Guillermo del Toro has always been once of my favorite filmmakers, and although his work is primarily in live-action, he has always been a strong proponent of animation as an art form in itself ( and not just a genre ), so naturally I was really excited when he decided to tell the story of Pinocchio through stop-motion animation. The film is fantastic as expected, and back in Dec 2022 I was also fortunate enough to attend a Q&A session with him organized by Sony Pictures Animation, where I am currently working on Spider-Man : Across The Spiderverse.
This hardcover art/making book ( Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: A Timeless Tale Told Anew ) is a splendid look and exploration of the marvelous art and craft behind the film, with over 200 pages of concept art work, sketches, storyboards and on-set photography. The bulk of the animation work was done by Shadowmachine, a studio based in Portland USA, where the famous LAIKA is also located. Indeed, some of the talents from LAIKA like Georgina Hayns ( puppet supervisor ) is also involved in the project.
Two of the biggest highlights of this book for me are the extensive photography coverage of the shooting and puppet fabrication process, which has always fascinated me, and also the many concept art pieces by Guy Davis, a long time collaborator on GDT’s films and whom I am a big fan of.
Book synopsis : Discover the secrets of Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion masterpiece Pinocchio through stunning unseen art and incisive commentary from the filmmaker and his collaborators.
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro reinvents Carlo Collodi’s classic tale of the wooden marionette who is magically brought to life in order to mend the heart of a grieving woodcarver named Geppetto. This whimsical, stop-motion film directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson follows the mischievous and disobedient adventures of Pinocchio in his pursuit of a place in the world.
Illustrated with stunning visuals, this deluxe volume follows the remarkable creative journey that brought Pinocchio to the screen, from del Toro’s early ideas for the adaptation, through to character design, puppet building, and the meticulous animation process. Featuring interviews with del Toro and a wide range of the film’s key creatives, this is the definitive story behind the birth of a brand-new Pinocchio.
With all the amazing concept art work and illuminating making of content, this volume is a fantastic companion to Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio film, and reading it can only enrich the viewing experience even more. Very highly recommended.
“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: A Timeless Tale Told Anew” book details :
– Dimensions – 11.75 x 1 x 9.36 inches
– Hard cover, 224 pages
– Full color
Buy From Amazon CA | Amazon JP | Amazon UK | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Amazon DE | Amazon ES
You might also be interested in these items :
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio | Behind the Craft | Netflix
Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley Art/Making Of Book Review
Guillermo Del Toro – Cabinet of Curiosities Book Review
Guillermo del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone Making Of Book Review
Guillermo del Toro : At Home with Monsters Book Review
February 3rd, 2023 at 6:53 am
Wowzers!
February 4th, 2023 at 2:45 am
For awhile, Netflix released this book for free leading up to its Oscar nomination, so I had a chance to flip through the digital version, and it was pretty cool. (it was an interesting read, but I didn’t closely look at all the text. Del Toro’s notes on how to approach animation was very interesting to me though.) As a movie, Pinocchio is honestly my favourite GDT film since Pan’s Labyrinth. I thought it was quite moving. I’m so excited that he’s diving right back into animation, directing an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant. (he talked about it in an interview, I hope that this sees the light of day)
February 6th, 2023 at 2:56 pm
Coffee – Oh yes, I think the adaptation of The Buried Giant is confirmed ! I think I read about it just recently, it will also be done with stop-motion animation. Exciting !
March 6th, 2023 at 11:53 am
I want to get this. The movie is great. I cried at the end, it totally caught me off guard.
March 10th, 2023 at 10:35 am
Kelly – I got misty eyed too, such a moving story T^T