Academy Award winning filmmakerGuillermo del Torois making his animated feature film directorial debut at Netflix with his lifelong passion project,Pinocchio, which he will also write and produce as a stop-motion musical.Pinocchiowill be del Toro’s first feature film sinceThe Shape of Water, which garnered four Academy Awards last year, including for Best Director and Best Picture.
Del Toro has set his retelling of the classic tale ofPinocchioin Italy during the 1930s. This marks an expansion of Netflix’s existing relationship with Guillermo del Toro, who created their Emmy award-winning television seriesDreamWorks’ Trollhunters, the first installment of theDreamWorks’ Tales of Arcadiatrilogy. The next chapter,3Below, is set to debut onDecember 21, 2018, followed byWizardsin 2019. He is also the creator of the upcoming Netflix series,Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 AfterMidnight.
Pinocchiois a production of Guillermo del Toro, The Jim Henson Company (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), and ShadowMachine (Bojack Horseman, The Shivering Truth), which will house the stop-motion animation production. Alongside del Toro,Lisa Henson, ShadowMachine’sAlex Bulkley,Corey Campodonico, andGary Ungarof Exile Entertainment will produce.Blanca Listawill co-produce. Also alongside del Toro,Patrick McHale(Over The Garden Wall, Adventure Time) will co-write the script,Mark Gustafson(Fantastic Mr. Fox)will co-direct, andGuy Daviswill serve as co-production designer, taking inspiration fromGris Grimly’s original design for thePinocchiocharacter. The film’s puppets will be built by Mackinnon and Saunders (Corpse Bride).Netflix expects production onPinocchioto begin this fall.
Here’s what del Toro had to say:
“No art form has influenced my life and my work more than animation and no single character in history has had as deep of a personal connection to me as Pinocchio. In our story, Pinocchio is an innocent soul with an uncaring father who gets lost in a world he cannot comprehend. He embarks on an extraordinary journey that leaves him with a deep understanding of his father and the real world. I’ve wanted to make this movie for as long as I can remember. After the incredible experience we have had onTrollhunters, I am grateful that the talented team at Netflix is giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to introduce audiences everywhere to my version of this strange puppet-turned-real-boy.”
Melissa Cobb, Vice President of Kids and Family at Netflix, followed up:
“Throughout his distinguished career, Guillermo has exhibited mastery in inspiring people through his magical worlds filled with unforgettable and magnificent characters, from the monsters in Pan’s Labyrinth to the aquatic beast in The Shape of Water. We are incredibly excited to expand our relationship with Guillermo and we know that his deeply touching vision for bringing Pinocchio to life on Netflix will be embraced by audiences the world over.”
