Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro vowed to promote animation and help the next generation of Latino filmmakers in the genre after winning the Oscar for best animated feature for his film “Pinocchio.”
Del Toro said, “It’s an art form that has been put commercially and industrially on the children’s table for so long.” “One win helps, but it’s about moving forward as a community.”
“Pinocchio” earned rave reviews for its stunningly beautiful production that takes a deep look at the issues between the puppet and his surrogate father, Geppetto. Unlike the 1940 Disney film, del Toro’s film references themes such as war and fascism, and he has said that it is about learning Pinocchio is not the right boy.
Del Toro has long been against viewing animation only for children. He previously stated that animation is pure cinema and that animators should be treated as artists – not technicians.
In the film’s credits, del Toro listed the cast of the film that made the animation possible next to the film’s main voice actors, including high-profile actors such as Ewan McGregor, Christoph Waltz, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton.
After the win, del Toro told reporters that he would continue to advocate for animators by speaking with the Guild and the Academy, planning to “carry this message forward” at the upcoming Annecy International Animation Festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Del Toro has established two filmmaking scholarships and plans to fund a stop-motion animation class for students from Mexico at the Gobelins Animation School.
“It will help us deliver more films to the community in Mexico and Latin America, with an emphasis on stop motion, which is one of the most democratic forms of animation. All other forms of animation are too difficult or too expensive. But a kid can put a camera on the wall in their room, they can do animation in stop motion,” he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In his acceptance speech, del Toro said that animation is “ready to take the next step. We’re all ready for it. Please help us keep animation in the conversation.”
This is del Toro’s third Oscar; He previously won Best Picture and Best Director for his 2017 film “The Shape of Water”.
Del Toro addressed the issue of being Latino and representation as he spoke of his efforts to help foster the next generation of filmmakers.
Del Toro said, “The first duty of representation is to do it really well … because you’re not doing it for yourself.” “You’re doing it for the people who come after you and are looking for opportunities. If you don’t do that, you’re closing that door.”
When del Toro moved to the US in the 1990s, he said he encountered “a lot of overt and subtle racism”. He recalled “with great sadness” an interview his cinematographer, Oscar winner Guillermo Navarro, had with a talent agent.
The agent “told him ‘Why do I want a Mexican? ‘”. I have a gardener.
“You have to keep pushing it all the time. It doesn’t end with one generation. It doesn’t end with one person,” del Toro said. “But again, you simultaneously push that boundary more and more and create opportunities.”
