I'm transferring my VHS copy of this film to DVD right now and I'm re-appreciating the hard work to make this above average animated sci-fi fantasy. Great character design reminiscent of the Fleisher era Popeyes. Lots of imaginative monsters. The animation is never lazy, lots of full character shots of walks and runs and good "acting" to go with the voice track. I mistakenly thought this was an example of the early Japanese animation like Astro Boy. It's actually French-Belguim. I saw this when it came out in the sixties when I was about 12 or 13. At the Knob Hill theater in Oklahoma City. Probably co billed with something like Hercules vs The Vampires.
14 Reviews
It changed my life...
kenl-126 November 2006
I saw this on the big screen. It changed my life. Well, OK. Perhaps I would have become a Sci-Fi fan anyway, but at age six, this was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I should note that when this came out, I still thought Clutch Cargo was at least moderately cool. Years after I had seen it, I had dreams about it. As an adult, I remembered this little tale whenever I saw a reference to "Pinocchio". (Disney tosses them around like beads at Mardi Gras) It was so obscure that I thought I might have dreamed it up myself. I was excited to have unearthed this gem and bring it into the light of today. I think it might be fun to see this again just for the nostalgia. Then again, I've listened to some of the music I liked so much back then and found it just... scary. Perhaps this should remain wrapped in the rose colored cloak of the past as my first full length, animated, Sci-fi feature film. For that alone, I'll give it six stars.
Good for kids!
hitchcockkelly26 January 2023
You know, this wasn't half bad. It can't compare to arguably the greatest animated film of all time, but "Pinocchio In Outer Space" has its own merits. The animation is good. (It's much better than most modern animated TV shows.) The story is interesting. Even the three songs are lively and pleasant. It's also clear that the film strove to be a bit educational, as a number of space facts are brought up. Pinocchio and his friend Twertle, voiced by the inimitable Arnold Stang, have good chemistry and a pretty exciting adventure. If you have a small tot, there are many, many worse kid's movies you could rent for them.
I Like "Pinocchio in Outer Space"...
TonyReynolds20 December 2001
...despite the fact that they made him a blonde... It's true that while this film is a visual departure from the Disney version (as it should be, IMO), it does have some elements that make it enjoyable nonetheless. The songs ("In the Little Toy Shop", "Goody Good Morning" and "Doin' the Impossible") are very decent and fun to listen to. Then there's the combination of a classic fairy tale and the space age (Pinocchio saves the Earth from Astro the flying whale). Throw in Arnold Stang (Nertle the Turtle), some scary intergalactic mutants, an atomic blast, and you've got...well, a decent 60's animated movie about a puppet saving the world.
An Almost Great Film, One for the Ages
Davy Boy-212 December 1999
"Pinocchio in Outer Space" may not be in the same "all time classic" league as the Disney "Pinocchio", but what it lacks in budget and grandeur it makes up for in imagination and well-crafted ambience. Rather than being a lame attempt to cash in on the audience's good memories of the Disney version, this film is actually an exercise in the classic science-fiction "what-if" scenario. And it works. It has some of the most evocative outer-space scenes ever animated, with some truly haunting extra-terrestrial landscapes and a host of alien monsters sure to thrill the still young-at-heart. It's not for everyone, but for those who can find themselves enthralled by its peculiar charms, this film is a gold mine of Sunday morning kraft dinner bliss.
It's Never "Beta" Than The First Time!
happipuppi1317 February 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Well! Looks like I'm not alone out there in having seen this "unusual sequel" to Disney's original. I just happened to see this on my neighbors beta player away on back in 1978!(or '79). In fact this stands as the very first time I ever saw anything on home video anywhere!
I was 100% amazed at the idea of watching a cartoon this way! I even asked him,"Wow,how'd you do that?! Anyway,I never forgot it and all I can recall is the plot as described here. Poor little Pinnochio has returned to wooden form and now has to risk being his own timber fire by flying to Mars! (Wouldn't he have burned up either on re-entry or on the way up??)
I forget how he becomes an actual boy again but for the sheer sake of nostalgia and a great child-hood memory I'll rate it 8 stars! I know that even if I get to watch it again it wont be as it was the first time but it's really the only way (besides in your mind & photos/home movies) that one can truly revisit childhood!
It's not Disney but it's okay in my book. Oh! ...and Happy 40th Anniversary,wherever you are! I can't find you on video anywhere.
Edited on March 11th, 2011 : I was finally able to track down an affordable copy on VHS on Amazon.com and it's finally in my possession. HOORAY!!! Amazing how much I'd forgotten about it.
If any of you are still seeking it, give that same site a look.
I was 100% amazed at the idea of watching a cartoon this way! I even asked him,"Wow,how'd you do that?! Anyway,I never forgot it and all I can recall is the plot as described here. Poor little Pinnochio has returned to wooden form and now has to risk being his own timber fire by flying to Mars! (Wouldn't he have burned up either on re-entry or on the way up??)
I forget how he becomes an actual boy again but for the sheer sake of nostalgia and a great child-hood memory I'll rate it 8 stars! I know that even if I get to watch it again it wont be as it was the first time but it's really the only way (besides in your mind & photos/home movies) that one can truly revisit childhood!
It's not Disney but it's okay in my book. Oh! ...and Happy 40th Anniversary,wherever you are! I can't find you on video anywhere.
Edited on March 11th, 2011 : I was finally able to track down an affordable copy on VHS on Amazon.com and it's finally in my possession. HOORAY!!! Amazing how much I'd forgotten about it.
If any of you are still seeking it, give that same site a look.
It's A Goody...Good Morning!
ClassixFan30 June 2008
I actually saw this film rather late in life, most folks seem to have seen this as children, but I was into my 30s before I saw it and the big kid that I am....I love it.
The opening song and 'It's a Goody...Good Morning' are my favorites, but heck, they are all catchy little tunes. I think the animation is very good, is it me or did animation of the 60s still have that 'innocent' look? This is one of those films, where you hear about it, but until you actually see it, you can't believe it. Kind of along the same vein as, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians or the Mexican film, Santa Claus. Hey, 71 minutes of your life is definitely worth it, if you've never seen it and if you have young kids, use them as an excuse to check it out!
The opening song and 'It's a Goody...Good Morning' are my favorites, but heck, they are all catchy little tunes. I think the animation is very good, is it me or did animation of the 60s still have that 'innocent' look? This is one of those films, where you hear about it, but until you actually see it, you can't believe it. Kind of along the same vein as, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians or the Mexican film, Santa Claus. Hey, 71 minutes of your life is definitely worth it, if you've never seen it and if you have young kids, use them as an excuse to check it out!
Wow, this is scary
aneustein12 April 2002
Buried in the annals of my childhood fears is this movie that I saw when I was too young to experience anything except sensual sensation. I don't even remember the plot except that there was a horrible space whale with a weird thruster thing instead of a blowhole and terrible martian space monsters that absolutely scared the crap out of me. The whole film is extremely frightening and disturbing.
I like it :)
I like it :)
A Dash of Science A Bit of Dread Mixed with SF Humor
tadrearick12 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Like others I've read, Pinocchio in Space was as early and positive science fiction experience for me. In 1964 the New York World's Fair was just beginning with all its future exhibits, the space race was heating up and I was watching Astroboy. It was a great time my imagination was ignited. This film helped do that more. I am not going to give away any plot spoilers but note that some scenes are mentioned in the next paragraphs.
The theme of a destroyed but great culture undone by its technology was haunting. Giant creatures jumping out at me was also a new experience. Back then I had not seen Forbidden Planet but watching Pinocchio now I note that the walk through towering Martian technology is strongly reminiscent of the still functioning Krell laboratory depicted in the 1955 classic. Even some of the sound effects are similar.
I also find it fun that the film makers tried also to be educational by adding various space facts while admonishing children to apply themselves to school. In short it was a lot of fun, especially Arnold Stang as "Nurtle the Turtle" an alternative to Jiminy Cricket. (I can not say all the shows I have heard his voice in but others of my generation will know him.) Of course the film also improbably mixes in fantasy and magic, including a whale who can propel himself through space with his spout. But for me it all worked. Probably a bit dated for older kids today but the young and the young in heart will still enjoy this animated morality tale.
The theme of a destroyed but great culture undone by its technology was haunting. Giant creatures jumping out at me was also a new experience. Back then I had not seen Forbidden Planet but watching Pinocchio now I note that the walk through towering Martian technology is strongly reminiscent of the still functioning Krell laboratory depicted in the 1955 classic. Even some of the sound effects are similar.
I also find it fun that the film makers tried also to be educational by adding various space facts while admonishing children to apply themselves to school. In short it was a lot of fun, especially Arnold Stang as "Nurtle the Turtle" an alternative to Jiminy Cricket. (I can not say all the shows I have heard his voice in but others of my generation will know him.) Of course the film also improbably mixes in fantasy and magic, including a whale who can propel himself through space with his spout. But for me it all worked. Probably a bit dated for older kids today but the young and the young in heart will still enjoy this animated morality tale.
i'm not alone
jandimin26 January 2001
Like A Bizarre Childhood Dream
TheFearmakers2 October 2022
Take away a dingy song during the first half-hour dealing with our main character at home, who's a puppet again after a naughty montage of ditching school, bullying a dog and getting bad grades, and you have relatively frightening scenes that are, or seem, surprisingly aimed at adult audiences: including a shadow appearing over our famously phony boy's head... chasing him around a field with a fitfully suspenseful, formidable score...
Turns out to be a spaceship manned by a friendly turtle-creature (voiced by Arnold Stang in the expository Jiminy Cricket mantle) who takes Pinicchio up to outer space to seek a flying, planet-destroying whale...
They land on Mars and are attacked by mysteriously derived giant sand crabs that resemble cartoon versions of something Ray Harryhausen would devise, followed by the best scenes where the duo investigate the Red Planet's desolate domed city, holding many secrets and more aggressive foes...
And then, back in outer space: the discovery of, capture from, battle with, and eventual taming of Orbit the Whale is quite intense: All making for a bizarre cartoon experience definitely worth the watch. Again and again and again some more.
Turns out to be a spaceship manned by a friendly turtle-creature (voiced by Arnold Stang in the expository Jiminy Cricket mantle) who takes Pinicchio up to outer space to seek a flying, planet-destroying whale...
They land on Mars and are attacked by mysteriously derived giant sand crabs that resemble cartoon versions of something Ray Harryhausen would devise, followed by the best scenes where the duo investigate the Red Planet's desolate domed city, holding many secrets and more aggressive foes...
And then, back in outer space: the discovery of, capture from, battle with, and eventual taming of Orbit the Whale is quite intense: All making for a bizarre cartoon experience definitely worth the watch. Again and again and again some more.
Mermerizing
gregberne1131 October 2019
My favorite...
YouKnowMyName6824 September 2005
I remember being amazed when I saw this aired on television in 1978 and am glad to have it on DVD! I tend towards science fiction and so I gravitated more to this non-Disney like approach to the wooden little boy story! Space ships, left over alien technology, alien intelligence (Murtle?), mutant monsters, space flying whale (Monstro!), memorable songs, good, very good, animation and design and just overall a very enjoyable and most worthy of praise for the people who all worked to bring this project through!!! My recommendations for any age! There should have been more science fiction type animated movies with even this level of animation( which is in actuality very, very skillful and superb)I distinctly remember from the documentary contained in the DVD that this is not a product of the United States. Which is also an amazing fact. There could have been other animation houses doing more interesting work than from warner bros., Disney, hanna barbera, and other animation companies....
Yes, to my own real shame....
Mister-62 September 1999
I have seen "Pinocchio in Outer Space".
Two or three times, in fact.
And it is the only full-length feature up to that time that tried to make a sequel to Disney's long-time classic.
What do you mean, you've never heard of it?!
Well, it features Gepetto and the Blue Fairy from the original, but that's about as nostalgic as it gets. This time, they hybrid Pinocchio with James Bond and he must save earth from a "space whale" (I know, that's what I said, too) because he has been destroying our planet's satellites and now threatens to do the same with anyone who crosses him.
So now Pinocchio has been thrust into the space age with only his wits and Nurtle the Turtle (from the land of Twurtle-Dee, if I recall correctly) to help him overcome this monstrous foe.
The whole story is kind of bland, much like the direction, and one plot point: wasn't he already a boy at the end of the first movie? Oh well....
At least this movie has one saving grace: Arnold Stang as the voice of Nurtle. If you don't know his name, just look him up. I'm sure once you see him or hear that whiny voice you'll go, "oh, yeah!". I did.
Two stars for "Pinocchio". After this one, they should have done "Pinocchio in a Toothpick Factory".
Could have had a million sequels.
Two or three times, in fact.
And it is the only full-length feature up to that time that tried to make a sequel to Disney's long-time classic.
What do you mean, you've never heard of it?!
Well, it features Gepetto and the Blue Fairy from the original, but that's about as nostalgic as it gets. This time, they hybrid Pinocchio with James Bond and he must save earth from a "space whale" (I know, that's what I said, too) because he has been destroying our planet's satellites and now threatens to do the same with anyone who crosses him.
So now Pinocchio has been thrust into the space age with only his wits and Nurtle the Turtle (from the land of Twurtle-Dee, if I recall correctly) to help him overcome this monstrous foe.
The whole story is kind of bland, much like the direction, and one plot point: wasn't he already a boy at the end of the first movie? Oh well....
At least this movie has one saving grace: Arnold Stang as the voice of Nurtle. If you don't know his name, just look him up. I'm sure once you see him or hear that whiny voice you'll go, "oh, yeah!". I did.
Two stars for "Pinocchio". After this one, they should have done "Pinocchio in a Toothpick Factory".
Could have had a million sequels.
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