Product Description
Meet Bolt: dashing super-dogloyal companionstar of a hit television show. This heartfelt Disney computer-animated film follows Bolt on a cross country journey as he learns his entire life has been fakeóand discovers he doesn't need super powers to be a hero. The Art of Bolt is a beautiful collection of more than 250 pieces of concept art created for the filmincluding storyboardssketchescolor scriptsfull-color illustrationsas well as material from the fabled Disney archives. Quotes by the directorproducerand artists contextualize the artand thoughtful essays explore Disney's pastpresentand future in animation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Animated Films are Fine (and Fine) Art
I saw my first animated film (Dumbo at the Carthay Circle Theater in LA) in 1949. Since then, I have loved good animated films for the characters created by the animators, the emotions communicated by the stories, and the rich imagery. Before the advent of "Art of..." books, one had to be content with spin-off comics or Golden Books to see anyting resembling the art from the movie, and that art was rarely - if ever - drawn by the original character designers, or animators. I think the first "Art of..." books I bought were celebrations of the history of Disney animation. Later on, Warner Brothers and others. Now, each new animated feature is closely followed with a lush compendium of sketches, storyboards, concept paintings, etc. While some of these books are certainly better then others, I find them all (not that I have ALL of them...as yet) to be a way to both enjoy the film when I'm not watching the DVD, and to better appreciate the DVD as I'm watching it.

very amazing book to read
I ordered this book to help me to learn more about 3d animation and see if i can find way of how i can make my 3d animation character and how do different parts of jobs are responsible for specific part of characters, background, story, everything that come with into one big story so smoothly. i found this book very interstingand wish they would add little more details how do they come up with the characters.. but i think they reserve that as their secret to their success.That is fine with me because i am interesting to work for disney someday...

Excellent book with one minor omission
The Art of Bolt provides incredible insight into the movie's production, it explains the influence John Lasseter, who produced several Pixar productions had on the film and how directors Chris Williams and Byron Howard shaped it and includes nearly 150 pages of artwork, plus a beautiful piece of art hidden under the cover that most will probably miss. Unfortunately the books fails to provide much information on the movie's early production, when it was called American Dog and the dismissal of director Chris Sanders.

Great Insights into the style and art of Bolt
For those curious as to the thought that went into creating the style of Bolt, as well as those just wanting to have their own piece of the movie, this is an excellent book.It goes into the basics of design for all the characters, and even takes you step by step through their processes.Interestingly, it shows where they took cues from previous Disney movies and other such things as well.Also, the number of pictures in this book make it a wonderful coffee table book -- showing off bits from the movie, concept art, and even character sheets.Anyone that's interested in this movie at all, and indeed, in Disney's methods and inspiration should pick it up!

One more piece for my collection!
Loving the art of animated movies I encourage you to get this book full of valuable information about the making of the characters of Bolt the movie.
The book came is excellent conditions, brand new, and it was a smart buy. ... Read more

Product Description
This beautiful album will dazzle fans of Charles M. Schulz and his art, providing an unprecedented look at the work of the most brilliant and beloved cartoonist of the twentieth century. Here is the whole gang–Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, and all the others from the original Peanuts strips.

More than five hundred comic strips are reproduced, as well as such rare or never-before-seen items as a sketchbook from Schulz's army days in the early 1940s; his very first printed strip, Just Keep Laughing; his private scrapbook of pre-Peanuts Li'l Folks strips; developmental sketches for the first versions of Charlie Brown and the other Peanuts characters; a sketchbook from 1963; and many more materials gathered from the Schulz archives in Santa Rosa, California.

The art has been stunningly photographed by Geoff Spear in full color, capturing the subtle textures of paper, ink, and line. The strips–which were shot only from the original art or vintage newsprint–reveal how, from the 1950s through 2000, Schulz's style and the Peanuts world evolved. The book features an introduction by Jean Schulz and has been designed and edited by renowned graphic artist Chip Kidd, who also provides an informed and appreciative commentary.

This celebration of the genius of the most revered cartoonist of our time is a must for anyone who has ever come under the spell of Peanuts.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

Interesting retrospective
"Peanuts:The Art of Charles M. Schulz" is an interesting look at one of the most popular and influential comic strips of all time."Peanuts" ran for nearly fifty years, beginning in late 1950, and the book reprints many of the early daily and Sunday strips.Schulz resisted reprinting his early work; he felt that it wasn't good enough in comparison with what "Peanuts" eventually became, but the book proves him wrong.The edge was present from the beginning, as Schulz's adults-in-the-bodies-of-children bicker, backbite, insult, and (occasionally) even interact with each other harmoniously.Not a single adult (with the exception of Beethoven, in bust form) is to be seen.They aren't necessary.
The strip did change considerably over time, and the book illustrates this well.Snoopy, for example, was not, originally, Charlie Brown's dog, and it took awhile for him to walk upright and "think" like a human being.Loudmouthed Lucy Van Pelt debuted as a baby who couldn't even talk in complete sentences; she certainly made up for that in later years.Schroeder was, similarly, so young at first he couldn't talk at all, but he could indeed play the piano!
Schulz also abandoned characters which he felt weren't going anywhere, so the early Shermy and Patty, two of the strip's original four characters (along with Charlie Brown and Snoopy) were de-emphasized over time.
The book also depicts interesting items like the 1951 nursery-wall mural Schulz painted for his daughter, Meredith.
If there is a criticism to be made, it is that many of the strips are reprinted in their original sizes, or even smaller, which renders them difficult to read.But, as a one-volume overview of Schulz and his life's work, this serves very nicely indeed.

A must for any Peanuts fan or student of art
Some words about this book should focus on its design because there is a high level of activity here. Dynamic shifts in scale, from tiny rows of yellowed clipping of the daily strips, to overblown zooms of the color Sunday strips, exposing the dot screens, and exploiting their imperfections. Every spread is different, freely combining photography, pencil drawings, and newsprint. Even the end pages have purpose. Although chronological, there are no chapter divisions or even page numbers. The book invokes a traveler's scrapbook, annotated to guide the reader to points of interest through the journey. I recommended this book to any fan of Peanuts and to students of art and design. I also recommend you read the other five-star rated reviews, because they describe the book's subject matter perfectly.

Peanuts collection not complete without this one.
I love the format of this book and the look. None of the newsprint paper look or imperfections were edited out. It is pages and pages of art and strips as they appear in family scrapbooks. You even see the yellowed tape holding them in.

This is the perfect companion to the Fantagraphics collection because of the pre-Peanuts material and the strips in color -neither of which the aforementioned set include. It's even about the same size and shape. It stands to reason, Seth had a hand in this book design as well

peaches
There was a similiar autographed book at a garage sale but the owner wouldn't sell it after she realized it was autographed. I was happy and surprised to see this book for sale at Amazon, and grabbed it right away.The owner should have used bubble wrap before inserting the book in the padded envelope as the corners were bent;other than that, I was happy with my purchase.

Kindle version not readable
it appears that the text was scanned in and published. the cartoons cannot be seen in their full glory and much of the text is unreadable ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent book about a brilliant cartoonist - but!
I highly recommend this book. It would be a great gift for anyone with kids or who is interested in art for children. Steig was one of the greatest cartoonists of the 20th century and this book showcases his juvenile art very well.

One warning, though: this book limits itself to works for or about children, and despite the title does not represent Steig's entire oeuvre of work.

Something for everyone!
I went to see the William Steig exhibition at the Jewish Museum in New York and I was fascinated by his art and humor. I wanted to buy the book right away but the store was closed, so I order it on Amazon and couldn't wait to receive it. I am very happy with this book. It's truly amazing and I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Walter Foster's classic How to Draw and Paint series provides aspiring artists with an exceptional array of art instruction books featuring all subject areas and media. Each title includes easy step-by-step exercises as well as finished illustrations or paintings that will inspire artistic talent in anyone.

Packed with practical information, helpful tips, and fundamental techniques, the How to Draw and Paint series offers a complete library of resources to which artists of all skill levels can refer again and again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Good basic introduction to animation
Animation 1: Learn to Animate Cartoons Step by Step lives up to its title. It's a good introduction to the concepts and techniques in animation "old school" style. Don't look for techniques in CGI like Maya and Blender or for 2D animation using Photoshop or Toonz or Anime Studio or ToonBoom Animate. This is "nuts and bolts" take out the pencil and paper and draw. Liked the book - relatively inexpensive and the lessons were good and straightforward.

Very helpful
It's a lot wider and taller than I expected and it's a little thinner than I expected...I really don't know what I was expecting though come to think of it =) But it's a very easy quick read and even though i also bought Cartoon Animation (also by same guy) and this book seems like a summary of that bigger book I still liked it and will refer a lot I'm sure to this and his other book.

My only complaint is that it doesn't really fit on my book shelf unless it's on its side XD

Solid foundation for cartooning like the Golden Age
I have been drawing cartoons and doodling for years and could never figure out why my flat drawings didn't look as good as the masters from the "golden age". (almost all comic strips nowadays look flat too, so people just accept that it's how they are supposed to be). Well taking the advice from John K's blog, I bought this book and basically started over from scratch. The basis of Preston Blair's technique is starting with an egg or circle with 2 lines in it and making the characters face from there. You wouldn't believe how it makes the images pop out, and how much easier it is to draw them from different perspectives all the while keeping your characters consistent. Other techniques are how to draw cartoon hands, facial expressions, and body positioning. If you are an amateur cartoonist looking to refine your work, buy this book now. Best 8 dollar investment you will ever spend.

a great animation guide
If you are looking for a small, comprehensive analysis of how to do animation, this is your book. Walter Foster is one of the best companies out there on drawing books, though I wouldn't recommend them all. I highly recommend this one. :)

Great
This is a great way to see how animation starts. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to choose Animation as a career. I am taking Web design and Animation. ... Read more

Product Description
While its predecessor, Don Bluth's Art of Storyboard, described in detail the technical and creative processes involved in crafting the visual blueprints for animated films, Don Bluth's Art of Animation Drawing focuses on the process of designing characters; adapting them to script, voice talent, and music; directing their "performances"; the timing and rhythm of movement; analyzing action; and more. The acclaimed animator/director of The Secret of N.I.M.H., An American Tail, and All Dogs Go to Heaven, Bluth’s gorgeous artwork and lively commentary make this a must for animators of any level and a delight for animation fans of any age. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Motivation for animators
Im a Don Bluth fan since small age, and this book it feels like if he was really talking to you.
As an animator enthusiast, i really find this book inspiring. Its more like a motivation book than a textbook.
It explains really well the basics of animation and it also includes thins like the musical score and voice recording.
I really recommend it if you want to read something that its not just a animation textbook.

fantastic book for animator
This beautiful book is indispensable for those who want to approach the
world of animation, this book is the history of animation. Not only
Disney but a group of animators that created a new world animated
i have all books of Don Bluth.
These books are the official guide for NEMO Academy.

An understanding of how animation is made
It has decent information. It goes over all the techniques that animators have used, including the authors own. This would be a book for a person who's beginning in animation.

My review
It's always beneficial to have a simple book to guide you when animation gets complicated, and this is one of those books.

Emphasis on "Animation", not "Drawing"
I looked through this book at a bookstore. Its focus is on the animation process; it talks about backgrounds and models and voice actors, and it gives examples of how to match a character's mouth movements with a vocal track. It also shows how to punctuate a character's animation with frames that show extremes of emotion. There's a reason, though, why this is in the "Filmmaking" section of a bookstore, and not the "Drawing" section - the emphasis of the book is on the techniques used to bring an animated character to life, NOT on how to draw them. There are lots of pictures of lots of characters from lots of Bluth projects, everything from Banjo the Woodpile Cat to Dirk the Daring to Space Ace to Anastasia to Rasputin to Mrs. Brisby to Jenner and more, and the pictures would be really interesting to someone with some drawing skills; there are some character sheets in there, and lots of rough animation drawings showing the characters in various poses. This is not a "how-to", nor is it a comprehensive history of Bluth's work, but it's still a really interesting book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Glossy Paper ruins an otherwise fine collection
I was drawn to this collection because it was done with digital scans, and featured many artists who don't get much attention in the reprints market - people like Mort Meskin.I was terribly disappointed when the book arrived and found it was printed on high gloss paper.I know there are readers who prefer glossy paper, so for them that won't be a problem.

I like digital scans because they are truest to the artist's intent.Most of the reprint books on the market, like the Marvel Masterworks, or DC Archives, are using restorations.The production crew takes a color comic and bleaches the color out, leaving the black line work.Of course the line work is not intact and requires "restoration," or, in other words, re-drawing.The re-drawing is done by journeymen inkers who could not make it in comics so they are working in restorations instead.In other words, they are less than mediocre artists, and here they are trying to follow the line work of the greats.If the original was inked with a brush it is impossible to replicate accurately, so you can imagine how far off the line work restoration is when in the hands of a barely passable artist.

In a digital scan everything that you see was drawn by the original creators.There is some clean-up and color correction involved, and the colors may not be 100% accurate, because frankly perfection isn't possible.Digital scans, to my eye, look terrible on glossy paper.Glossy paper is less absorbent, so the colors don't look very good, the precious line work that the digital scans are being used to preserve, is not accurately replicated on glossy paper, and in some areas looks down right muddy.I feel the gloss works against the look of the scanned comic - they clash, so to speak.

Digital scans are used so that the comics look close to how the artists intended the comics to look when they created them.The artists, including the colorist, did not mean for this work to be shown on glossy paper.Compare an old four color comic on matte paper with a new glossy paper comic book, and you can see there is a great difference in the look.

I am not going to keep this collection because it looks horrible to my eye.However, I can make some suggestions for anyone looking for digitally scanned comic anthologies, done on high quality matte paper.If you have never read a comic collection done with high quality scans, I suggest starting with one of these.

Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950sA collection of golden age horror comics from Fantagraphics. The scans are of the highest quality possible, and they are printed on an off white bond - this is book has the highest production values, and is the most accurate to the look of the original comics I've seen.

Supermen!: The First Wave Of Comic Book Heroes 1936-1941A collection of superhero comics from the very beginnings of the American comic book.Published by Fantagraphics as well, and also edited by Greg Sadowski, another high quality production.

The Horror! The Horror!: Comic Books the Government Didn't Want You to Read!Another horror comic collection, but with a lot of text from the editor on the history of the horror comics, and scores of covers.Published by Abrams, it is a high quality production, tho it doesn't match the best from Fantagraphics.It's more of an art book, however, it is beautiful, tasty eye candy.

The Simon and Kirby SuperheroesA collection of golden age comics from the greatest art and writing team of the golden age, Joe Simon and Jack KIrby.Published by Titan, on a pure white heavy matte bond.The white paper takes away a bit from the authentic look of these scans, but the brighter look works with the tone of the stories.Titan also put out a "Best Of Simon and Kirby" which includes stories from all genres, but there is some crossover.

Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives (Vol. 1)(The Steve Ditko Archives) This volume is the first in what is intended as a digitally scanned, chronological reprinting of the work of Steve Ditko, edited by Blake Bell.The scan quality is high, but the work is dicey, as it is the very beginnings of Ditko's career, and the writing is typically mediocre-to-bad comic book writing.There is a second volume in the works:Unexplored Worlds: The Steve Ditko Archives (Vol. 2)(The Steve Ditko Archives)

I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets!Fletcher Hanks wrote, drew, inked, and colored his comics himself, in the dawn of the American comic book superhero.Hanks' work is crude, but oddly operatic.It's fun, entertaining, but certainly some of the most simple minded superhero comics ever made - the plots are nearly identical.Hanks art fascinates because it's so bizarre, as is the violently inventive fate of the villians.For some reason the alternative comic Intelligentsia thinks Hanks is a genius, and lauds him over true genius's like Jack Kirby - why?I have no idea.They see more in this guy then is really there, that's for sure.

DC has put out some of Simon and KIrby's early work in digital scans as well, the Golden Age Sandman and The Newsboy Legion.Unfortunately, DC did things on the cheap, using a low quality matte paper, with low quality scans that aren't very accurately color corrected.They're printed in a book that is much smaller than the size of the original golden age comic books.All in all, I'd say these are for Simon and Kirby diehards only.They just aren't very well done.

Just in time
This is sort of a "sequel" to Art Out of Time: Unknown Comics Visionaries, 1900-1969.The idea is to spotlight comic book work by little known artists, or lesser known work by somewhat known artists.Most of these comics are really good, but some of the underground comics are kind of mediocre.The good stuff outweighs the not-so-good stuff and the book is well worth getting.

The Best Comics Mixtape
This book is like the "Nuggets" box set of comics...a brilliant mixtape of hidden gems from artists you've never heard of combined with mainstream artists working in odd genres before or after they made their names. How cool to read a horror comic by John Stanley -- the man behind "Little Lulu"!

It covers all the stuff I love in comics: crime, horror, early psychedelic stuff, 60s sci-fi, but what's best about it is that each story either avoids the usual cliches or hits them so hard as to be completely over the top. I found tons of people here that I need to check out more from: Matt Fox and his brilliantly stilted horror, the weird Wally Wood-esque Pat Boyette, Pete Morisi's amazing hard-boiled eye-patch wearing detective Johnny Dynamite.

I'm not a mylar bag-and-board guy, so I love that the texture of the originals is right there in the book...it feels like you're sharing someone's private stash that's been hidden under a bed for years. For me, this book has been a great introduction to a whole batch of amazing artists and definitely a "must buy" for any fan of comics.

Interesting but uneven mix of obscurities.
Lots of interesting collections of "lost" comic book gems coming out recently. Like Drawn and Quuarterly's excellent John Stanley Library and IDW's massive Ditko tome.

This book celebrates artists mostly known to only die-hard comic book afficiandos. Guys like Sam Glanzman, Mort Meskin and Pete Morisi deserve re-discovery and appreciation. This book provides some prime examples of their (and others) work.

One of my two quibbles is the lack of any kind of restoration to the comic pages themselves. I don't mind reading repros made from comic book pages (I realize it's a cost effective way to publish this stuff) but couldn't the publishers have found better copies? The paper they shot from is uniformily grayish and dingy. My own copy of the Glanzman Kona story included here still has white paper and sharper colors despite being fifty years old.

The other problem is the inclusion of some (deservedly) forgotten underground artists from the 60s. Their work lacks any of the craft, wit or style of the more mainstream choices. The stuff looks childish and each story seems like an excuse to draw the kind of sexual material a particularly perverted adolescent might draw. Someone more accomplished and sympatico with the other material, like Rand Holmes or Tim Boxell, would have been a better choice.

Nice to see some of this obscure material re-presented. But as a total package it's uneven. ... Read more

Product Description
A handbook for budding cartoonists of all ages. The step-by-step instructions demonstrate how to produce cartoons ranging from simple animals and people to superheroes and comic strips. Internet links are given to selected Web sites which provide more information on famous cartoonists and techniques. The Usborne Web site contains free images to download and use in conjunction with this volume, including outlines for trickier cartoons and guidelines for simple animation. ... Read more

Product Description
A trip through Patrick Fillion's comic universe - seriously cult!

With BLISS successful Canadian comic artist Patrick Fillion presents acurrent cross-section of his incredible oeuvre. Patrick again luxuriatesin horny scenes and presents his well-hung heroes fi ghting against andwith each other. In doing so he creates surreal yet hot scenarios and alsodraws pin-ups that are no less sexy. Fillion lands a bull's eye right in themiddle of the gay heart. Sublime! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Art is subjective...
It's difficult to write a review on a book of art since it really is so subjective.I've had this book on my wishlist for a while, and I was fortunate enough to get a look at it before buying it for myself (it was a gift).I am really glad I didn't buy it, as it just wasn't for me.

First the good points:this a high quality production.Brilliant, full color throughout.Thick bright paper is enclosed in a hardcover edition. No dust jacket; the image is directly on the boards.There is a wide variety of characters (demons, aliens, bikers, you name it).

I put this on my wishlist because I read and enjoy M/M romance and yaoi.I thought this would be something akin to a yaoi artbook, with a different style. I loved the image on the cover, as shown by Amazon, and expected the same inside.However, they hide the goods under the title and that's where all my problem stems from.This is explicit - every image is full frontal nudity with all the characters buff like the cover image.However, all of the genitalia is, uh, hugely inflated (pun intended).I'm not talking just bigger-is-better fantasy big. I'm not talking 10, 12 or even 14 inches.I mean disproportionately enlarged so that it didn't match to the bodies.Most of the "members" are as thich around as the character's LEGS (or bigger - really) and reach their nipples or even the chins when erect.The sad part is, I would have loved this book had the genitals been more proportionate.The artist is talented, but this kind of fantasy isn't for me.I was hoping for the kind of paranormal exotic you can't get from real photographs, but still somewhat realistic.This wasn't.

This isn't to say others wouldn't like this art (another reviewer obviously did).I just hope my review helps others make an informed choice.

So SEXY & EROTIC
this book is a pure work of art, showing off Patrick's amazing talent.

i am so glad i ran into his site due to the fact this this book showed up as a selection i might like.

and boy do i.

... Read more

Product Description
For decades, readers throughout the world have enjoyed the marvellous stories and illustrations of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. But few know Geisel's work as a political cartoonist during World War II. In these marvellously trenchant cartoons, Geisel captures the zeitgeist -- especially the attitudes of New Deal liberals who read PM -- with a wonderful Seussian flair. The cartoons savage Hitler, Japan, Mussolini, and American "isolationist" leaders such as Charles Lindbergh, and exhort readers to give full support to the war effort. They are sharply critical of anti-Semitism and anti-black racism -- and, shockingly, undeniably racist in their portrayal of Japanese Americans. An introduction by Art Spiegelman, and commentary by Richard H. Minear, a historian of the era, place them in context and provide insight into the national climate they reflect. Lovers of Dr. Suess will take renewed delight in his whimsical and imaginative illustrations. Those for whom World War II is an abiding passion will find a brand-new look at the war and American involvement. And those concerned with American attitudes - particularly in the press - will find that Dr.Seuss's cartoons of 1941 and 1942 bring back to life the mood and issues of the day. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Drawing the New Adventure Cartoons
Received book in a timely manner.Book is in excellent condition!!!My daughter is very excited with this book.

Alot of fun to draw from with some helpful reminders
this is a great book to practice from and learn some helpful tips on drawing action hero and bad guys. But the lessons in this book can be carried over into your other cartoon drawings.

Inspiring
I happened to walk into the book store last week where a good size crowd of youth and adults were gathered listening to a presentation about this book.The presenter and the book caught my eye and interest so I decided to take a close look and ended up purchasing the book.After 10 days of owning the book, I have no regrets.I spent hours this past weekend having fun creating numerous adventure style cartoon characters.With easy to follow examples accompanied by the hints Harts provides, it was quite enough guidance for me do dive into a new world of cartooning.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure character cartooning

Most enjoyable!!
This book was chock full of great drawings and instructions on how to draw in the new adventure style.It was easy to follow, easy to grasp but most importantly, enjoyable to read.I learned a lot and I also laughed a lot - tubby types.I loved the section on punching!Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
When Mickey Mouse was introduced to the worl d in 1928 in his first animated appearance, he was to have a profound effect on the international collective consciousne ss. This collection testifies to his appeal across time, age and place. 'Amazon.com Review
The Great and Powerful Mickey is perhaps the only shared museof artists Charles Schulz, Andy Warhol, Maurice Sendak, Keith Haring,R. Crumb, and pop star Michael Jackson. This whimsical, oftensurprising collection of 100 full-color images reflects the diversestyles of world-renowned artists, illustrators, animators, sculptors,cartoonists, and designers--united in theme by the world's favoriterodent.John Updike explains in the introduction, "It's all inthe ears. When Mickey Mouse was born, in 1928, the world of earlycartoon animation was filled with two-legged zoomorphic humanoids,whose strange half-black faces were distinguished one from anotherchiefly by the ears." He goes on to point out that Mickey Mouse'sears--in defiance of three-dimensional space--are always shown as twoperfectly round circles, no matter the angle at which he holds hishead, and discloses that if it weren't for Disney's wife Lillian,Mickey might have been named Mortimer. Whether you're an art lover orMickey Mouse fan, this compilation is sure to fascinate you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

il fascino di un topo
un libro straordinario, che mostra l'immortale fascino del personaggio disneyano che dai cartoon ha invaso - come icona globale - il mondo intero. ironia, sarcasmo, un pizzico di delirio nelle opere riprodotte, che rivisitano luoghi altri della Cultura, dalla politica (Ronald Reagan) alla pittura (van Gogh) alla psicoanalisi (Sigmund Freud), in un caleidoscopio poliedrico ed irresistibile.

Mousterpiece of a book
Would that this book were still in print.It is a marvelous collection that made a fabulous gift for anyone enamored with Mickey and his friends.

wonderful!
are you planing a new ediction of that book?I got one, but it is writen in spanish and it isfrom 1995 - I need an updated one - best way:in german. Please inform me, where I can get thelatest version as soon as possible.Thanxs!

Semi-weak, a few gems
Most of the illustrations are rather weak interpretations of the mouse.There are, however, several excellent ones especially "Vincent Van Goghs to Disneyland" by Bob Buccella ... Read more

Product Description
Award-winning artist, illustrator, character designer and recovering theme park caricaturist Joe Bluhm displays his rejected sketches with hilarious results in his first art book. These frighteningly exaggerated portraits could serve as a lesson for how to (and how not to!) become a successful caricaturist. Bulbous eyes, jutting underbites and elongated necks make these drawings straddle the line between grotesque and hysterical.

This book features a sturdy, glossy 8.5x11" hardcover binding, convenient for both travel and home display, and makes a unique gift. Great for aspiring or seasoned artists, caricaturists, art lovers, or anyone who appreciates good satire and a good laugh. For more info, visit RejectsTheBook.com. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Awesome Book
I love this book! As an artist interested in caricature art, this book is a pleasure to look at. I would recommend it for any artist or anyone looking for a good laugh.

Rejects is amazing!
Joe's book is amazing.Great for anyone that does caricatures or has an interest in them.My wife got one of the first ones off the press for me.Having done these at a local amusement park here in Ohio for several years, I'm so impressed with Joe's work.He definitely stretches his caricatures to the limit.What a talent.Wish I had half the talent.Great book Joe!

Joe Bluhm's
I recently joined the National Caricaturist Network ([...]) and among the many many talented individuals who make up the membership, Joe Blum stands out as one of the absolute best. Joe combines awesome artistic ability with a twisted knack for nailing the individuals who sit for him.

A good caricature is well drawn combining a likeness with humor and sometimes warmth. A great caricature includes a spark that leaves a little bit of that individual and their life in the caricature.

The caricatures in Rejects are unmistakably art, not just "funny drawings". The monologue shares a lot of insight and advice about retail caricaturing as well as human nature and life.

A great coffee table book to enjoy over and over again.

I recommend this book to anyone who has ever laughed out loud and would like to do so again!

"Rejects" a must!
Joe Bluhm's new book entitled "Rejects - the extreme art of retail caricature" is a must have for anyone who loves caricature...every page a gem!!

Although a majority of these drawings were rejected by their subjects (sitters had absolutely no clue what they were walking away from) they are the finest examples of the best retail caricaturist working in the world today.

Give yourself a gift and make sure you pick up a copy, you certainly will not be disappointed!!!

Absolute Hilarity
I recently got in to caricature and had heard whispers of Joe Bluhm on a couple of forums.They were saying he was the guy who could push the envelope to the utmost extreme while staying within salable reason.And, as you will see in the book, he does just that... most of the time.

Joe pushes his drawings right to the tipping point.Think of it like a bucket of water.Most professional caricaturists are able to draw to about a quarter inch below the brim.Maybe even to the brim, but rarely ever do. Joe fills it to the point of no return -- so much so there's a slight arc of the water as it hangs in equilibrium, about to spill.If you were to add a drop more, it would collapse.No other artist that I've seen can get it to that point.

The expressions and likenesses are pushed just ever-so-slightly more than even the most extreme caricaturists would dare.The coloring bold and magnificent.Some of the pictures border on offensive, a couple too damn cute, yet pushed right to the edge of exaggeration, you don't know if you should laugh or wish the kid was your own.

Definitely buy this book.It's absolute hilarity and a bargain at it's price. ... Read more

Product Description
When the graphic novel Maus: A Survivor's Tale won a Special Pulitzer Prize in 1992 forits vivid depiction of the Holocaust and its effects, critics and mainstream audiences recognized that a comic book was capable of exploring complex aesthetic, moral, and cultural themes. Maus's creator Art Spiegelman (b. 1948) became the most famous alternative cartoonist in America.

Art Spiegelman: Conversations reveals an artist who had long been working to establish comics as a serious art form. With his wife Françoise Mouly, he founded and edited RAW magazine---the most influential showcase for avant-garde comics in America---which published early work by such now well-established cartoonists as Chris Ware, Kaz, and Gary Panter. Spiegelman's essays and lectures helped to establish that comics have a history and a canon.

This collection of interviews and profiles spans 1976-2006 and covers Spiegelman's career as an artist, critic, educator, and art historian. Among three previously unpublished interviews, one conducted by the volume's editor discusses themes rarely touched upon in earlier profiles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If you're interested in Maus or Spiegelman, buy this book
Professor Witek's carefully culled decades of interviews with Maus creator Art Spiegelman to highlight his thoughts and careers. Spiegelman's one of the most thoughtful comics creators and this volume lets one see how his ideas have developed over his career. ... Read more

Product Description
FROM COMIC-BOOK LEGEND TO SILVER SCREEN SUPER HERO! Get a close-up look at the evolution of the three on-screen versions of Tony Stark's futuristic armor - and that of his nemesis, the Iron Monger. Learn how the creative minds behind Iron Man brought the blockbuster motion picture to life through the use of storyboards, animatics, and previsualization techniques. Experience the wonder of Stark Industries' most cutting-edge technology! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great Inspirational Reference
For those wanting to go into Illustion or Design, this a great book to have. The drawings are inspiratinal and the computer renderings and models are out of this world. A definite book to add to your collection.

Pages are soaked with art
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R34ETRGAPHIH9U I'm glad they did a reprint for this book because it's a great book. There are actually people trying to sell this at hundreds -- note the plural -- of dollars. My copy is actually the hardcover but I borrowed the paperback version from a friend to check if there are any differences. There are none. The paperback features exactly similar content as the hardcover, right down to the paper stock. For that reason, I've just copied my old review from Iron Man: The Art of Iron Man, the Movie(hardcover) and pasted here, with minor edits.

The video is from the paperback edition.

-

This book contains concept art, photographs, paintings, storyboards, miniatures and live models. All are in high resolution and many printed satisfyingly huge.

For people who like mechanical stuff, you'll be glad that to know that plenty of Iron man designs are included. The drawings are detailed to the nuts and bolts. The evolution of Iron Man from concept to movie can be clearly seen from the first concept art right down to the life size cast created. The main artists involved were Ryan Meinerding and Phil Saunders.

3D modelers who are looking for blueprints won't find them in this book. However, there are renders of Iron Man Mark II and Iron Monger from the front and side view. They should be enough to build the blueprint from. There are also a couple of cool photos of the Iron maquette made by Stan Winston Studios.

Also included are the drawings for the environment, props and gadgets. That includes Tony Stark's house, his workshop and the Arc Reactor.

All the pictures in the book are well captioned and artists credited. Commentary explain clearly the production process and the effect they are trying to achieve, story development and challenges shooting the movie.

The only bad thing about the book is the paper stock. It's just my minor quibble. It is not thick enough. While black pages are cool, they become wavy after absorbing all the black ink. Luckily, it doesn't affect the visual quality of the images printed.

I still gave it a 5-star rating on Amazon -- more to 4.5-star because of the paper stock.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

Great Art Of the Moviemaking Book
Despite the scarce availability, I'm happy to be able to get my hands on one copy. This book is flat out awesome. What do you expect most when you purchase an art book. Of course, lots of artworks. This book got plenty of them. Beginning the required background on Iron Man, it quickly leaps into the stunning and elaborate design works that are just too great to miss. Readers are also treated with the evolution of the designs, what makes and does not make the cut, and even the alternative promotional poster designs.

I wish the Art of Spider-Man movie books and the Dark Knight art book would be as beautiful as this. But fingers crossed that they are going to churn out more books with this quality.

Artbooks!
Did you love the film?Do you read the comics?Honestly, even if neither of those are true, you still might get a great deal of enjoyment out of it.I loved this artbook as well, and if you have any interest in the internal workings of this suit, or any highly mechanical thing of this nature, you will get your money's worth with this book!
It does a good job explaining why they used the designs they did, gives you a much closer look at the suit itself, and also gives you numerous concept images from comic master Adi Granov!The production stills alone I think are worth buying this book.

Awesome Bit of the movie
Awesome Movie...Awesome book. Has a very nice amount of artwork in it. sometimes these books are a little less than expected but this one delivers where it counts.Great for the fan or just if you are interested in the artistic side of things. Z ... Read more

Product Description

With its stylistic characters and vivid colors, manga has captured the imagination of millions. Now, Manga: Masters of the Art goes straight to the source -- the artists themselves -- for the ultimate insider's look at this global phenomenon.

Customer Reviews (5)

In depth
This is a good book about manga. It has many pictures of the comics it talks about and shows several different artists and their own unique styles. it goes in depth about the artists, and has interviews with them in which they explain how they make manga. It is in depth. This book really isn't a book that refers you to read other good manga. it does mention other manga and has short synopsis of them, but this book is really about the artists.

Fantastic look at a variety of manga styles and creators.
I have never left a review on Amazon before but I had to for this book.I wasn't expecting much as I got it used for $2.00 but I would easily pay $20 - $30.

This is a nice large book with over 250 pages filled with many full page images of manga, their creators, as well as their working spaces.Everything, even the photographs, are in black in white which really give it a nice constant feel of being a manga.

The artwork is stunning, even if some of it is not my "cup of tea" I'm very excited about seeing it and learning about the manga-ka who created them.

There is also a good amount of text to read about the authors as well as interviews with them.I can tell I'm going to be spending a lot of time with this book.If you have an interest in Manga I think you would really enjoy getting this.

Great Look at the Inside of an amazing profession
I would recommend this book to anybody interested in reading or making manga.It is inspirational and provides an insight to the profession like no other book.

A delightful read for the curious mind
This book has no value what so ever for teaching you how to draw. That's not what this book is for, it's actually a interview with the hottest manga artist's ever known! I thought it would be a good idea to buy this book, just so I can get a preview of my favorite manga artists'art works, as well as what they have to say to other inspiring manga-ka's. I truly enjoyed reading this book, and I'm sure fans of golden boy,clamp, silent mobius, etc would love to hear about what their idol manga artist have to say. I loved everything about this book, and I would recommend this book to those who are interested in a behind the scenes look at the world of manga. If you are looking to buy this book for other reasons, then don't bother buying this book, you will be sorely dissapointed.

An Excellent Examination of Manga Artists
As a fan of the many styles of Manga, this book caught me rather by surprise.Most books in my collection that deal with manga analyze the work itself.However, this book is truly unique in that it explores the process of the actual creation of manga art.The methods used are delved into in a very fascinating way.The interviews with the artists themselves are well composed and the questions asked are far more novice.

The other outstanding aspect of the book is the use of various manga illustrations as well as photos of manga artists at work.These two items really serve to represent the many aspects of manga art.



If you are a fan of manga, then you owe yourselves this book.A definite recomendation. ... Read more

Product Description
A unique reference for creating and marketing original cartoons and comics

An original American art form, comics thrill millions of people across the globe. Combining step-by-step instruction with expert tips and advice, Drawing Cartoons & Comics For Dummies is a one-stop reference for creating and marketing original cartoons and comics. While many books tend to focus on specific characters or themes, this thorough guide focuses instead on helping aspiring artists master the basic building blocks of cartoons and comics, revealing step by step how to create everything from wisecracking bunnies to souped-up super villains. It also explores lettering and coloring, and offers expert marketing advice. The book's color insert provides guidance on how to add color to cartoon creations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

a terrific tool!
Drawing Cartoons and Comics for Dummies is a simple way to learn this style of drawing. The chapters are such that you can skip around to meet your needs. The text is easy to read. The illustrations support the text and make the whole learning process fun.

Very well researched and written
I have about 2 or 3 other 'how to draw comics' and this by far is the most researched and thought out one .
Here are just a few of the things you will learn about in this fantastic book . :

1:Getting started with cartoons and comics . (An excellent clash of examples based on the great comic creators of our time and before . Calvin and hobbes , Pogo ,Peanuts , Dilbert , ect ... Plus a little history behind the comics industry .)

2:Creating cartoon characters : (How to create humans , animals,editoral cartoon characters , ect ...)

3:Taking cartoons to the next level :(Here the author talks about placeing your comics on the interenet and introduces photoshop. )

4: How to run your own cartoon buissness . And how to get your comic strip or editoral out there for the world to see it .
There are 18 chapters in all (plus index).Those were just the tip of the iceburg .
The only problem I had with Drawing cartoons and comics for Dummies is that there wasn't (in my oppion) enough how to draw things . For example , hands are very hard to draw for people , because they can be very expressive . Suere he talked about making heads and figures , but he didn't put in how to formulate expressions , and postures .

Other then that minor flaw this book is pure gold .

Excellent!
I read it cover to cover and it's hard for me to finish a book.It was clear, concise, and complete.I can't imagine
anything that was missed for a beginner.
J. Bradley ... Read more

Product Description
From Pixar Animation Studios, the Academy Award®-winning studio that brought us such blockbusters as Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo, comes The Incredibles, a hilarious, action-packed story of a family of superheroes living an underground suburban existence. The sleekly designed settings and characters were conceptualized and developed by writer/director Brad Bird and Pixar's creative team of artists, illustrators, and designers, resulting in a celluloid sensation rich with detail. The Art of The Incredibles celebrates their talent, featuring concept and character sketches, storyboards, and lighting studies, and invites readers into the elaborate creative process of animation through interviews with all the key players at Pixar. With an 8-page gatefold and fabulous color art, this stunning book -- the only movie tie-in book for adults -- will delight film-goers, artists, and animation fans alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Loved the Movie, But My Least Favorite Art of Pixar Book!
Sure, all of these "Art of" Pixar books are great, and any animator or animation lover should own them. However I was least impressed by this one. It just doesn't seem to have the quality in design or content that all the other Pixar books have. It also doesn't show a good progression from the concept drawings to the final product, and the explainations of plot and character developement is weak. I think a far better book is the Art of Ratatouille book. Tons of ideas, concepts, huge paintings, explainations of used and unused characters, logo designs...that book just has it all. I feel that this one fell flat.

If you collect these art of books like me, I would recommend you get this one because there is good work here...but save it for last, the quality and design are just not up to par with the other pixar books. First I would recommend: The Art of Rataouille, The Art of Finding Nemo, The Art of Pixar Shorts, The art of Monsters Vs. Aliens and The Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs Art book...those are all beautiful top quality books!

Animation Student Review
Pixar brings us another classic, The Art of The Incredibles. A MUST have book, from beginning to end this book is a visual delight. Lots and lots of images from early stages, to final product. It contains storyboards, character concepts, color scripts, layout designs, prop design, etc. Without any doubt it is a complete art book and worth to buy!

Not quite the book I thought it would be.
I thought the book would describe how the artwork the artists made got into the movie.Instead, this book has the conceptual drawings of the characters, buildings etc, some made 10 years before the movie was made.The artists come from the field of flat 2D animation, and with the use of software at Pixar, transformed that into animation with depth.Unfortunately, they only mention this happened, and gave no details or before/after examples.There are no scenes from the movie, only sketches and drawings of characters, the robot, buildings, etc.There is very little explanation about why a character changed over time.

I did like the captions showing when a sketch was made and by which artist.Near the end of the book, you could begin to guess who made a drawing without having to read the caption.

Action packed
I am now a "subscriber" to these "Art of" books. I learned so much from this particular book as well as from the others. The foldout pages with the full colorscript are breathtaking. I sometimes open straight to them and sigh and feel completely justified in buying it. I must say that the character designers had quite the original approach to character and environment design - and the book explains why. Another subject discussed herein is the relationship between art and story. This is a book I can read again and again and I will always learn something new: be it from the text or analysis of the images.

Absolutely Awesome
I loved the movie, and this book met my high expectations and then some. I've got a lot of "Art of" books from Disney and Pixar films, and this is one of the best. Lots of great concept art and incites. Lots of great info on building characters and designing/building worlds, and writing stories. Tops. ... Read more

Product Description
Bruce Blitz’s best-selling cartooning kit has sold more than 500,000 copies and helped countless young artists become the cartoonists of their dreams.

The Blitz Cartooning Kit contains a 56-page instruction book with detailed step-by-step instructions and cartooning tips, 5 Insta-Cartooner® overlay sheets, drawing paper and tracing paper pads, cartooning marker, pencil, and sharpener, and a portfolio that allows a cartoonist to showcase and save his work. With The Blitz Cartooning Kit, cartooning becomes instant fun, and imaginations take on personalities all their own.

Ages 8 and up ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A companion to the DVD
My son was over the moon to receive this.He had just received the DVD, so in his mind this was perfect.A very basic kit, I'm not sure whether you need it or not.You could probably get away with not getting it.

It seems good
It seems good, I can't be sure yet. I got it for my son for Christmas as a lil stocking stuffer.

THE ULTIMATE CARTOONING BOOK
Do you want edge-of-your-seat excitment?A real thriller that'll scare your pants off?Well you're not gonna find it here, but you will find the BEST cartooning book ever.With sections on backrounds, heads, bodies, and even caracatures, the only thing that you might find wrong with it is that, like it says, it's only the Basics.You'll wish it will go on for ever and ever and ever and ever and ever...

Fantastic!
Ordered as a Christmas gift for my 10 year old son and he absolutely loves it.He started out following the book's drawing directions and soon branched off into freehand using what he learned from the book.
A definite must for a beginning artist.It's a fun and interesting way to learn the basics.

Great Book
This book teaches great skills for those just wanting to learn the art of cartooning. I highly recomend it for your artistic child who can broadin his/or her artistic views of the world. Cartooning is also great for young children and this book makes it great. ... Read more

Product Description
For over 20 years, the character Vampire Hunter D has haunted the imaginations of people around the world, its image forever etched in the mind's eye through the dazzling artwork of Yoshitaka Amano. As the original novels appear in English for the first time, American readers are clamoring for a more extensive look at this singular creation. Coffin obliges. This gorgeous retrospective embraces the full scope of Amano's work with the character: in the novels, as inspiration for the animators of the two theatrical films, rare paintings, and illustrations created for release as limited edition prints. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Breathtaking art book.
Wow this book is a fan's dream come true! HUGE high quality prints, amazing color reproduction and very detailed print job. This is T_H_E Yoshitaka Amano artbook to own (and i own about a dozen!).

In fact, the book is so well done that i actually want to buy a second one used or something to gut it and frame some of the prints - they are that amazing, find affordable & well reproduced Amano prints can be very hard.

A++

Okay, Wow!
This book is just beautiful. The art, the design, everything about this screams to be touched and looked at fondly. This is how a book about art should be done. This is my Vampire Hunter D centerpiece, and sits proudly amidst figures, novels and the DVDs and other "D" collectibles.

Vampire Hunter D Art Book
If your a Vampire Hunter D fan, I say get this book. Goes nicely to any collection in that series. tons of pages on art work done over the years from the artist. I say a must buy ^^

Interesting execution
As for content and art this book is fabulous, but I was kind of expecting more prints. The layout they chose for the book is interesting and I don't really find it necessary other than for a wow factor. To me it really didn't add anything to the prints inside, but to be fair, it didn't necessarily take away either. This book defiantly features what I enjoy best about Amano's art.

A good buy for Amano fans or any artist interested in graphic art and/or inking.

Beautiful
I bought this book for my boyfriend, who is a huge fan of the series. I cannot speak from my own experience with it, but from his near fainting reaction upon receiving it, I would say it is definitely worth the money. From what he has said, the artwork is incredible. I would recommend it for any fan of the series or the art. ... Read more

Product Description
At the beginning of the Victorian era it seemed that the sun would never set on the vast British Empire which spanned the globe. However, the Pax Britannica was not all that it seemed and the forces of Her Imperial Majesty were frequently called upon to fend of aggressor nations and quell rebellions in Britain's many colonies.

Customer Reviews (1)

19th-century political cartoons on England's colonial Empire
In this latest of Bryant's several works on cartoons and satirical illustrations on British history, Winston Churchill's comment that cartoons are a "good way to learn history" is evidenced. The cartoons are what Americans know as political or editorial cartoons found in most newspapers. In more than 300 cartoons, the racism, imperialism, misogyny, conceits, British political figures, and different perspectives on domestic and international affairs as related to Britain's worldwide Empire are on display usually with biting labels and captions. The British can be wicked with this sort of business; even more so than the French or Americans whose cartoons, though often no holds barred, generally keep a note of humaneness or humor. For example, in American and French cartoons, the individuals are usually caricatured so they look humorous. Whereas, the 19th-century British cartoonists freely make individuals look monstrous or inhumanly ugly. I recall reviewing a book at one time on British satirical illustrations of the 1700s and early 1800s where the author wrote about how a member of British royalty finally had to forbid certain types of cartoons he found them so personally painful and damaging to the image of the monarchy.

Not all of the cartoonist/illustrators are British. There's many cartoons by the leading Victorian illustrators John Leech and John Tenniel (both of whom illustrated books by Dickens) and others found in the newspapers ad periodicals of the era of Britain's Empire. But there are also some cartoons by Daumier, Dore, and other foreigners with views on Britain's colonialism.

Many of the cartoons deal with either economic benefits of the Empire or indifference or cruelty to natives and their culture. Images of Britain as the noble, heroic, or self-sacrificing nation bringing civilization to the pagans alternate with ones of Britain as hypocritical, greedy, or destructive. Some cartoons represent themes, while others represent policies in showing the leading politician or government official most identified with them. Many contain portrayals of British soldiers and natives of the different lands of the Empire. The variety of their topics is engaging as well as, as Churchill commented, educating.

Cartoons fill most of every page of the main text with Bryant's general commentary and references to particular ones in columns in the lesser parts of pages. As with the author's previous similar books, the collected cartoons are "intended primarily as a pictorial history of the period as seen through the eyes of the cartoonists and caricaturists who lived through it and chronicled events as they occurred. In this case the period is the nineteenth century and the wars of the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria from the Crimean War to the Boer War."
... Read more