Wondering if Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is ok for kids? This dark rendition on a classic story is moving, but Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio may be too scary for kids. Here’s what parents need to know in this Pinocchio Parents Guide.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Parents Guide
You must be thinking, another Pinocchio? Because same. After a lukewarm Pinocchio this year on Disney Plus, I wasn’t terribly excited for this film. However, the stop-motion animation is so enchanting even if Pinocchio takes a darker look at grief, war, and fascism.
Age Rating: Why is Pinocchio Rated PG?
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is rated PG for dark thematic material, violence, and rude humor which means some content is not suitable for all kids.
Language in Pinocchio
There is no profanity in Pinocchio but there is a song about poop and farts. There are also words like idiot, coward, fool, and “oh my g-d” used.
Mature Content: Is Pinocchio Too Scary for Kids?
There are quite a bit of scary and mature scenes in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio which may not be appropriate for young children. The film is set during a time of war in Italy and bombs kill several characters. Several war themes are depicted as well as use of weapons.
Adults mistreat children and animals, including yelling unkind words at them and also hitting and abusing animals.
Characters in the film drink alcohol excessively and smoke briefly.
Children are seen carrying and handling guns.
Grief and loss are heavy themes throughout the film as Geppetto tries to overcome the loss of his son. Some scenes are quite emotional with sadness and anger. There is also commentary on father/son relationships as well as war and religious symbols in churches.
Is Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Appropriate for Kids Under 10?
Is Pinocchio too scary for kids? It’s dark and emotional and may not have enough to entertain young ones. Although it’s rated PG, it’s on the border of PG-13, just for the maturity level and dark themes.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio does offer beautiful animation, a few humorous scenes, and some musical numbers. In Pinocchio you can expect to see scenes of war, death of characters, explosions, and some dark and violent scenes. To sum it up, Pinocchio is not kid friendly for kids younger than 8 years old.
Younger kids could handle some of the content, but many will be bored. Jiminy Cricket is known more as Sebastian or Cricket. He is much more straight forward and while a guiding conscience, makes his own mistakes.
The characters are imperfect, each struggling with expectations and grief, but there is also a heartwarming story of friendships in unexpected places. Political commentary slides in with depiction of Mussolini.
For older kids and adults, Pinocchio is a fascinating look into the darker side of this story. Don’t expect a copycat of the original and no “Pleasure Island” scene. However, the parts missing have been revamped into a more mature storytelling that doesn’t wear kid gloves. And that’s a good thing.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is impressive and the animation is a work of art. A masterful rendition of a classic story. The tragic and emotional notes may not be for everyone, especially younger viewers, but it’s smart, weird, and wonderful.
