Warning: This post contains spoilers for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio may not have too much in common with Disney’s live-action version, but both films have a great voice cast playing the characters. Del Toro’s Pinocchio is a stop-motion animation that delves deep into the titular character’s adventures, but the story wouldn’t be complete without a vibrant voice cast to bring all the characters to life.
Directed by del Toro and Mark Gustafson from a screenplay the former co-wrote with Patrick McHale, the stop-motion Pinocchio is based on the 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Italian author Carlo Collodi. The filmmakers have assembled a notable cast to embody the animated characters. While some of the actors’ voices are recognizable, there are others who will surprise. Below is a full guide to the voice cast, their roles in Pinocchio, and what the actors look like in real life.
Gregory Mann As Pinocchio/Carlo
Pinocchio is a wooden puppet who comes to life after a Wood Sprite, a magical fairy, brings him to life after he is carved by a woodcarver. Pinocchio has a bright spirit and is excited to learn about everything life has to offer, even if that often leads him into trouble. Separately, Carlo is Geppetto’s young son, who wishes to become a woodcarver like his father, but whose life is cut short after he is killed by a rogue missile dropped from a ing warplane. Pinocchio is modeled after Carlo, and Gregory Mann voices both characters in Pinocchio. Mann is best known for the period drama series Victoria.
David Bradley As Master Geppetto
Geppetto is an Italian woodcarver who was beloved in his town and doted on his son Carlo. Following Carlo’s death, Geppetto grieves for many years and turns to drinking. Though Geppetto carves Pinocchio, he is reluctant to call him his son when he is brought to life. Geppetto is voiced by David Bradley, who is best known for playing Argus Filch in the Harry Potter movie franchise. Bradley is also known for his roles in HBO’s Game of Thrones, where he played Walder Frey, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End, del Toro’s TV series The Strain, Doctor Who, and the Prime Video movie Catherine Called Birdy.
Ewan McGregor As Sebastian J. Cricket
Sebastian J. Cricket is essentially Jiminy Cricket, who acts as Pinocchio’s conscience, guiding him on what and what not to do on his life’s journey. In Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Sebastian is also the story’s narrator and a writer intent on penning his memoir. Sebastian J. Cricket is voiced by Ewan McGregor, who is best known for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. McGregor is also known for the musical film Moulin Rouge!, Trainspotting, August: Osage County, the DC superhero film Birds of Prey, the live-action Beauty and the Beast, and the TV series Fargo.
Christoph Waltz as Count Volpe
Count Volpe is a vicious puppet master and circus ringmaster who exploits Pinocchio’s talents to sell out shows, promising him money to send home to Geppetto and reneging on that promise. Count Volpe is voiced by Christoph Waltz, who is best known for his roles in the Quentin Tarantino films Django Unchained and Inglourious Basterds, Big Eyes, the James Bond films No Time to Die and Spectre, the Wes Anderson movie The French Dispatch, The Legend of Tarzan, Carnage, Alita: Battle Angel, Horrible Bosses 2, and The Green Hornet.
Tilda Swinton As The Wood Sprite/Death
The Wood Sprite is an unearthly fairy who, though not allowed to meddle in human affairs, grants Pinocchio life so that he may keep Geppetto company. Death, meanwhile, is the Wood Sprite’s sister who detests her sister’s love of humans, and guards the afterlife, where she watches over Pinocchio when he pops in occasionally. Tilda Swinton voices both the Wood Sprite and Death. Swinton is best known for her roles in Snowpiercer, the George Clooney drama Michael Clayton, The Souvenir and its sequel The Souvenir: Part II, the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange, Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio ing Cast & Character Guide
Ron Perlman as the Podestà - The Podestà is a fascist government official who helped run a youth camp to indoctrinate the young boys of Italy and wanted Pinocchio to be the ultimate soldier in the war. Ron Perlman is best known for his roles in Hellboy, the 1980s Beauty and the Beast series, the Netflix film Don’t Look Up, the Harry Potter franchise film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and the TV series Sons of Anarchy.
Finn Wolfhard as Candlewick - Candlewick is the Podestà's son who doesn’t initially like Pinocchio and sees him as competition for his father’s attention. However, he and Pinoccho become friends. Finn Wolfhard is best known for starring in Netflix’s hit sci-fi series Stranger Things, the horror movie It and its sequel It Chapter Two, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
Cate Blanchett as Spazzatura - Spazzatura is a monkey who acts as Count Volpe's assistant, and is initially against Pinocchio despite Count Volpe mistreating Spazzatura. Cate Blanchett is best known for her roles in Carol, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, where she played Galadriel, The Aviator, her highly acclaimed performance in the drama Tár, del Toro’s Nightmare Alley, the Netflix film Don’t Look Up, the Hulu miniseries Mrs. America, the MCU film Thor: Ragnarok, Disney’s live-action Cinderella, and the British monarchy drama Elizabeth.
Burn Gorman as the Priest - The priest is the head of the church Geppetto attends and who hires the woodcarver to carve a large statue of Jesus. Burn Gorman is best known for his roles in Pacific Rim and its sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising, Christopher Nolan’s film The Dark Knight Rises, the Netflix detective film Enola Holmes, the Prime Video series The Expanse, and the HBO series Game of Thrones.
John Turturro as Il Dottore - Ill Dottore is a doctor who lives and works in Geppetto’s village. John Turturro is best known for his roles in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the Apple TV+ series Severance, The Batman, in which he played Carmine Falcone, the drama miniseries The Night Of, starring Riz Ahmed, Exodus: Gods and Kings, and Transformers.
Tim Blake Nelson as the Black Rabbits - The Black Rabbits live in the afterlife and work for Death, though they are often found playing cards. The Black Rabbits are voiced by Blake Nelson in this version of Pinocchio, and the actor is best known for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Incredible Hulk, the HBO adaptation of Watchmen, Lincoln, and Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley.
Tom Kenny as Benito Mussolini - Benito Mussolini was the Prime Minister of Italy during the inter-war era in which del Toro’s Pinocchio is set, and founded the National Fascist Party. Tom Kenny is best known for voicing SpongeBob SquarePants in the animated series of the same name. The actor is also known for notable voice work in the animated series Rick and Morty, The Powerpuff Girls, and Adventure Time.
