Why Guillermo del Toro reimagined a classic puppet as a symbol of human autonomy

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Guillermo del Toro spent years crafting a stop-motion Pinocchio that rejects the traditional moral of blind obedience. Set in the shadow of Fascist Italy, this version of the story explores the messy, emotional reality of fatherhood and the radical, beautiful choice to embrace mortality in a world of puppets.

For Guillermo del Toro, Pinocchio was a lifelong passion project, a character he felt a deeper personal connection to than any other. While the 2022 film draws from Carlo Collodi’s 1883 novel, it intentionally subverts the original’s agenda. Where traditional versions often frame the story as a cautionary tale about the necessity of blind obedience to authority, del Toro’s adaptation champions autonomy and self-discovery. By placing the narrative in interwar Fascist Italy, the film contrasts the irrepressible, independent puppet against a society of people who behave like obedient, unthinking dolls.

The film’s production was a massive undertaking that spanned over a decade, surviving development hell and a lack of studio financing before being revived by Netflix. To achieve his vision, del Toro collaborated with co-director Mark Gustafson and a team of designers to create puppets that felt grounded and realistic. Unlike many animated features, the animators were encouraged to make the puppets 'commit mistakes'—such as sneezing or looking away—to simulate the act of thinking. The titular character was brought to life using a metal 3D-printed puppet, requiring 3,000 unique replacement faces to capture his exuberant, rowdy personality.

Central to the film is a departure from the classic trope of physical transmutation. Del Toro rejects the idea that Pinocchio must become a 'real boy' of flesh and blood to find happiness or earn love. Instead, the film argues that humanity is defined by interiority and behavior. The true transformation occurs within Geppetto, who must learn to accept and love his son for exactly who he is, rather than viewing him as a replacement for his deceased son, Carlo. By choosing to become mortal to save his father, Pinocchio ultimately defines his own humanity through his capacity for sacrifice and love.

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