The Score For Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio Was Performed With Only Wooden Instruments

The artist says the wood brings a “softness” to the arrangement, and one of the songs that’s already available certainly captures that. “Carlo’s Theme” is inquisitive and adventurous, fitting for a track that seems like it may have been named after “The Adventures of Pinocchio” author Carlo Collodi. “The Pine Cone,” meanwhile, has a more epic sound, with wistful elements and ethereal vocals. In her review of the film, /Film’s Hannah Shaw-Williams says that Del Toro’s take on the story is refreshingly challenging, with knotty, complex questions and real peril.” Brief moments of these soundtrack snippets evoke that sense of danger, too.

“Pinocchio” isn’t the only 2022 release to get creative with its score: for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” composer Ludwig Göransson told /Film he took inspiration from the instruments that Mayan peoples used to make music, including seashells, turtle shells, and clay flutes that mimic birdsong. Meanwhile, “The Invitation” composer Dara Taylor told us she used distorted, backwards vocals and everyday sounds including a household sanding project to make the Gothic horror come to life.

While the full score to “Pinocchio” hasn’t yet been released, the two tracks we have heard indicate it’s a soundtrack that looks fit to match the highly-anticipated film itself — that is, gorgeous and heartfelt. “Pinocchio” is now in select cinemas, and will stream on Netflix beginning on December 9, 2022.