“Pinocchio” director Guillermo del Toro is cautioning parents that the stop-motion animated remake of the film is not meant for children to watch without supervision.
The Oscar-winning director discussed the guidelines for his new Netflix project at the movie’s premiere. It’s being described as an “anti-fascist morality play” that’s “dark and gritty.”
“People ask us if it is for kids [and] we say, ‘It’s not made for kids but kids can watch it if their parents talk to them.’ It’s not a babysitter movie, it’s a movie that will have kids ask questions,” the “Pan’s Labyrinth” director told Page Six.
The story of a wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy was created in 1883 by Carlo Collodi. The most well-known adaptation came from Disney in 1940.
“The important thing for me is that it can stand thematically side to side with ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ or ‘The Devil’s Backbone,’ that was the idea,” the director said. “It took us this long to make it, amongst other things, because we wanted it to be thematically relevant.”
Del Toro also spoke about some of the themes he hoped to convey with this new project.
“Obedience to me is when you are told to follow something whether, on a religious level or social level, that you don’t understand, that is a big mistake. Disobedience with consciousness is always the beginning of thought, of soul and self,” he continued.
“When I was a practicing Catholic, not lapsed as I am now, I used to think about where the human soul lies — it lies in the freedom of choice. The choice is to be human.”
The director said something similar while speaking with The Los Angeles Times, explaining that the movie is “not necessarily made for children, but children can watch it.”
“Pinocchio is there to transform the lives of the others,” Del Toro told the publication. “It’s almost the adventures of Geppetto, this movie. Geppetto, who’s obsessed with perfection at the beginning … ends up saying, ‘Whatever you are, whoever you are, I love you just as you are.’ This was the impetus behind this [movie].”
Del Toro took inspiration from his own life while crafting the narrative.
“They both represent sort of a disenfranchised son, with a father that just throws them into the world, hoping they will figure it out,” he added. “I felt that it was a close match to my child-rearing experience.”
“Pinocchio” is currently available on Netflix.
Disclosure: The Daily Wire has announced plans for kids entertainment content.