10 Fascinating and Unbelievable Fun Facts About Pinocchio You Never Knew!

1. Nose Growth Spurts

Who nose best? Pinocchio, hands down – or rather, nose out! This puppet's snout had a woodpecker-approved sense of humor, branching out into unsolicited growth spurts from more than just bald-faced fibs: In Carlo Collodi's original book, Pinocchio's nose didn't only lengthen when he lied, but also when he misbehaved. It even grew to such an extent that it required a beak-ed intervention by woodpeckers at the Blue Fairy's request to prune it back down to size.
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2. Pinocchio Kills Talking Cricket

Much like The Real Housewives of Neverland, the original Pinocchio had no shortage of drama and scandal: in the original story, Pinocchio actually kills the Talking Cricket, only for it to return as a ghostly helpful figure! Disney later transformed this ghostly cricket into the iconic Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio's endearing conscience and loyal friend in the timeless 1940 classic film.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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=> Fun Facts about Cinderella

3. Most Translated Italian Book

Swapping languages like a chameleon in a pantone factory, this wooden puppet really knows how to branch out: Pinocchio holds the esteemed title of being the most translated Italian book, appearing in 260 different languages, standing tall as the second most widely read book after the Bible, and has carved out quite a niche in our culture with his iconic elongated nose signaling a fib in the making.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Blue-Haired Fairy's True Role

When the Blue-Haired Fairy thought ventriloquism was too mainstream, she pulled off the ultimate puppet project: guiding our favorite wooden misfit on his path to becoming a real boy! But seriously: in the original Pinocchio novel, the Blue-Haired Fairy wasn't a magical wish-granter like in the Disney version; instead, she acted as Pinocchio's guardian angel, stepping in whenever he was in a bind, and eventually helped him grow into a responsible and compassionate person.
Source => newyorker.com

5. Terrible Dogfish Attack

Picture a fish that could star in a blockbuster thriller, give Jaws a run for its money, and still have room for a train in its belly: That's the Terrible Dogfish from Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinocchio. This fearsome marine monster is larger than a five-story building, a kilometer long, has three rows of teeth, and even bears the nickname "The Attila of fish and fishermen" in Chapter XXXIV. But don't worry, our wooden protagonist never becomes fish food in the story!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Dark Original Pinocchio

Once upon a time, in a world where puppets wished to be human, a long-nosed, pointy-hatted villainous version of Pinocchio roamed the land, causing mischief and mayhem that would make even Geppetto's hairs stand on end: In the original concept, Pinocchio was a much darker character with a more grown-up and malicious demeanor, but Walt Disney revamped his appearance and behavior to be more light-hearted, transforming him into the lovable wooden-boy-turned-real we adore today.
Source => simple.wikipedia.org

7. WWII Box Office Flop

Once upon a time, in a world without Netflix, Pinocchio nose-dived at the box office faster than you can say "Jiminy Cricket!": World War II blocked the film's success in Europe and Asia, yet it eventually turned a profit in its 1945 reissue. The now-iconic wooden boy was Disney's second full-length animated feature and has since become a celebrated classic. It even bagged two Academy Awards for Best Music, including the undeniably catchy and magical "When You Wish Upon a Star."
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8. Pinocchio vs. Jiminy Cricket

Hold onto your cricket bats, folks, because this classic tale smashes convention: In the original Pinocchio story, our wooden protagonist heartlessly thwacks Jiminy Cricket with a hammer; however, the dapper, top-hatted insect charmer later transitioned into a beloved sidekick and guide for Pinocchio in Disney's animated adaptation.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Late Italian Love for Pinocchio

Talk about a late bloomer: Italians didn't warm up to their now-iconic wooden wonder, Pinocchio, until after Disney sprinkled its fairy dust on the tale in 1940, making it a hit in the United States and France before gaining popularity in its homeland.
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10. Bizarre Pinocchio Adaptations

Who knew Pinocchio could be NSFW and break hearts in more ways than one! From risqué escapades with a talking log-turned-bedroom buddy to a cold-hearted puppet stealing his way into a child's chest cavity, our wooden friend has risen to heights unexpected in various adaptations: Some bizarre renditions include 1971's "The Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio" and Japan's "Pinocchio: The Series," while other modern adaptations like "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" and "Bicentennial Man" use Pinocchio's quest for humanity as the basis for exploring androids yearning for a human experience.
Source => avclub.com