The Talking Cricket is a fictional character that appears in Carlo Collodi's 1883 book The Adventures of Pinocchio.
Role
The Talking Cricket, which has lived in Geppetto's house for over a century, makes his first appearance in chapter IV, after Pinocchio's mischief has landed his creator Geppetto in prison, and insists that Pinocchio must either attend school or work, to function properly in the world. When Pinocchio refuses to listen, the Cricket states, "You are a puppet and what's worse is that you have a head of wood", whereupon Pinocchio throws a mallet at the cricket, killing him. In chapter XIII, the Talking Cricket appears as a ghost to Pinocchio, telling him to return home rather than keep an appointment with the Fox and the Cat. Pinocchio refuses and in chapter XIV, he is subsequently injured. The Talking Cricket reappears in chapter XVI, where his colleagues, the Crow and the Owl, and he tend to Pinocchio's injuries. The Talking Cricket makes his final appearance in chapter XXXVI, living in a house given to him by the Fairy with Turquoise Hair, where he allows Pinocchio and the ailing Geppetto to stay while Geppetto recovers his health.
Media portrayals
In the 1940 Disney filmPinocchio, the Talking Cricket is renamed Jiminy Cricket and portrayed very differently, as he becomes Pinocchio's inseparable companion and advisor, under instructions from the Fairy with the Turquoise Hair. His relationship with Pinocchio is much less adversarial than in the book as he accompanies Pinocchio on his adventures. Jiminy Cricket also appeared as the host of the two story segments in the theatrical releaseFun and Fancy Free, as well as in several recurring segments of the children's television seriesThe Mickey Mouse Club, and he later appeared as the Ghost of Christmas Past in Mickey's Christmas Carol. Jiminy also appeared as a Disney mascot. Jiminy Cricket later appears in Disney's House of Mouse and Kingdom Hearts voiced by Eddie Carroll. In later projects following Eddie Carroll's death, Phil Snyder and Joe Ochman have since voiced Jiminy Cricket.
In Giuliano Cenci's 1972 animated film The Adventures of Pinocchio, the Talking Cricket, though anthropomorphized, differs little from the character of the novel, but gets killed after Pinocchio throws a mallet at the cricket like in the original novel. The only difference in characterization is that he does not reappear in the Fairy's house as a doctor.
In the 1992 direct to video adaptation Pinocchio from GoodTimes Entertainment, the Talking Cricket is portrayed very much like Jiminy Cricket, and inhabits Pinocchio's pocket as he accompanies Pinocchio on his adventures.
In Steve Barron's 1996 live action filmThe Adventures of Pinocchio, the Talking Cricket is a CGI character named Pépé and is also portrayed very much like Jiminy Cricket. He is an optimistic character who advises Pinocchio against Volpe and Felinet as well as the main antagonist Lorenzini and also accompanies Pinocchio on his adventures. Pépé reappears in the sequel, The New Adventures of Pinocchio with Warwick Davis replacing David Doyle as the voice of Pépé.
In the episode "Pinocchio", the Talking Cricket is actually a termite named Woody, but is portrayed very much like Jiminy Cricket.
In Roberto Benigni's 2002 live action film Pinocchio, the Talking Cricket also made an appearance and is played by Peppe Barra with John Cleese doing his English voice-dub. The Cricket is similar to Jiminy Cricket and is a companion to Pinocchio.
The Talking Cricket appears in Once Upon a Time, played by Raphael Sbarge. His human alter-ego is local psychiatric counselor, and part-time legal advisor, 'Dr. Archie Hopper', in which he is much more timid than in his Cricket guise.
The Talking Cricket appears in the 2008 Italian-British miniseries Pinocchio, portrayed as female by Luciana Littizzetto.
The Talking Cricket appeared in the 2012 Pinocchio film, voiced by Carlo Valli with his English dub voice provided by Arthur Grosser.
