By Savannah Salazar
Eighty years ago, Walt Disney’s Pinocchio opened in theaters—dazzling audiences with innovative animation, infectious songs, and a whole new slew of lovable characters. One of those characters was a little puppet with a big dream and a knack for telling the occasional white lie, so in true Pinocchio fashion, we want to challenge you to a game of Two Truths and a Lie. Can you pick out which fact is a lie?
Now, let your conscience be your guide, and play away!
Round One
- Animator Ward Kimball brought Jiminy Cricket to life.
- Jiminy Cricket plays a major role in both the film and Carlo Collodi’s original tale.
- Since his debut in Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket has also appeared in films and television shows like Fun and Fancy Free (1947) and the Mickey Mouse Club (1955 – 1959).
Round Two
- Pinocchio was only Walt Disney’s third full-length feature production.
- Many Disney fans had written to Walt Disney to suggest making Pinocchio into a feature film.
- Pinocchio was filmed in Technicolor and cost $2.6 million to make.
Round Three
- Disney animators drew Monstro to the scale of a three-story building.
- Six Disney artists worked together to animate the scene in which Pinocchio and Geppetto take their raft towards Monstro’s mouth.
- The scene described above only lasts for one minute on screen.
Round Four
- Pinocchio was the second Disney film to receive an Oscar® in both musical categories—Best Original Score and Best Original Song
- When it came to Pleasure Island, some Disney artists wanted it to be a fun, appealing place, but it was actually Walt Disney’s idea to make it look more like a creepy amusement park.
- Directors John Musker and Ron Clements and their animators used the Monstro scenes from Pinocchio as a reference when working on the water effects for The Little Mermaid.
Round Five
- Pinocchio made an appearance in two other Disney films, Aladdin and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
- The Blue Fairy’s name was inspired by a character who had teal hair in Carlo Collodi’s original novel.
- The voice of Pinocchio, Dickie Jones, also voiced another popular Disney character: Peter Pan.
Answers
Round One: 2) In Carlo Collodi’s original novel, Jiminy Cricket is only a minor character who dies early on, through Pinocchio’s actions.
Round Two: 1) Pinocchio was Walt Disney’s second full-length picture.
Round Three: 3) Six Disney artists collaborated on the scene where Geppetto and Pinocchio are swallowed by Monstro, a scene that lasted for just over four seconds.
Round Four: 1) Disney’s Pinocchio was actually the first Disney film to receive an Oscar® in both musical categories—best original score and best original song. Since Pinocchio, six more Disney films have gone on to win dual awards in both musical categories.
Round Five: 3) Peter Pan was voiced by Bobby Driscoll, who starred in many Disney productions, including Treasure Island.