ART OF POCAHONTAS, THE

Customer Reviews:

great for art/"Pocahontas" fans in general.......1998-08-24

I love flipping through this book once in a while just to be in awe of Disney animators all over again, but I agree w/ some of the other reviewers who say that there isn't enough about the actual people behind this artwork. I'd like to find out more about how the artists & voices influenced different aspects of the story, reacted to deadlines, etc. too--but the art almost makes up for it. The book also provides some more insight into the personalities of the characters in "Pocahontas," which I found enlightening. Overall, it's a beautiful accompaniment to the movie, and very inspiring as well--makes me want to learn how to draw a little better.

A book as beautiful as its main character.......1997-12-27

The art of Pocahontas is, to my mind, one of the most beautiful books about animation art. Its composition following the making of the film step by step helps the reader to understand how a huge production such as Pocahontas is made and all the production aeras are represented. The pictures taken from the film and the artist's sketches shown in it are so great they could make anyone that did not like the design of Pocahontas ( and god knows they are a lot in France ) loves it. The only thing that could be improved is about photos of the artists in their work environment, there should be more.

Weak parts, but worth taking a look at........1997-11-30

The only thing holding this book together is the easy way it flows. In the tradition of other Disney "Making of..." books, it follows the format of each animation process from concept to script to storyboard to animation. Its interesting, but at times bogs down some nice visuals. Not all the visuals are great, though. The pre-production art seems weak and cliche like the drawings of pilgrims and Indians you remember as a kid. Only in the animation chapters does it pick up, particularly the work of Glen Keane. As chief animator of the title character, his storyboards and animation seem the most inspired and studied. Other character designs seem less bold against Disney's first eco-feminist heroine who paved the way for post-feminist heroines like Esmeralda from Hunchback and Meg from Hercules. The book not unnique in its execution or format, but its worth taking a look at to compare with other films and books and to see the evolution of the thought process of great Disney animators like Keane and Ruben Aquino. And of course it has its share of Disney we-are-doing-this-and-no-one-else-can attitude.

Very beautiful!.......1997-11-26

First of all, I assume that these reviews are supposed to refer to the large hardcover edition, which was published in 1995, and not the smaller 1996 edition. The large one is gorgeous, allowing a look into the world of how the artists develop a film from start to finish. Some of the concept art is so beautiful that you wonder why it didn't make it into the film. My only gripe with this book is that, like Rebello's other books, it deals almost entirely with the visual aspect of the films and, although it talks about how songs developed the movie (the Colors of the Wind section is especially well done), what about the voices? In The Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Beauty and the Beast, descriptions and photos are included of the actors who voiced the characters. While you might say that this sort of thing doesn't belong in an "Art of" book, I think it does, because the actor who voices a character often has a tremendous influence on the visual development of that character. For example, Belle in Beauty and the Beast would not have had the lock of hair that kept falling into her face - an endearing gesture that helped make her more real to the audience - if Paige O'Hara, her voice, had not had it first. The Art of Pocahontas would be perfect if it offered similar insights. But it's definitely worth reading or just looking at, to bask in the sheer beauty of the artwork.

Miniature Poachontas Book is Big on Color and Information.......1997-03-06

Don't let the small size of "The Art of Pocahontas"fool you; the authors have crammed the 5.5" by 4.5" book with loads of colorful artwork and interesting insights into the recent Disney masterpiece.

"The Art of Pocahontas" traces the creation of the film from conception to completion, including wonderful reproductions of concept sketches, background paintings, layout drawings and final animation art. The 189 pages of this small volume contain over 400 color and black-and-white illustrations.

The text was written by Stephen Rebello, an editor of "Movieline" and author of "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of 'Psycho.'" He provides many insights into the collaborative and creative process behind the making of "Pocahontas."

Book Description

Between the classic films of Walt Disney in the 1940s and the televised cartoon revolution of the 1960s was a critical period in the history of animation. Amid Amidi, of the influential Animation Blast magazine and CartoonBrew blog, charts the evolution of the modern style in animation, which largely discarded the "lifelike" aesthetic for a more graphic and often abstract approach. Abundantly found in commercials, industrial and educational films, fair and expo infotainment, and more, this quickly popular cartoon modernism shared much with the painting and graphic design movements of the era. Showcasing hundreds of rare and forgotten sketches, model boards, cels, and film stills, Cartoon Modern is a thoroughly researched, eye-popping, and delightful account of a vital decade of animation design.

Customer Reviews:

Cool, Fun and Essential.......2007-07-17

This book covers a vital an oft-neglected period in animation history. When I first laid eyes upon it, in a bookstore, I think I audibly gasped. It is that beautiful. Do not hesitate to purchase this book, which incidentally, won the Theatre Library Association Award for outstanding book in the area of film or broadcasting. Hopefully, there'll be a sequel.

Superlative.......2007-06-08

If you're an animation buff, you won't want to miss Amid Amidi's "Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in 1950s Animation". Lushly paged, and densely packed with generous, colorful, brightly saturated illustrations, "Cartoon Modern" is the cel animation cartoon fan's dream come true - the kind of volume you'd find in a favorites bin in a dream and try to take out into the waking world with you! Amid Amidi is clearly another one of us toon fangeeks: he eagerly sifts through tons of studio, production and biographical information but doesn't skimp on small details only another fangeek would enjoy - intriguing factoids and behind-the-scenes animator gossip relevant to the period abound throughout this thick, heavy book. You will never tire of the clippings, sketches, layouts, articles and character designs. Far from limited to the gorgeous coffeetable book it resembles - don't be fooled by its size and stylish appearance! - "Cartoon Modern" is an authoritative tour of one of American animation's most important creative periods. I personally look forward to more animation books from Amidi, and I hope he will someday take a literary look at the animation of the classic, cartoon modern-influenced 1969-1976 period of PBS's "Sesame Street" and "The Electric Company". As a generous portion of "Cartoon Modern" concerns the works of animators John and Faith Hubley, and the Hubley Studios generated a good 40-50% of the animation for both shows, such a book may not be far from the realm of possibility. Superlative.

More than Disney...........2007-04-19

We had forgotten how much treasured animation was created during this very stylistic era in film history.

Most importantly, the book deserves a publishing prize simply for the design of the text. Absolutely beautiful... flawlessly designed... with quality binding and printing that should last for a century to come.

We were pleasantly surprised by the beauty and class within these covers, and we are pleased to highly recommend this text for the most discriminating animation libraries.

Cartoon Modern.......2007-03-19

Absolutly wonderful visuals, with OK text. Text suffers from almost no acknowlegement of foriegn animation that preceded and drove the U.S. animation design, but still very informationl and a good referenxce book.

Great Book.......2007-01-22

I think this book is a nice purchase. It has great visual reference for cartoon styles and is really easy to brouse through as each "animation studio" has its own chapter. Two other people from my work purchased the book as well, and seem to like it too!

Average customer rating:

Long overdue, Well Deserved
It's a Small World Legend
Mary Blair rocked.
Blah Blah Blair
Beautiful!

Art And Flair Of Mary Blair, The
John Canemaker
Manufacturer: Disney Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786853913

Book Description

The story behind one of Walt Disney's favorite artists is celebrated in this delightful volume of whimsical art and insightful commentary. For more than a dozen years, Mary Blair, a quiet-spoken, unassuming woman, dominated design at The Walt Disney Studios with a joyful creativity and exuberant color palette that stamped the look of many classic Disney animated features, including Cinderella and Peter Pan. Favorite theme park attractions, most notably the 'It's A Small World' boat ride, originally created for the 1964 New York World's Fair, were also among her designs. In her prime, she was an amazingly prolific American artist who enlivened and influenced the not-so-small worlds of film, print, theme parks, architectural decor, and advertising. Emulated by many, she remains inimitable: a dazzling sorceress of design and color.

Customer Reviews:

Long overdue, Well Deserved.......2007-07-27

The work of Mary Blair is well-known to animation and Disney aficianados, but there is a dearth of material available about her. Her influence on animation and Disney design was enormous. John Canemaker, as one has come to expect of his work, has written a terrific book on Blair. Well-illustrated, carefully noted.
Although this book is very good, Mary Blair deserves a full-length biography.

It's a Small World Legend.......2007-07-21

When I visited Disneyland last year with my daughter I expected to fall in love all over again with various attractions at the park: Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Carousel. I honestly didn't expect to fall in love all over again with "It's a Small World" but I did.
I had already heard the name, Mary Blair, but I didn't know anything about her so I decided to research her online and I found this book.
What an incredible artist she was! John Cane tells her story and her contributions to everything Disney. She was an incredible artist! Her works now sell for many hundreds of dollars. It's too bad that she didn't live long enough to see herself become famous. Like most artists, she became famous after her death. At any rate, here is the story of the woman who created so much of the Disney magic. It's very well illistrated and an enjoyable read.

Mary Blair rocked........2007-05-25

Beautiful and unique look into the life and developed portfolio of a retro animator. This book is nostalgic, child-like awe packaged. Wonderfully whimsical images.

Blah Blah Blair.......2007-03-09

The world of animated films has largely become a slick faceless corporation. For those seeking some idea of where it started and how individual genius played such a huge part I suggest The Art and Flair of Mary Blair. A highly inspirational visual feast.

Beautiful!.......2007-01-31

Wow, what a great book, I recommend it for fans and colour designers in animation. It would of been great to see more images, but thats as always with art books!

Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Game Development

Average customer rating:

Good for the intermediate Flash programmer
Great Book
very limited discussion of incorporating physics
In-Depth game Development!
Specifics for beginners, bad habits for mid-levels

Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Game Development
Glen Rhodes
Manufacturer: Charles River Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1584504870

Book Description

If you want to take your Flash Professional 8 skills to a new level while learning how to produce games that rival anything available on the web, this is the book for you. Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Game Development is written by a professional game developer. Using the power of Flash and the most recent advancements in ActionScript, the book progresses through the entire development process to teach programmers and Web developers how to create professional quality games quickly. It teaches techniques for producing fast 3D effects that can be used with "cheat" techniques to produce powerful, high-performance results. It details the actual science of game development, including design, character development, the physics and motion of a game, and audio issues. And in this new edition, all of the latest features of Flash Professional 8 are covered, including the new sound channels, bitmap caching, texture pages, and more. The book covers many advanced topics in a simple, easy to understand way. It emphasizes the incredible power of the new BitmapData class and teaches how it can be used to take the performance of Flash games to a whole new level. It has never been easier to get right down to the pixel level and manipulate things at blazing speeds, making previously impossible games a breeze to make. So get to your computer, insert the CD-ROM, and prepare to begin your journey into the world of Flash Professional 8 game development.

Customer Reviews:

Good for the intermediate Flash programmer.......2007-07-30

The book provides several examples that progress the reader through the programming of gradually more complex games. The reader should have a basic knowledge of Flash and Actionscript, as the book brushes over beginner-level concepts. At the time, the book is fairly up to date, however there is supposedly quite a jump between Flash 8 and Flash CS3, which uses Actionscript 3.0. Nonetheless, the concepts taught in the book are universally applicable regardless of what Flash version you are using. The inclusion of a CD-ROM is an added bonus and a must with this kind of book.

Great Book.......2007-06-11

I found the book easy to read and very practical. The use of examples to explain things is great. And of course, examples that do work is great also!!!

It's the right book for those that already know something about flash and actionscript (doesn't need to be an expert), and want to learn to develop some games in flash, and perhaps aplly those technics on other apllications.

The book is great fun!!!

very limited discussion of incorporating physics.......2007-05-29

As a physicist, I looked at the chapter on "Physics for Games". It's very introductory Newtonian mechanics. Applying these in time-discrete form for moving objects in the game. Gravity is considered for vertical motion, and wind is incorporated to affect horizontal motion. Freshman level stuff. If you are developing a game where you need to seriously incorporate physics, there are entire books devoted to it, like Physics for Game Developers.

Though to be fair, the book is about learning Flash and its effects. Other chapters offer code fragments. Of necessity, these are all elementary, from a programming complexity standpoint. But they help explain how to apply Flash.

The most intricate part of the book seems to be when you model a 3d world. Nice rendering examples. Doesn't go very deeply here. Flash almost certainly has more advanced functionality.

In-Depth game Development!.......2007-05-17

I've bought this book with the purpose of starting to make flash games. Well, i couldn't have chosen a better way! The book is very easy to read and understand and the the examples are incredible. It explores the appropriate tools to create games like the BitmapData while giving other tools an explanation too. 5 stars!

Specifics for beginners, bad habits for mid-levels.......2007-04-28

If you've worked with strongly type languages like Java/C++/etc then this book might make you cringe a bit. First, the code is very terse with clever tricks to shorten the number of lines. Eventually it makes sense but methods like makeFader() don't really make a fader, they do other things like remove a game object from the scene.

So along with softreferences ( for i to 10, make a variable box_i=i ) - ew, and bad naming conventions, it plays out more like an Oreilly Cookbook that encourages bad habits. Granted, I ordered it and I'll keep it as a book full of complete examples. But I think any of the examples that I copy/type/study, I'll refactor later to be more clear and well-coded.

It's a fast ramp-up to ActionScript 2.0. If you're looking for smarter and more mid-level code then maybe wait for a book on AS3.0 that is more class oriented and less procedural like this book. Else, if you just want to see end-to-end examples as fast as possible the author does a good job of explaining code blocks as he goes even if he's encouraging bad habits.

Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels

Average customer rating:

Great Book
Great book
It's fun and easy!
One of the best books on character design...
Fantastic Instruction, Great Artwork

Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels
Tom Bancroft
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0823023494
Release Date: 2006-02-01

Book Description

• Character design is the key in many industries—and they're all covered in this book

• Practical step-by-step exercises

• Contributors include Glen Keane, Supervising Animator, Disney

From Snow White to Shrek, from Fred Flintstone to SpongeBob Square-Pants, the design of a character conveys personality before a single word of dialogue is spoken. Creating Characters with Personality shows artists how to create a distinctive character, then place that character in context with a script, establish hierarchy, and maximize the impact of pose and expression. Practical exercises help readers put everything together to make their new characters sparkle. Lessons from the author, who designed the dragon Mushu (voiced by Eddie Murphy) in Disney's Mulan—plus big-name experts in film, TV, video games, and graphic novels—make a complex subject accessible to every artist.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-08-16

I teach character design and have found this book to be invaluable. My students love it. Its a really straight forward and practical book. Great drawings, fun assignments. Can't say enough good about it. My only complaint is the poorly designed cover which initially turned me off when I saw it on the shelf at the local bookstore. Animation books seem to make a habit of having aweful covers...but as the old saying goes...

Great book.......2007-08-12

I have been looking for a book on character design since a long time since I am a student of animation. I saw this book in a bookstore and started flipping pages and seeing what kind of lessons it has. My first impression for this book was really great and after reading reviews I confirmed that my impression was not wrong. The book also has assignments in each chapter and this is the best way to learn. The book shows you different aspects of character design and how different rules like shape, size etc could effect the design. The best part is that author never limits you to any particular idea, he wants us to experiment more and more and what to go beyond what is in the book. This is highly appreciated. I highly recommend this book.

It's fun and easy!.......2007-06-11

It's a fun book, with lots os useful information that will help you on creating or improving characters! I've already used some of the tips from the book and it really helped a lot!

One of the best books on character design..........2007-06-10

Tom Bancroft's "Creating Characters with Personality" provides a solid foundation for folks who are interested in creating and developing characters for sequential arts and animation. All the basics are explored here, with copious examples: simple shapes, line of action, appeal, etc.

One thing that sets this book apart from the rest is how several examples of the process of character design are shown. The book reiterates several times that the first design isn't always the best - that one should continue to explore other design possibilities before settling on the final look and feel of a character. If you are interested in refining or creating your own character, I would recommend purchasing this book along with Ben Caldwell's Action! Cartooning and Fantasy Cartooning.

While beginners can certainly appreciate this book, I think it's best suited for intermediate level artists who are looking to refine their technique. Highly recommended.

Fantastic Instruction, Great Artwork.......2007-05-03

This book is a terrific view of the craft of character design from someone doing it for a living. It's a great insight to the process, and really assists with sparking creativity.

It also shows various takes on the characters used as examples from working artists in various disciplines, and seeing the differences in how the characters are portrayed by each demonstrates the wide-open interpretation of a character's description and the limitless possibilities for variation.

The exercises are well-designed and really assist with reinforcement of the concepts, and the artwork is really fun too. A great book overall. Highly recommended, not just for character design, but for insights into interpreting your own creative processes and exploring it more fully.

Flash Cartoon Animation: Learn from the Pros

Average customer rating:

There book covers a lot of the cartoon production techniques
Starts from scratch
Flash and Cartooning
So Bad I Don't Own It Anymore.
Great Character Animation Book

Flash Cartoon Animation: Learn from the Pros
Glenn Kirkpatrick , Kevin Peaty , and Glen Kirkpatrick
Manufacturer: friends of ED
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 1590592077

Book Description

You want to make an animated film. You've got the idea. You've got Macromedia Flash. But where do you start? What's the best way to script your cartoon, how do you start animating with Flash, what do you really need to know in order to get your ideas out there, and make you famous? Who better to ask than two talented professionals, who've not only worked for Disney, but also run the hugely successful cult website - funnyazhell? Kevin Peaty and Glenn Kirkpatrick draw on their many years of studio experience and their knowledge of Flash to show you the best way to create great Flash cartoons that look as good as traditional animated films. This book follows the professional process, taking a creative idea from storyboard stage, through layout to publishing, via a detailed look at animation techniques, that will give you the kind of insight normally only gained from years spent in the industry. In depth and detailed, the book follows the production of a cartoon from inception to final output - looking at all the decisions and skills that have contributed to its appeal. Whether you're completely new to Flash, or are making your first steps into the world of Flash cartooning, this book will let you work alongside the professionals to make your own animated masterpiece. From the Publisher The book uses downloadable Flash files so that you can build your own movie, and has free online support, as well as community forums to help you immerse yourself in the world of Flash cartooning. As with all books from friends of ED - our support is fast, friendly and free. Even if our dedicated support team are unable to solve your problem immediately, your queries will be passed onto the people who put the book together, the editors and authors, to solve. All foED authors help with the support on their books, and will either directly mail people with answers, or (more usually) send their response to an editor to pass on. About the Author Kevin Peaty is currently Animation Director for Walt Disney Australia. Glenn Kirkpatrick has worked as a Disney animator, as well as being Animation Supervisor on the TV series 'Rugrats' and 'King of the Hill'.

Customer Reviews:

There book covers a lot of the cartoon production techniques.......2007-09-10

This book covers how to create pans, walk cycles, storyboards, perform squash and stretch, etc. This book is an excellent price! Much cheaper than going to animation school. This book coupled with "How to Cheat in Flash CS3" by Chris Georgenes will teach you everything that you need to know about flash cartooning. I bought this book a while ago and returned it because it couldn't really appreciate it the first time. I bought the book again and realized that it's really a very good book. I hope to finally sit down one weekend and start creating my 2nd cartoon. I have no excuse now since I have both "Flash Cartoon Animation: Learn from the Pros" and "How to Cheat in Flash CS3".

Starts from scratch.......2007-08-12

Though the artwork throughout the book isn't that entertaining, the sheer amount of information presented is amazing! The chronological skill set they present to the reader starts you at the beginner's level and ends with you creating flash cartoons. I enjoyed the way it was written as well, the two guys who wrote it obviously enjoy using flash more than correct grammar (or spellcheck for that matter haha). Despite the occasional misspelled word, I recommend this book to anyone just starting to use Flash. It is an excellent resource for future reference as well!

Flash and Cartooning.......2007-07-25

Excellent book for those just interested in cartooning and Flash. It presents the entire process, not just the technical button pushing required to produce a cartoon. The Flash version is old, but has no affect on fundamental concepts that should be understood. Niece blend of hands on, concepts, flow and examples. The material is presented in an easy to read, logical flow.

So Bad I Don't Own It Anymore........2007-01-16

What really turned my off on the book was the online examples of animation work the authors had done. A lot of the most celebrated works were satanic in nature (seriously) or otherwise too prepusbescent homoerotic. I feel, as a serious artist, the intentions spewing forth from their work was a mental block and I could not read another word. Still trying to blot the horrible imagery from my memory.

Thank god I have seen other flash animation because if all I had to go on with what the authors have done, I think I would need to see a therapist.

I wouldn't let these guys teach me to tie my shoes, I wouldn't trust them for fear that they'd be at least be thinking about molesting me, mentally.

Besides, flash aint easy either. It's laborious and it's interface does not lend itself to unique character drawing, just regular blobs that are easily regocnized as flash generated. Keep your day job.

Great Character Animation Book.......2007-01-11

Love this book! It is written by former Disney animators so they know their stuff. I took traditional animation in school and this book covers all the basic animation ideas and principles that would be helpful to beginners. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to create animations of their own.

Average customer rating:

THE BEST ART FROM THE BEST ARTIST
love it !!
Gorgeous Book
Nice Packaging, not much substance
THE JOY OF BEING A MONSTER KID!

Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos

Manufacturer: Vanguard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1887591710
Release Date: 2006-04-01

Book Description

• The first monograph dedicated to the World's most famous monster artist.
• Introduction by Rockstar and The Devil's Rejects horror film director, Rob Zombie.
• Profusely illustrated with over 150 color and 50 black & white illustrations.
• Full-color on 160 heavy, glossy-stock pages
• Endorsed by the families of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Lon Chaney.
• Features commentary from the artist, his contemporaries and noted film professionals.

The Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos is a celebration of the career of the acknowledged master of film monster portrait art. To many fans of classic horror movies, the name Basil Gogos is as familiar as that of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi or Vincent Price. Gogos' paintings are as iconic as his subjects. This long-overdue retrospective features high-quality reproductions of many of his most famous paintings as well as many previously unpublished paintings and drawings of classic film creatures and actors. Gogos' early work in men's adventure magazine and paperback book art will also be examined as well as his works in movie posters and other areas. An in-depth career-spanning interview with the artist will accompany the illustrations and tributes by other artists and film professionals inspired by Gogos' powerful images. The book will feature an introduction by rock star, movie director and horror collector Rob Zombie.

The "monster craze" among baby-boomers, sparked by the release of Universal Studios' horror classics to television in the late '50s, gave birth to a new phenomenon -- the monster magazine. Famous Monsters of Filmland, filled with monster photos and articles on horror movies and their stars, was the premier publication for young horror film fans.

Issues of the new magazine practically leapt off the newsstand shelves and into kids' hands due in no small way to their striking cover paintings by Basil Gogos. Like a Bizarro world Norman Rockwell, his stylish portraits of horror film characters and stars were seen on magazine covers throughout the '60s and '70s. Gogos' interpretations of movie monsters like Frankenstein, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Phantom of the Opera, breathed new life into the old black and white images. His amazing use of color and bold, impressionistic brushwork gave a sense of both excitement and sophistication to his paintings which has never been matched.

Gogos' legend as the world's greatest movie monster artist has only grown over the years. His original Famous Monsters cover paintings are highly sought-after and are in the collections of many filmmakers and rock stars on whom he made a lasting impression. In recent years he has been in much demand by producers wishing to capture the unforgettable look and feel of the classic monster art of the '60s. CD and DVD covers, movie posters, trading cards, book covers and new monster magazines continue to keep Basil Gogos the world's greatest monster artist.

Customer Reviews:

THE BEST ART FROM THE BEST ARTIST.......2007-09-03

First of all...Like so many reviewers before me have said; almost every boy that grew up in the '50s & '60s anxiously collected our 35 cents every month so we could go to the local candy store & buy the latest issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland. This magazine became our bible & 4E Ackerman became our surrogate father. More than 45 years have passed; but I can still remember those magnificent covers as though it were yesterday. Basil Gogos painted the cover of the Gorgo issue which had a blue background & also the Vincent Price issue which had a white background,etc. This Book displays all of Basil Gogos outstanding cover art which graced the cover of FM for so many years. Don't take my word for it...ask Stephen King, Rick Baker, George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg, John Landis, Rob Zombie & a host of others..This book is an absolute delight for the senses & like fine art is meant to be treasured,

love it !!.......2007-03-14

this book is great.Very happy to included this one in my collection.Already have a tattoo planed of bride of frankenstein.

Gorgeous Book.......2007-02-06

I'm in agreement with another reviewer that mentioned the book could have been better written. That being said, it is well worth the price for all the fantastic paintings and drawings. A must for every fan of horror and sci-fi art.

Nice Packaging, not much substance.......2006-08-26

Even without text, this book would've earned 4 stars, just for the impressiveness of Gogos' work. Within this book are large, crystal-clear repros of his most famous monster cover paintings, as well as samples of his illustration work.
The only setback for this book is its lack of depth in the text. It seems that whoever was sent to interview Basil didn't ask too many questions, didn't want to really know too much about him except for his general acheivements, and didn't ask him for a demonstration of how he works. Among all of the great pics, some candid ones of the artist would've been nice, most notably a pic of his studio.
Still, the images are so rich in color and character. Worth it!

THE JOY OF BEING A MONSTER KID!.......2006-05-03

If you were fortunate to have been born between 1950 and 1970 or so, you're lucky to be a part of a wonderful fraternity. Like me, you are a "monster kid". Monster Kids are the generation that grew up with Shock Theater and campy horror movie hosts, old Aurora model kits, classic Universal horror films on 8MM, and...a fantastic magazine called Famous Monsters of Filmland. Famous Monsters was edited by legendary collector and Sci-Fi sage Forrest Ackerman and one of the great attractions throughout the years were the magnificent magazine covers painted by Basil Gogos. From Vanguard Productions comes "The Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos." Basil Gogos has rightfully been called, "The World's Most Famous Monster Artist." His bold, expresionistic use of color is what caught the eye of little ghouls like myself and my friends. Edited by Kerry Gammill and J. David Spurlock and with an introduction by Rob Zombie, the book provides a dazzling display of Gogos' art not only from Famous Monsters, but from many other magazines, books, and films.

In fact, his first professional sale was not a monster, but rather a cover for a western paperback (reprinted in the book) in 1959. Gogos did numerous covers in many different genres including westerns, war, jungle adventures, spicy adventures, and more. Dozens of examples of his work from this period are included. His first cover for Famous Monsters of Filmland appeared on the cover of issue #9 from November, 1960, depicting Vincent Price from "The House of Usher". For the first time, kids who were used to only knowing them from black & white films now saw their monster heroes in bold color thanks to Gogos. In all, Gogos did 48 covers of Famous Monsters and they are among the most popular issues for collectors. Everyone has their favorite Gogos Famous Monster cover...for me it was his rendition of Boris Karloff as the Mummy from issue # 58. The fine detail of the withered, dead-eyed mummy still mesmerizes me. Issue #56 featuring Gogos painting of Karloff as the Frankenstein's monster for the Karloff tribute issue is another favorite. Basil provides valuable insight to his legions of fans by discussing the various paints, styles, and techniques that he's employed over the years.

Gogos would eventually move into doing fine art as well as non-monster commercial illustration including work for many years at a New York advertising agency. But much like the victims of those classic monster films, Gogos found he could not, for long, escape his beloved creatures. The 1990's brought a renewed interest in Gogos' monster art and soon he was back doing new paintings for trading card companies, CD cover art for The Misfits and Rob Zombie, and a whole new generation of monster magazines such as Monsterscene, making him more popular than ever. Gogos even did the concept art for a series of U.S. Postage stamps in 1997 that featured the classic monsters. The book features comments and tributes from such luminaries as Sara Karloff, Ken Kelly, Forrest Ackerman, Roger Corman, and Rick Baker. In all there are over 150 color and 50 black & white illustrations in the 160 page book. For monster kids like myself, who are all "grown up" now, Basil Gogos will always have a special place in our hearts. His Famous Monsters of Filmland covers take us back to a simpler time of true chills and thrills and I can think of no other book that would please a monster fan more than "The Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos." Like many of the books from Vanguard Productions, it is available in several different editions: There is a softcover, a hardcover, and a deluxe hardcover that is signed by Basil Gogos and includes a 16 page bonus folio and comes in a slipcase. The Deluxe, signed, slipcased edition was an instant sell-out and is already selling for big bucks on the collector's market. My highest recommendation!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

The Winston Effect: The Art & History of Stan Winston Studio

Average customer rating:

The real Effect
Great book, awful shipped condition.
The ultimate inspiration
Spectacular! Wonderful! And Awe Inspiring!
Simply Fantastic!

The Winston Effect: The Art & History of Stan Winston Studio
Jody Duncan
Manufacturer: Titan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1845761502
Release Date: 2006-11-01

Book Description

For over 30 years, the amazing Stan Winston and his team of artists and technicians have been creating characters, creatures and monsters for the silver screen, from The Terminator and the extraterrestrial monstrosities of Aliens and Predator to the terrifying dinosaurs of Jurassic Park and the fanciful character of Edward Scissorhands.

Now, at last, he's opening up the Stan Winston Studios to collaborate on the first-ever book to reveal all the behind-the-scenes secrets of his groundbreaking and hugely influential artistry and effects work. Featuring an extensive array of sketches, production art, and exclusive photographs straight from the studio archives, this is a landmark book in cinema history!

Customer Reviews:

The real Effect.......2007-07-21

This book had a real effect over me, I have a few buddies that work and run Stan Winston Studios, I think that the publication was well done and hope to see a part two in the future.

Great book, awful shipped condition........2007-06-15

I give this 5 stars because the book itself is great! However Amazon shipped me a copy with almost every single page severely dog eared and crimped.

Hopefully yours comes in good condition, mine did not.

The ultimate inspiration.......2007-04-15

The book is amazing and inspiring. And to answer NickNack: I happen to be a CG artist and I can assure you that it DOES take a REAL artist to create awesome detailed CG characters, and it's way harder than sculpting by hand, but much more efficient from production's point of view. Computers do NOT create and animate characters by themselves, but they are a great tool for REAL artists.

A CG artist such as myself, beginner or professional, can find this book to be a great source of inspiration and reference for work.

Spectacular! Wonderful! And Awe Inspiring!.......2007-04-10

Of all the books I own this one satisfies my passion for monster movies as well as my passion for art. Filled with gorgeous high quality photos and in depth insight into each creature and character this book is better than watching it in a movie! The hard work and creative inspiration that goes into each creature of Stan Winston's is truly awe inspiring. It makes me want to work in his studio!

Simply Fantastic!.......2007-02-22

If you are a serious movie buff and you really enjoy "digging-in" to movies beyond just watching them, then you must get this book. It is rather large and heavy but contains great articles and loads of pictures on special effects and yes it covers movie favs like the Terminator and Alien series. This book comes highly recommended to movie fans by a movie fan.

Cartoons: One Hundred Years of Cinema Animation

Average customer rating:

As a fan of cinema history I found this book enlightening!
Better with some revisions.

Cartoons: One Hundred Years of Cinema Animation
Giannalberto Bendazzi
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0253209374

Customer Reviews:

As a fan of cinema history I found this book enlightening!.......1998-11-13

I found this book filled in many gaps I had of my early cinema knowledge. Often making references to many little known events, it set the stage for what was to become mainstream animation.

Better with some revisions........1998-05-12

As a brazilian animator I tried to start to read this book by the Latin american section, and comprehensively, by the one that shows the status of animation in my country, Brazil, a reality that I know very well.I don't know where Mr. Bendazzi got his informations for this part of the book.What I know is that it's full of strange or, at least unknown names of people for most of the brazilian animators, illustrators figuring as animators, besides the absence of five or six of the really most important animators in my country.Because of all that,I'm affraid the rest of the book, at least in those sections telling about the animation in Latin America still needs to be revised.

Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animation Features and Shorts

Average customer rating:

very inspiring
A valuable resource
Absolutely Terrific
Loved it.
A must have book for all aspiring animators/, illustrator/artists and writers.

Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animation Features and Shorts
Nancy Beiman
Manufacturer: Focal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0240808207
Release Date: 2007-03-02

Book Description

Packed with illustrations that illuminate and a text that entertains and informs, this book explains the methods and techniques of animation preproduction with a focus on story development and character design.

Story is the most important part of an animated filmand this book delivers clear direction on how animators can create characters and stories that have originality and appeal. Learn how the animation storyboard differs from live action boards and how characters must be developed simultaneously with the story. Positive and negative examples of storyboard and character design are presented and analyzed to demonstrate successful problem-solving techniques. Artwork from an international array of students and professionals supplement the authors own illustrations. Three never-before-published interviews with well known development artists and a comprehensive glossary are also included.

·Written and illustrated by a renowned animator with 30 years experience as producer, designer, and story artist.
· Storyboard and character design examples from an international array of students and professionals.
· Positive and negative examples illustrate the techniques.

Customer Reviews:

very inspiring.......2007-09-26

Although I haven't read all the chapters of the book, I can tell you that I'm very enthusiastic about read all the book. The reason why I bought this book was because although I can draw well (I think), I got stuck trying to create my own characters and animations, but this book shows me a new way of thinking, and really inspired me to create situations, stories and new characters. It offers nice guidelines to create better characters and put this characters in the right situations or viceversa, create characters based on the story or situation.

A valuable resource.......2007-09-15

Nancy Beiman is a well-known figure within the world of animation, having been a long-time animator at Disney, Warner Bros. and elsewhere, and also having taught in a variety of contexts, including her current position at Rochester Institute of Technology. Anyone who knows Nancy fairly well understands three things about her: she is a very gifted artist, she has high expectations of excellence for her students, and she is very broadly knowledgeable about the arts, traditions of humor, and animation itself. Combine these characteristics with the fact that Beiman is one of the most accomplished female animators within the US industry, and you can understand why I was eager to see this book come to life.
Over the last year, I finally completed work on a production-related book, and during that time I consulted with Nancy on various topics. She told me about her own book and, knowing about her ecclectic background and broad knowledge base, I was eager to see how her project would be realized. What I found is pretty much what I expected, a book that introduces essential concepts, but enhances them with discussion of aesthetic issues and is grounded in an appreciation for the history of classical Hollywood animation, with breadth in examples from other animation practices.
So many animation students struggle with story and developing the cinematic aspects of their work, in order to tell their story visually. Beiman's book offers instruction in chapters devoted to the development of story, storyboarding, types of stories (situation driven, character driven, ways to manipulate the `real'), character development and design, scale and location. As the book's title suggests, a large portion of the text is devoted to storyboarding in various respects: sketches and working out roughs; story beats, sequences, and pacing; and visualizing a script, among other topics. She also focuses on refining characters and art direction, including the use of color. Finally, she addresses topics related to the presentation of storyboards and their use in the production process.
Beiman's writing will appeal to anyone from the beginning artist on up, as she writes in a colorful manner and uses a range of examples drawn from her own experience and her analysis of many films. Included in the appendix are interviews she conducted with A. Kendall O'Connor, T. Hee, and Ken Anderson, and the book itself is filled with quotations and short Q and As with the likes of Tex Avery and other well-known figures. Many illustrations--both instructive and humorous--enhance the book, adding extra appeal for the reader. A number of these images come from students Beiman has worked with through the years, attesting to her influence on many young artists.
Prepare to Board is highly recommended for libraries at institutions where production is taught, particularly at the high school and undergraduate levels, and for all artists wishing to learn more about character development, story, and boarding.

Absolutely Terrific.......2007-08-26

This is a very strong book.

When it comes to storyboarding and character design there is a ton of material to cover, yet this relatively short volume captures it beautifully. The writing is never digressive or self indulgent - from page one, it's down to business. At the same time it's very accessible, especially since the illustrations complement the text so simply and effectively. Often both negative and positive examples are compared, explaining not only what to do but what NOT to do. (Something I wish more art books would try!) Topping off the book is a series of interviews from some unimpeachable masters of story and character.

Perhaps what I love the most, though, is that the book isn't just about story and character, it's about marrying story and character. They are not discrete disciplines - the one can't shine without the other! Understanding how they harmonize is critical for any artist, and this guide imparts an intimate understanding of that harmony.

All told, there's a wealth of material to absorb here. Nancy Beiman makes it both engaging and straight-forward. Whether you want it for your nightstand, your bookshelf, or your drawing table, Prepare to Board is a great buy!

Loved it........2007-07-31

I am not an artist, so can't comment much on the core of the book (although, as a layman, I found the explainations extremely clear).

I LOVED the interviews with Ken Anderson, Ken O'Connor and T- Hee as well as the way they were illustrated (there were quite a few documents that I had never seen before).

A must have book for all aspiring animators/, illustrator/artists and writers........2007-07-15

This book will help open up any locked doors in the far reaching corners of your mind. Nancy Beiman's easy writing style and uncomplicated approach make this book an enjoyable tool for anyone interested in the Arts.

Ruby Persson
Artist, New York, New York

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