A rare opportunity has arisen to step into the world of celebrated filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, and uncover the magic behind his first stop-motion animation film, Pinocchio. At the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Now on view until April 15, the second floor of the Paul J. Sachs Galleries and the Debra and Leon Black Family Film Center will play host to the captivating exhibition, Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio. This exclusive opportunity will transport visitors into the heart of the creative process and offer a glimpse into the meticulous work that went into bringing del Toro's latest film to life.
It presents a vast array of features, including a presentation of five full working sets and four large set pieces, including puppets and marionettes, maquettes, sculptural moulds, drawings, development materials, time-lapse and motion-test videos, digital colour tests, archival photography, and props that were utilised in the film. Additionally, visitors will get to see photographs of the three hundred and seventy-five crew members from around the world who worked under del Toro's direction, including the Shadow Machine in Portland, Oregon; Taller del Chucho in Guadalajara (Mexico); and McKinnon & Saunders in Altrincham, (England).
The first section of the exhibition, Look Development, focuses on the level of research and experimentation carried out by the production team to create the natural elements that form the film's world and shape the appearances of each character. This gallery includes historical and topographical models of Pinocchio's village, lifelike studies of wood and stone elements, and archival photographs that were used as references to ground the animation in historical reality, accurately portraying the reimagined setting of the traditional tale within 1930s Italy and its resulting fascism. As is typical with del Toro's films, the gallery showcases the processes behind creating this fantastical story and the perfect balance of light and darkness as his reimagining of Pinocchio explores complex themes of identity, morality, and growing up.
The second section of the exhibition, On the Set, begins with a Production Scheduling Board and features eight sets from the production of Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. This installation delves deeper into the studio process, highlighting the attention to detail given to each of the sets, and demonstrates the handcrafted process of stop-motion filmmaking. Visitors will be drawn to the stained-glass windows and frescoes on the walls of the Church Corner set, which combine references from Pinocchio and a number of his other acclaimed pictures.
Overall, the exhibition provides a comprehensive look at the collaborative craft of stop-motion animation filmmaking and the years-long production process behind del Toro's latest film, that transports audiences to a beautifully realised world filled with fantastical creatures, haunting landscapes, and a powerful message about the importance of honesty and courage.
The first section of the exhibition, Look Development, focuses on the level of research and experimentation carried out by the production team to create the natural elements that form the film's world and shape the appearances of each character. This gallery includes historical and topographical models of Pinocchio's village, lifelike studies of wood and stone elements, and archival photographs that were used as references to ground the animation in historical reality, accurately portraying the reimagined setting of the traditional tale within 1930s Italy and its resulting fascism. As is typical with del Toro's films, the gallery showcases the processes behind creating this fantastical story and the perfect balance of light and darkness as his reimagining of Pinocchio explores complex themes of identity, morality, and growing up.
The second section of the exhibition, On the Set, begins with a Production Scheduling Board and features eight sets from the production of Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. This installation delves deeper into the studio process, highlighting the attention to detail given to each of the sets, and demonstrates the handcrafted process of stop-motion filmmaking. Visitors will be drawn to the stained-glass windows and frescoes on the walls of the Church Corner set, which combine references from Pinocchio and a number of his other acclaimed pictures.
Overall, the exhibition provides a comprehensive look at the collaborative craft of stop-motion animation filmmaking and the years-long production process behind del Toro's latest film, that transports audiences to a beautifully realised world filled with fantastical creatures, haunting landscapes, and a powerful message about the importance of honesty and courage.
The exhibition Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio is now on view at the MoMa until April 15.
