How Netflix's 'Pinocchio' Innovated Stop-Motion Animation | Movies Insider | Insider

Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix adaptation of “Pinocchio” breathes new life into the over-century-old art form of stop-motion animation. The film achieved a new level of expressiveness in its animated puppets by marrying traditional stop-motion techniques with newer technologies.
We spoke with “Pinocchio” puppet fabrication supervisor Georgina Hayns and animation supervisor Brian Leif Hansen about the labor of love behind the film.
Hayns and Leif Hansen are world-renowned stop-motion artists who brought their expertise to the three-year undertaking that was “Pinocchio.” Previously, Hayns supervised character fabrication for “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016), “The Boxtrolls” (2014), “ParaNorman” (2012), and “Coraline” (2009). Leif Hansen was an animator on “Missing Link” (2019), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009), and “Frankenweenie” (2012).
Both artists worked on Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride” (2005), which was pioneering for its use of geared heads to express nuanced emotion in stop-motion characters, a technique adopted in “Pinocchio.” Meanwhile, other stop-motion films like “Coraline” laid the groundwork for the implementation of 3D printing technology in “Pinocchio.” Del Toro’s team built and expanded upon all of these tools and more to light up the lived-in world of “Pinocchio.”
For more from Georgina Hayns and ShadowMachine:
www.shadowmachine.com/
/ shadowmachine_official
For more from Brian Leif Hansen: www.brianleifhansen.com/
For more from Savannah Joy Steiner: / savanimationz
00:00-0:50: Mechanics of Spazzatura
0:50-2:45: Mechanical Puppets
2:45-4:50: Making a 3D-Printed Pinocchio
4:50-7:05: Customizing Each Puppet
7:05-8:28: Animating & Rigging Motion
8:28-8:57: Adding VFX
8:57-9:53: Costumes & Cloth
9:53-10:38: Labor of Love
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#StopMotion #Animation #Insider
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How Netflix's 'Pinocchio' Created Lifelike Stop-Motion Animation | Movies Insider | Insider

[@indianaalbers5890]

One correction. It’s not Netflix’s Pinocchio it’s Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio. I think some one who actually directed the movie deserves more credit than the company that merely hosts it. Edit: Welp this is my most liked comment ever

[@marciacardoso7292]

Na Oi

[@hangingreensretail479]

You are sadistic

[@indianaalbers5890]

@@hangingreensretail479 How so?

[@indianaalbers5890]

@@CharleneCTX still doesn't change the fact that I think this video is mistitled.

[@Hp-xk2dw]

Guillermo Del Toro never disappoints. Each and every one of his movies deserves to get praised

[@jesusangelespinosasalgado9430]

Ok... This is where Guillermo's recurring speech during award season has been so relevant "animation is not a genre but a medium for storytelling" so for it's greatness this film was snubbed for, best picture, best director, adapted screenplay, costume design, production design and cinematography...

[@kevinbparry]

LOVE how in-depth this is! Bravo for the research and interviews

[@isaacsimons9918]

how does this not have any comments

[@rainman2543]

The wizard himself

[@uja1096]

Will definitely win best animated picture Oscar.

[@Pancrasio-it9qd]

😎

[@EChacon]

Well it won the Golden Globe, the Annie Award and the BAFTA for best animated feature and usually if an animated feature win those areas especially the BAFTA they have a better chance of winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

[@romulogrimaux]

It won second on the Oscars

[@WilliamButtlicker]

It's such a dilemmma coz I love GDT and this film is actually such a good adaptation, but i really don't want anything else than Puss In Boots 2 to win.

[@KhanMann66]

@@romulogrimaux Why I am not surprised.

[@tricksterhuaun]

Stop motion animation is such a passion project. No one without the passion would even bother. It's just too much of a hassle, they'd just go to 3D instead.

[@firstnlastnamethe3rd771]

It just wouldn't have been as impressive, would it? Just a cgi cartoon. Albeit, one with a fantastic director.

[@MrSkinnynerd03]

That's a pretty poor way to overly simplify how easy 3D animation is compared to Stop Motion animation. Every person I know in the Animation industry views all animation in the same lens, no one medium is better/easier/harder than the other, everything thing has it's unique challenges, but that passion still remains the same.

[@firstnlastnamethe3rd771]

@@MrSkinnynerd03 If it were as easy, wouldn't there be more films like this? It seems like a dying art form. I'm not a professional, but I know enough about CGI to notice the difference in production complexity.

[@MrSkinnynerd03]

@@firstnlastnamethe3rd771 a Stop Motion film has it's fair share of complexities, but CG also has a lot of complexities that most people outside of the industry wouldn't know about. I've been a professional 3D animator and know more than enough friends in TV, Visual Effects and Games. There's a lot of ground breaking stuff that most people don't know about. The biggest reason why there aren't many Stop Motion movies/tv shows is simply because of one thing. Money. There really isn't much money to be made with Stop Motion movies. The amount of artistry and technical that goes into them is incredible. But people don't realize that Laika's movie don't do half as well financially as a Pixar or DreamWorks movie. The only reason why Pinocchio was made is because GDelToro is a respected, financially well off creative. For him and Netflix to take a chance on making a movie like this. Nothing in the entertainment industry is easy. Especially Animation whether it be 2D, 3D, or Stop Motion.

[@firstnlastnamethe3rd771]

@@MrSkinnynerd03 "Ground breaking" is an understatement! Trying to make water look real on a Amiga 2000, back in '89, was, of course, impossible. To get 24 bit graphics, I had to run it through an external component, and invert the colors. Instructions for 'Imagine' 3D software were infamously poorly written. Thank you KZbin, for vids on 'Blender' Yeah, unfortunately the movie industry is an industry. So ya gotta admire someone like Guillermo, he's a true artist!

[@RockyRakoon]

I wish a company would put these kinda mechanical puppets into mass production! Imagine all the posibilities

[@kathrynsimonedavid5768]

Sort of takes away the charm don’t you think?

[@Aya_nami]

​@@kathrynsimonedavid5768 We don't get to see many pieces made in stop motion because it takes much material, time, things that aren't simple to get, a mass production of these mechanical puppets would let artists personalize them and have something to start creating their art. I don't think it would take the charm out of it, at the end, each artist will put part of themselves in what they do, that's where the magic happens :)

[@Sorcerers_Apprentice]

Each puppet cost as much as a new luxury car, $60000 to $80000

[@hexcodeff6624]

@@kathrynsimonedavid5768 That's like saying the charm of a painting goes away when you use industry paint

[@strayiggytv]

@@Sorcerers_Apprentice this is correct. The cost of each puppet is far beyond what an amateur artist could afford. Plus we have amateur artists doing stop motion on KZbin already! Just cause it isn't perfectly smooth or done with legos doesn't mean it isn't stop motion lol

[@TheFlashStickman]

Stop-Motion is like nothing else. Pure magic.

[@firstnlastnamethe3rd771]

Guillermo is such a fantastic director. Can you imagine him saying "Cut! Let's roll that again" Then the clapper says "Scene 2, take 31"

[@kufgeo]

Watching it, I was 100% positive that this movie was 3D animation keyframed in such a way so as to look like stop motion. God knows how many collective working hours it took the on site crew to animate this. Mind blowing!

[@xephyra7020]

Which for me obviates the reason the use stop-motion in this style. Just seems expensive, time-consuming, and pointless. Not dragging the movie (I’ve only seen clips), and GDT is certainly a great director. It’s just that to me the USP of stop-motion is precisely the roughness and jaggedness of both the animation and the often mundane materials. Look at Jan Svankmajer, the early Aardman films, the brothers Quay, or Kristen Lepore. Before CG got good enough (or even existed), stop-motion was all there was for this kind of effect. So it made sense for them to invest in this like they did. We’re all familiar with the work Tippet Studios did for Jurassic Park. CG is now good enough that super smooth stop motion animation is a mere flex in skill and little more. I realize this may be an unpopular opinion LOL

[@SamS.7598]

​@@xephyra7020 I agree with you. It's deliberately taking the long way when you have a reliable standard road. Maybe they wanted to do stop motion just because? But what they are trying to do is make it look as animated as possible, which makes it pointless. Stop motion has its own charm in its rigid movements and detailed puppets, why try to take that charm away and make it look like all the hundreds of normal animated movies out there?

[@CarlosERamos-ey1lj]

@@SamS.7598 except it doesn’t look like every single 3D animated movie out there. also, film is an art form. the artist uses the medium they think fits best their vision. props to GDT for keeping the medium alive

[@FlatEarthMath]

kuf_geo, I was thinking the same thing. I'm pretty well versed in stop-motion and all sorts of 3D rendering, and figured it was a stylistic choice to "render" a CGI film in a stop-motion style. My jaw hit the floor when I found out it was real stop-motion. What a wonderful work of art. 🙂

[@ethanrogers624]

@@SamS.7598 i disagree, they're trying to make it look like stop-motion, not cg animation. good stop motion does not mean so smooth that you cant tell its stop motion, it has a very distinct visual style and this movie pulls it off beautifully. doing it in cg and then going back to make it look stop motion wouldn't look like actual stop-motion, the physics of moving an armature and especially hair is very distinct. also the point of this movie wasn't to just crank it out and release it, it was to satisfy GDT's vision of the movie appearing in this way. it would be hard for me to believe that anyone goes through the grueling process of stop-motion just for fun, and if you think that the style it brings is beautiful to look at, it's a wonderful thing that movies like this can help the art form stand the test of time!

[@NextToToddliness]

I loved how their expressions fluttered across their faces and the light capturing eyes. Also, it's incredible that they printed Pinocchio's body in one go. So cool!

[@fireaza]

I find it fascinating how stop-motion animation is so quick to utilize new technology. You'd think that being such an old-school process, they would do everything old-school, but they were making use of 3D modelling and 3D printing really early on. It's pretty smart, it allows them to put their effort towards the important parts of making the film instead of the tedious parts.

[@coolboss999]

No ending for a movie has made me cry as hard as this movie did. That ending just pulled so many strings and I just couldn't handle it 😭. This better win Best Animated Picture at the Oscars

[@joshadeniji6352]

Aaaaaaand they did! They truly deserve it

[@pranav0207]

It did

[@onepresence9460]

I simply love Stop-Motion Animation. It’s really unique and beautiful. Bless everyone who work on these animated projects. And Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio is definitely one of the best movies of 2022.

[@thesolosiren1605]

I love that technology has enhanced stop motion instead of replacing it

[@DirtCobaine]

Ever since I was a child stop motion has always astonished me. Not just the final product but the production of it frame by frame. The sheer patience and dedication that is required. It inspired me as a kid to make my own stop motion videos with my toys. Though I never really made a finished video lol it just always amazed me and captured my imagination that you could bring cartoons to life in the physical world with stop motion. And to know it was done frame by frame is actually magical

[@shaaabbottmrstring]

You're not the only one that has been touched by as I too was in love with it by see aadrman chicken run and now I have my own stop motion show still working on this final episode for myself which is all done in stop motion.

[@bornon18]

First and foremost it is Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio, not Netflix's Pinocchio. You wouldn't call Mona Lisa "Louvre's Mona Lisa" instead of "Da Vinci's Mona Lisa", would you?

[@Wyi-the-rogue]

Ye

[@khairunnaimrohaizan5411]

We have to support them!!! Support their hard work, very very hard work! Super impressed

[@multishrimpstudios]

I think it's slightly unfair that they're suggesting that mechanical stop motion is better than replacement stop motion. They're both great methods in their own respects. With replacement animation, characters can be much more expressive and don't have limits to how they can move their faces. It's also much quicker and easier. And with mechanical, it's easier for each expression to look like the same face, and it's more subtle. My point is, I don't think suggesting that replacement animation is 'old' or 'outdated' is quite fair.

[@kbhasi]

I knew it!

[@TroyArn]

there's something saint-like about this team. that this vision is technically possible is amazing. that they did it anyway, so beautifully, is jaw dropping.

[@Kids_Scissors]

Didn't know that Pinocchio was metal 3d printed! That's really cool. The whole production of this film is really cool and that goes for all other stop motion feature length films

[@webbox100]

I loved the Pinocchio character's design and animation - so immediately loveable and appealing.

[@Tarfhayes]

Ya know. the one thing they don't emphasize, is the HOURS, it took for this team of highly skilled individuals to create such a detailed and meticulous creation that is THE new age of stop motion. This re sparked my clay-mation drive

[@S.E.C-R]

This is amazing… I’ve always loved stop motion. I hadn’t heard about this movie yet but I am definitely going to watch it now!

[@orangesnowflake3769]

It is a real good movie imo

[@orangesnowflake3769]

@@user-vy4ue5xf2g nobody uses telegram

[@KhanMann66]

Shits on Disney’s cheap 3D version.

[@georgeeastwood6930]

It’s a masterpiece that made up for a god awful remake that came out the same year.

[@benji1775]

all the delicate movements in clips are just impressive

[@Pnuemonia-Nakey]

This film is truly a masterpiece

[@cadabanban5382]

this movie is such a lesson on old school technics, i was absolutely blown when i saw it. So well animated you're in it instantly. A wonderfull animated movie. Top notch.

[@lol-pj6ss]

I kinda wish I'd have watched the film before watching this because when I do watch the film I'll be thinking constantly about how certain scenes were animated and shot.

[@things799]

The work behind it Really really really amazing

[@Mr.SilverSmile]

AMAZING, I always wanted to do stop motion, but my armatures just keep breaking. but i still got hope to bring my characters to life as well.

[@MayreniSeSe]

That's a normal part of the process, that's why we had (like every production) a puppet hospital! Don't stop!

[@lilcrazymiami8306]

Respect for these artist 🙏🏾

[@Justintime619]

This is the BEST Pinocchio story on film ever!

[@timmckee2813]

good art is the love of the artist that is shared with the observer...love...passion...

[@andrewchapman2024]

This was wonderful! I hope more of the behind-the-scenes footage of this movie gets released over the years.

[@JL-dj5ek]

Wow! this is great art work.

[@Gon3600]

As a stop motion animator, I'm in love

[@Tr_Stud]

This made me wanna be apart of a stop motion movie project like this

[@MrBathLegit]

I've come up with a grand story and the way I want to portray it is through stop motion animation. This video was a really big help to me. I've been looking for information on how to make the characters as animated and easy to work with as possible, this video provided me just that. Thank you.

[@user-kf7jn5in7j]

Всегда восхищался людьми которые делают такие мультики. Это тяжелый труд.

[@SamS.7598]

Yeah like using a spoon to fill water in a glass when you can use a tap. Unnecessary pointless hard work when the end result is the same. A good cgi artist would have made this on a macbook in less time with less resources.

[@slugintub634]

​@@SamS.7598it would not look the same

[@DanIbarra-wg1uw]

Thang i never knew how much work went into this movies thats crazy dedication ❤

[@SchiozerKID]

I absolutely had no idea the film was stop motion, amazing!

[@thelethalartist8387]

Loved this movie, Guillermo Del Toro did a great job with this movie. Tim Burton is my favorite movie maker, and Guillermo Del Toro is next in line. Imagine a collaboration between the two, that would be an epic team up!

[@Death0Row]

Such a great movie,a must watch👍

[@BlenderStudy]

Amazing work. Thank you for the update, Insider..!!

[@DominicJosephLombardo]

I watched this so many times. I love these types of movies I'll watch any if I see it's stop motion clay type looking. when I was young i remember a nightmare before Christmas was my first and I loved it. I believe it was 97 or so

[@orangesnowflake3769]

Omg I did not even know this was stop motion

[@KillerTacos54]

I love these animation videos so so much!

[@gnorman8852]

Stop motion animation has always been my favorite animation. ❤

[@NostalgiaNet8]

Now I wanna check this out! 😯

[@M3ganwillslay]

you havent watched the movie yet ?!? duuuuuuude

[@NostalgiaNet8]

​@@M3ganwillslay I haven't, and I love this kind of animation. :)

[@M3ganwillslay]

@@NostalgiaNet8 just a friendly spoiler.....keep tissues nearby . U will need them .

[@luzmariabalanzar1470]

Gracias a todos por su legado! 💫🙌 Que Viva el Amor y La Paz entre Las Naciones del Mundo 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️

[@TaalpatarShepai]

it's extremely hard and time taking..But the outcome is totally worth it

[@theobserver3753]

I wish more more movies are like this.

[@ToaAxiomMan]

Between Pinocchio and Corpse Bride there's a reason I love mechanical heads for stop motion puppets since it allows more rooms for expressions

[@BabyJesus66]

I could watch a 5 hour long documentary on this.

[@Kod-gw1ms]

Esa película es una obra de arte espectacular

[@rociomontoya4842]

Una obra de arte , gracias a todos

[@TheInevitableHulk]

Wow, and I remember when just 3d printing the faces from frames in a 3d engine was the future. Can't imagine having tiny servos inside of these to help block out the facial poses of the physical puppets is very far behind.

[@cookiegaming1911]

Netflix really put some good effort into this movie

[@fujithegreat6069]

You mean Del Toro and his team, right?

[@glorial1569]

Truly amazing

[@TomGrubbe]

Ray Harryhausen would be proud.

[@fouedfoued5692]

Amazing work..!! 🎬👏🏼👏

[@giovannijaimes333]

Que belleza que gente talentosa merecen ganar oscar

[@privatehand]

Stop-motion animators are the best kind of peoples.

[@Futureman321]

Thank you gullermero and the team for making my day with you’re extraordinary animation it inspired me to make stopmotion on KZbin thank you so much

[@user-el3dw4xf9i]

I respect Guillermo even more knowing this

[@ChellyTheGreat]

Utterly amazing

[@vintagetrikesandquads4012]

It's good to see this art form being kept alive when standard animation or CGI could probably be done easier and cheaper.

[@sem.joaovictoroliveira6500]

Cinema com animações mecânicas são os melhores, sem dúvidas.

[@eliasmora715]

amazing just amazing

[@ryanpmcguire]

The puppets being huge was a twist

[@missgrreen9398]

Wow!!! Just, wow! 🤩

[@mankeismonke575]

BRO IT WAS SO SMOOTH I THOUGHT THEY USED CG SUITS!!!

[@curtneypierre5339]

Great content

[@Gg-ij7li]

Jesus loves you and wants to set you free from any bondages in your life! Call upon His name and He will save you! Believe in His death and resurrection and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour and be saved and abandon your sins and turn to Him! Have an amazing day❤️❤️😊😊

[@teddyfurstman1997]

GDP Pinocchio is a Masterpiece of Stop Mation and its about as great of an Adaptation of Carlodi's book since the 1940 Disney Animated Film and best Stop Motion Film since King Kong.

[@themelancholyofgay3543]

man i love stop animation

[@grandmaoldschool7011]

Amazing artistic gifts!

[@Schizm1]

Gorgeous!

[@ajie1017]

我一下以为是用3d软件做的。。。。真的是佩服这些人，太厉害，也太有耐心了

[@moisespadilla4704]

best stop-motion movie ever... made me cry a lot

[@longdongsilver3267]

Nothing really to say, but I enjoyed this video. Thanks for making and sharing it.

[@claudmanuhutu8248]

Extraordinary,,. ❤

[@manglart7290]

My respect to you guys! 👍😯

[@fancypigeon1031]

its so good it looks computer animated and is therefore hard to appreciate

[@zackerysheldon7362]

Those robot puppets look horrifying

[@lilcrazymiami8306]

And respect for all y'all 🙏🏾

[@jntdhome]

If you enjoyed this, check out any of Laika's films. Missing Link, Kubo, Paranorman..all works of art and highly entertaining. Missing Link is my personal favorite.

[@vnblogs1085]

Very hard work impress grt all be good work 👌👌👌👌

[@OlShaky]

I need a live action Corpse Bride with the voice actors playing their clay counterparts

[@aleksandrustinov74]

Это настоящее искусство.

[@canniballissimo]

да, отлично получилось!

[@sabunbatang9101]

Pinocchio del toro is masterpiece 👍

[@JacobM.S]

stop motion in movies its so rare nowdays....in my opinion its one of classical types of movies and side things.....puppets ware used decades for making fun of others or just for fun of people

[@barvinok1808]

Corpse bride is my the most favorite cartoon)) I definitely should watch Pinokio

[@laujimmy9282]

This kind of stop motion began in paraNorman if i recalled correctly

[@kilwom]

wait till companies start producing thousand dollar action figures that have this mechanism

[@raquel7123]

Incredible 👌🏾

[@AustinNGrayson]

That dude definitely doesn’t understand that all of those “faults” he mentioned about Corpse Bride were intentional and were pieces of the chosen art style.

[@thelategamer.]

stop motion is the new badass animation movie format

[@kiwigaming09]

all ways has been

[@panteamaddah82]

So good!!

[@spencerschmidtstudios9171]

Great origin story for Groot.

[@FizzleFX]

Reminds me of Kubo 😊