Tattoos Inspired by Guillermo del Toro Films

Guillermo del Toro is a visionary filmmaker known for his works in the genres of science fiction, fantasy and horror. Del Toro’s films are visually appealing, blending the grotesque with the beautiful and creating sublime works of art that leave his audience speechless.

Del Toro’s career started in his native Mexico when he began to experiment with his father’s Super 8 camera at 8 years old. Captivated by the movies he saw as a kid, del Toro started creating his own to emulate his heroes, taking great inspiration from 1950s monster movies like the “Creature from the Black Lagoon.”

After a string of success in independent cinema in the 1990s, del Toro crossed over to big budget Hollywood tentpoles by the early 2000s with the success of “Hellboy” in 2004. Fans of Mike Mignola’s comic book series particularly enjoyed how true to the comics del Toro stayed, proving he viewed the film as a piece of art rather than a comic book movie to be haphazardly produced for a quick buck.

Del Toro’s films incorporate the use of practical effects with limited, but diligent, use of green screen. By creating immaculate sets, del Toro has brought fantastical elements to life in his films, such as the Mechas of “Pacific Rim” and the haunted manor of “Crimson Peak.” By limiting the use of CGI in his films, del Toro’s worlds are life-like and exist past the ending credits.

His legendary creatures, such as the Pale Man and the Faun from “Pan’s Labyrinth” come to life through the use of special effects makeup, with frequent collaborator Doug Jones donning these costumes. Del Toro’s creatures, while grotesque in appearance, often exhibit the best in humanity, while humans, often in an authoritarian position, display the worst.

Personally nominated for a total of five Academy Awards, with his films receiving a total of 20 nominations over a span of 11 years, del Toro won the coveted Best Director trophy in 2018 for “The Shape of Water.” The film would go on to win Best Picture that evening proving, once-and-for-all, films about women falling in love with fish-men are what audiences crave.

As fans of del Toro’s filmography and his distinctive imagination, we are looking at the best tattoos inspired by del Toro’s whimsical masterpieces. 

Portraits of del Toro

“Hellboy”

“Pan’s Labyrinth”

“Pacific Rim” 

“Crimson Peak” 

“The Shape of Water”