Following the release of Pinocchio, Guillermo del Toro announced plans to collaborate once again with Netflix on a new stop-motion animated project, which has now evolved into the creation of a pioneering stop-motion animation studio. This venture aims to combine artistic innovation with training and research, centering on advancing the craft of stop-motion filmmaking.
New Studio Designed as Both Training Hub and Creative Laboratory
The stop-motion studio is being established by Netflix’s Ted Sarandos and director Guillermo del Toro, intended to act as both a training center and
“living laboratory of experimentation and research at the Gobelins (which is repped by Gotham Group).”
This facility will serve as a space where emerging talent can develop skills across multiple disciplines involved in stop-motion animation.
Honoring Mark Gustafson’s Legacy Through New Projects
The initiative also pays tribute to the late Mark Gustafson, the respected animator and co-director on del Toro’s Pinocchio. His influence remains a guiding force behind the studio’s mission to push the boundaries of stop-motion animation.
Upcoming Film Adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant
One significant project underway at the new studio is an adaptation of Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro’s fantasy novel The Buried Giant. The story centers on an elderly British couple, Axl and Beatrice, living in a mythical post-Arthurian England where long-term memories have vanished. Themes of love, lost memories, revenge, and war are explored through this unique narrative.
Training Future Stop-Motion Artists While Advancing Productions
Del Toro emphasized how the studio will integrate education with production, sharing with Variety,
“The timing for this school is perfect because we can then integrate people coming in or coming out of it into that project as apprentices or people that learn the craft of creating sets or puppets.”
This approach aims to cultivate a new generation of stop-motion artists directly involved in the films produced.
Ted Sarandos Highlights the Comprehensive Nature of Stop-Motion Filmmaking
Ted Sarandos reflected on the educational value of stop-motion, noting,
“What I really love about stop motion in an educational setting is that what I learned from this man (del Toro) is that stop motion is filmmaking. It’s costume design, it’s set design, it’s lighting, it’s camera, it’s everything. Every discipline that you do to make a film, you’re doing in stop motion animation. The human touch of it is something that people see through.”
Del Toro’s Shift Toward a New Creative Phase
This new endeavor aligns with del Toro’s recent comments marking his film Frankenstein as the conclusion of a chapter in his career, signaling a desire to explore fresh directions in filmmaking. Establishing this studio with Netflix demonstrates his commitment to nurturing the art of stop-motion animation both creatively and educationally, promising continued innovation in the medium.
