Global InformationLand of Toys information
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| Land of Toys | |
|---|---|
 Illustration from the book of some boys that play in the Land of Toys | |
| First appearance | The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) |
| Created by | Carlo Collodi |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| In-universe information | |
| Other name(s) |
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The Land of Toys (Italian: Paese dei balocchi) is a fictional location in the Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) that is disguised as a haven of freedom and anarchy for children, but is eventually discovered to be far more sinister.
To its unsuspecting visitors (like Pinocchio and Candlewick), the Land of Toys appears to be a fantastic haven for wayward children to do whatever they want with no consequences or law; to act as they please without recrimination. However, the truer and more sinister purpose of the Land of Toys is eventually revealed: by means of a disease called "donkey fever" that affects children who never study or work, the children turn physically into donkeys (in Italian culture, the donkey is symbolic of ignorance, stupidity, goofiness and labor). Subsequently, they get sold by The Coachman to different places.
Described as a "land of Cocagne",[1] the novel implies that it is at least as large as a township, although the size and nature of the location is unclear, as in Italian paese can mean 'country' or 'land', but also 'town' or 'village'.
Along with Land of Toys, other names for the land include: Pleasure Island (Disney film adaptation, 1940, Geppetto, 2000, and Disney live-action remake, 2022) in which it is depicted as a large amusement park on an island; Land Where Dreams Come True (Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night, 1987),Terra Magica (The Adventures of Pinocchio, 1996), Fun Forever Land (Pinocchio, 2002), Fantastic Island (Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, 1997), and Luilekkerland.
- ^ "Pinocchio: Carlo Collodi," Children's Literature Review. Encyclopedia.com. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.