Guillermo Del Toro declares 'absolutely no goddamn AI' in Pan's Labyrinth 3D re-release
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Guillermo Del Toro says 'absolutely no goddamn AI' was used in the Pan's Labyrinth remaster.
During a Comic-Con panel about the film's return to theaters, the director reiterated his hatred of all things AI, telling the crowd: "What we're protecting is the beauty and the redeeming power of art. It's not about who gets the job. We are protecting a lineage of art. If we cut a generation of people from learning their craft, you're cutting the rest of the history of that medium away from them for what? ... I chose good. You have to put in time. You have to do every element by hand. A human made a decision of depth."
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Guillermo del Toro Promises 'Absolutely No Goddamn AI' on 'Pan's Labyrinth' 3D Re-Release
As Hollywood continues to soften its stance on artificial intelligence, Guillermo del Toro remains immovable in his opposition to AI in cinema. The Oscar-winning filmmaker returned to San Diego Comic-Con to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pan's Labyrinth. When discussing its 3D re-release in theaters, premiering Oct. 9, del Toro assured fans that "absolutely no goddamn AI" was used to convert the movie. "It's much more expensive. I don't care. The thing is, what we're protecting is the beauty and the redeeming power of art. It's not about who gets the job," said de Toro to cheers from the crowd. "We are protecting a lineage of art. If we cut a generation of people from learning their craft, you're cutting the rest of the history of that medium away from them for what?" When speaking to NPR last year, del Toro made it clear that he wasn't interested in the tech and said he'd "rather die" than use AI. "AI, particularly generative AI -- I am not interested, nor will I ever be interested," he told NPR. "I'm 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak. ... The other day, somebody wrote me an email, said, 'What is your stance on AI?' And my answer was very short. I said, 'I'd rather die.'" Pan's Labyrinth, a Spanish-language film released in 2006 praised for its gothic surrealism and beauty, garnered $83 million worldwide at the box office and three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup.
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Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro reaffirmed his stance against AI in filmmaking at Comic-Con, promising the Pan's Labyrinth 3D re-release uses only human craftsmanship. The director argues that AI threatens artistic tradition and future generations of artists, choosing a more expensive manual process to preserve the film's integrity.
Guillermo Del Toro Takes a Stand Against AI in Filmmaking
Guillermo Del Toro has drawn a firm line in the sand regarding AI in filmmaking, announcing at San Diego Comic-Con that "absolutely no goddamn AI" was used in the Pan's Labyrinth remaster
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. The Oscar-winning filmmaker made this declaration while celebrating the 20th anniversary of his gothic masterpiece, which returns to theaters on October 9 in a 3D format2
. His passionate opposition to artificial intelligence in cinema stands in stark contrast to Hollywood's increasingly softened stance on the technology.The Cost of Artistic Integrity
Del Toro acknowledged that avoiding AI came at a price. "It's much more expensive. I don't care," he told the Comic-Con crowd to enthusiastic cheers
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. The director chose to convert the film to 3D entirely through manual processes, emphasizing human craftsmanship in art over cost-cutting technological shortcuts. This moral and artistic choice reflects his belief that some values transcend financial considerations in creative work.Protecting Future Generations of Artists
The filmmaker's opposition to artificial intelligence in cinema extends beyond personal preference. "What we're protecting is the beauty and the redeeming power of art. It's not about who gets the job," Del Toro explained during the panel
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. He warned that relying on AI threatens artistic tradition by severing the connection between generations. "If we cut a generation of people from learning their craft, you're cutting the rest of the history of that medium away from them for what?" he asked2
. His concern centers on future generations of artists who might never develop essential skills if AI becomes the industry standard.Related Stories
A Consistent Voice Against Generative AI
This isn't the first time Del Toro has voiced his stance. Speaking to NPR last year, the director stated he'd "rather die" than use generative AI. "I'm 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak," he said, adding that when asked about his position on AI, his answer was simply: "I'd rather die"
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. His unwavering position demonstrates that some filmmakers view AI adoption as an existential question rather than a practical tool.The Pan's Labyrinth Legacy
Pan's Labyrinth, released in 2006, garnered $83 million worldwide at the box office and won three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup
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. The Spanish-language film earned praise for its gothic surrealism and visual beauty—qualities Del Toro attributes to painstaking human effort. "I chose good. You have to put in time. You have to do every element by hand. A human made a decision of depth," he emphasized1
. The Pan's Labyrinth 3D re-release serves as a statement about preserving these values in an industry increasingly tempted by AI efficiency.
Source: Rolling Stone
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