As generations have been presented with new Disney animated movies each year, films like Pinocchio have quickly become a write-off. The charm of the original hand-drawn animation has slowly fell behind to the newer 3D, CGI animation styles. Films like Pinocchio, though underappreciated when first entering the world, have become staples in the entertainment business, and set a high standard for all films that followed after. Walt and his team were incredibly proud of the film they had made, and believed it to be a great runner-up after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The premiere of Pinocchio in 1940. Image from: https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2015/09/pinocchio-premiere.html?m=1

The Production of Pinocchio

When the idea of Pinocchio was brought up at the studio, it was set to be the 3rd feature film release from the company, as Bambi was meant to be the second. The production of Bambi fell behind when animators realized the hefty task that was brought on of animating animals. Pinocchio took its place, and the animators’ goal with the film was to do everything they couldn’t do with Snow White. Add more comedic characters, and add more outlandish scenes like the ones with Monstro.

Jiminy Cricket Gets Upgraded to Narrator

The talking cricket. Image from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_Cricket

The Adventures of Pinocchio was written by Carlo Collodi, an Italian author in 1883. The original tale is much darker than the Disney version, with large story elements of mischief, disrespect, and deviousness. Pinocchio was a puppet who wouldn’t listen to those around him who tried to help him, and always gave into temptation. Our beloved Jiminy Cricket is featured in the original tale, but only for a small section, when he tries to teach Pinocchio about doing the right thing. Pinocchio becomes annoyed with him, and smashes him with a mallet. That is not the story of the cricket Walt wanted to tell.

Jiminy’s role in the film was meant to be small at first just as it was in the book, but they realized they could do so much more with a cute, meaningful side character. Before adding Jiminy to the film, the writers were having a hard time finding the underlying love and magic in the story - on the surface it was just a puppet who kept giving into temptation when he was tricked. When they decided to make Jiminy the narrator, it saved the film entirely. He then became the comedic relief and the essence of love in the story.

Animated By The Great Ward Kimball

Walt approached Ward Kimball, one of his most prized animators, and gave him two pieces of news. One, would be that he wasn’t going to use Ward’s musical soup eating scene in Snow White. Two, was that he wanted Ward to become the lead supervising animator for the character of Jiminy. Ward began sketching ideas for the character, starting out as a more realistic cricket, and eventually becoming more caricature-like.

“It is not a cricket, it is a blob. It is a little man-creature with no ears, and he wears little English outfits, and the only reminiscence of a cricket’s wings are the tails of his coat!”

— Ward Kimball

Cliff Edwards Adds His Voice

What gave Jiminy his personality, was his voice actor, Cliff Edwards. Edwards is best known for his song “Singin’ in the Rain” in 1929. He was the first famous name in a cartoon at the time, so having him be a part of the film was a big deal for the studio. Song writers Leigh Harline and Ned Washington wrote “When You Wish Upon a Star”, and it became the staple song of the film. Edwards sang a test track for them before Jiminy had a more prominent role in the film, and they ended up using his voice in the final cut as it only made sense.

Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket. Image from: https://d23.com/walt-disney-legend/cliff-edwards/

The Impact of “When You Wish Upon a Star”

“When You Wish Upon a Star” won the Academy Award for Best Music (Original Song) in 1940. It was the first Disney song to ever win an Academy Award, and they didn’t receive another one until Mary Poppins over 20 years later. The song is also preserved in the National Recording Registry, and the American Film Institute ranked it as #7 in the top 100 greatest songs in film history.

Walt Disney and his Oscars for the Pinocchio soundtrack. Image from: https://d23.com/this-day/pinocchio-wins-two-oscars/

Jiminy’s Name in Other Films

I can’t think about Peter Pan without hearing little Michael exclaim “Jiminy!” when he flies for the first time with Peter. Jiminy’s name is uttered in many other films, before and after Pinocchio, as a way of expressing excitement or surprise. Jiminy was foreshadowed in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, when the dwarfs are hiding behind trees, they exclaim “Jiminy Crickets!”. Then, his name is said by Judy Garland on 2 occasions, once in Listen, Darling in 1938 and again in the 1939 film Wizard of Oz. In the beginning of the Brave Little Tailor short featuring Mickey Mouse, when the villagers hear Mickey say he’s killed 7 giants, they use the expression. In Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Milo exclaims “Jiminy Christmas!”

His name is featured in 2 Pixar films, the first is A Bug’s Life, when one of the ants spots Hopper coming from a distance. The second is Up, when a newsreel announcer is talking about Charles Muntz.

Jiminy Cricket Becomes the Face of Disney

If you haven’t seen Pinocchio since you were a child and never thought much of the characters, just think about the impact Jiminy’s character has had on the company. “When You Wish Upon a Star” became Disney’s anthem song, played at the beginning of every Disney movie. Jiminy became a face of the company alongside Tinkerbell. He often hosted segments on Walt Disney’s anthology series, he was the host of Disney’s educational series called I’m No Fool, he was in the Mickey Mouse Club, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Mickey’s Magical World, and House of Mouse. The importance of the character to the company’s name has remained crucial.