A New Era for Stop-Motion:

How Guillermo del Toro, Netflix, and GOBELINS Paris Are Shaping Animation’s Future

2025-11-08 02:41:54 - Nikki Lopez

Stop-motion animation is undergoing a renaissance, thanks to a trailblazing partnership between Guillermo del Toro, Netflix, and the elite French school GOBELINS Paris. With the announcement of a dedicated stop-motion studio, the trio aims to transform how this art form is taught, produced, and perceived internationally. This piece explores when the studio opens, what projects are next, how it will train new creators, the tech and facilities it offers, and why stop-motion is uniquely resilient against the rise of AI.

The Studio Launch: Timeline and Vision

The stop-motion studio, nestled within GOBELINS Paris, will officially open its doors in late 2025. Recruitment of interns and artists is already underway following the October announcement, setting the stage for classes, workshops, and pilot productions before year’s end. This rapid rollout signals the studio’s intent to become Europe’s innovation center for handcrafted animation.

What’s Next for Del Toro and Netflix?

Fresh off the critical triumph of “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” the studio’s debut project will be an ambitious adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's celebrated novel “The Buried Giant”. The partnership also promises experimental shorts and bold collaborations, uniting European and Latin American filmmakers and ensuring a truly global creative exchange. These projects will showcase the diverse artistic voices empowered within the new studio.

Apprenticeship and Training: Nurturing Future Artists

What sets this studio apart is its hands-on approach to training. Selected students and new animators collaborate with veteran artists and GOBELINS faculty from the outset. Their instruction covers every aspect—puppet fabrication, set design, lighting, rigging, and digital editing—ensuring graduates emerge as multidimensional creators, not just specialists. The program also prioritizes inclusion, with dedicated support for artists from regions where stop-motion is underfunded, especially Latin America.

Facilities, Equipment, and Creative Freedom

Del Toro’s studio spares no detail. It features purpose-built animation stages, puppet-construction labs, interchangeable mini-sets, lighting grids, 3D printing access, and digital post-production suites. These professional resources allow artists to prototype ideas and work on productions from concept to completion, fostering both technical experimentation and artistic collaboration.

Stop-Motion’s Unique Resilience in the Age of AI

In an era where traditional animation can be automated by generative AI, stop-motion stands apart. Del Toro calls it “slow food” for animation—an artisanal process that combines costumes, miniature sets, lighting, and camera work in ways that cannot be faked or replaced by algorithms. It is a craft that demands patience and human vision, making it immune to AI-driven disruption and ensuring the role of skilled artists for generations to come.

The GOBELINS stop-motion initiative from Guillermo del Toro and Netflix is much more than a studio: it is an incubator for talent, a hub for experimentation, and a testament to the enduring value of handcrafted artistry. As the doors open later this year, the world will be watching to see how this partnership reshapes animation’s future while defending irreplaceable creative skills from the march of automation.

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About the Author

Nikki Lopez is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in the startup world, specializing in leveraging creative content and community building to empower content creators. Known for a strategic approach and a deep understanding of audience needs, Nikki has a proven track record of leading the development of engaging content strategies and guiding the growth of thriving communities. Her leadership focuses on fostering meaningful interactions and impactful journeys for both creators and their audiences.