The first teaser for the upcoming stop-motion film, Pinocchio, has been released by Netflix. Pinocchio, directed by Guillermo del Toro (best known for his Oscar winning film The Shape of Water) and Mark Gustafson, will be an animated musical fantasy film that retells the captivating story of the wooden boy who dreamed of being real.

The conception of this highly anticipated Netflix film was not easy. Initially announced by del Toro in 2008 and set to be released around 2013, the project went through numerous changes before eventually being plunged into development hell, mainly due to conflicts surrounding the narrative of the movie and the budget. Later in 2017, Patrick McHale (known for his Emmy award-winning miniseries Over the Garden Wall) was announced to co-write the script, but this was also suspended when no studios were willing to provide the financing. However, del Toro, who has cited this film as his passion project, continued to persevere and eventually, Pinocchio was acquired by Netflix in 2018.

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Pinocchio, the animated feature film directorial debut for del Toro, steers away from the mischievous but lovable character everyone adores and instead depicts a more sinister recount of the legendary Carlo Collodi fairy tale. The story takes place in 1930s fascist Italy and surrounds the wooden puppet Pinocchio and his dreams of becoming a real boy. However, when his wishes are granted, he turns out not to be very nice. The teaser clip gives a glimpse into what can be expected from this promising film. Opening up to Sebastian J. Cricket, best known as Pinocchio’s loyal conscience, he teasingly tells the audience that “It’s a story that you think you know, but you don’t. Not really.” Instantly, there is a feeling that Sebastian J. Cricket holds a secret about Pinocchio's story, making the viewers intrigued about what this could be.

There is a sense of realism within the trailer that has rarely been seen in previous Pinocchio adaptations, which is further supported by the highly detailed and life-like animation. The stop-motion is seamless, captivating the audience as it brings them into the comforting space of Sebastian J. Cricket’s wooden home. The atmospheric music that accompanies this clip gives the whole teaser a nostalgic feel, providing the sense of reflecting on childhood while also stepping into something new. It is clear that this movie about love and disobedience will not have to work hard to evoke a response from its viewers.

Pinocchio features an all-star cast with Gregory Mann as Pinocchio, Ewan McGregor as Sebastian J. Cricket, and David Bradley as Master Geppetto. Other stars include Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, and Finn Wolfhard as Sprezzatura the Monkey, the Coachman, and Lampwick/Lucignolo, respectively. Filming commenced in January 2020 and took five months to complete.

Pinocchio appears to have the qualities for an exciting and inspiring animated film. With years of effort behind it and a $35 million budget, people can expect to see an eye-capturing film with a special narrative that will take a unique spin on the classic tale everyone loves.

Pinocchio will be released on Netflix in December 2022

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Source: NetflixFilm/Twitter