Blu-ray Review: Pinocchio 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition

Just as a wooden boy comes to life in this classic story, Blu-ray brings Pinocchio into vivid, almost three-dimensional relief. The colors pop, and the meticulous details inserted by the animators become visible, possibly for the first time since it was shown on the big screen upon its original release. Movie lovers also will appreciate the “Cine-Explore” viewing option, which offers insets featuring Leonard Maltin and others discussing the making of the movie along with illustrations, archival photos and interviews with legendary Disney animators—all while the film plays. Meanwhile, disc two features three never-before-released storyboard scenes, an hour-long documentary and more, all of it in high-def and wrapped in easy-to-navigate menus.

Shelf Talk: Pinocchio’s reemergence for its not quite 70th anniversary could be greeted with some pent up demand by parents and Disney-philes stoked by the film’s first high-def incarnation. The Blu-ray is packaged with the standard DVD for those who haven’t yet upgraded but might well do so before the film comes out of the vault again.