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, now nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture.

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.

Gina McIntyre is the New York Times best-selling author of Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down. Other award-winning books include Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times, Star Wars Icons: Han Solo, Game of Thrones: The Costumes and more. A longtime entertainment journalist, her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly and The Hollywood Reporter.

Guillermo del Toro is the acclaimed director of several films, including The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth, Pinocchio, Crimson Peak, and Frankenstein. His films have won numerous awards, including Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director for The Shape of Water; Best Animated Feature for Pinocchio; and most recently, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling for Frankenstein. He is also the co-author of The Strain vampire novels, which have become international bestsellers.