wants a kid, but before he can really have one, he first has to imagine and face all of his fears regarding the dangers of bringing a new and innocent life into this world that he sees as nightmarish and dangerous. But once he reconciled with the possibility of every evil he imagines might befall his son, he is ready to have a real boy.
I always thought the point of Pinocchio was that we're all born as "puppets", as in we don't have the wisdom and intelligence necessary to use our free will to its fullest extent. And the cost of using free will, is that you put an end to the almost limitless potential of your early childhood, by choosing the path that's right for you and assuming your personal responsibility.
In a sense, Pinocchio faces several illusions of freedom (with the illusions of success and fame, then with hedonism and indulgence), and it's only when Gepetto is in danger that he goes down the straight and narrow path, ending ultimately in sacrifice. Gepetto's capture could be seen as the child's realization that their parents aren't omnipotent and won't be there forever.
And when Pinocchio is willing to go down in Monstro's belly, and faces death itself in an act of selflessness... that's the point where he fully accepts his duties and responsibilities, and it's the first time he uses his ingenuity to get out of danger.
That trial costs him dearly (= he shows he's ready to risk death so that someone else can live): but it is rewarded by a new life. Much like the trials we face in childhood eventually lead us to become autonomous, self-reliant, and able to make meaningful choices, even to sacrifice ourselves for others out of love.
In a way, when he claims he wants to be "a real boy", I'd say Pinocchio doesn't want a chance to eventually die, but rather a chance to finally live.
@@LeHobbitFan damn! real powerful comment right there! 👏
@@officaldaelight Thanks! I revisited that movie after watching video essays and some of J. Peterson's lessons on it, and there's just an incredible amount of meaning you can draw from it, it's amazing ^^
Pinocchio my number 1 on the list
Man, watching these videos again after visiting the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. I'm so glad you're making content that explores the animation of this period. I truly hope you make more of these!
Thanks! Next one is in the works! (that museum is amazing, btw. The lobby alone made me cry)
"Evil dose not die. It evolves." - Brainiac
It also takes shape.
It's amazing how as the years have gone by, this movie continues to pop up in my mind of the most horrifying things of all time.
And holy crap that ending of this video with the disturbing whistling has caused me to now make Hi Diddlee Dee the scariest song of all Disney.
This is a prequal to sound of freedom
9:07-9:10 Okay but the cutting of these clips is actually kinda funny.
Like another commenter, Came here after watching the Ranking video.
Subscribed.
I knew this would be an amazing ride! My baby cousin loves this movie a lot and wouldnt stop watching so in short i just recently watched the movies and it is truly a dark narrative with amazing godly visuals and the videos made me appreciate them more! I cant wait to see your take on the "dark ages" films off disney
Thanks!
I adore your videos and unironically this helped me process my childhood trauma with this movie, i hates it as a kid but couldn't realise why, literally peering from between my fingers during the near gorey transformation scene. I also didn't understand why every adult found it funny and laughed when i was terrified.
It's good to know that i had a reason to be scared cus it was *intended* to scare.
Oh my god wait..... is this why i have an unhealthy level of personal guilt and fear when doing "wrong"?
Oooooooo can't wait to explore that subconscious internalisation :3c
Pls keep doing your vids!!! They're f*cking awesome!!
Haha, thanks, glad you liked it!
I don't get how people can laugh at that scene possibley outside of it being an absurdly horrifying scene. I would have thoguh that when you're a child, it terrifies you for the reasons outlined here and presumably not having watched body horror outside of that scene, and adults because of the extremity of harm perpetrated against boys -who are still young children at the end of the day- by a seemingly demonic force.
thank you for making this film, you made me change my mind on a movie i was utterly terrified by as a kid, because Pinocchio truly is a masterpiece
This three-part series is so good. Came here after watching the Ranking video.
Subscribed.
loved watching this at 1:03 am and getting scared of the shadows in my damn closet, 10/10
What makes The Coachman the most vile, evil and down right sickening, is that he is REAL! Also, the whole scene with kids skipping school and being stupid, who at the end up as donkeys is that it is a allegory for how in real life back in the 1930s and 40s if you drop out, not learn to read and write, the only job prospects you have is manual labor, like a donkey. I always felt that scene was to get kids to stay in school, to be literate and educated, so they can avoid being easily manipulated and being treated like a mule, ie. a donkey, aka a jack-ass. People today take for grated of free education between the ages of 4 and 24, but there was a time in which kids were either living in the streets or used as a labor in the family... childhood is a modern construct after WW2 to learn and develop morals to be productive, educated members of society... before that children were seen as extra labor force or worse. It is even worse when you were born with disabilities of any type. You are stuck by the label you were forced into since birth, living a wretched life in institutions as lab rats and at the mercy of "doctors". Modern kids have no idea how good they have it. So stay in school and be productive, active citizens to the society you are in, ungrateful brats!!!
All that was far worse at the era when the movie is set.
and sometimes you get educated and you STILL can't get a decent job because you're disabled and too nuts to hold one down.
4:27 love that concept art
I really enjoy these essay videos you do. They're fascinating to listen to and hear your take on them and able to learn to think about them in a more critical light.
Thanks, glad you liked it!
As I watched this three parter I can't help but think of how just about everyone these days have doped themselves into thinking that Kingdom Hearts _"is Disney at its strangest, darkest and most moving, actually allowing the cookie cutter family friendly image of the Disney catalog to be more mature and nuanced than it has ever been, how it has much more bite than any of the animated classics in its depictions of the fight between good and evil."_ And most of all, I can't help but think of all the jackasses who think that the likes of Organization XIII and Xehanort are the best villains that have ever come out of any Disney sanctioned production. And as I do, I can't help but laugh and pity them...
*For they clearly know nothing of what true darkness looks like....*
10:01 Monstro got crushed by the sea mountain and there is no idea that he could possibly survive it. But sure it could hurt.
Man alot of Disney Villains fall to their deaths