Guillermo del Toro Shares Details of Adult Stop-Motion Film ‘The Buried Giant’ at BFI

Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has provided new details regarding his upcoming adult stop-motion feature, The Buried Giant, during a public discussion in London. The revelations came during a Q&A session with film historian and British Film Institute executive Jason Wood on May 8, 2026.

The appearance coincided with del Toro being awarded a BFI Fellowship, an honor recognizing his significant contributions to cinema. During the event, the multi-Oscar-winning director discussed the creative trajectory of his next foray into animation.

An Adult Approach to Stop-Motion

Del Toro confirmed that The Buried Giant is being developed as an adult-oriented stop-motion film. This marks a continuation of his commitment to the medium following the critical and commercial success of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.

The project is being produced in collaboration with ShadowMachine, the animation studio responsible for the technical execution of his previous stop-motion work. The partnership aims to leverage the tactile, physical nature of stop-motion to tell a more mature, complex narrative.

The film is an adaptation of the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. The story focuses on themes of collective memory and loss, set in a mythical version of post-Arthurian Britain where a mist causes the population to forget their pasts.

Creative Collaborations

Writing duties for the adaptation are handled by Dennis Kelly. Kelly is a recognized playwright and screenwriter known for his ability to construct tense, psychologically driven narratives, making him a strategic choice for Ishiguro’s meditative source material.

Del Toro has frequently advocated for animation to be viewed as a medium of expression rather than a genre reserved for children. The Buried Giant serves as a primary example of this philosophy, utilizing the artistry of puppets and miniature sets to explore adult grief and historical trauma.

A Legacy of Dark Fantasy

This project aligns with del Toro’s lifelong fascination with the intersection of the monstrous and the mundane. His previous works, including Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, have established his reputation for blending gothic aesthetics with deep emotional stakes.

By returning to stop-motion, del Toro is further cementing the viability of the format for prestige adult storytelling. The use of ShadowMachine ensures a level of craftsmanship that bridges the gap between traditional artisanal animation and modern cinematic scale.

The BFI Fellowship awarded to del Toro on May 8, 2026, underscores his influence on global cinema. The fellowship is reserved for individuals who have made a profound impact on the art of film, a recognition that comes as he pushes the boundaries of animation.

While a specific release date for The Buried Giant has not been finalized, the project remains a central pillar of del Toro’s current production slate. The director’s focus on the tactile nature of the medium suggests a production process that prioritizes hand-crafted detail over digital shortcuts.