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TruaceTracing the truth around AIWednesday, August 5, 2026
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Entertainment·P Space·Evidence-backed problem·Published 2026-07-26

Guillermo Del Toro says ‘absolutely no goddamn AI’ was used in the Pan’s Labyrinth remaster.

During a Comic-Con panel about the film’s return to theaters, the director reiterated his hatred of all things AI, telling the crowd: > “What we’re protecting is the beauty and the redeeming power of art. It’s not about who gets the job. We are protecting a lineage of art. If we cut a generation of people from learning their craft, you’re cutting the rest of the history of that medium away from them for what? … I chose good. You have to put in time. You have to do every element by hand. A human made a decision o…

TRV-2026-0566JournalismPermanent record — cite & verify
Guillermo Del Toro says ‘absolutely no goddamn AI’ was used in the Pan’s Labyrinth remaster.

"Damian Holbrook, Guillermo del Toro, Carlton Cuse, Chuck Hogan, Corey Stoll, Mia Maestro, David Bradley, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Richard Sammel, Jonathan Hyde, Natalie Brown, Miguel Gomez, Jack Kesy & Ben Hyland" by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.

The quick read

During a Comic-Con panel about Pan's Labyrinth returning to theaters, Guillermo del Toro said the remaster and 3D re-release used no AI, stating 'absolutely no goddamn AI' was involved and that every element was done by hand with human depth decisions.

The statement matters because it positions a high-profile restoration as a test case for AI in entertainment, framing non-use as a defense of craft transmission; what remains uncertain from the supplied text is the specific restoration workflow, tools, or studio verification beyond the director's remarks.

Main points
  • Director stated at Comic-Con panel that the Pan's Labyrinth return to theaters involved no AI.
  • He framed the choice as protecting artistic lineage and hands-on craft learning for future generations.
  • He emphasized human decision-making on depth as central to the remaster process.
Problem

Using AI in film restoration risks cutting a generation from learning craft and severing the historical lineage of the medium.

The rundown

At a Comic-Con panel on July 25, 2026, Del Toro told the crowd 'absolutely no goddamn AI' was used in the Pan's Labyrinth remaster, reiterating his stated hatred of all things AI.

He argued the issue extends beyond employment to cultural continuity, saying 'You have to put in time. You have to do every element by hand' and that a human made depth decisions for the 3D re-release.

Sources

Reader signal

How should this claim be treated?

The debate