Character Analysis
Although his stringless ward steals most of the spotlight (the movie is named after the kid, after all), Jiminy Cricket goes through as much personal growth as anyone in Pinocchio.
Not bad for a centimeter-long insect, huh?
On-the-Job Training
Although the film doesn't emphasize this, it's clear that Jiminy is homeless at the beginning of the story. Think about it. He's dressed in rags. He's hopping door-to-door looking for a place to get warm. Sounds rough. All in all, this shows us that poor Jiminy has fallen on hard times.
Given this, it makes sense why he jumps at the Blue Fairy's job opportunity…despite having no experience (and no particular aptitude) in the professional conscience racket.
Just look at this nonsensical gem he drops on Pinocchio:
JIMINY: But even though the right things may seem wrong sometimes, sometimes the wrong things may be right at the wrong time, or vice versa. Understand?
That makes as much sense as a Mass Effect fan theory. Non-nerd translation: it makes no sense.
What's more, Jiminy is late on his first day, which directly leads to Pinocchio getting snagged by Honest John. Just try doing that at your job and see how long it takes you to land in your parent's basement. Unfortunately for Jiminy, however, he probably doesn't even have a basement to go back to.
Comeback Kid
Despite these failures, Jiminy proves his worth through his dedication to Pinocchio. He fights to free him from the Great Stromboli. He stows away on the boat to Pleasure Island and saves Pinocchio before he transforms into a donkey. And, most notably, he joins Pinocchio on his quest to extricate Geppetto from the belly of a whale—a legit suicide mission.
This cricket isn't perfect, but he sure gives it his all.
Like Pinocchio, Jiminy is rewarded for this moral growth by the Blue Fairy. Instead of being granted humanity, however, Jiminy is given a big, gold badge reading "Official Conscience." That might seem small, but when you contrast Jiminy's fancy new suit and badge with the rags he wore at the beginning of the film, it's easy to see how far he's come.
And if you learn anything from our boy Jiminy, kiddos, it's that the best things come in the smallest packages.