The Impact of Character Creation Using 3D Printing Technology on Stop-Motion Animation: The Case of Pinocchio in Del Toro's Cinema

Year 2025, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 40 - 58, 25.12.2025

Gökhan Aşçı

Abstract

The technological transformation process that began with steam power ushered in a new era in production and design with the development of three-dimensional printing (additive manufacturing) technology in the 1980s. This study examines the impact of 3D printing technology on the character creation process in cinema, particularly in the stopmotion animation genre. The theoretical section of the study covers the historical development of 3D printing, the techniques used (SLA, FDM, etc.), and the design freedom it provides. The visual and psychological depth of the character, the use of accessories, and silhouette design are examined, emphasizing the time and cost advantages that the technology offers to these processes. In the application section of the research, the phenomenological approach from qualitative research methods was adopted, and the 2022 film "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" was selected as a sample. The analysis revealed that 3D printing technology provides characters with a wider range of expression, photorealistic details, and production flexibility without disrupting the traditional texture of stop-motion animation based on craftsmanship. The technology offers animation artists and independent producers a creative and democratic space from prototyping to final production.

Keywords

3D Printing , Stop-Motion Animation , Character Design , Cinema Props , Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio.

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