Guillermo del Toro recruits ShadowMachine to work on Pinocchio animation

Last Updated on July 23, 2021

The first week of June afforded us the chance to see some cool looking promo art for Guillermo del Toro’s PINOCCHIO movie, and now we know who’ll be animating such sketches…

Deadline has it that animation company ShadowMachine has been recruited by del Toro to work on PINOCCHIO. More of a score for the company than for Del Toro though, as ShadowMachine is primarily known for TV, commercials, videos and featurettes. PINOCCHIO will mark the company’s second feature film behind the stop-motion comedy HELL AND BACK, currently in post.

Guillermo Del Toro will co-direct Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio with Mark Gustafson (Animation Director on The Fantastic Mr. Fox). The Jim Henson Company production will be a 3D stop-motion animated version of Pinocchio based on the edition of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale illustrated by Gris Grimly. Inferno will represent the property to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.

Del Toro most recently served as executive producer of DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots, Kung Fu Panda 2 and the upcoming Rise of the Guardians as well as creative consultant on Megamind. Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio marks his first turn helming an animated feature.

With a story by Del Toro, his frequent collaborator Matthew Robbins, and Gris Grimly, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio is a retelling of one of the world’s best-loved tales. The puppet Pinocchio embarks on a series of extraordinary and thrilling adventures, proving himself to be as indestructible as his love for his father. Robbins wrote the screenplay for the project.

Lisa Henson will produce for The Jim Henson Company with Del Toro and Jason Lust. Grimly and Gary Ungar will serve as executive producers, as will Bill Johnson and Jim Seibel of Inferno. Veteran rock musician and film composer Nick Cave will serve as music consultant for the production.