A wooden puppet that looks like one you’ve seen before wakes up in the dark, but this isn’t the Pinocchio from bedtime stories. This world is darker and wilder, where magic and machines clash and innocence is put to the test by fire and steam.
What if the famous fairy tale had teeth? Viktor Lakisov’s Pinocchio and the Water of Life dares to ask. What if Geppetto’s creation was more than simply a puppet? What if it was a rebel in a warped, dystopian world?
Fans could tell something was unusual from the very first shots of the teaser trailer. This wasn’t Disney. It wasn’t safe. After years of rumours and delays in development, the question on every fan’s mind is finally answered: When is Pinocchio and the Water of Life coming out?
You’re going to find out, and believe us, the trip to that day is just as crazy as the story itself.
Pinocchio and the Water of Life Release Date Confirmed
There have been rumours and delays for years, but it’s finally official: Pinocchio and the Water of Life will be in theatres on December 18, 2025.
The film was first teased during the 2021 Cannes Marché du Film, but it kept out of the public eye because to problems with post-production and distribution. But now things are moving quickly. IMDb and Letterboxd have both confirmed that the steampunk fantasy epic will come out in the winter, first in Russia and then spreading around the world soon after.
Cast and Crew Power Play
- Viktor Lakisov, who was in charge of the film’s visual harshness, directed it.
- Voices include Yonas Kibreab as Pinocchio, series-voice legend Tom Kenny, veterans James Hong, Charlie Adler, Rob Paulsen, Maurice LaMarche, Riker Lynch, Suzy Nakamura, and Fred Tatasciore.
- Behind-the-scenes drama: There are rumours that studios in Estonia, Russia, and the U.S. had a fight about steampunk design rights, but insiders believe it made the “obsessive detail” onscreen.
The Plot: A Puppet’s Quest Through a Steampunk Nightmare
The story of Pinocchio and the Water of Life is broken apart and put back together with brass, shadows, and desperation. The cosy workshop and chirping conscience are gone. Instead, Pinocchio wakes up in a mechanical city ruled by the ruthless Faustino, a diabolical engineer who traps puppets in a futuristic theatre of suffering.
Here, performances aren’t just for applause; they’re fights for survival that are beamed across the city to a frenzied crowd. Pinocchio, who was carved with hope but hardened by loss, learns that the “Water of Life,” a mystical elixir, could bring his fallen puppet friends back to life and make him a real person.
But to get it, he has to get past lethal stage traps, fight against Faustino’s cruel control, and face realities about himself that he was never supposed to know.
Imagine a mix of Pan’s Labyrinth and Mad Max, with a moral compass that never stops spinning.
As he goes, he encounters friends, like broken marionettes, retired performers, and a strange female who might be more mechanical than human. Pinocchio isn’t just looking for life; he’s learning what it is to earn it as his gears grind towards his destiny.
Where is The Trailer?
The trailer opens with gears grinding, plunging our puppet hero into Faustino’s menace.
Why Fans Are on the Edge of Their Seats
Whether you’re in it for the worldbuilding, the voice cast, or the dark fantasy vibes, one thing’s for sure—Pinocchio and the Water of Life has become a conversation starter long before its release.
Tom Kenny voices Geppetto in the Pauly Shore Pinocchio, and is voicing Pinocchio in The Water of Life. That dude gets around holy shit
— Bio Dome With Pauly Shore (@BioDomeWithPS) February 4, 2022
FAQs About the Film
Is this connected to Disney’s Pinocchio?
Not at all. This is a steampunk fantasy that stands on its own. It’s darker and has more world-building than Disney’s version.
Can I order it ahead of time or watch it online?
You can pre-order it for $14.99 on ARZURA HD, although that price is probably only a placeholder until it is released more widely.
Will it go to Cannes or other festivals?
It went on tour to Cannes Marche du Film in 2021 as a finished project. The enthusiasm around the festival is likely to pick up again before the movie comes out.
Final Take: A Daring Pinocchio Reinvented
Pinocchio and the Water of Life refuses to be shy. With steampunk spectacle, an all-star voice cast, and Faustino’s dark livestream empire, it’s a Pinocchio reborn for a tech-obsessed generation. Tension, controversy, and an underdog hero—it has all the ingredients of a cult classic in the making.
What do you think about this steampunk twist? Will Pinocchio’s water of life wash over your expectations? Let us know in the comments!
