Del Toro's Hand-Crafted 3D: No AI

Del Toro Chose 'Good' Over 'Quick' for the 3D Conversion

Del Toro framed the 3D conversion as a simple choice. "You can do it quick, or you can do it good," he told the Comic-Con crowd. He chose good. That means human artists made every depth decision by hand — no shortcuts, no automation. Del Toro oversaw the process himself to protect the film's visual integrity, Rolling Stone reported.

The director argued that hand-crafted work preserves what makes art matter. He said taking the time to do it right protects "the beauty and redeeming power of art." For a film as visually dense as Pan's Labyrinth, those decisions — how deep a shadow falls, how far a creature looms — shape the entire emotional experience.

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Del Toro Has Long Said He Would 'Rather Die' Than Use AI

This is not a new position for del Toro. He has previously said he would "rather die" than rely on generative AI in his filmmaking. Head Topics noted that his stance at Comic-Con was a direct reaffirmation of that long-held view. He sees AI as a threat to the craft that gives cinema its worth.

Del Toro's comments land during a wider industry debate over AI's role in film production. Many studios have explored AI tools to cut costs on visual effects and post-production work. Del Toro is staking out the opposite position — that speed and savings are not worth the trade-off in artistic quality.

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Pan's Labyrinth Already Got a 4K Restoration at Cannes

The October re-release builds on earlier restoration work. Del Toro debuted a full 4K restoration of Pan's Labyrinth at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. That screening marked a major step in bringing the 2006 Spanish Civil War fantasy back to its best possible visual form, according to Rolling Stone.

The film is set against the backdrop of Spain in 1936. It follows a young girl who escapes into a dark fantasy world amid the horrors of war. The restoration and 3D conversion are designed to let new audiences experience that world on the big screen for the first time — and longtime fans to see it reborn.

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A New Documentary Teased With Elordi, Blanchett, and Day

The re-release will come with a bonus: a documentary about the making of Pan's Labyrinth. Del Toro teased the project at Comic-Con, and it features appearances from Jacob Elordi, Cate Blanchett, and Charlie Day. No further details about the documentary's runtime or release format have been announced yet, according to Rolling Stone.

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