Guillermo del Toro's Stop-Motion Pinocchio Debuts on Netflix

Guillermo del Toro's stop-motion adaptation of Pinocchio premieres on Netflix on December 9. Set in 1930s Italy during Mussolini's rise, the film presents a darker, existential take on the classic tale. Del Toro describes it as a world where everyone behaves like a puppet and obeys, while the real puppet is the only one who disobeys. The director emphasizes that animation should be recognized as an art form, not just a family genre. The film features a transformed Blue Fairy with a sister, and a cricket as narrator. Del Toro's lifelong passion for stop-motion began at age eight with Super 8 films. The project was made possible by The Henson Company, which acquired rights to a 2002 edition of Collodi's Pinocchio illustrated by Gris Grimly. Co-director Mark Gustafson and screenwriter Patrick McHale (Adventure Time) contributed. Del Toro sees the story as optimistic, sparkling, funny, and moving, addressing themes of truth, family, and humanity.