Guillermo del Toro, Spider-People, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Welcome to the Latest Animation Renaissance

The weapon-wielding mutated reptilian darlings of New York City are back fighting crime in the newest rendition of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. This fresh installment from director Jeff Rowe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, will hit theaters on August 2, and the film boasts some serious talent, including Seth Rogen (he co-stars, co-wrote, and co-produced the film), Jackie Chan, and John Cena, as well as up-and-coming star Ayo Edebiri (The Bear).

Bringing Stop-Motion Puppets to Life Through Sound in “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”

As the Wood Sprite (Tilda Swinton) grants Geppetto’s (David Bradley) grief-stricken wish to bring forth a son from his wood carving, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio draws life where there are only puppets and sound where there is only silence. The hearty revamp of Carlo Collodi’s classic is so engrossing, you may not recognize the meta miracle the movie accomplishes in an inanimate world. However, there are endless marvels to be seen and heard.

“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” Early Reactions: A Stop-Motion Masterpiece

There was never a question that Guillermo del Toro was going to do something distinctive with his Pinocchio adaptation. Now that the film had its international premiere in London, critics have had a chance to see just what the visionary director has done with his first animated film. The answer, at least thus far, is unsurprising—Del Toro has created a bracingly original, deeply personal stop-motion masterpiece.

Del Toro revealed last week why he chose to set his version of Pinocchio in fascist Italy during the reign of Benito Mussolini.