PINOCCHIO

PINOCCHIO

Gepetto, Pinocchio’s ‘father’, devotes his time to lovingly creating his puppet, flanked by his faithful pets Figaro, the sulky cat and Cleo, the flirtatious fish.

The anthrop morphology of Disney animals sometimes means that they come alive more than some of the ‘humans’ featured in the films, who as a result are secondary characters somewhat dehumanized by the vivid personalities of the animals. In Pinocchio, the action centres around a puppet, taking the action outside the human world in another way.

 

The villains of this piece are easily identifiable as ‘evil’ – they are ignorant, with cruel voices and ugly features. The piece’s first human “baddie”, Stromboli, who owns the show Pinocchio makes his acting debut in, has thick, grotesque lips, a bald head and an oversized nose.

Honesty is a very strong moral theme – everybody knows if you tell lies, your nose will grow, like Pinocchio’s! When our eponymous puppet lies to the Blue Fairy, his enchanted nose gets longer and longer because as she says “a lie keeps growing and growing, ’til it’s as plain as the nose on your face.”

Emphasis is placed heavily on the importance of friendships and family – the only place Pinocchio is secure is with Gepetto, and both must fight their way back to a reunion with the help of their beloved animal sidekicks. Stromboli treats Pinocchio atrociously and The Coachman is a monster, proving that the grass is definitely not greener outside the home.

Pinocchio joins the Marionette Show he is somebody else’s tool, being manipulated even though he’s “Got No Strings”; in order to be a ‘Real Boy’ he must choose a good and virtuous path for himself (with a little help from Jiminy) and not let others lead him astray.

Pinocchio’s soundtrack is one area that may disappoint Disney fans who’ve yet to see it. It’s not bursting with sing-along favourites as with some later Disney films (think “I Wanna Be Like You” from the Jungle Book – to which you’ll undoubtedly remember the words!) because the songs are implemented in delivering morals (“Always Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide”).

 

Even sixty years on, Pinocchio puts to shame lazy effects seen too often in recent years (such as the frequent reuse of backgrounds and plain outfits in cartoons). The voice casting is the icing on the cake – they’re reminiscent of the voices your parents tried out when reading bedtime stories and are full of light and enthusiasm.

The voice casting is the icing on the cake – they’re reminiscent of the voices your parents tried out when reading bedtime stories and are full of light and enthusiasm.

TAKEN FROM: http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-esoteric-interpretation-of-pinocchio/

MOBILE RETELLING PROJECT RUBRIC
CATEGORY		4	3	2	1	POINTS
SETTING		Lots of vivid, descriptive words are used to tell the audience when and where the story takes place.	Some vivid, descriptive words are used to tell the audience when and where the story takes place.	The audience can figure out when and where the story took place, but there isn't much detail (e.g., once upon a time in a land far, far away)	The audience has trouble telling when and where the story takes place.	4
CHARACTERS		The main characters are named and clearly described The audience knows and can describe what the characters look like and how they typically behave.	The main characters are named and described (through words and/or actions). The audience has a fairly good idea of what the characters look like.	The main characters are named. The audience knows very little about the main characters.	It is hard to tell who the main characters are.	4
PROBLEM		It is very easy for the audience to understand what problem the main character(s) face and why it is a problem.	It is fairly easy for the audience to understand what problem the main character(s) face and why it is a problem.	It is fairly easy for the audience to understand what problem the main character(s) face and but it is not clear why it is a problem.	It is not clear what problem the main character(s) face	4
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM IN STORY		The solution to the problem is easy-tounderstand and is logical. There are no loose ends.	The solution to the problem is easy-tounderstand and is somewhat logical.	The solution to the problem was a little hard to understand.	No solution was attempted or it was impossible to understand.	4
ACCURACY OF RETELLING A STORY		The storyteller includes all major points and several details of the story s/he is retelling.	The storyteller includes all major points and one-two details of the story s/he is retelling.	The storyteller includes all major points of the story s/he is retelling.	The storyteller forgets major points of the story s/he is retelling.	4
MOBILE		The student turns in an attractive and complete mobile of the story in the correct format.	The student turns in a complete mobile of the story in the correct format	The student turns in a complete mobile of the story, but the format was not correct.	The student turns in an incomplete mobile of the story.	4
TOTAL						24
TEACHER COMMENTS	The Pinocchio’s story is a way to teach some realities in life of our students, the tail has some skills to improve the knowledge focus on love of family, society and the student’s culture.