Pinocchio's Christmas

Pinocchio's Christmas is a 1980 Christmas stop motion television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions that is a holiday adaptation of the 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.[1] The special was originally aired on ABC on December 3, 1980.[2] It aired annually during the Christmas season on Freeform and as of 2018 airs on AMC.[3]

Pinocchio's Christmas
Based onThe Adventures of Pinocchio
by Carlo Collodi
Written byRomeo Muller
Directed byJules Bass
Arthur Rankin, Jr.
StarringTodd Porter
George S. Irving
Alan King
Bob McFadden
Allen Swift
Paul Frees
Theme music composerMaury Laws
Country of originUnited States
Japan
Original language(s)English
Production
Producer(s)Jules Bass
Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Masaki Iizuka
(Associate Producer)
CinematographyAkikazu Kono
Ichiro Komuro
Running time49 minutes
Production company(s)Rankin/Bass Productions
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseDecember 3, 1980
Chronology
Preceded byThe New Adventures of Pinocchio

Synopsis

It is Pinocchio's first Christmas and Geppetto is trying to figure out how to buy a Christmas present for him, so he sells his boots to buy an arithmetic book for Pinocchio, who later on sells the book to buy a present for Geppetto. However, he soon runs into the Fox and Cat, whom he thinks are his only friends. The Fox and Cat convince Pinocchio that he should bury the money he got back for the book in the snow, and when the sun sets, they will grow into a Christmas tree covered with many gold and silver coins. Pinocchio does exactly that, and then, while he's not there to pay attention, the Fox and Cat dig the coins out of the ground before he returns.

When Pinocchio returns and finds that the tree didn't grow, he takes part in a local Christmas marionette show run by Maestro Fire-Eater, where he plays Sir Larry Olive-Tree. During the show, he befriends Julietta, one of Fire-Eater's marionettes. After the show, Fire-Eater tells Pinocchio that he needs to turn Jullietta into one of the Three Wise Men for a Christmas pageant next week. But Pinocchio runs off, taking Julietta with him, and Fire-Eater calls a nearby gendarme to chase after him.

Pinocchio manages to elude the gendarmes and brings Julietta with him to the Forest of Enchantment, where he was born. Pinocchio explains his backstory to her and afterwards he fears he may never see his father again. Just then, the Fox and the Cat show up telling Pinocchio they know how he can bring Julietta to life using a secret medicine, which he can only find if he goes on a sleigh ride over seven mountains and seven valleys.

Before Pinocchio can embark on that journey though, a blue light appears calling out his name which scares away the Fox and Cat and causes Pinocchio to faint. It is soon revealed to be Lady Azora, who planted the seed that grew into the tree Pinocchio was originally chopped down from. She brings in a doctor, whom Pinocchio recognizes as the Talking Cricket he met before. Pinocchio attempts to explain his terrible action of stealing Julietta from Fire-Eater by lying, which causes his nose to grow. Upon seeing what has happened to his nose, Pinocchio tells the truth and it returns to normal. Azora tells Pinocchio that the only gift he really needs to give Geppetto is love, for that is the greatest gift anyone can give. With that, Pinocchio leaves Julietta in Lady Azora's care, and Dr. Cricket goes to make sure Pinocchio stays out of trouble.

Pinocchio starts making his way home, but he suddenly again runs into the Fox and Cat, who say that he should go to the North Pole and get a job teaching Santa Claus' toys how to dance. They bring Pinocchio to a sleigh driver they were speaking with earlier who wraps Pinocchio up in a gift box and sells it to a duke who needs a present to give to his children, whom he does not spend much time with. When the kids open up their present, Pinocchio tells the Duke that he should stay home with his kids for Christmas.

Afterward, Santa Claus arrives in his sleigh and brings Pinocchio and Dr. Cricket back to Geppetto's workshop, where Pinocchio is joyously reunited with his father and promises to always be a good boy. Lady Azora then arrives with a now-sentient Julietta, and they all sit down to Christmas breakfast. During the meal, Lady Azora tells Pinocchio that while he may have many other misadventures (such as getting turned into a donkey and getting swallowed by The Terrible Dogfish), he will never again stray from the path of being a good boy, and eventually, he may become a real boy.

Cast

Staff
  • Producers/Directors – Arthur Rankin, Jr., Jules Bass
  • Writer – Romeo Muller
  • Music – Maury Laws
  • Lyrics – Julian P. Gardner
  • Design – Paul Coker, Jr.
  • Sound Recording – John Curcio
  • Production Coordinator – Lee Dannacher
  • Associate Producer – Masaki Iizuka
  • Animagic Supervisors – Akikazu Kono, Ichiro Komuro, Hiroshi Tabata, Seiichi Araki, Fuminori Minami, Mituharu Hirata, Shinichi Noro
  • Music Arranger/Conductor – Maury Laws

Songs
  • "I Never Know What Gifts To Buy" – Geppetto
  • "Knock On Wood" – Pinocchio and Chorus
  • "Let 'Em Laugh" – Maestro Fire-Eater and Chorus
  • "It's The Truth" – The Fox and the Cat
  • "Love, The Perfect Gift For Christmas Day" – Lady Azora
  • "The Very Best Friend I Ever Had" – Geppetto
  • "Dancin'" – Pinocchio and Chorus
  • "Wicked Glee" – Sleigh Driver

See also

References
  1. Pinocchio's Christmas (1980) (TV)
  2. Woolery, George W. (1989). Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987. Scarecrow Press. pp. 304–305. ISBN 0-8108-2198-2. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  3. "AMC PRESENTS ITS LARGEST SLATE OF HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING WITH "AMC BEST CHRISTMAS EVER"". 8 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
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