Guillermo del Toro Visited Mother’s Bistro
The Academy Award-winning filmmaker remains in Portland for his latest stop-motion production.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Animation
Portlanders spotted Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro at Mother’s Bistro on Southwest Third Avenue this past Friday. The director continues his work on a new stop-motion adaptation of The Buried Giant in collaboration with the local studio ShadowMachine.
Why it matters
The presence of a high-profile director highlights Portland’s role as a major hub for stop-motion animation, a craft that has gained renewed international attention in the city. The production represents a significant creative project currently underway for local animators.
Guillermo del Toro secured an Academy Award for Pinocchio in 2023, while his current film project is based on the 2015 novel The Buried Giant. A release date for the streaming adaptation on Netflix has not been established.
The players
Guillermo del Toro
An Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for his work in stop-motion animation.
ShadowMachine
A production studio with a Portland outpost that specializes in stop-motion film projects.
The details
The production relies on stop-motion animation techniques developed in partnership with the Los Angeles-based studio ShadowMachine, which maintains a local outpost in Portland. This film, intended for an adult audience, marks another collaboration between the director and the studio. Filming work remains ongoing within the city while the project moves toward its eventual release on Netflix.
Timeline
2015: Kazuo Ishiguro published the novel The Buried Giant.
2023: Guillermo del Toro won an Oscar for Pinocchio.
September 25, 2026: Guillermo del Toro visited Mother's Bistro.
Beyond the Bridges
This project follows the critical success of the 2023 Academy Award win for Pinocchio. It signals a continued commitment to stop-motion film production within the city.
Residents may see production activity associated with ShadowMachine continue around their Portland studios. Fans of the source material can look forward to the project arriving on Netflix at a future date.
The takeaway
Portland remains a global center for the craft of stop-motion animation through the work of studios like ShadowMachine. Keep an eye on local production news to see how this adult-oriented adaptation progresses toward its Netflix premiere.
Further reading
For more on the city’s active creative sector, see the latest updates in Animation.
