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Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times
Explore the art and making of Guillermo del Toro's new masterpiece, The Shape of Water, winner of the Venice Film Festival's top prize, the Golden Lion.
From master storyteller Guillermo del Toro comes The Shape of Water—an other-worldly fairy tale set against the backdrop of the Cold War-era United States circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and coworker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Doug Jones.
Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times chronicles the entire filmmaking journey, from development to design to filming. Featuring interviews and commentary from key actors and members of the creative team, the book also showcases the amazing concept art and design work created for the film. For del Toro fans and movie lovers everywhere, it’s the perfect way to explore this exciting new movie from a master filmmaker known for his poignant storytelling and visual grandeur.
From master storyteller Guillermo del Toro comes The Shape of Water—an other-worldly fairy tale set against the backdrop of the Cold War-era United States circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and coworker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Doug Jones.
Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times chronicles the entire filmmaking journey, from development to design to filming. Featuring interviews and commentary from key actors and members of the creative team, the book also showcases the amazing concept art and design work created for the film. For del Toro fans and movie lovers everywhere, it’s the perfect way to explore this exciting new movie from a master filmmaker known for his poignant storytelling and visual grandeur.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published December 19, 2017
11 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
Gina McIntyre
385Ìýbooks21ÌýfollowersGina McIntyre is the New York Times best-selling author of Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down. Her other books include Guillermo Del Toro's The Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times, The Art of Ready Player One, and Star Wars Icons: Han Solo. Her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Hollywood Reporter, and Entertainment Weekly.
She lives with her husband and daughter in Riverside, Illinois.
She lives with her husband and daughter in Riverside, Illinois.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 19, 2018
I've watched the movie only recently and was very pleased to see that Guillermo del Toro is up to his usual form (the last two movies were sub-standard in my opinion). The Shape of Water is as moving, visually stunning, and brilliantly executed as Pan's Labyrinth was.
The story is that of a mute young woman working as a janitor for a government agency in the 1960s. There, she encounters a creature and the two fall in love.
Yes, this is a love story but told so wonderfully through brilliant performances and stunning imagery that I dare say even people who don't like romances will appreciate this.
The music, the art, the costumes and sets ... it was all perfect. Above all, however, the story itself is written in this very distinct way that sneaks into your heart and gives you hope. As del Toro himself put it: a love story for troubled times. It's not rose-tinted, on the contrary, but all the action from the political intrigues and conspiracies is just a frame for two individuals and their struggle through life that gets significantly better when they find each other. It's the delicacy of the relationship, the fact that they don't need words, that got under my skin certainly.
This book then tells of how Guillermo del Toro came up with the idea and, after many years, was able to produce the movie. It shows the design for the creature, gives character bios, layouts for all the sets, and even some of del Toro's own notes (in his handwriting with little scribbles and sketches).
The producer has worked with Doug Jones on almost every movie he ever made. The man (Jones) apparently is the best in the industry when it comes to portraying non-human creatures and sitting patiently for hours while the body-suits and make-up are applied. *lol* I like how del Toro doesn't rely on CGI but loves to do it the old-fashioned way, with a "puppet" or rubber costume. Granted, nowadays those are much more sophisticated, but the principle remains the same and it gives a much more realistic feel to the creatures, be it on Star Trek: Discovery, Hellboy (1&2), Fantastic Four 2, Pan's Labyrinth, The Strain, Crimson Peak or The Shape of Water (the actor did many more, some even as an actual human being, but I wanted to name a popular few).
The book also shows some actors between takes, which added an almost comedic element to the book what with their pantouffles and cell phones and stuff while being in costume. *lol*
The book is divided into 3 acts:
1) The Characters
2) Creating the Creature
3) The Production
Each of those sections is divided into different chapters. Some pages have some scrapbook-like fold-outs but it's less about the format and more about the process and art the book shows. I guess you best see for yourselves though:
The only "complaint" I have is that my favourite piece of art, the charcoal drawing from the cover, is not in the book. I know the artist, James Jean (he made a lot of well-known movie posters along with the art for some even more well-known comics and stuff), made a pencil sketch, a sepia version and the charcoal one (once just in charcoal and once in the bluish hue) and I so wanted to have those. Oh well, they can be found online so I guess I'll print them on glossy photo paper and put them into the book myself.
The movie is poetic, gorgeous, full of excellent acting and details in costumes and design that show how much everyone involved loved this project. A delight I simply have to have on BluRay as soon as it comes out (I already have the soundtrack because the music is wonderful as well) and I'm glad I got to peek behind the curtain thanks to this lovely book.
The story is that of a mute young woman working as a janitor for a government agency in the 1960s. There, she encounters a creature and the two fall in love.
Yes, this is a love story but told so wonderfully through brilliant performances and stunning imagery that I dare say even people who don't like romances will appreciate this.
The music, the art, the costumes and sets ... it was all perfect. Above all, however, the story itself is written in this very distinct way that sneaks into your heart and gives you hope. As del Toro himself put it: a love story for troubled times. It's not rose-tinted, on the contrary, but all the action from the political intrigues and conspiracies is just a frame for two individuals and their struggle through life that gets significantly better when they find each other. It's the delicacy of the relationship, the fact that they don't need words, that got under my skin certainly.
This book then tells of how Guillermo del Toro came up with the idea and, after many years, was able to produce the movie. It shows the design for the creature, gives character bios, layouts for all the sets, and even some of del Toro's own notes (in his handwriting with little scribbles and sketches).
The producer has worked with Doug Jones on almost every movie he ever made. The man (Jones) apparently is the best in the industry when it comes to portraying non-human creatures and sitting patiently for hours while the body-suits and make-up are applied. *lol* I like how del Toro doesn't rely on CGI but loves to do it the old-fashioned way, with a "puppet" or rubber costume. Granted, nowadays those are much more sophisticated, but the principle remains the same and it gives a much more realistic feel to the creatures, be it on Star Trek: Discovery, Hellboy (1&2), Fantastic Four 2, Pan's Labyrinth, The Strain, Crimson Peak or The Shape of Water (the actor did many more, some even as an actual human being, but I wanted to name a popular few).
The book also shows some actors between takes, which added an almost comedic element to the book what with their pantouffles and cell phones and stuff while being in costume. *lol*
The book is divided into 3 acts:
1) The Characters
2) Creating the Creature
3) The Production
Each of those sections is divided into different chapters. Some pages have some scrapbook-like fold-outs but it's less about the format and more about the process and art the book shows. I guess you best see for yourselves though:
The only "complaint" I have is that my favourite piece of art, the charcoal drawing from the cover, is not in the book. I know the artist, James Jean (he made a lot of well-known movie posters along with the art for some even more well-known comics and stuff), made a pencil sketch, a sepia version and the charcoal one (once just in charcoal and once in the bluish hue) and I so wanted to have those. Oh well, they can be found online so I guess I'll print them on glossy photo paper and put them into the book myself.
The movie is poetic, gorgeous, full of excellent acting and details in costumes and design that show how much everyone involved loved this project. A delight I simply have to have on BluRay as soon as it comes out (I already have the soundtrack because the music is wonderful as well) and I'm glad I got to peek behind the curtain thanks to this lovely book.
June 10, 2020
After all the various "making of..." books I have read you start to see a bit of pattern form (I am sure I have eluded to this in the past) from the art work heavy catalogue style where really all you have are a series of images used (or not) in one form or other during production. To the other extreme where really you have the story of the product with a few images thrown in to justify its digest size printing.
Now both of those books can be both entertaining and disappointing at the same time, true you get an insight that otherwise you would never have seen - a chance to peek behind the lens as it were. However I think they lose a lot of the character and feel of what they are portraying - after all there is a lot that goes on and in to a big film especially one created by Guillermo del Toro and to to focus so one dimensionally would be to do a huge disservice.
However Gina McIntyre has tried to visit both camps and I for one feel she has struck a happy balance. You have pages of concept art from the costumes and characters to the architecture and technology - in some cases pages and pages of them. But you also have details on the characters including their biographies del Toro created to help bring them to life. This book is as much about the processes and passion that went in to its making as it is about the time taken to decide on how the colour the suit and how to realise the underwater filming.
I have come to accept that when ever you read about the works of Guillermo del Toro there is always something to learn and some secret to discover.
Now both of those books can be both entertaining and disappointing at the same time, true you get an insight that otherwise you would never have seen - a chance to peek behind the lens as it were. However I think they lose a lot of the character and feel of what they are portraying - after all there is a lot that goes on and in to a big film especially one created by Guillermo del Toro and to to focus so one dimensionally would be to do a huge disservice.
However Gina McIntyre has tried to visit both camps and I for one feel she has struck a happy balance. You have pages of concept art from the costumes and characters to the architecture and technology - in some cases pages and pages of them. But you also have details on the characters including their biographies del Toro created to help bring them to life. This book is as much about the processes and passion that went in to its making as it is about the time taken to decide on how the colour the suit and how to realise the underwater filming.
I have come to accept that when ever you read about the works of Guillermo del Toro there is always something to learn and some secret to discover.
Read
June 21, 2018Guillermo del Toro had me entranced by the otherworldly Pan’s Labyrinth and I have followed his projects ever since. While I have still yet to see the film, I picked up the pictorial book “The Shape of Water: Creating a Fairytale for Troubled Times� because his films are always visually stunning. The reader gains insight into Guillermo Del Toro’s childhood obsession with cinema magic and how Creature from the Black Lagoon had an actual physiological effect on him. This book covers the making of the movie, details of how the creature was created, character studies, and actual sketches from del Toro’s personal journals. It was charming to learn del Toro wrote the part of Elisa Esposito specifically for the actress Sally Hawkins, as I think she is brilliant. Worth taking a glance at whether you have seen the movie or not!
-Lisanne E.
-Lisanne E.
Read
July 23, 2022Hot damn this was a fantastic read. Tons and tons and tons of info about the movie, from behind the scenes pictures to inserts from del Toro's actual notes (in a fantastic mix of Spanish and English, not to mention those drawings!!) to interviews with just about everybody involved. My only complaint is that I wish the text had been just the teensiest bit bigger, because I think the book could've been thicker without any problems (it's an artbook! I expect it to break my foot if I drop it!) and there really was A LOT of text.
Highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed The Shape of Water and wants to know more! This was such a rewarding read.
Highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed The Shape of Water and wants to know more! This was such a rewarding read.
January 29, 2018
Absolutely fascinating to read about the thought and work that went into this masterpiece.
February 23, 2023
This book made me cryðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
If you love the Shape of Water, please read this book!!!!!
I am so interested in how they make a movie; this book went above and beyond in curing my curiosities. I loved it �( ✖_� )�
If you love the Shape of Water, please read this book!!!!!
I am so interested in how they make a movie; this book went above and beyond in curing my curiosities. I loved it �( ✖_� )�
January 18, 2018
Everyone lovesÌýa good making-of documentary in the bonus features of the DVD of a film. Well, this book is the next best thing. Written by Gina McIntyre,ÌýThe Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times details the making of director Guillermo del Toro's latest film,ÌýThe Shape of Water.
I love books like these. Insight Editions (the publisher of this book) and Harper Design have been producing a lot of these gorgeous behind-the-scenes books about the making of popular films for a while now, and I adore every one of them. They're extremely expensive, but for good reason. This book (and others like it) is a large, hardcover, full-color tome that details everything that went into making the film. The book packs so much information into its pages that it's honestly incredible. I use the documentary comparison because this book honestly has the same amount of information packed into its pages that a feature-length documentary covering the same material would have, if not more.
When I say that this book has aÌýlot of content in it, I'm not kidding. It contains interviews with the cast and crew, concept art, behind the scenes photos, information about how key scenes were filmed and edited, information about the characters, details about the creation of the Fish Man and how the makeup was applied to actor Doug Jones, sketches from del Toro's journal, and - best of all - character bios of three characters - Zelda, Giles, and Dr. Hoffstetler - written by Guillermo del Toro himself for the actors. The information in those bios are so detailed and rich, yet none of it appears anywhere in the film. That being said, you can see how having access to that information influenced the actors' performances in their respective characters.
Like I said,ÌýThe Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times is a treasure trove of information about the making of a truly superb film. It's full of information, full-color photos, removable inserts, and lots of fun. It's expensive but worth it. There's really not much else to add. I highly recommend this book if you're interested inÌýThe Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, or how films are made. You won't be disappointed.
I love books like these. Insight Editions (the publisher of this book) and Harper Design have been producing a lot of these gorgeous behind-the-scenes books about the making of popular films for a while now, and I adore every one of them. They're extremely expensive, but for good reason. This book (and others like it) is a large, hardcover, full-color tome that details everything that went into making the film. The book packs so much information into its pages that it's honestly incredible. I use the documentary comparison because this book honestly has the same amount of information packed into its pages that a feature-length documentary covering the same material would have, if not more.
When I say that this book has aÌýlot of content in it, I'm not kidding. It contains interviews with the cast and crew, concept art, behind the scenes photos, information about how key scenes were filmed and edited, information about the characters, details about the creation of the Fish Man and how the makeup was applied to actor Doug Jones, sketches from del Toro's journal, and - best of all - character bios of three characters - Zelda, Giles, and Dr. Hoffstetler - written by Guillermo del Toro himself for the actors. The information in those bios are so detailed and rich, yet none of it appears anywhere in the film. That being said, you can see how having access to that information influenced the actors' performances in their respective characters.
Like I said,ÌýThe Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times is a treasure trove of information about the making of a truly superb film. It's full of information, full-color photos, removable inserts, and lots of fun. It's expensive but worth it. There's really not much else to add. I highly recommend this book if you're interested inÌýThe Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, or how films are made. You won't be disappointed.
January 11, 2018
I am a huge fan of Guillermo del Toro's work and jump at the chance to get any insight into his creative process. I was pleasantly surprised to find this book includes inserts that are reproductions of pages from del Toro's journals. There are also inserts of the biographies written by del Toro for several of the characters in the film. Even without these extras, the book presents a detailed view into the production (pre- and post-) of a beautiful film.
The tidbits about the number of suits created (4), the time to design the creature (3 years), and more were fascinating. The attention to detail in one of Guillermo del Toro's films is not surprising, but it inspiring to get insight into those details.
While the book tries to avoid obvious spoilers at times, it does give detailed information about many crucial scenes as it walks through the film's story from beginning to end. So my recommendation is to see the film, The Shape of Water, and then read this book to see how it was all created. Then go watch the film again to marvel at the work that went into the film.
The tidbits about the number of suits created (4), the time to design the creature (3 years), and more were fascinating. The attention to detail in one of Guillermo del Toro's films is not surprising, but it inspiring to get insight into those details.
While the book tries to avoid obvious spoilers at times, it does give detailed information about many crucial scenes as it walks through the film's story from beginning to end. So my recommendation is to see the film, The Shape of Water, and then read this book to see how it was all created. Then go watch the film again to marvel at the work that went into the film.
August 25, 2021
I picked this book up from the library (I WILL OWN IT ONE DAY 😆). I love reading anything about making movies, from production design, costumes, cinematography, etc. And this book is definitely worth it. I love Guillermo del Toro 's movies, or anything he's produced. This man has an exuberant love for film that I can't help but respect.
And he's also hilarious during interviews!
This book includes leaflets of character bios, and drawings from del Toro 's famous notebooks that are inspiring.
Honestly, this is the Beauty and the Beast movie I wanted, and I have received wholeheartedly. The book includes early designs for The Asset, and artwork that inspired the movie.
Very minor nitpick: I wish it had Elisa's character bio, I would have loved to read about her early years (It's briefly mentioned in the novelization).
And he's also hilarious during interviews!
This book includes leaflets of character bios, and drawings from del Toro 's famous notebooks that are inspiring.
Honestly, this is the Beauty and the Beast movie I wanted, and I have received wholeheartedly. The book includes early designs for The Asset, and artwork that inspired the movie.
Very minor nitpick: I wish it had Elisa's character bio, I would have loved to read about her early years (It's briefly mentioned in the novelization).
March 9, 2018
This whole move whatnot just seems so weird to me. The creature in this movie looks quite interesting though. That is what made me check this book out from my library and dive into it. This book actually made me want to see the movie. There are some little treasures all through this book. Little inserts with free hand writings, and drawings that are quite beautiful. I also loved the concept art for the creature and other things. It was so interesting to see how the suit came together. It is amazing that it almost looks one piece. I have watched shows where they do this type of stuff and it is not easy to do. It is a very beautiful book.
August 8, 2022
Un libro precioso del detrás de cámaras de la pelÃcula "la forma del agua".
Sin duda todas las historias tiene un punto de partida el cual también vale la pena contar.
Adentrarte a la cabeza de alguien como Guillermo del Toro es sin duda un viaje interminable de fantasÃa, y cosas imposibles que se vuelven posibles.
Él querÃa hacer algo diferente que te hiciera sentir en casa, y sin duda lo logro.
Lo desconocido ya no da tanto miedo, ahora los monstruos se enamoran.
Puntos a destacar, tiene unas imágenes hermosas y algunas páginas del diario de Guillermo que son una joya para los ojos.
🪣🌊
Sin duda todas las historias tiene un punto de partida el cual también vale la pena contar.
Adentrarte a la cabeza de alguien como Guillermo del Toro es sin duda un viaje interminable de fantasÃa, y cosas imposibles que se vuelven posibles.
Él querÃa hacer algo diferente que te hiciera sentir en casa, y sin duda lo logro.
Lo desconocido ya no da tanto miedo, ahora los monstruos se enamoran.
Puntos a destacar, tiene unas imágenes hermosas y algunas páginas del diario de Guillermo que son una joya para los ojos.
🪣🌊
January 3, 2018
Gorgeous must-read companion book to the film, one of the most exquisite works of cinema ever made. Guillermo del Toro, Sally Hawkins, and Doug Jones (as well as supporting cast and crew) include beautiful insights into the magic and making of The Shape of Water. High-quality imagery, artwork, and design details throughout. This definitely enhanced my love and appreciation of the film to deeper levels and is a tome I will cherish.
February 4, 2018
This beautiful volume is the documentation of the making of Guillermo Del Toro's beautiful film The Shape of Water.
Author Gina McIntyre covers the making of the film from its origins even before pre-production through to its completion in post-production.
Lavishly illustrated with concept art and photos from the film, The Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times offers considerable insight into the workings of del Toro's creative genius.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Author Gina McIntyre covers the making of the film from its origins even before pre-production through to its completion in post-production.
Lavishly illustrated with concept art and photos from the film, The Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times offers considerable insight into the workings of del Toro's creative genius.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
May 3, 2018
Now I see why this won the Oscar for best picture. This movie was genius, original, and breathtaking from start to finish and seeing what went behind the scenes was so amazing to learn about. Guillermo de Toro was a genius and this movie needed an original, unique twisted mind to convey a strong message we are all familiar with. Great read and pictures were phenomenal! 5 stars!
February 7, 2018
An incredible look into the imagination of del Toro! This film was stunning in so many ways and this book gives a glimpse into how it all came together and what every little detail means. Beautifully printed with lovely artefacts and stories from del Toro himself make this book very immersive.
February 5, 2019
I very much enjoyed "The Shape of Water" film. For this movie Guillermo del Toro did extensive promotional long form interviews that can be viewed on YouTube. There wasn't much addition here in this book that I haven't already seen and heard from del Toro and the rest of the cast/crew.
January 8, 2018
A beautiful companion book for a beautiful movie.
December 18, 2022
fantastic art book and a wonderful look into both the creation of special effects for the film as well as the general process for building the film
February 24, 2021
Everything del Toro does is great in its own way. This book was perfect in what it sets out to do: illustrate the thought process behind the design of just about every aspect of the movie. Really interesting stuff, if you're a literature nerd.
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