Film Name: 新木偶奇遇记 / Xin Mu Ou Qi Yu Ji
Parents are strongly advised not to take their children to see this film.
If I sometimes jot down notes while watching animations, what did I record about this one?
One is the conspiracy. The film spends considerable time depicting the deceptive schemes of the fox and the Dark Circus ringmaster. They lure children into an amusement park with the intent of trafficking them. There’s even a poisoning scene. The black dog pretends to help Pinocchio (called Pippi in the film) but is actually luring him to gain his trust. How terrifying is this setup? It suggests no one can be trusted in this world, where conspiracy lurks everywhere—even the elf ultimately renounces humanity.
Second is crime. You might be shocked to learn that Pinocchio’s fairy tale has been reimagined as a crime thriller. Even though Pinocchio’s story revolves around lying and honesty, such deception shouldn’t escalate to criminal acts. In the film, Pinocchio indirectly assists the Fox in vandalizing and robbing a bakery. As a child, he’s even imprisoned and later escapes. This crime-ridden plot leaves no room for any sense of innocence.
Violence is rampant. Physical violence is everywhere in the film. Characters are taught to kick balls at people’s faces repeatedly as a form of revenge. The Dark Captain’s right hand is a sharp hook, which he uses relentlessly to chase and attack Pinocchio. Ultimately, he corners Pinocchio on a cliff and shoots him. Though the old man’s actions stemmed from concern, his leap off the cliff alongside Pinocchio also constitutes a violent act. Furthermore, the film is saturated with verbal abuse. Disparaging terms like “wooden lump” are thrown around freely, making one feel nauseous.
Discrimination. As a puppet, Pinocchio receives no kindness or care on his first day of school. Instead, he is mocked and discriminated against. This starkly contrasts the opening scene where townspeople eagerly assist the old man and Pinocchio, raising suspicions that the author may have harbored anti-school sentiments stemming from personal trauma. Is the derogatory term “wooden lump” meant as comic relief?
Moreover, the film’s world-building is deeply flawed. Humans and animals coexist in a town. Yet in this European-style town, students wear red neckerchiefs, and elves and wizards appear inexplicably.
The entire film suffers from ugly character designs, shoddy production quality, and music and lighting that relentlessly push a creepy, gloomy atmosphere. Combined with its numerous unsafe elements, it borders on horror movie territory. I can’t imagine what positive takeaways parents and children could possibly gain from watching this. Even if it’s not entirely without merit, watching this film is truly like paying money to suffer.
Finally, I’d like to use this film to make a point. Recently, there’s been a trend in China of producing animated films that take a familiar Western fairy tale, make a low-quality film with it, and rely entirely on the subject matter to lure audiences into theaters. The story is completely unpolished, riddled with flaws. This trend originated from companies in Hefei and has since spread widely. I hope the relevant authorities will strictly review such films, preventing these rotten apples from ruining the hard-won domestic animation market and the gradually improving audience confidence.
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