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Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic
In 1940, Walt Disney released his second feature film: Pinocchio, based on Carlo Collodi’s 1883 Italian children’s novel. The film was groundbreaking: it pioneered the latest animation and sound technology of the era, and established a blueprint for Disney filmmaking that remains intact today. It became the first animated feature to win a competitive Academy Award® (in fact, it won two), and earned a place on the roster of the National Film Registry. Pinocchio’s crucial role has endured decades, given its rare 100% rating on the film website Rotten Tomatoes and the lively discourse that continues to surround the film today.
To celebrate the film’s 75th anniversary, author J.B. Kaufman presents a complete history of the making of Pinocchio, from source material to rerelease. Pinocchio, published in partnership with the Walt Disney Family Foundation and the Walt Disney Family Museum, is an in-depth exploration of the making of the film.
Academy Award-winning animator and film historian John Canemaker says of Pinocchio: “In great detail, J. B. Kaufman reveals the struggles, triumphs and disappointments encountered by Disney and his staff during the creation of this sacred monster of a film. Woven here is a once-upon-a-time story sure to fascinate and inform readers, an exciting adventure into the inner workings of a one-of-a kind studio and team at its creative peak.”
Go behind to the scenes with stories of the inner workings of the Golden Age of Animation, the animators’ personalities and story changes like why Jiminy Cricket’s character almost got left on the cutting room floor. Over 300 photographs, illustrations and concept sketches – many of which are available for the very first time – accompany the story behind the story.
Become a part of the wild, legendary ride that was the making of Pinocchio.
To celebrate the film’s 75th anniversary, author J.B. Kaufman presents a complete history of the making of Pinocchio, from source material to rerelease. Pinocchio, published in partnership with the Walt Disney Family Foundation and the Walt Disney Family Museum, is an in-depth exploration of the making of the film.
Academy Award-winning animator and film historian John Canemaker says of Pinocchio: “In great detail, J. B. Kaufman reveals the struggles, triumphs and disappointments encountered by Disney and his staff during the creation of this sacred monster of a film. Woven here is a once-upon-a-time story sure to fascinate and inform readers, an exciting adventure into the inner workings of a one-of-a kind studio and team at its creative peak.”
Go behind to the scenes with stories of the inner workings of the Golden Age of Animation, the animators’ personalities and story changes like why Jiminy Cricket’s character almost got left on the cutting room floor. Over 300 photographs, illustrations and concept sketches – many of which are available for the very first time – accompany the story behind the story.
Become a part of the wild, legendary ride that was the making of Pinocchio.
- GenresArtNonfiction
352 pages, Hardcover
First published February 17, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 23, 2023
Absolutely terrific. This is everything you could possibly wish for from a book on the art of animation - if you're at all a fan of Pinocchio, Disney films, animation or heck, film in general, you must get this! Kaufman's other volume, on the making of Snow White, was equally sumptuous, and this one will be joining it in pride of place on my pile as a new favourite.
January 25, 2016
'Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic' is nothing less than your ultimate guide to Disney's masterpiece. Not only is it a richly illustrated coffee table sized book, it's also full of information on the film, its origins, its development, its release and its place in Disney history. Kaufman does an excellent job in unearthing unused story ideas, describing character development, and analyzing the film's scenes in detail. A real treat lies in the Appendix, in which he provides detailed information on which animator animated what in every single scene in the film. And it doesn't stop there, Kaufman also gives equally detailed information on the short films Pinocchio sprouted, from 'Figaro and Cleo' to 'Pluto's Sweater', and on all Jiminy Cricket's post-Pinocchio appearances. Russell Merritt also contributes with a short essay, analyzing 'Pinocchio' in an art theory context, e.g. uncovering the film's Christian overtones. In short, this book is essential to any fan of classic Disney.
September 9, 2023
Pinocchio: The Making of a Disney Epic by J.B. Kaufman is everything you want it to be: a detailed behind-the-scenes look at a Disney classic full of engaging, colorful art along with a complete account of the years-long, obstacle-beset production.
The idea for an animated film of Pinocchio began when Walt Disney attended a local children’s theater production of the Italian fairy tale. Purchasing the rights, Disney and his company set to work on a follow up to their hugely successful animated film SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES.
Actually we learn that BAMBI was meant to be their second feature, but everyone discovered that project was going to involve “slow, painstaking” animation work that would take several years. So BAMBI ultimately became Disney’s third feature.
This book is replete with sketches, concept art, and photographs encompassing every aspect of production, offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of creators who are not often in the spotlight.
With access to Disney's archives, we delve into the three-year development of the story and gain an insider's perspective on team meetings, where they brainstormed ideas to create a well-rounded narrative. In fact, numerous scenes, musical numbers, and characters underwent major overhauls.
It’s fascinating to read details, such as how Jiminy Cricket began as a very minor background character and gradually developed into a lead character and the movie’s narrator.
Because of the beautiful art and photos and coffee-table format, it’s not just a great book on film production, but also an ideal gift for friends and family.
The idea for an animated film of Pinocchio began when Walt Disney attended a local children’s theater production of the Italian fairy tale. Purchasing the rights, Disney and his company set to work on a follow up to their hugely successful animated film SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES.
Actually we learn that BAMBI was meant to be their second feature, but everyone discovered that project was going to involve “slow, painstaking” animation work that would take several years. So BAMBI ultimately became Disney’s third feature.
This book is replete with sketches, concept art, and photographs encompassing every aspect of production, offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of creators who are not often in the spotlight.
With access to Disney's archives, we delve into the three-year development of the story and gain an insider's perspective on team meetings, where they brainstormed ideas to create a well-rounded narrative. In fact, numerous scenes, musical numbers, and characters underwent major overhauls.
It’s fascinating to read details, such as how Jiminy Cricket began as a very minor background character and gradually developed into a lead character and the movie’s narrator.
Because of the beautiful art and photos and coffee-table format, it’s not just a great book on film production, but also an ideal gift for friends and family.
January 17, 2017
Everything you need to know about the Italian literature source material, the planning, creating, development of character, song writing, story changes, and final release and ALL the books and toys and other tchotchkes associated with Walt Disney's masterpiece PINOCCHIO is contained in this beautifully illustrated and sumptuous book by J.B. Kaufman. PINOCCHIO was the second feature by Disney in 1940 after SNOW WHITE and you learn that it did not fare so well at the box office or with audiences. It only later gained the love and affection and classic status that it is associated with today. This could be due to its dark story of the pains of growing up and maturity and conscience and telling the truth. All the villains (and there are a lot) that Pinocchio encounters in his journey to becoming a 'real' boy escape from any consequence and are never really vanquished as they are in other Disney works. Watching the film and learning more from this book, proves to you the underlying meanings and subtle undertones of the sweet story of a toymaker who wishes for a son to love.
On a personal note, PINOCCHIO was the first film I saw as a small child in one of its many re-releases. I was told (and have a foggy memory) that I was enchanted and finally terrified by the film when the behemoth Monstro the whale appears and swallows the protagonists. I know it altered me in many ways. One way was that I fell in love with the movies and this first taste was animated and beautiful and full of mystery and fears and sound and song and often humor. It was what the movie theater and huge screen promised again and again in my life. The lessons and darkness about Life must have been subtly planted into my subconscious. I truly think a lot of my character and fears and anxiety and ways of looking at this path to certain doom from childhood to adulthood to old age stem from this magnificent feat of creative movie making. It is the most exquisitely beautiful and stuffed with hidden meaning creation from Walt Disney. Disney's touch as a man of true genius is evident in the telling of the story of how Pinocchio was formed from ink and paper to come alive on the screen.
If you love animation and wish to learn more how these men created this masterpiece without the aid of the computers of today, please read this sort of coffee table sized tome. It's actually easier to handle in your lap than the usual coffee table sized book. It's more the size of a coffee cake book, if you wish to use a delicious meal for the mind and eye metaphor.
On a personal note, PINOCCHIO was the first film I saw as a small child in one of its many re-releases. I was told (and have a foggy memory) that I was enchanted and finally terrified by the film when the behemoth Monstro the whale appears and swallows the protagonists. I know it altered me in many ways. One way was that I fell in love with the movies and this first taste was animated and beautiful and full of mystery and fears and sound and song and often humor. It was what the movie theater and huge screen promised again and again in my life. The lessons and darkness about Life must have been subtly planted into my subconscious. I truly think a lot of my character and fears and anxiety and ways of looking at this path to certain doom from childhood to adulthood to old age stem from this magnificent feat of creative movie making. It is the most exquisitely beautiful and stuffed with hidden meaning creation from Walt Disney. Disney's touch as a man of true genius is evident in the telling of the story of how Pinocchio was formed from ink and paper to come alive on the screen.
If you love animation and wish to learn more how these men created this masterpiece without the aid of the computers of today, please read this sort of coffee table sized tome. It's actually easier to handle in your lap than the usual coffee table sized book. It's more the size of a coffee cake book, if you wish to use a delicious meal for the mind and eye metaphor.
December 12, 2016
J. B. Kaufman delivers another absorbing, fantastically detailed, beautifully laid-out history on the production of a Disney studios animated classic. Like The Fairest One of All (on Snow White), this volume covers all aspects of 1940's Pinocchio, from conception, to writing (lots of scenes were scrapped or heavily revised), to animation, to eventual release. The only demerit is that the publisher saw it fit to include a fussy scholarly essay on the film, not written by Kaufman. This essay was as unenlightening as the rest of the book was informative. Thankfully, it only takes up a few pages in the back. This was one of the most visually beautiful Disney films. Appropriately enough, there are many gorgeous full-page images of concept art, cel setups and reproductions of ancillary products (book covers, etc.) to enjoy.
April 20, 2017
This book is amazing. It's a very in-depth look at the making of Pinocchio. That includes a whole lot of amazing art, though I would've bought it just for the model sheets of Jiminy Cricket.
March 2, 2025
This is a very thorough history of the film, its origins, greeting, and production. The books is heavily illustrated and heavily cited with lots of notes and appendices for reference.
The overall quality of the book is great, high quality images, thick paper, easy to read font, etc.
There’s a lot of analysis of the film and a lot of info about how the story was developed including deleted scenes and changes in story. After reading this, I am inclined to watch the movie again to better understand and appreciate its history.
The only real complaint is that there are not enough photos, illustration, and artwork. In some cases, the author is describing a particular scene or challenge but there is no accompanying visual to go along with it.
If you are into Disney, animation, art and drawing, I think you will enjoy this book.
Actual photos of book at Amazon
The overall quality of the book is great, high quality images, thick paper, easy to read font, etc.
There’s a lot of analysis of the film and a lot of info about how the story was developed including deleted scenes and changes in story. After reading this, I am inclined to watch the movie again to better understand and appreciate its history.
The only real complaint is that there are not enough photos, illustration, and artwork. In some cases, the author is describing a particular scene or challenge but there is no accompanying visual to go along with it.
If you are into Disney, animation, art and drawing, I think you will enjoy this book.
Actual photos of book at Amazon
September 25, 2024
Okay, I will admit I was never a Pinocchio fan. I could take it or leave it as a story, but there are more than 300 photographs and tales of the creative process that I could enjoy in this book. In fact, all the images was one of the reason's I picked it up in the first place. Just think: the Jimmy Cricket character we all love nearly was scrap paper. That fact alone should whet the appetite of those who love all things Disney.
August 10, 2017
Exceptional text. Full of painstaking insights into the aesthetics and production of the film. I'm short on time, so I was just hopping between sections, but it really would be worth returning to this book and savoring it from cover to cover
July 11, 2021
When people ask me what my favorite movie is I always say "Pinocchio" and "Psycho." It's true; can't say I'm not diverse.
November 12, 2022
I didn't know there even was this much to know about Pinocchio! After reading this book, I feel like I could go out and film a duplicate of it myself. No other words necessary, bravo.
October 3, 2023
Quite a good book about the original stories and the creative process. I'm still haunted by Pleasure Island.
December 14, 2020
After publishing his book on Snow White in 2012, it was natural for Kaufman to tackle the Disney Studio's next feature film.
The challenge of examining the production of Pinocchio is, to put it lightly, tremendous. It had far more special effects than Snow White and it was far more ambitious. While Kaufman does provide a sense of the pains it took to execute each special effect shot, such as the famous "Going to School" Multiplane scene, he shirks a lot of detail, such as each shots ultimate cost. Pinocchio was an expensive film and it’s worth knowing that it’s cost and that of Fantasia was enough to nearly sink the studio.
Ultimately, Pinocchio is an animated film. It makes sense that we should know more about the animators' involvement than its cost. Here Kaufman shines. He gave a masterful play-by-play of the development of the film in his Snow White book, and does so here as well. However, a lot of the animators' involvement is relegated to the footnotes. Certainly, Kaufman mentions Kimball's star turn as the animator behind Jiminy Cricket. But his mentioning of Kahl as the creative force behind the character of Pinocchio is deceptive. Frank Thomas did a lot of animation of the puppet, as did his friend Ollie Johnston. In fact, an unusually large number of animators had their hands in either one or two characters. Woolie Reitherman, now known for his animation of Monstro, had his hand on a few sequences. All of this is relegated to the Appendix in the back of the book, which seems unfair to the animators who worked on the film.
Flaws aside, Kaufman still includes a lot of fascinating details, including the additions and subtractions of characters and sequences. You will still come away with a lot of new information on the production. It’s just not a work at the same level as his history on Snow White.
The challenge of examining the production of Pinocchio is, to put it lightly, tremendous. It had far more special effects than Snow White and it was far more ambitious. While Kaufman does provide a sense of the pains it took to execute each special effect shot, such as the famous "Going to School" Multiplane scene, he shirks a lot of detail, such as each shots ultimate cost. Pinocchio was an expensive film and it’s worth knowing that it’s cost and that of Fantasia was enough to nearly sink the studio.
Ultimately, Pinocchio is an animated film. It makes sense that we should know more about the animators' involvement than its cost. Here Kaufman shines. He gave a masterful play-by-play of the development of the film in his Snow White book, and does so here as well. However, a lot of the animators' involvement is relegated to the footnotes. Certainly, Kaufman mentions Kimball's star turn as the animator behind Jiminy Cricket. But his mentioning of Kahl as the creative force behind the character of Pinocchio is deceptive. Frank Thomas did a lot of animation of the puppet, as did his friend Ollie Johnston. In fact, an unusually large number of animators had their hands in either one or two characters. Woolie Reitherman, now known for his animation of Monstro, had his hand on a few sequences. All of this is relegated to the Appendix in the back of the book, which seems unfair to the animators who worked on the film.
Flaws aside, Kaufman still includes a lot of fascinating details, including the additions and subtractions of characters and sequences. You will still come away with a lot of new information on the production. It’s just not a work at the same level as his history on Snow White.
June 23, 2015
To keep it short and sweet, this book is chock full of beautiful art and pictures that have never been published before and bursting with info that's brand new as well. This is THE source for information on the making of Pinocchio as well as how the Walt Disney Studios produced animated features during the pre-war years. I can't recommend it highly enough. My only complaint is the cloying last chapter in which Russell Merritt wildly grasps at deep meanings that I suppose are there if you want to look for them but there's a time and a place and it's ultimately pretty irrelevant to the rest of the book.
August 24, 2015
Fans of classic Disney and intense biographical information overload will love this coffee table tome.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews