Pinocchio is an animate, conscious wooden puppet carved from an enchanted piece of wood. He is inherently rebellious, impulsive, and naive, often believing he knows better than his elders. Despite the efforts of his caregivers to direct him toward obedience and hard work, he frequently gives in to temptation and abandons his responsibilities. His stubbornness routinely places him in dangerous situations.

Geppetto is a poor, elderly wood carver known in his village for his yellow wig and quick temper. Despite his initial gruffness, he rapidly develops a deep, paternal devotion to Pinocchio. He makes significant personal sacrifices, such as selling his only winter coat to buy the puppet a schoolbook. He represents an ideal of selfless parenting, tirelessly seeking to guide and protect his mischievous creation.

The Fairy is a powerful magical being who lives in the forest and takes on various forms in Pinocchio's life, serving as both a sister and a mother figure. She provides unconditional support and attempts to guide the rebellious puppet toward good behavior, truthfulness, and safety. She commands a host of animal helpers to assist her in rescuing and treating Pinocchio when he finds trouble.

The Fox is a duplicitous and exploitative con artist who preys upon naive travelers. Accompanied by his partner, he attempts to trick Pinocchio into traveling to the City of Simple Simons by promising a magical field that will multiply the puppet's newly acquired gold coins. He represents the dangers of urban exploitation and the folly of trusting charismatic strangers.

The Cat is a wily thief who works closely with the Fox to rob unsuspecting individuals. He feigns severe blindness to garner sympathy and manipulate targets like Pinocchio. He is quick to violence when threatened, famously eating a blackbird whole just to stop it from warning Pinocchio about their impending scam.

The Talking Cricket is a wise, elderly insect who serves as a voice of reason and morality in the story. He attempts to impart sensible advice to Pinocchio about the importance of obedience, attending school, and respecting parents. His blunt warnings are frequently met with hostility from the stubborn puppet.

Mastro Cherry is a local carpenter who initially discovers the enchanted piece of wood. When the wood begins speaking and giggling at him, he becomes terrified. Eager to rid himself of the unsettling object, he happily hands the wood over to his friend Geppetto.

Fire Eater is the large and seemingly terrifying director of a traveling puppet show. Despite his frightening threats to use living puppets as firewood, he harbors a softer, sympathetic side. His pity is easily triggered when he witnesses acts of bravery or hears stories of extreme poverty.

Lamp-Wick is a rebellious, lazy schoolboy who detests studying and rules of any kind. He serves as a major source of temptation for Pinocchio, actively encouraging the puppet to abandon his education and family in favor of traveling to the Land of Toys, a place with no teachers or responsibilities.

Harlequin is a living wooden puppet who performs in Fire Eater's theater. He is joyful and welcoming to his fellow puppets, treating Pinocchio like a long-lost brother, but he lives in constant fear of his master's fiery temper.

Alidoro is a large mastiff used by the police to chase down suspects. He aggressively pursues Pinocchio after a schoolyard fight but quickly finds himself in trouble when the chase leads into deep water.