Guillermo del Toro is happy that kids these days want to be more like Greta Thunberg

Guillermo del Toro is currently riding high on the success of Pinocchio. The horror master’s version of the classic fable has been in development for more than a decade, though audiences and critics alike agree it was worth the wait. As one would expect given his filmography, del Toro made no compromises when it came to the story, setting it in Mussolini’s Italy and reworking the book as a broadside against fascism.

The film is so dark at some points that many have questioned its suitability for young audiences, but in an interview with Variety, del Toro argues that children know the world they live in and with some to deal with hard truths:

“We are in a world where everyone experiences death. Usually the kids they think of in studios are suburban skateboard kids, but one kid now is Greta Thunberg. A child now knows that the doomsday clock is ticking. They know we destroyed the ecology. You know we destroyed society. You know everything that goes wrong. Therefore, they appreciate an explanation. The film consists of parallel stories of fathers and sons.”

We agree, children know what’s going on with the planet and, as Greta Thunberg proves, many are eager to do something about it.

Until now, Pinocchio has done very well in awards season, recently winning a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and leading the race at the Annie Awards, which focus on animated feature films. It’s by far the front-runner for winning the Oscar for animation, with whispers that it might even make the best picture list.

2022 was a popular year for the little wooden boy, although it’s safe to say that Robert Zemeckis’ adaptation of the 1940 Disney classic starring Tom Hanks as Geppetto and the Russian-made film Pinocchio: A True Story far, far behind del Toro’s efforts in terms of quality.

So if you haven’t seen it yet, we highly recommend you check it out. However, be prepared because Pinocchio is a rough emotional ride, but one well worth it.

Pinocchio can be streamed on Netflix.