Pinocchio: The Series (1972)
A landmark 1972 Japanese anime retelling of Carlo Collodi's classic tale, darker and more emotionally raw than most adaptations.
Pinocchio: The Series - Series Information
- Original Title: 樫の木モック
- First Air Year: 1972
- Last Air Year: 1972
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Animation, Drama, Kids
- Content Rating (US): NR
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (24 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 52
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: January 4, 1972 (United States - NR), January 4, 1972 (Germany - 12), January 4, 1972 (Brazil - L), January 4, 1972 (Italy - T), January 4, 1972 (Spain - 13), January 4, 1972 (South Korea - ALL)
- Networks: Fuji TV
- Alternative Titles: Kashi no Ki Mokku (US), As Aventuras de Pinóquio (BR), הרפתקאות פינוקיו (IL), Mock of the Oak Tree (JP), بينوكيو: المسلسل (United Arab Emirates)
- Production Companies: Tatsunoko Production
- Production Countries: Japan, Germany, United Kingdom
Pinocchio: The Series - Plot
Mokku of the Oak Tree, also known as Mokku Woody the Oak Tree, or Saban's Adventures of Pinocchio in the United States, is a 52 episode anime series by Tatsunoko Productions first aired on Fuji Television in 1972. The story is based on the novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Italian author Carlo Collodi. Unlike the more cheerful lighter tones of the Disney Version and Nippon Animation's version Piccolino no Bōken, this series has a distinctly sadistic darker theme and portrays the main character, Pinocchio, as suffering from constant physical and psychological abuse and freak accidents.
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Pinocchio: The Series - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Masako Ikeda
- Hiroko Maruyama
- Minoru Yada
- Akira Kamiya
- Kaneta Kimotsuki
- Junpei Takiguchi
- Keiko Tomochika
- Kohei Miyauchi
- Kosei Tomita
- Masako Nozawa
Writers
- Jinzo Toriumi
Pinocchio: The Series - FAQs
Is Pinocchio: The Series darker than the Disney version?
Significantly so. Unlike Disney's cheerful adaptation, this 1972 anime portrays Pinocchio enduring relentless physical and psychological hardship. The series leans into the grimmer spirit of Carlo Collodi's original novel, making it a noticeably more intense and emotionally demanding watch, especially for younger audiences.
What is Pinocchio: The Series based on?
The series draws directly from Carlo Collodi's 1883 Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. Produced by Tatsunoko Production and aired on Fuji TV in 1972, it follows the wooden puppet Mokku through a series of trials, staying closer to the novel's darker spirit than most other adaptations.
Where can you watch Pinocchio: The Series?
Streaming availability for Pinocchio: The Series varies by region. Check JustWatch for the most up-to-date viewing options in your country, as platform availability for classic anime titles from the 1970s can change frequently and differs significantly between markets.
Who voiced the main characters in Pinocchio: The Series?
The Japanese cast features some of the era's most celebrated voice actors. Hiroko Maruyama voiced Mokku (Pinocchio), while Masako Ikeda played the Fairy and Kaneta Kimotsuki brought Cricket to life. Masako Nozawa, legendary for her later role as Goku in Dragon Ball, also appears as Franko.
How many episodes does Pinocchio: The Series have?
The series ran for a single season of 52 episodes, each approximately 24 minutes long. It aired on Fuji TV throughout 1972, giving the story ample room to explore Pinocchio's many misadventures across a full year of weekly broadcasting.
Was Pinocchio: The Series released outside Japan?
The series reached several international markets. In the United States it was distributed as Saban's Adventures of Pinocchio under the title Kashi no Ki Mokku, while Brazilian audiences knew it as As Aventuras de Pinóquio. It also aired in Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea, and Israel, among other countries.
Who wrote the scripts for Pinocchio: The Series?
Jinzo Toriumi served as the series writer, crafting the scripts that adapted Collodi's novel across all 52 episodes. Toriumi was a prolific figure in classic anime, contributing to numerous Tatsunoko productions during the studio's most creatively fertile period in the early 1970s.
What are similar anime series to Pinocchio: The Series?
Fans of classic anime storytelling may enjoy Candy Candy (1976) and Princess Sarah (1985) for their emotionally rich, character-driven narratives. For something with a similar fairy-tale or literary adaptation feel, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988) and Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985) offer comparable warmth and adventure.
More About Pinocchio: The Series
Explore further details about this classic 1972 anime on these authoritative resources.