In writing Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic [out May 26, 2015 on Walt Disney Family Foundation Press], I had the opportunity to study the production of Pinocchio in depth. One of the most fascinating aspects of the film was the special effects—both effects animation and photographic effects. Added to the brilliant character animation, these effects gave the film an extra layer of luxurious production value. Some of them, like the spectacular moving-camera scene that moves over the rooftops and down into the street, are famous in themselves, but others are sometimes overlooked. I’ve picked out five scenes that used special, innovative techniques. Next time you watch Pinocchio, take a closer look at these fascinating moments on the screen:
In this scene, rich with special effects, the artists used shadows and “blend” to suggest color modeling on the Cricket. Then, as he strolls toward the fireplace, the coals were deliberately overexposed for a glowing effect, and realistic heat distortion was added above the hearth.
One feature of the multiplane crane was that it allowed the technicians to light individual background planes separately. Here, as we view the star through the window, it passes over distant mountains and plains—and its glow lights up the landscape as it approaches.
Disney technicians built two miniature wagons and filmed them rolling over a bumpy track. Then those motion picture frames were photographically enlarged onto washoff relief cels, which were painted like ordinary cels. The character animation of Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket was added on top.
Watch this scene closely: six different artists worked together to animate the characters, the raft, the whale’s jaws, distant and foreground waves, seagulls overhead, and smoke from the fire—for a scene that lasts barely over four seconds on the screen!
This is an extremely complex scene. Many scenes used double exposures for shadows and other effects, but this is a quadruple exposure—each exposure involving four different cel levels, to accommodate the puppet, the “real” Pinocchio, and multiple levels of blue light, vibrations, and sparkles.
These five scenes are just a sample; the film is filled with lavish, imaginative special effects, some of them very subtle. The more closely you look, the more you’ll see!
Written by: J.B. Kaufman
