Pinocchio

The teaser trailer starts with an ambient tone, on a single note: for those who know it’s a trailer for Pinocchio, the use of “When You Wish Upon a Star” (originally by Cliff Edwards, 1939) is all but a given. The trick is when exactly to release that dose of nostalgia, and this trailer’s edit is suave in taking its time before unloading the goods. We can do a quick call back to the scene with the mechanical clocks at 0:16 (and note how the sound arrives before the image), as well as a little arpeggiated flourish from time to time, but otherwise the scene is simply awash in synth—Glow, composed by Richard Canavan of Audiomachine in collaboration with Harry Lightfoot (Top Gun: Maverick, Encanto, and others) effectively sets the scene.

At 0:38 the scene expands a bit with Geppetto’s breathing, a cat’s meow, and a cello line ascending as if in response to the introduction of these key characters. Notice how even the sound of glasses at 0:41 stands out in an otherwise static, meditative state of affairs, in no small way created by that held synth tone. Finally, we hear the now-classic prayer by Tom Hanks’ Geppetto: “starlight, star bright…”—Hanks’ voice positively rumbles against the ethereal sonic backdrop, becoming an instrument unto itself. The music ends on the leading note (right before the tonic, or home, note), along with a blackout at 0:59. The trailer makers opted to cast the teaser largely under the darkness of night—and thus the emphasis on Geppetto’s prayer to the star—rather than revealing the bright fulfilment of his wish (Pinocchio’s coming to life), which we may yet see and hear in the fuller trailer to follow.

Finally, the opening of “When You Wish Upon a Star” sounds (ending on the unresolved sixth scale degree)—and with it, we see more of the fantastical elements of Pinocchio: we see the fairy, and Jiminy Cricket. Tony award winner Cynthia Erivo’s voice carries the tune effortlessly. The music reverts to some epic music tropes, eschewing “Star” in favour of epic percussion and a string ostinato that continues the theme we heard developing before the song. Notice also the use of a delayed cadence at 1:18 in tandem with the montage sequence, further ramping up expectations—only to let down the audioviewer gently. At 1:27, a simple solo piano version of “When You Wish Upon a Star” plays, offering a refreshing contrast to the epic music just before it. (Notice also the use of synch to the downbeat with the title cards.)

This trailer’s edit plays off the fact that the average audioviewer knows and expects “When You Wish Upon a Star”, but instead it offers the song in pieces, in different styles. Moreover, it’s interspersed between more conventional modern trailer-music fare so as to properly build anticipation to the famous tune. At the same time, more spartan moments offer the space and intimacy for the audioviewer to take in Hanks’ version of Geppetto, for example—again, with his distinctive voice being a feature all its own. Ultimately, however, it’s that classic, upwards-leaping melody that’s both the proverbial and literal star, and the teaser’s form deliberately frames it as such.

Pinocchio arrives on Disney Plus September 8th.

— Curtis Perry