The Terrible Dogfish
Encyclopedia
The Terrible Dogfish is a fictional sea monster
which appears in Carlo Collodi
's book The Adventures of Pinocchio (Le avventure di Pinocchio). It is described as being larger than a five story building, a kilometre long (not including the tail) and sporting a mouth with three rows of teeth that can easily accommodate a whole train
. So fearsome is its reputation, that in chapter XXXIV, it is revealed that the Dogfish is nicknamed "The Atilla of fish and fishermen" (L'Atilla dei pesci e dei pescatori).
, is informed by a dolphin
that he has likely been swallowed by the creature which "...for some days has come to wreak extermination and desolation in our waters". The Dogfish is later mentioned in chapter XXVI by Pinocchio's school friends on the Island of the Busy Bees (Isola delle Api Industriose), who tell him that the creature has been sighted on the coast and that they are going to investigate. This later turns out to be a lie to coax Pinocchio away from school.
The Dogfish makes its first appearance in chapter XXXIV when Pinocchio, who has only just transformed from a donkey back to his puppet form, has entered the sea in an attempt to escape from his former handler. The Fairy with Turquoise Hair, in the form of a mountain goat, warns Pinocchio of the Dogfish too late, and the puppet is swallowed whole, along with a tuna whom Pinocchio befriends. Pinocchio discovers his father, who reveals that he has been trapped within the Dogfish for two years, surviving on ship supplies swallowed by the creature. The Dogfish is revealed to suffer from asthma
, and sleeps with its head emerged from the water. Pinocchio carries Geppetto, who cannot swim, on his back and swims out of the Dogfish's mouth. When Pinocchio's strength begins to fail him, the tuna whom Pinocchio befriended before, helps them reach the shore.
In the Disney film Pinocchio
, the sea monster (which is named Monstro, the Portuguese word for monster
) is portrayed as a sperm whale
rather than a great white shark, who is first mentioned when Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket
receive a message from the Blue Fairy stating that Geppetto, while venturing out towards Pleasure Island to find Pinocchio, has been swallowed by the creature. The two go in search of the monster, but are frustrated in their efforts by the fear the ocean denizens display every time they mention it. They find the whale but, before they can swim away, Monstro swallows Pinocchio. Pinocchio finds Geppetto and his pets within Monstro, prompting both "father" and "son" to find a way to escape. Pinocchio frees them by starting a fire which causes the whale to sneeze them out. Monstro becomes enraged and furiously chases them, but fails and smashes into a giant cliff under which Pinocchio, dragging the unconscious Geppetto with him, escapes but at the apparent cost of his own life. Monstro's final fate is left unrevealed. Monstro was animated by Wolfgang Reitherman
, the go-to man for action sequences among Disney's Nine Old Men.
as a supporting world, where Pinocchio and Geppetto temporarily live until being rescued. Within Monstro dwell many Heartless, including one called the Parasite Cage, which eats Pinocchio, trapping him within its cage-like stomach, and delivers the puppet to Riku, who wishes to use Pinocchio's heart to rescue Kairi. After Kingdom Hearts is sealed, Monstro presumably returns to his world. He later reappears in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
, as a figment of Sora and Riku's memories. Monstro himself is not physically seen, but card rooms resembling his bowels are explored. In the Final Mix version of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Monstro appears as a boss fight in the Mirage Arena.
comic story titled "Whale of a Tale", published in the December 1994 issue of Disney Adventures
. In this story, he is not villainous, but rather a polite actor who was simply playing a role in Pinocchio and had not found work in the movies since then; he is duped by a gang of crooks, posing as a movie company, into breaking into banks for them to rob, and upon finding out the truth, helps Bonkers catch the criminals.
, and also has a smaller role in the Dancing Bubbles scene in the Disney's Hollywood Studios
version.
Sea monster
Sea monsters are sea-dwelling mythical or legendary creatures, often believed to be of immense size.Marine monsters can take many forms, including sea dragons, sea serpents, or multi-armed beasts. They can be slimy or scaly and are often pictured threatening ships or spouting jets of water...
which appears in Carlo Collodi
Carlo Collodi
Carlo Lorenzini , better known by the pen name Carlo Collodi, was an Italian children's writer known for the world-renowned fairy tale novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio.-Biography:...
's book The Adventures of Pinocchio (Le avventure di Pinocchio). It is described as being larger than a five story building, a kilometre long (not including the tail) and sporting a mouth with three rows of teeth that can easily accommodate a whole train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
. So fearsome is its reputation, that in chapter XXXIV, it is revealed that the Dogfish is nicknamed "The Atilla of fish and fishermen" (L'Atilla dei pesci e dei pescatori).
Role
The Dogfish is first mentioned in chapter XXIV, when Pinocchio, whilst searching for his creator Mister GeppettoMister Geppetto
Mister Geppetto is a fictional character in the novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Geppetto is an elderly, impoverished woodcarver and the creator of Pinocchio...
, is informed by a dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
that he has likely been swallowed by the creature which "...for some days has come to wreak extermination and desolation in our waters". The Dogfish is later mentioned in chapter XXVI by Pinocchio's school friends on the Island of the Busy Bees (Isola delle Api Industriose), who tell him that the creature has been sighted on the coast and that they are going to investigate. This later turns out to be a lie to coax Pinocchio away from school.
The Dogfish makes its first appearance in chapter XXXIV when Pinocchio, who has only just transformed from a donkey back to his puppet form, has entered the sea in an attempt to escape from his former handler. The Fairy with Turquoise Hair, in the form of a mountain goat, warns Pinocchio of the Dogfish too late, and the puppet is swallowed whole, along with a tuna whom Pinocchio befriends. Pinocchio discovers his father, who reveals that he has been trapped within the Dogfish for two years, surviving on ship supplies swallowed by the creature. The Dogfish is revealed to suffer from asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, and sleeps with its head emerged from the water. Pinocchio carries Geppetto, who cannot swim, on his back and swims out of the Dogfish's mouth. When Pinocchio's strength begins to fail him, the tuna whom Pinocchio befriended before, helps them reach the shore.
In Disney Version
Pinocchio (1940 film)
Pinocchio is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the story The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. It is the second film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, and it was made after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and was released to theaters by...
, the sea monster (which is named Monstro, the Portuguese word for monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
) is portrayed as a sperm whale
Sperm Whale
The sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, is a marine mammal species, order Cetacea, a toothed whale having the largest brain of any animal. The name comes from the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in the animal's head. The sperm whale is the only living member of genus Physeter...
rather than a great white shark, who is first mentioned when Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket
Jiminy Cricket
Jiminy Cricket is the Walt Disney version of "The Talking Cricket" , a fictional character created by Carlo Collodi for his children's book Pinocchio, which was adapted into an animated film by Disney in 1940...
receive a message from the Blue Fairy stating that Geppetto, while venturing out towards Pleasure Island to find Pinocchio, has been swallowed by the creature. The two go in search of the monster, but are frustrated in their efforts by the fear the ocean denizens display every time they mention it. They find the whale but, before they can swim away, Monstro swallows Pinocchio. Pinocchio finds Geppetto and his pets within Monstro, prompting both "father" and "son" to find a way to escape. Pinocchio frees them by starting a fire which causes the whale to sneeze them out. Monstro becomes enraged and furiously chases them, but fails and smashes into a giant cliff under which Pinocchio, dragging the unconscious Geppetto with him, escapes but at the apparent cost of his own life. Monstro's final fate is left unrevealed. Monstro was animated by Wolfgang Reitherman
Wolfgang Reitherman
Wolfgang Reitherman , also known and sometimes credited as Woolie Reitherman, was a famed Disney animator and one of Disney's Nine Old Men.-Personal life:...
, the go-to man for action sequences among Disney's Nine Old Men.
In Kingdom Hearts
The Disney version of Monstro also appears in the video game Kingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
as a supporting world, where Pinocchio and Geppetto temporarily live until being rescued. Within Monstro dwell many Heartless, including one called the Parasite Cage, which eats Pinocchio, trapping him within its cage-like stomach, and delivers the puppet to Riku, who wishes to use Pinocchio's heart to rescue Kairi. After Kingdom Hearts is sealed, Monstro presumably returns to his world. He later reappears in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and Japanese studio Jupiter and published by Square Enix in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance. The game serves as an intermediary between the two larger-scale PlayStation 2 games in the Kingdom Hearts series. It was one of the first GBA games to...
, as a figment of Sora and Riku's memories. Monstro himself is not physically seen, but card rooms resembling his bowels are explored. In the Final Mix version of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Monstro appears as a boss fight in the Mirage Arena.
In Bonkers (TV series)
In addition, Monstro had a guest star appearance in a BonkersBonkers (TV series)
Bonkers is an animated American television series that aired from September 4, 1993 to February 23, 1994 in first-run syndication . The syndicated run was available both separately, and as part of The Disney Afternoon...
comic story titled "Whale of a Tale", published in the December 1994 issue of Disney Adventures
Disney Adventures
Disney Adventures was a children's entertainment and educational magazine published ten times per year by The Walt Disney Company. It should not be confused with the Disney Magazine...
. In this story, he is not villainous, but rather a polite actor who was simply playing a role in Pinocchio and had not found work in the movies since then; he is duped by a gang of crooks, posing as a movie company, into breaking into banks for them to rob, and upon finding out the truth, helps Bonkers catch the criminals.
In Fantasmic
The Whale also plays a notable role in the Disneyland version of Fantasmic!Fantasmic!
Fantasmic! is a Disney nighttime show at Disneyland in the Disneyland Resort, Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World and Tokyo DisneySea in Tokyo Disney Resort. The show features fireworks, live actors, water effects, fire, music, several boats, decorated rafts and projections onto large...
, and also has a smaller role in the Dancing Bubbles scene in the Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Spanning 135 acres in size, its theme is show business, drawing inspiration from the heyday of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s...
version.
Portrayals in other media
- In Giuliano Cencis 1972 adaptation Un burattino di nome PinocchioUn burattino di nome PinocchioPinocchio is a 1972 Italian animated film adaptation of Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinocchio.-Production:...
, the Terrible Dogfish is portrayed very similarly to that of the book, the only difference being that it is not mentioned before its initial appearance.
- In Steve BarronSteve BarronSteven "Steve" Barron is a director and producer, best known for directing the films Coneheads , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the innovative music videos for a-ha's "Take on Me" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean"....
s 1996 live action film The Adventures of Pinocchio, the Terrible Dogfish (referred to only as "the sea monster") is shown to be Mangiafuoco, who is named "Lorenzini" in the movie and played by Udo KierUdo KierUdo Kier is a German actor, known primarily for his work in horror and exploitation movies.-Early life:...
, transformed after drinking the cursed water which turned children into donkeys. In the final act of the movie, Lorenzini-whale shallows Geppetto (who went to sea to find his son) and later Pinocchio. In his belly, Pinocchio finally riunite with Geppetto and they both menage to escape from Lorenzini's womb by climbing his throat. For making pass his father through, Pinocchio starts saying lies causing his nose to grow, stabbing Lornzini's throat. Lorenzini dramatically coughs Pinocchio and Geppetto out, before succumb in the deeps of the sea.