Animation Flashback

Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night

So Filmation studios made another attempt at an unofficial Disney Sequel, this one to Pinocchio. Emperor of the Night, like its predecessor Happily Ever After is not that great a movie but it is not as bad as Happily Ever After. The movie tells a much better story with higher stakes but at the same time, is not great or that good. But this may be in same thinking that the Black Cauldron is not considered good but does have a cult following. The movie was a bit confusing at first and that is the biggest problem. From a critical standpoint this was badly received, one critic saying "it illustrates just how badly the American animated feature has degenerated.” I think that is a bit harsh but the movie does have some issues especially when it is supposed to be the sequel to the 1940’s Pinocchio.

The movie stars Pinocchio (Scott Grimes) who loses a Jeweled Box that Geppetto (Tom Bosley) made for the mayor and must not only get the box back but must also deal with the dark and dangerous Emperor of the Night (James Earl Jones) and Puppitino (William Windom) who wishes to take his free will away and turn him back into a puppet. Accompanying him are new characters, Gee Willikers (Don Knotts), the con men Scalawag (Edward Asner), his assistant Igor (Frank Welker).

This movie dose one thing right and it is in how dark it treats itself. The issue this movie deals with is the concept of free will that didn’t feel completely fleshed out. At the Carnival of the Night, Pinocchio is enticed by a puppet named Twinkle who sings “Do What Makes You Happy” and when going backstage Pinocchio is turned into a puppet by Puppetino. Now this is not a quick scene, it is dragged out and is done to almost look like rape. Not only is Pinocchio screaming for it to stop but it is done by a dark and scary individual as a bunch of lifeless puppets (who we are left to believe are victims) watch sadly. Puppetino entices Pinocchio to listen and traps him as a puppet and he would have stayed one until the Blue Fairy turns him back into a boy later and explains that he gave up his free will. She then tells him important free will is before she leaves.

The idea is played up better in the later part of the movie where Pinocchio looks for the jewel box; this time in the Empire of the Night. Here he is offered the choice of getting the box right away or going to a place called “The Land Where Dreams Come True” and all Pinocchio has to do is sign a paper after he is done. This is a call back to the 1940 version with Pleasure Island but done naturally darker and sadder for Pinocchio and his character. Here Pinocchio drinks and plays around even ignoring the voice and face of Twinkle telling him to escape. Later on Pinocchio comes face to face with the Emperor of the Night and we get another scene about free will. Pinocchio is offered another choice here and it is only by realizing the truth about his free will that he is able to overcome the Emperor and save himself and his friends.

One of the issues the film has is that it tries to do what the 1940 Pinocchio tried to do with Jiminy. Willikers is supposed to serve as conscience to Pinocchio but he also spends most his story trying to find Pinocchio, taking up most if not all of his screen time on his own story which goes nowhere. Another issue is Pinocchio. This movie is supposed to be not only a sequel to the 1940 Disney film but Pinocchio in general and it never seems that Pinocchio has learned anything in his last adventure and still falls into the same habits that brought him trouble before. While looking at it more it would be hard for this story to work if he was the wiser character he should have been. The character Twinkle is one I found confusing at times and wasted opportunity. It was easy to see that she was at one point a real girl and a bit unsettling at first knowing Pinocchio had fallen in love with a puppet. She makes a great tragic character in just her first appearance but I wish more had been done with her. My favorite character Scalawag does just fine as the swindler and comes off as more intelligent than Honest John from the 1940 film and even goes through his own short arc.

The film felt like it should have gone a bit differently, like if Twinkle had been more involved in the story or if there was someone for Pinocchio to play off of. The music never really does anything that interesting except for a few choice scenes and the animation is at best decent. The resolution at the end is dull as to how Pinocchio stops the Emperor but I guess with the theme of Free Will there was only so far they could go with it. It honestly isn't that bad a movie, but it is for the most part forgettable. 

I’m going to give Emperor of the Night a score of 2 out of 5. What little there is to like about the movie works overtime to make the movie good but ultimately it isn't really worth the watch unless you already like it.

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