Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro recently sat down for an interview as part of IGN's 30 Icons Series, where he discussed his career, creative process, and his perspectives on various aspects of filmmaking and gaming.
Del Toro expressed his long-standing fascination with creatures, tracing it back to his childhood inspiration from Universal's monsters. He emphasized that for him, creature design is integral to storytelling, serving as a gateway to different realities and embodying conceptual themes within fables and parables. He cited examples like Frankenstein's creature representing tragic humanity and Pan's Labyrinth's Pale Man embodying blind veracity.
His approach to filmmaking prioritizes tangible, human-made creations. "My quest is handmade by humans for humans," del Toro stated, contrasting this with other filmmakers' distinct artistic quests. He noted his admiration for Christopher Nolan's dedication to practical effects, specifically mentioning Nolan's work on the Cyclops in The Odyssey and their shared discussions on filmmaking philosophies.
Reflecting on his experience with Mimic, del Toro acknowledged the difficulties of studio interference but emphasized his resolve to regain independence. This led him to prioritize The Devil's Backbone before taking on Blade 2. He described his approach to Blade 2 as intentionally aiming for a fun, atmospheric, and