Pinocchio The Wooden Toymaker & Disneys First Fairy

Pinocchio 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition released from the Disney Vault to 2-Disc DVD and 3-Disc Blu-ray™ Hi-Def

Walt Disney's original classic that inspired the world To Wish Upon A Star

Voice talent:
Richard 'Dickie' Jones (Pinocchio / Alexander)
Mel Blanc (Cleo / Figaro / Gideon)
Walter Catlett (Honest John)
Cliff Edwards (Jiminy Cricket / Narrator)
Christian Rub (Geppetto)
Evelyn Venable (The Blue Fairy)
Charles Judels (Stromboli)

Directors: Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske, Norman Ferguson, T.Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Bill Roberts
Writers: Aurelius Battaglia, William Cottrell, Otto Englander, Erdman Penner, Joseph Sabo, Ted Sears, Webb Smith Based on the book by Carlo Collodi
Genre: Animation / Family / Musical

To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Pinocchio, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is releasing one of its most celebrated and loved Platinum Editions from the Disney Vault on DVD and Blu-ray.

The legendary masterpiece that inspired millions to believe in their dreams has reawakened with an all-new, state-of-the-art digital restoration that shines brilliantly on 2-Disc DVD and 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack. Full of Academy Award®-winning music, including 1940 Best Original Score and Song, brilliant animation and a heartwarming story that has inspired millions, Pinocchio reminds us all of the power of love, family and believing in your dreams.

Join Geppetto's beloved puppet - with Jiminy Cricket as his guide - on a thrilling quest that tests Pinocchio's bravery, loyalty and honesty, virtues he must learn to become a real boy. It is the little wooden puppet's greatest wish to become a real boy, but first he must prove himself worthy. With the help of his Cricket conscience, Jiminy, Pinocchio promises to be brave, loyal and honest. Unfortunately, when he breaks his promises and his nose begins to grow and grow and grow - it leads to a challenging test of his true character. The one and only Pinocchio will live on forever in the heart of anyone who has wished upon a star.

Pinocchio showcases voice art from Richard 'Dickie' Jones (Pinocchio / Alexander), Mel Blanc (Cleo / Figaro / Gideon), Walter Catlett (Honest John), Cliff Edwards (Jiminy Cricket / Narrator), Christian Rub (Geppetto), Evelyn Venable (The Blue Fairy), and Charles Judels (Stromboli).

Following the magical tradition of other Platinum Disney titles, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Beauty and The Beast; The Lion King; Aladdin; Bambi; Cinderella; Lady and The Tramp; The Little Mermaid; Peter Pan; The Jungle Book; and 101 Dalmatians - Pinocchio 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition is a must-have for every Disney collection.

In addition to enhanced sound and vision, Pinocchio 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition on Disney DVD and Blu-ray™ boasts spectacular bonus materials including an all-new music video of When You Wish Upon A Star music video by Meagan Jette Martin; a fantastic Disney song selection to sing along to your favourite Pinocchio songs; exclusive audio commentary with Leonard Maltin, Eric Goldberg And J.B. Kaufman; deleted scenes; original theatrical trailers and much, much more.

As more and more families transition to high definition, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment continues to concentrate its efforts on offering consumers unprecedented quality, value and portability in the purchases of their favourite Disney Blu-ray movies with its new Blu-ray + DVD Combo Packs. Following the successful introduction of the Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack 3-Disc collection in 2008 (Blu-ray + DVD in a single package), the Pinocchio 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition Blu-ray release will include the feature film on standard definition DVD in addition to the 2-Disc Blu-ray set to allow consumers without Blu-ray players to 'future proof' their collections.

DVD bonus features:
Pinocchio 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition on 2-Disc DVD includes the following bonus features:

DISC 1
· FASTPLAY
· All-new music video - When you wish upon a star music video by Meagan Jette Martin.
· Disney song selection - Sing along with your favourite songs, including:
o When you wish upon a star;
o Little wooden head;
o Give a little whistle;
o Hi Diddle Dee Dee; and
o I've got no strings.
· Audio commentary with Leonard Maltin, Eric Goldberg And J.B. Kaufman.
· Pinocchio's 'Matter of facts' - Fun facts about the movie as you watch it.

DISC 2
· No strings attached: The making of Pinocchio.
· Deleted scenes - Story of the Grandfather tree, a sequence planned for the film that never materialised.
· The Sweatbox - demystifying one of the lesser known animation processes.
· Geppetto's 'Then and Now'.
· Live action reference footage.
· Pinocchio art and collectable galleries.
· Collection of theatrical trailers, including:
o Original theatrical trailer (1940).
o Theatrical trailer (1984).
o Theatrical trailer (1992).
· Deleted song: Honest John.

Blu-ray™ bonus features:
Pinocchio 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition on 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack includes all the DVD bonus features plus:
· All-new Disney View - Utilising Blu-ray technology, audiences can now expand their viewing experience beyond a beloved film's original aspect ratio. Drawing beyond the borders of classic full-frame cinema, Disney View fills the otherwise dark edges of the screen with beautiful original imagery created specifically to enhance the film-viewing experience.
· Pinocchio Knows trivia challenge
· Pleasure Island carnival games
· Cine-Explore


RRP:
2-Disc DVD - $39.95
3-Disc Blu-ray™ Combo Pack - $49.95



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CYRIL HOBBINS

MASTER TRADITIONAL WOODEN TOYMAKER

Cultivating a lifetime of interest in toys, Cyril Hobbins' interest in researching and then re-creating Traditional Wooden Folk Toys began over 20 years ago when he began his own business; Little Wood Studio in Kenilworth, England. However, the seeds of this fascination with Traditional Wooden Folk Toys were really sown in his early childhood. During the dark wartime and post-war days of the 1940s and early 1950s, toys were almost unobtainable. Children were often forced to make their own toys and Cyril was no exception while as a young boy, he fashioned toys and whistles from hedgerow sticks, using just a sharp pocket-knife as a tool. Other homemade toys may have come to him from a convalescing member of the British Armed Forces or from German and Italian Prisoners of War who made toys like their grandfathers did before the war. "Instead of metal toys, we received wooden acrobats, pecking chickens and monkeys on sticks all with real Folk-Toy origins," reflects Hobbins.

Fearing that children were in real danger of "…becoming swamped in a sea of imported plastic and electronic toys," Hobbins left a longtime teaching career to set up Little Wood Studio. His main objective was the restoration of interest in Traditional Wooden Folk Toys.

What is a Traditional Folk Toy? In Hobbin's view, "Essentially it refers to any toy made following long established traditions preferably using found materials, then decorated in a naïve manner. In other words, a toy made from the heart rather than working to set formulae or to strict dimensions."

"I combined all of my skills and qualifications to research and to re-create Traditional Wooden Folk Toys to sell at craft events; I also designed and made a hundred or more different TOY KITS; sets of pre-cut parts that could be completed during my practical toy-making workshops in schools and museums," states Hobbins.

Making exact replicas of genuine old toys and dolls for museums and collectors, Hobbins became the official Tudor Toy Maker at Kenilworth Castle for English Heritage, attending other historical sites for them and for The National Trust.

After leaving school at 15 years of age in 1953 to become an apprentice carpenter-joiner, at 18, Hobbins did his National Service in Germany serving with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards to return to being a joiner two years later. In 1959, he married his wife Glenys raising three children who are now adults with children of their own.

Intrigued with art and design all his life, Hobbins studied at Leamington College of Art, continuing with Saturday life classes as a member of Coventry and Warwickshire Society of Artists. Hobbins designed and painted scenery for local theatre groups for many years and sold the odd painting or drawing occasionally.

In 1973 he became a life-skills instructor serving adults with severe learning difficulties at a local Day Care Centre. During this time, Hobbins gained both teaching, then social work qualifications as a mature student at colleges in Wolverhampton and then Leicestershire. Learning to work with all kinds of people from all walks of life proved to be a very rewarding time for Cyril.

Currently semi-retired, Hobbins still researches and makes prototype historically accurate replicas of wooden toys, dolls and games for a British Educational Supplies Company while keeping busy with other projects. His first book, Traditional Wooden Toys, was published in 2007; and he is currently working on his next book which is aimed at children learning to make their own toys and games.

Branching out beyond his traditional wooden toy realm, Hobbins is learning the art of computer animation and editing and continues to enjoy a full life with his wife, Glenys.

Walt Disney's First Fairy

In bringing his second feature length animated film, PINOCCHIOto the screen, it wasWalt Disney's intent to bring this memorable cast of characters to life. In a studio release,Disney shared his vision for one character in particular, "The Blue Fairy will come to the screen as probably the loveliest and most perfect character ever seen in an animated picture." The embodiment of magic, this lovely creature was not without challenges, as the artists ofWalt Disney studios worked to design Disney's first fairy.

Once her angelic features were defined, extensive color tests were conducted by the Ink and Paint department to give this fairy the proper ethereal quality. Careful consideration was given to the light values, for if not done properly, this gentle fairy would look washed out.

The special effects department went to work on crafting her inner light, giving her an unearthly glow. Finding the perfect voice to grant the wish of the old woodcarver,was no easy task. After an extensive search, the lovely voice of the Blue Fairy is provided by actress Evelyn Venable, a popular film star in the 1930's. This versatile actress also taught classical Greek and Latin for many years as a faculty member at UCLA.

Marge Belcher, who later gained film prominence as the legendary dancer and choreographer, Marge Champion, provided the gentle movement references for this enchanted creature. With these steps in place,work began on final animation tests and nearly a hundred feet of film was devoted to conveying the results. Upon screening the final screen test of Disney's new fairy as she would appear in the film, all of the predominately male audience responded with whistles and various cries to Walt asking for her telephone number. In a studio publicity release issued prior to the film's debut, the headline read: "Blue Fairy Hides Telephone Number from Disney Boys."

Though her onscreen time is minimal, Disney clearly understood the importance of this character, as the Blue Fairy's unearthly presence and heavenly appeal provide the underlying magic of this entire film.

With one wisp of her wand, and the simple words: "Little puppet made of pine,Wake! The gift of life is thine," the Blue Fairy casts Geppetto's humble wish. Appointing Jiminy Cricket as Lord High Keeper of the Difference Between Right and Wrong, the Blue Fairy instills the very best within this little cricket to keep his wooden charge on the right track throughout an extraordinary journey. Now, after 70 years, the Blue Fairy's reassuring presence continues to warms hearts and win admirers both on and off the screen as Walt Disney's first fairy.

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