Guillermo del Toro, Gobelins and Netflix Launch Stop-Motion Studio
Guillermo del Toro is a filmmaker who is known for his live-action work, but has a deep love for animation. He finally made an animated film of his own, with the Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (co-directed with the late Mark Gustafson) for Netflix. He has spoken at length about his love for animation (stop-motion in particular) and now he is using his clout and position in the industry to try and push the medium forward. GDT is teaming up with Netflix and the renowned French animation school Gobelins to set up a new stop-motion animation studio.
The ground-breaking new studio will serve both as an incubator for new talent, and a research facility dedicated to finding new frontiers in the art-form.
Located within the Gobelins Paris campus, the studio is co-funded by del Toro and Netflix. It's conceived as more than a simple training centre- rather it's designed to be a "living laboratory" of experimentation and research. This unique creative environment should inspire master filmmakers, passionate mentors and talented students, and allow them to collaborate on work that pushes the boundaries of what's possible in stop-motion. The 2025-2026 inaugural year will commence with a dedicated planning phase, with launch details to be announced in the coming months.
The project is also intended as a living tribute to the great legacy of Mark Gustafson, whose artistry and influence inspired a generation of animators and whose work of films such as Pinocchio inspired audiences around the world.
This latest chapter is just the latest collaboration between Netflix, Gobelins and del Toro- past team-ups have spanned scholarships, masterclasses and industry exchanges. This is just the natural next step in their working relationship.
"Investing in the next generation of creators is a core part of Netflix’s mission," Netflix says. "This stop-motion studio stands as a beacon of commitment to opening doors and creating clear pathways for emerging talent. The initiative is also a natural extension of Netflix’s leadership in French and international animation, following celebrated partnerships with creative forces such as Fortiche (Arcane), TAT (Astérix & Obélix: The Big Fight) and Blue Spirit (Blue Eye Samurai), together with a longstanding presence at the Annecy Film Festival."
This seems like it can only be a positive thing for stop-motion, and animation in general. With these three big names involved, it seems guaranteed to succeed. Amazing animation already comes out from Gobelins, as we see every year. We can't wait to see what wonderful work comes out of this new program!
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