Guillermo del Toro Cabinet of Curiosities: My Notebooks, Collections, and Other Obsessions

An intimate look into one of the most imaginative minds of this century, Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities reproduces the notes, the drawings, the untold creatures, and ideas of things to come that fill del Toro's fabled illustrated notebooks Over the last two decades, writer-director Guillermo del Toro has mapped out a territory in the popular imagination that is uniquely his own. From his first feature-length film, the modern classic Cronos, to his best-selling novels, to his eagerly anticipated movie At the Mountains of Madness, del Toro has proven himself to be a one-of-a-kind creative visionary able to bring his singular sensibility equally to Hollywood blockbusters such as Hellboy and to more personal projects such as the Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth. Beginning with a book-length interview of del Toro by New York Times best-selling author and filmmaker Marc Scott Zicree, in which they identify and discuss del Toro’s reigning themes (such as clockwork monsters, parent-child relationships, and the use of ancient tomes), this book explores examples of his signature motifs that have originated in his notebooks and influenced the storyboard artists, concept artists, make-up artists, cinematographers, and comic book artists with whom del Toro has worked. Also included are del Toro’s own personal inspirations, including literary references, old films, and mythological figures. The second half of the book contains faithful reproductions of del Toro’s most elaborate illustrated notebooks. Accompanying this rich mixture of imagery, narrative explorations, and notes are translations of del Toro’s personal blend of Spanish and English, as well as additional and insightful annotations. Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities presents his vision in its proper context, offering a first-hand record of a truly arresting imagination.