The animation, which was handcrafted over 935 days, is set against the backdrop of the rise of fascism in Italy, and it follows the famous puppet in a recognizable but still-altogether different tale of disobedience in the face of evil.
The Alexandre Desplat soundtrack features songs performed by members of the cast, as well as instrumental music.
‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ Soundtrack: All the Songs in Netflix Film
The French film composer worked with del Toro on his film The Shape of Water, for which Desplat was given an Academy Award for best original score in 2018.
For Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Desplat composed several instrumental tracks alongside nine songs performed by the cast, including Gregory Mann, who voices the titular puppet. The lyrics for the songs were written by del Toro and Roeban Katz.
Christoph Waltz, who voiced villain Count Volpe, heaped praise on Desplat and told Newsweek about the film’s soundtrack.
“In a movie like that, [music] is a crucial element,” Waltz said. “And the way you perceive the world, it’s not just through your eyes, it’s also through your ears, and so Alexandre is a big and important element in this.”
Mann told Newsweek what it was like to perform his song “Everything Is New to Me,” which features early on in the film and also required the actor to learn to yodel with ease.
The actor said: “[Desplat is] a perfectionist, but I think that’s what works. I did over 70 takes for that song, but it works in the end. I think the effort that he puts in, it’s like the energy that he gives out he gets back, which I think is great.
“I’ve always loved singing,” Mann went on. “There are a lot of funny songs. There’s also one or two sad songs […] I love sad songs so singing them, I loved it. I had to train [with] a voice coach because he reaches very high notes and he yodels at some point, so I did have to learn how to do that.”
Austrian star Waltz, 66, who was sat beside Mann, was impressed that the actor learned to yodel for the film: “Fantastic, you can now stand on top of a mountain and yodel across.
“I’ve never yodelled. It’s not easy to do, yodelling,” Waltz went on. “You have to sort of change register, and flip back and forth. Well done.”
The Inglourious Basterds actor also sings a song for the film, “We Were a King Once,” and when asked if he enjoyed doing it, Waltz said: “Yeah, of course. I know Alexandre, and I like him, and I think he’s a fabulous musician.”
Ewan McGregor, who voices Sebastian J. Cricket, sings “Better Tomorrows,” while David Bradley, as Geppetto, performs alongside Mann on “Everything Is New to Me” and also sings “My Son.”
All the Songs on the ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ Soundtrack Performed by the Cast:
“Better Tomorrows” - performed by Ewan McGregor"My Son” - performed by David Bradley"Everything Is New to Me” - performed by Gregory Mann & David Bradley"We Were a King Once" - performed by Christoph Waltz"Ciao Papa" - performed by Gregory Mann"Fatherland March" - performed by Gregory Mann"The Late Lamented" - performed by Tim Blake Nelson"My Bubblegum" - performed by Gregory Mann"Big Baby Il Duce March" - performed by Gregory Mann
All the Songs Alexandre Desplat Composed for ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’:
“Carlo’s Theme"“Going to Town"“The Pine Cone"“Sebastian J Cricket"“Geppetto’s Creature"“The Circus"“Pinocchio"“Spazzatura"“A Wooden Boy"“Memory of Carlo"“Friendship With Candlewick"“Resurrection"“Pinocchio Has Left"“Small Lies"“In the Army"“Pinocchio Soldier"“Volpe’s Charm"“To Catania"“The Blue Fairy"“The Sphinx"“Capice"“Pinocchio’s Solitude"“Il Duce"“Paint Battle"“The Dogfish"“Shoot the Puppet"“The Mine"“Papa!““Big Lies"“Saving Geppetto"“Pinocchio’s Choice"“Farewell to Geppetto”
