Guillermo del Toro, Netflix, and Gobelins Partner to Launch New Stop-Motion Studio-Lab in France
A new creative hub for stop-motion animation is on the horizon in France, with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, Netflix, and Gobelins, l’école de l’image announcing plans to establish a dedicated stop-motion studio-lab in Paris. The initiative aims to nurture new talent, preserve traditional craft techniques, and explore innovative production methods for the future of the medium.
Announced during a joint press event in Paris, the collaboration brings together three key players: Gobelins—one of the world’s leading animation schools—Netflix, which continues to expand its support for animated filmmaking, and Guillermo del Toro, whose Oscar-winning Pinocchio (2022) reignited global interest in the artistry of stop-motion.
According to Animation Magazine, the facility will be located on the Gobelins Paris campus, functioning both as a training and research center. The studio-lab will focus on experimental storytelling, design innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration among students, industry mentors, and professional filmmakers.
The first phase of the project will begin during the 2025–2026 academic year, serving as a planning and setup period before full operations launch. While details regarding funding, staffing, and infrastructure remain under wraps, organizers have emphasized the lab’s dual mission—to protect stop-motion as an analog craft and to prepare a new generation of filmmakers for the evolving creative landscape.
In recent interviews, Guillermo del Toro described the project as a response to growing industry automation, calling stop-motion an “AI-proof” art form rooted in tactile expression and human creativity. Gobelins director Valérie Moatti echoed that sentiment, referring to the studio as a “living laboratory” designed to keep the practice evolving while staying true to its handmade origins.
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who attended the announcement, highlighted that the new initiative aligns with Netflix’s ongoing investments in global animation talent, building on the company’s prior collaborations with Gobelins, including scholarships and artist residencies.
As the planning year unfolds, further details—such as mentorship programs, course structures, and international partnerships—are expected to be announced. For now, the venture stands as a hopeful sign of renewed commitment to stop-motion’s artistic and educational legacy.
