Pinocchio's Christmas

1980 Christmas TV special

Pinocchio's ChristmasTitle pageBased onThe Adventures of Pinocchioby Carlo CollodiWritten byRomeo MullerDirected byJules BassArthur Rankin, Jr.StarringTodd PorterGeorge S. IrvingAlan KingBob McFaddenAllen SwiftTheme music composerMaury LawsCountries of origin United States Japan Original languageEnglishProductionProducersJules BassArthur Rankin, Jr.CinematographyAkikazu KonoIchiro KomuroRunning time49 minutesProduction companyRankin/Bass ProductionsOriginal releaseNetworkABCReleaseDecember 3, 1980 (1980-12-03)Related Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) Frosty the Snowman (1969) Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970) Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974) The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) The First Easter Rabbit (1976) Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976) Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976) The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town (1977) Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977) The Stingiest Man in Town (1978) Jack Frost (1979) Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) Pinocchio's Christmas (1980) Frosty Returns (1992) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys (2001) The Legend of Frosty the Snowman (2005) A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008)

Pinocchio's Christmas is a 1980 Christmas stop motion television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions that is a holiday adaptation of the 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. The special premiered on ABC on December 3, 1980. It aired annually during the Christmas season on Freeform and as of 2018 airs on AMC. Both this special and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus are the only 2 Rankin/Bass Christmas specials to not have any celebrity narrators.

[edit] It is Pinocchio's first Christmas and Geppetto is trying to figure out how to buy a Christmas present for him. So he sells his boots to buy an arithmetic book for Pinocchio who later on sells the book to buy a present for Geppetto. However, he soon runs into the Fox and Cat, whom he thinks are his only friends. The Fox and the Cat convince Pinocchio that he should bury the money he got back for the book in the snow and when the sun sets, they will grow into a Christmas tree covered with gold and silver coins. Pinocchio does exactly that. While he's not there to pay attention, the Fox and the Cat dig the coins out of the ground before he returns. When Pinocchio returns and finds that the tree didn't grow with the Fox and the Cat claiming that the tree failed to grow, he takes part in Maestro Fire-Eater's Christmas puppet show, billed as "Sir Larry Olive-Tree". During the show, he befriends Julietta, one of Fire-Eater's marionettes. After the show, Maestro Fire-Eater tells Pinocchio that he needs to turn Jullietta into one of the Magi for a Christmas pageant next week. But Pinocchio runs off, taking Julietta with him. Maestro Fire-Eater calls a nearby gendarme to chase after him. Pinocchio manages to escape the gendarmes and brings Julietta with him to the Forest of Enchantment where he was born. Pinocchio explains his backstory to her like how he came to life, how he accidentally drove away a Talking Cricket that Geppetto is friends with, and how he met the Fox and the Cat who taught him how to misbehave and play hooky from school. After finishing his story, Pinocchio fears he may never see his father again. Just then, the Fox and the Cat show up telling Pinocchio they know how he can bring Julietta to life using a secret medicine which he can only find if he goes on a sleigh ride over seven mountains and seven valleys. Before Pinocchio can embark on that journey though, a blue light appears calling out his name which scares away the Fox and the Cat and causes Pinocchio to faint. It is soon revealed to be Lady Azura who planted the seed that grew into the tree Pinocchio was originally chopped down from. She brings in a doctor whom Pinocchio recognizes as the Talking Cricket. Pinocchio attempts to explain his terrible action of stealing Julietta from Maestro Fire-Eater by lying which causes his nose to grow. Upon seeing what has happened to his nose, Pinocchio tells the truth and it returns to normal. Azura tells Pinocchio that the only gift he really needs to give Geppetto is love. With that, Pinocchio leaves Julietta in Lady Azura's care and Dr. Cricket goes to make sure Pinocchio stays out of trouble. Pinocchio starts making his way home, but he suddenly again runs into the Fox and the Cat who say that he should go to the North Pole and get a job teaching Santa Claus' toys how to dance. They bring Pinocchio to a sleigh driver they were speaking with earlier who wraps Pinocchio up in a gift box and sells it to a duke who needs a present to give to his children, whom he does not spend much time with. When the kids open up their present, Pinocchio tells the Duke that he should stay home with his kids for Christmas. Afterward, Santa Claus arrives in his sleigh and brings Pinocchio and Dr. Cricket back to Geppetto's workshop, where Pinocchio is joyously reunited with his father and promises to always be a good boy. Lady Azura then arrives with her servants and a now-sentient Julietta and they all sit down to Christmas breakfast. During the meal, Lady Azura tells Pinocchio that while he may be led astray as Pinocchio sees the Fox and the Cat briefly waving at him in the window. He will also have many other misadventures (such as getting turned into a donkey and getting swallowed by a whale). As long as he stays on the path of being a good boy, he will someday gain the reward of being a real boy.

[edit] An original advertisement for the television special. Todd Porter as Pinocchio George S. Irving as Mister Geppetto Alan King as Maestro Fire-Eater Bob McFadden as: Talking Cricket Sleigh Driver Allen Swift as: The Fox Santa Claus Mr. Cherry Pat Bright as The Cat Diane Leslie as Lady Azura Gerry Matthews as Additional voice Ray Owens as Additional voice Tiffany Blake as Child Carl Tramon – Child Alice Gayle – Child

[edit] Producers/Directors – Arthur Rankin, Jr., Jules Bass Writer – Romeo Muller Music – Maury Laws Lyrics – Julian P. Gardner Design – Paul Coker, Jr. Sound Recording – John Curcio Production Coordinator – Lee Dannacher Associate Producer – Masaki Iizuka Animagic Supervisors – Akikazu Kono, Ichiro Komuro, Hiroshi Tabata, Seiichi Araki, Fuminori Minami, Mituharu Hirata, Shinichi Noro Music Arranger/Conductor – Maury Laws

[edit] "I Never Know What Gifts To Buy" – Geppetto "Knock On Wood" – Pinocchio and Chorus "Let 'Em Laugh" – Maestro Fire-Eater and Chorus "It's The Truth" – The Fox and the Cat "Love, The Perfect Gift For Christmas Day" – Lady Azora and Pinocchio "The Very Best Friend I Ever Had" – Geppetto "Dancin'" – Pinocchio and Chorus "Wicked Glee" – Sleigh Driver

Unlike the more famous Rankin/Bass specials that centre on Santa or snowmen, Pinocchio’s Christmas brings a moral fable into the holiday mix. The story echoes the season’s theme of redemption – a wooden boy learns honesty, bravery and the value of family just as Christmas reminds us of second chances. Its blend of classic literature and stop‑motion charm offers a gentle alternative for families who want something beyond reindeer and elves, making it a useful filler when the usual line‑up feels over‑played. The special’s modest running time also means it slots neatly between the bigger blockbusters without demanding a full hour of attention.

If you’re adding Pinocchio’s Christmas to your collection, look for a DVD or Blu‑ray that includes the original 1980 ABC broadcast edit – some later releases trim the opening credits or alter the colour balance. Pay attention to the region code: UK viewers need Region 2. A disc that bundles other Rankin/Bass classics, like ‘The Year Without a Santa Claus’, gives extra value and keeps the nostalgic aesthetic together. For streaming, verify the platform offers the uncut version; many services substitute a newer, slightly edited print. Finally, check for subtitles or audio description if you have accessibility needs – recent re‑releases often add these enhancements.

Many watch the special for its puppetry without noticing the nods to the original Italian tale. Pinocchio’s journey through a magical forest mirrors Collodi’s critique of 19th‑century Italian industrialisation, yet the Christmas setting reframes those anxieties as modern consumer temptations – the ‘toy shop’ scene is a clear parallel to today’s mall‑centric gift‑giving. The soundtrack, composed by Maury Laws, incorporates sleigh‑bell motifs that subtly reference traditional Italian folk rhythms, creating a cross‑cultural soundscape. Recognising these layers adds depth to the viewing experience and turns a simple holiday cartoon into a conversation starter about how classic stories are reshaped for seasonal audiences.