Following the release of Pinocchio, del Toro reminded us that animations isn’t just for kids.

Earlier this month, acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro released his take on the classic tale of Pinocchio on Netflix. The stop-motion animated film swiftly rocketed to the top of Netflix’s charts, receiving critically acclaim as a bold new take on the vintage story.

During a recent screening of the film in Toronto on Sunday, del Toro spoke about the importance of animation as a creative filmmaking medium, and how it is not exclusively the domain of children’s films.

“I didn’t want to make it for kids,” del Toro said. “I think animation is not a f-cking genre for kids, it’s a medium that can explore beauty and sadness and tragedy.”

“Those movies, [they’re necessary] for the economical sustainment of the medium, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying down with them. No, variety.” Del Toro dismissed many children’s movies as “babysitting” movies, something for parents to place their kids in front of so no one has to think about anything for 90 minutes.

Guillermo Del Toro speaking only facts. THIS is a man who directs with a passion and believes in the animation industry. Please watch Pinocchio if you can. pic.twitter.com/Cdq9Umv23V

— mads (@ewansobi) December 7, 2022

“They turn them on and leave the kids unsupervised because they have been homogenized and pasteurized, and they’re good for the parents,” del Toro said.

“If you sanitize the world for the kids, you’re destroying them… If you don’t have the conversations, and you’re going have a conversation about life and death whether Peanut the f-cking hamster dies or you see this movie, so have it already… The kids are going to handle it and the art form needs it.”