AI and Pinoccio

     “I want to be a real boy” is what both Pinoccio and David both had in common. In the book, “The Adventures of Pinocchio” and the movie, “AI Artificial Intelligence” both Pinoccio and David went through a lot and tried their hardest to become human. Pinocio was created as a wooden puppet who could speak, then learned to walk, and later became a real life boy. David was a Robot made with the ability to love. After David found out about Pinoccio becoming a real boy he insisted on finding the same blue fairy that humanized Pinoccio, so she can do the same thing for him. He thought that becoming a real boy would mean  his mother would love him more. They both had human qualities, but still didn’t feel like a real boy. No matter how well they both walked or talked they still begged the blue fairy to become human.

David looked just like a boy, and had more feelings than some humans do. Throughout the movie he shows signs of emotion, and it is clear how much he really does love his mother. A non-human quality they both share is that Pinoccio and David don’t need sleep as their source of energy. In the movie David said he “can lay in bed without making a peep instead of sleeping.” This shows his robot quality, and proves he is not a real boy who uses sleep as his battery. Pinoccio also didn’t know he needed to sleep until he was taught to close his eyes. 

Monica in “Artificial intelligence” is just like the blue haired fairy in Pinocchio. They both have the same role of actually activating the creation into a human. Pinoccio was a handmade puppet, but the fairy tries to send him to school like a real boy and says if he does well his reward will be becoming a boy. At the end of the book she lets pinocchio be a real boy, and leaves him a new suit along with money. In the movie “AI” after Monica decides she really does want to keep the robot as her son, she says the words to make his love unconditional. This basically reinvented him and made him more human. He already looked human since the beginning of the movie, just didn’t really act it. In the movie Monica stated, “But outside he just looks so real- like he is a child” (2:25:52) This shows how even though he looked the same, his personality is what changed him and made him more human-like. Pinoccio looked the same throughout the book but it was his human qualities that changed throughout, as well. Monica and the blue fairy are both similar in that they gave second chances. Even after David cut Monica’s hair, she let him stay, but finally gave up when he almost drowned her other son. The blue fairy also gave Pinoccio second chances even after he acted foolish several times.

Not only did both Pinoccio and David try to fit in as humans, they used their other personalities when it was convenient for them. Pinoccio was noticed by two of his other puppet friends, which made him feel more welcomed at the theater. The book states, “Pinocchio, come up to me! shouted Harlequin. Come to the arms of your wooden brothers!” (23). This shows how he is welcomed as a puppet and a human as well. David also used his robotic qualities when it was convenient for him too. When his mother dropped him off and left him in the middle of nowhere, he was walking around the woods and found fellow robots. They were nice to him and some even took him in, cared for him, and watched over him. He felt comfortable around his fellow robots, and so did Pinoccio around his fellow puppets. But still, both of them are trying to be something they both are not; a real boy. 

Both Pinoccio and David are both easily persuaded and taken advantage of. Martin makes him do bad things with bad intentions, when David just wanted to help his mother. Martin convinced David to sneak into their mothers bedroom and steal a strand of her hair by cutting it off in her sleep, and told him it would make their mom love him more. In Pinocchio the cat and fox did the same thing to Pinocchio, such as making him bury the coins with Pinocchio's hope of bringing home even more money for his father, but instead got it stolen. They both had good intentions but were foolish to believe such things. 

One of the robots who got chased by the rising moon was captured and put into a cage just like Pinocchio. When he got captured they told him he was going to be forced in the theater just like they told the robot. Both the glossified robots and puppets were used to make money and make the crowd happy at performances and theaters. In “AI” they killed robots for human entertainment, and called it show business. After David got trapped into the cage at this event, he was rescued by a little girl who thought he was real. He wouldn’t let go of the other robot because he relies on other people to keep him safe just like how Pinocchio relied on his cricket. David also hid behind his brother and relied on him to keep him safe, which is how he ended up almost drowning him by accident. 

Pinoccio and David were both unique for their kind. Even though there were replicas of David made after him, he was still the first and original make. Even his creator said that since he chased down his dreams by searching for the blue fairy, it shows signs of determination and hope. He also said that no other machine has ever done that. Pinoccio was also the first puppet without strings. Pinccio even made a song about it and performed it at the theater. They are both impressive, and had an impact on the future. In the movie it said, “Until you were born robots didn’t dream, robots didn’t desire until we told them what to want. David, do you have any idea of what a success story you have become?” (2:25:52) This shows how impressive David was, and how he has actually improved the future, which is why they made more of him. 

Throughout Pinoccio and AI, both David and Pinoccio were in search of their parents, and all they wanted was to be with them. At the end of the movie they both got their happy endings and had their own little world with each other. Pinoccio and his father found a house together and started a new life with one another. On the other hand, David and Monica had their own world; more literal, and ended their lives together. Newer robots gave them a chance to be together one more day, and they were both content with their own endings.