Guillermo del Toro has crafted a darker yet equally emotional version of Pinocchio. It is exquisitely and intricately animated with rich textures, gorgeous lighting, and mostly welcome character reinventions. The transition to Fascist Italy fits del Toro’s vision well, but the changes remove and alter enjoyable story elements that are surely missed. Pinocchio is absolutely a contender for this year’s best-animated film, but it is a film that I hoped to adore and yet only deeply appreciate.
