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The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation (Disney Editions Deluxe)
£44.60£54.10 (-18%)
The most complete book on the subject ever written, this is the fascinating inside story by two long-term Disney animators of the gradual perfecting of a relatively young and particularly American art from, which no other move studio has ever been able to equal.
The authors, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, worked with Walt Disney himself as well as other leading figures in a half-century of Disney films. They personally animated leading characters in most of the famous films and have decades of close association with the others who helped perfect this extremely difficult and time-consuming art form. Not to be mistaken for just a “how-to-do-it,” this voluminously illustrated volume (like the classic Disney films themselves) is intended for everyone to enjoy.
Besides relating the painstaking trial-and-error development of Disney’s character animation technology, this book irresistibly charms us with almost an overabundance of the original historic drawings used in creating some of the best-loved characters in American culture: Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Snow White and Bambi (among many, many others) as well as early sketches used in developing memorable sequences from classic features such as Fantasia and Pinocchio.
With the full cooperation of Walt Disney Productions and free access to the studio’s priceless archives, the authors took unparalleled advantage of their intimate long-term experience with animated films to choose the precise drawings to illustrate their points from among hundreds of thousands of pieces of artwork carefully stored away.
The book answers everybody’s question about how the amazingly lifelike effects of Disney character animation were achieved, including charming stories of the ways that many favorite animated figures got their unique personalities. From the perspective of two men who had an important role in shaping the art of animation, and within the context of the history of animation and the growth of the Disney studio, this is the definitive volume on the work and achievement of one of America’s best-known and most widely loved cultural institutions. Nostalgia and film buffs, students of popular culture, and that very broad audience who warmly responds to the Disney “illusion of life” will find this book compelling reading (and looking!).
Searching for that perfect gift for the animation fan in your life? Explore more behind-the-scenes stories from Disney Editions:
The authors, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, worked with Walt Disney himself as well as other leading figures in a half-century of Disney films. They personally animated leading characters in most of the famous films and have decades of close association with the others who helped perfect this extremely difficult and time-consuming art form. Not to be mistaken for just a “how-to-do-it,” this voluminously illustrated volume (like the classic Disney films themselves) is intended for everyone to enjoy.
Besides relating the painstaking trial-and-error development of Disney’s character animation technology, this book irresistibly charms us with almost an overabundance of the original historic drawings used in creating some of the best-loved characters in American culture: Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Snow White and Bambi (among many, many others) as well as early sketches used in developing memorable sequences from classic features such as Fantasia and Pinocchio.
With the full cooperation of Walt Disney Productions and free access to the studio’s priceless archives, the authors took unparalleled advantage of their intimate long-term experience with animated films to choose the precise drawings to illustrate their points from among hundreds of thousands of pieces of artwork carefully stored away.
The book answers everybody’s question about how the amazingly lifelike effects of Disney character animation were achieved, including charming stories of the ways that many favorite animated figures got their unique personalities. From the perspective of two men who had an important role in shaping the art of animation, and within the context of the history of animation and the growth of the Disney studio, this is the definitive volume on the work and achievement of one of America’s best-known and most widely loved cultural institutions. Nostalgia and film buffs, students of popular culture, and that very broad audience who warmly responds to the Disney “illusion of life” will find this book compelling reading (and looking!).
Searching for that perfect gift for the animation fan in your life? Explore more behind-the-scenes stories from Disney Editions:
- The Art of Mulan: A Disney Editions Classic
- Walt Disney’s Ultimate Inventor: The Genius of Ub Iwerks
- One Day at Disney: Meet the People Who Make the Magic Across the Globe
- The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember
- From All of Us to All of You: The Disney Christmas Card
- Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation
- Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons, Revised Special Edition
- Disney Villains: Delightfully Evil – The Creation, The Inspiration, The Fascination
- The Art and Flair of Mary Blair: An Appreciation, Updated Edition
Read more
Additional information
| Publisher | Hyperion, 1st Hyperion Ed edition (21 Mar. 1997) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 575 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0786860707 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0786860708 |
| Reading age | 10 – 14 years |
| Dimensions | 27.08 x 3.56 x 28.93 cm |
by Ms. JA Baughan
I was so looking forward to this arriving and it didn’t disappoint. Its absolutely stunning for a book! For fans of Disney but also animation in general to see the process, its very detailed and going to be a wonderful book to go through. Amazing.
by Ilja
I thought and thought about getting this book-I had seen online videos of it and really wasn’t sure. I’m so happy to say that online videos and reviews don’t do it any justice -this is a beautiful and informative book and a real look behind the scenes-I would definitely recommend getting it to anyone.
by Leanne Harcourt
Beautifully presented. Book is really heavy. My daughter is very heavily into Disney and design and is really happy with this book
by Lindsay Vernon
A beautiful book, can’t wait to sit down and read it. Arrived earlier than expected and it great condition. However pictures in the advert all make a point of showing this as signed and the book most definitely isn’t. I appreciate the description does not say signed however the pictures contradict this.
by J.BFuller
This book as delivered to me in good time. However the plastic, which coated the books cover was put on slightly badly, as it had a line down it where it is ceased bit. This being said, I am really pleased with the product, as the rest of it is really good quality and the content is just what I need. I’ve used this books multiple times for my university work, as it contains a lot of interesting information about Disney’s animations and information surrounding this. A great buy and I’d recommend to any budding animators/designers!
by Leanne Harcourt
My daughter is due to go to Uni to study animation. As well as loving the old type hand drawing animation she loves Disney esp the classics. I’ve got her this for Christmas so haven’t seen her reaction yet but I’m so excited for her to see it. You know as a parent those presents they’ll go bonkers about and this is it for me 🙂 as for my opinion it’s an absolute beaut of a book. As a big Disney fan myself waves of nostalgia came flooding in with just a quick glance so I can just imagine her reaction! Beautifully put together with lots crammed into every single page. I’ll be looking through it all too and I’m so pleased with the purchase, pat on the back for me 🙂 you’ll not regret buying this book.
by Andie
Worth every penny, created with love and care
by Estookay
Great animation techniques have been around for years, it’s just the application that changes.
This book was recommended for animation students 15 years ago, and I would still expect it is still recommended.
It’s also beautifully presented.
You also don’t need to like Disney to love this book.