Skip to Main Content

Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water

Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times

Foreword by Guillermo del Toro
Published by Insight Editions
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
See More Retailers

About The Book

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.

About The Author

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 TimesStar Wars Icons: Han SoloGame of Thrones: The Costumes and more. A longtime entertainment journalist, her work has appeared in the Los Angeles TimesEntertainment Weekly and The Hollywood Reporter.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Insight Editions (December 19, 2017)
  • Length: 160 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781683832256

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

“As with all Insight Editions books this thing is gorgeous from its front cover to back, but inside it’s filled with handwritten notes of del Toro’s, photography chronicling the designing process, the building of sets, the makeup process, and the shooting of the movie, and interviews with key creatives involved in bringing this passion project to vivid life. Long story short, if you love The Shape of Water, you will adore this book... Indeed, the chronicle here is so detailed, so intricate, that I’d venture to say this is one of my favorite “making of” books I’ve ever read.”

– Collider

“From cover to cover, Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water: Creating a Fairy Tale for Troubled Times is every bit as gorgeous and absorbing as the film on which it’s based. McIntyre has constructed a perfect companion for fans, which provides them with a further appreciation for every facet that goes into a film production.”

– Broke Horror Fan

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

More books from this author: Gina McIntyre