Guillermo del Toro, film director and writer, talks about his latest film, Pinocchio. He shares his love for monsters, his relationship with other filmmakers, and the healing experience of his Oscar night. The podcast explores the impact of Pinocchio, the struggles with imperfection in the film, and the rigorous process of making a stop-motion film.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is a bold reimagining of the classic fairy tale, emphasizing disobedience as a virtue and exploring the transformative impact of Pinocchio on others.
Del Toro's love for monsters stems from his own upbringing, where he found solace in their imperfection, reflecting the permission to be imperfect and not conform to societal ideals.
Deep dives
The Magic of Guillermo del Toro's Filmmaking
Guillermo del Toro possesses the ability to transport and captivate audiences with his films, creating fantastical worlds that feel both familiar and tangible. His unique style and enthusiasm have earned him universal respect in the creative world. His latest film, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, is a bold reimagining of Carlo Collodi's classic fairy tale, brought to life using classic stop-motion techniques. Del Toro's passion for this project spans over two decades, facing numerous rejections along the way. The film explores themes of transformation, acceptance, and the power of love.
The Journey of Pinocchio and Its Symbolism
Del Toro's fascination with Pinocchio began when he first saw Disney's animated film as a child. As an adult, he delved into Carlo Collodi's original book and was captivated by its episodic nature and the themes of father-son relationships and personal growth. Del Toro envisioned making his own version of Pinocchio early in his career but faced countless rejections. Unlike other adaptations, this film emphasizes disobedience as a virtue and focuses on Pinocchio's transformative impact on those around him, rather than solely transforming himself to please others.
The Exquisite Craftsmanship of Stop-Motion Animation
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio marks his first foray into directing a stop-motion feature film. Del Toro, along with his co-director Mark Gustafson, tackled the immense challenges of this medium, which demands meticulous attention to detail and an immense amount of time and effort. This film took approximately 940 days of shooting, with over 60 units working concurrently. The characters and sets are handmade, with each frame requiring 24 photographs, resulting in a stunning visual experience that blends animation with the realism of tangible props and sets.
Monsters as the Permission to Embrace Imperfection
Del Toro's love for monsters stems from his own upbringing as a melancholic child who found solace in the darkness and imperfection that monsters represent. He sees monsters as a reflection of the permission to be imperfect and not conform to societal ideals. Through his films, he aims to bring empathy and dimension to these creatures, exploring themes of fragility and loss. Del Toro's unique perspective on monsters has garnered him acclaim and helped him connect with audiences on a deeply emotional level.
Guillermo del Toro joins the show to talk about his latest film, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. Brought to life using classic stop-motion techniques, it's a bold reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s classic fairytale.
Del Toro shares why he was deeply impacted by the story of Pinocchio as a child, describes the incredible artistry and scope of work that went into bringing the film to life, and digs into the fascinating role that Catholicism plays throughout the story.
He also explains how loving monsters as a child taught him to embrace his imperfections, reflects on his relationship with Alejandro González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón, and opens up about the healing experience of his 2018 Oscar night.
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