The official trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio has arrived – and it looks like it’s going to be a family favorite this holiday season.
Released less than two months after the first Pinocchio trailer that blew us away, the nearly three-minute trailer is packed with dangerous moments, candid scenes, and whimsical humor. Suffice it to say, we’ll put it on our “to watch” list for the holidays.
Check out the trailer below:
Co-written and co-directed by Academy Award winner del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hellboy), Netflix’s adaptation of the classic fairy tale is completely stop-motion. There’s no live action or CGI elements here, but it makes del Toro’s take on Carlo Collodi’s legendary tale more than fresh paint. Without wanting to sound hyperbolic, it looks absolutely gorgeous, so stop-motion fans will definitely enjoy this new Netflix movie.
Pinocchio Del Toro also comes out from the perspective of the voice cast. Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Tilda Swinton (Doctor Strange), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained), Jon Turturro (The Batman), Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen) all lend their singing talents to a Netflix movie. Gregory Mann, in his first major film role, voices the titular wooden boy.
Mark Gustafson (Claymation Easter) is directing alongside del Toro, with an additional script by Patrick McHale (Tome of the Unknown) and Matthew Robbins (Crimson Peak).
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio has already garnered rave reviews from critics at the 2022 film festivals, so expect it to be more than a scream at 2023’s biggest awards ceremonies. Netflix’s Pinocchio hits select theaters on November 11, before making its Netflix debut on December 9.
Analysis: the battle of the wooden boys
Netflix’s Pinocchio isn’t the only adaptation of Collodi’s work to be released this year – nor is it the only one to hit one of the world’s best streaming services.
Earlier in 2022, a live-action remake of Pinocchio was released on Disney Plus starring beloved actor Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. While the Disney remake largely stuck to the plot that made the original animated movie such a watch-watching experience, it failed to resonate with critics and audiences alike. In our review of Pinocchio, we said it was “a somewhat magical remake whose strings ultimately hold it together.” Based on the general consensus, many people seem to think so too.
By contrast, Pinocchio del Toro already sounds like a winner. Stop-motion animation is a task in itself, so any video of this type will always win the appreciation of viewers. First of all, viewers appreciate the level of commitment and work put into such projects.
However, Netflix’s version of Pinocchio has much more to offer. His voice cast is astounding. Behind him in del Toro is a renowned, award-winning director who knows how to make great films. Plus, it looks like a really inspirational, emotional, and beautiful movie – one that the whole family can enjoy while digesting a Christmas or other staple Christmas meal.
So in the battle of adaptations, it is Pinocchio del Toro who seems to be the real boy. I’m sorry Disney, but your latest take on Pinocchio looks wood by comparison.
For more Netflix-based content, check out the best Netflix movies available. Or, if you’re looking for TV deals instead, read our best Netflix shows and lists of the best Netflix documentaries.