Coachman

**The Coachman** is the third antagonist of Disney's 1940 animated feature film, *Pinocchio*. He is a sinister figure who is notorious for luring "stupid little boys" to Pleasure Island, where they are transformed into donkeys and sold on the black market.

## Personality

The Coachman is malevolent, sinister, and dangerous, with absolutely no redeeming qualities, and is rather infamous for his wicked actions, greed and his pleasure in destroying children's lives. However, he could also be considered to be somewhat moralistic in his own dark and twisted way, as he teaches the boys he takes from the towns he visits a pricey lesson for prolonged misbehavior. He does not appear to be a kidnapper nor force the boys to accompany him to Pleasure Island and instead prefers to entice them to go there on their own accord, thus sealing their own fate. He also allows rumors of the "wonders" of his island to be spread to the public and thus entice troublesome boys, like Lampwick, into the trap; exemplifying his devious cunning.

The Coachman seems to specifically target disobedient, selfish boys who wish to indulge in trouble for pure enjoyment, probably because, as evidenced by calling them "stupid", he views those types of boys as especially gullible and easily tempted. He obviously enjoys taking advantage of them for that, with no care whatsoever for the disproportionate amount of suffering he inflicts on them for their actions.

Compared to Stromboli, the Coachman appears to be slightly less greedy and actually compensates those who aid him in his wicked plans well, as he offered a substantial amount of gold to Honest John and Gideon for bringing him troublesome boys to take to the island, which far exceeds what Stromboli gave them for Pinocchio. However, this is not out of generosity, but more because he can afford to, as well as to convince them to work for him instead. He is also not above intimidating those whom he hires to do his bidding, as seen by him frightening both Honest John and Gideon with his demonic face and warning them not to double cross him.

Like most Disney Villains, the Coachman is incredibly sadistic, enjoying other people's pain and is also very cruel, whipping his goons and selling young boys that come to his island into slavery so that he can make money off of them and shows no concern for the cruel life (and eventual death) that awaits them in slavery. The Coachman completely ignores their pain and despair and justifies his actions by claiming their slavery is payment for their ill behavior displayed on Pleasure Island. However, it is clear that attaining wealth is his primary motive, as he transformed the boys into donkeys specifically to end up in hard labor at circuses, farms, salt mines or any mines.

## Role in Sora’s Adventures

The Coachman is depicted as one of the main antagonists in the second half of the series, being the Horned King's general and replacing Maleficent after her firing. His sidekick is Mortimer Mouse, who wants revenge on Mickey for getting a Keyblade and Minnie instead of him.

He first appeared in Sora's Adventures in Prankster's Paradise, in which he is the main antagonist alongside Young Xehanort. Upon his defeat and the death of his Heartless, he is arrested for his crimes and his curse on the boys is reversed, but he vows revenge on Sora and his friends.

At some point, the Coachman was broken out of jail by the Horned King and Luxu.

## Trivia

* The Coachman is a contrast to the Blue Fairy. Rather than teaching children how to behave like the Blue Fairy did, the Coachman simply punishes them for their misdeeds.

* According to one of the books of *Pinocchio*, the Coachman's name is "Barker", though it is not sure if it's his real name or just an alias.
	+ In another book adaptation of the film, the Coachman hires Foulfellow and Gideon to bring him just one more child in exchange of gold instead of more children (and this doesn't make sense) like in the film and the other book and comic adaptations, and doesn't frighten or threaten the two crooks to convince them this time.
	+ In a comic book adaptation of *Pinocchio*, the Coachman makes his offer to Honest John and Gideon after eavesdropping on a conversation they were having about their sale of Pinocchio to Stromboli, rather than listening to John tell the Coachman himself.