Academy Award winner Guillermo del Toro, the visionary Mexican filmmaker known for his unique blend of dark fantasy and masterful storytelling, is in a class all by himself.  His stop-motion animated adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale, “Pinocchio” was a visual feast and now fans will be able to own a very special edition of it thanks to the folks over at Criterion Collection.

“Pinocchio” is a story that has been adapted countless times in various forms of media since its creation in the 19th century. However, del Toro’s take on this iconic tale is unlike any other. Known for his love of monsters, fairy tales, and the macabre, del Toro was able to inject his unique sensibilities into the narrative.  In del Toro’s version, “Pinocchio” is a dark and enchanting journey of transformation and self-discovery. The filmmaker delves into the darker, more complex aspects of Collodi’s story, exploring themes of identity, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions.

Guillermo del Toro has also assembled an impressive cast for “Pinocchio.” The film will feature the vocal talents of stars such as Ewan McGregor as Cricket, David Bradley as Geppetto, and Tilda Swinton as The Fairy with Turquoise Hair. This stellar ensemble delievers a breathe life into the story’s iconic characters, adding depth and complexity to their portrayals.

Here is what the folks over at Criterion Collection had to say about this must-have 4K UHD version that will look good on ANY collector’s shelf thanks to the brilliant art of James Jean.

“A classic tale is reborn through the inspired imagination of cinematic dream-weaver Guillermo del Toro, directing alongside Mark Gustafson. Realized through boundary-pushing, breathtakingly intricate stop-motion animation, this dark rendering of the fable of the puppet boy and his maker—which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature—daringly transfers the story to Fascist Italy, where the irrepressible Pinocchio gradually learns what it means to be human through his experiences of war, death, and sacrifice. Featuring the voices of Ewan McGregor, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, and Christoph Waltz, this Pinocchio imbues the oft-told tale with a bold new resonance about living with courage and compassion.”

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• 4K digital master, supervised by directors Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, with Dolby Atmos
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Handcarved Cinema, a new documentary featuring del Toro, Gustafson, and cast and crew, including the film’s puppet creators, production designers, and animation supervisor
• Directing Stop-Motion, a new program featuring del Toro and Gustafson
• New conversation between del Toro and film critic Farran Smith Nehme
• New interview with curator Ron Magliozzi on The Museum of Modern Art’s 2022 exhibition devoted to the film

• New program on the eight rules of animation that informed the film’s production
• Panel discussion featuring del Toro, Gustafson, production designer Guy Davis, composer Alexandre Desplat, and sound designer Scott Martin Gershin, moderated by filmmaker James Cameron
• Conversation among del Toro, Gustafson, and author Neil Gaiman
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and English descriptive audio
• PLUS: Essays by film critic Matt Zoller Seitz and author Cornelia Funke

Image by Mandrake The Black

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