When I saw Starting Point: 19791996 in store at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne, I was still overwhelmed by joy: Hayao Miyazaki is for a long time now one of my favorite artists. This volume covers almost twenty of his productive years, with interviews, edited pieces, and even journal pages. The reader finds out not only about work-related topics, but also about Miyazaki's opinions about war, culture, animation, society, nature, well, pretty much about anything (hint: Miyazaki appears to be a very stubborn and opinionated person). A second volume, Turning Point: 1997-2008 (Orikaeshi Ten 1997~2008), is currently under publication. Oh, and this first volume is excessively long and repetitive.Miyazaki-san is perhaps best-known in the West for his children feature-film animations My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), and Ponyo Off the Cliff (2008). He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, with titles such as Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986), Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Porco Rosso (1992), and Princess Mononoke (1997). Miyazaki was the lead man in the production of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), a cult-film about a polluted world and the relationship humanity-nature. This volume covers all of his work until 1996, which includes being director, (lead) animator, screeplay writer, and Jack-of-all-trades. Judging by his short writing, Miyazaki's statement that his scripts required much re-writing is true.Here are a few things that I learned:* What it takes to produce a good work of art is talent, passion, and a good dose of hard, long, detailed work. Miyazaki loves handcrafted objects, regardless of their type; for example, he appreciates greatly a house in the Open (Traditional House) Museum of Tokyo, because it is made using much handicraft. * Miyazaki is opinionated, and critical and even hostile against other artists, esp. against Disney and manga creators. About Disney, he states "I hate Disney's work [...] they show nothing but contempt for the audience"---this statement should be taken with a grain of salt, as elsewhere Miyazaki mentions three of Disney's creations (Snow White, Peter Pan, and The Old Mill part of Silly Symphonies) as some of the most accomplished animations in history.* Miyazaki likes Japanese nationalism, and is attracted by the mid-1980s notion of "broadleaf evergreen forest culture", which seems to state among others that a unique Japanese treat is the integration with nature. * Miyazaki's directorial approach is loose and focuses on animation. As a main consequence, the films he directs start from concept sketches and only have a script much later in productions; sometimes, the script is produced after (!) the animation is completed, only for copyright purposes.* The technique of animation has greatly evolved over time. Some of the advances are featured in Studio Ghibli's movies and have been requested by Miyazaki. For example, the rubber multi-plane technique used in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and several other computer graphics (CG) effects were greatly enhanced for Howl's Moving Castle (2004), see also The Art of Howl's Moving Castle, p.77 amd 187--189. Sometimes, the advances are numeric: Howl's Moving Castle (2004) featured twice the number of CG effects present in Spirited Away (2001). On the negative side, the book is full of contradictions. For example, Miyazaki is a self-confessed lazy person but also self-described hard-working, at times Miyazaki describes his relationship with nature as profound but dismisses it in the interview with academics (p.414 onwards), Miyazaki is strictly anti-war, which he deems stupid, but is fascinated with and likes to depict war machinery, Miyazaki is oftentimes praising the qualities of his animations but takes a modest stance during the interview with academics, etc. Overall, a must-read for anyone interested in the creation of art using the animated feature-film medium.

The definitive book on animation, from the Academy Award-winning animator behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit?Animation is one of the hottest areas of filmmaking today--and the master animator who bridges the old generation and the new is Richard Williams. During his more than forty years in the business, Williams has been one of the true innovators, winning three Academy Awards and serving as the link between Disney's golden age of animation by hand and the new computer animation exemplified by Toy Story. Perhaps even more important, though, has been his dedication in passing along his knowledge to a new generation of animators so that they in turn could push the medium in new directions. In this book, based on his sold-out master classes in the United States and across Europe, Williams provides the underlying principles of animation that every animator--from beginner to expert, classic animator to computer animation whiz --needs. Urging his readers to "invent but be believable," he illustrates his points with hundreds of drawings, distilling the secrets of the masters into a working system in order to create a book that will become the standard work on all forms of animation for professionals, students, and fans.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe, with a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse where more than one wears the mask.Unmasking the artistry behind the hotly-anticipated movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse The Art of the Movie contains concept art, sketches, and storyboards, and will give you fascinating insights into the creative process. With exclusive commentary from the animation team, plus a foreword written by Miles Morales co-creator Brian Michael Bendis, this extraordinary collection of art will take readers into the Spider-Verse.Book:PAPER STOCK &amp; WEIGHT:Chinese Matt Art plus Spot Machine Gloss Varnish, 157gsmBINDING:ThreadsewnSLIPCASE SPECIFICATION:Overall Matt Lamination with Spot Gloss UVSIGNED:Tip-in sheet signed by Christopher Miller, Phil Lord and several artists from the filmLIMITED TO:Limited to 175 copiesComic book:PAPER/CARD COLOUR, STOCK &amp; WEIGHT:8-page comic book printed on glossy art, 105gsm with cover printed on glossy art, 130gsmIMAGE DESCRIPTION:Exclusive comic book created as a prop for the film and hand-inked by Marcelo Vignali in the pulpy, dot screen style of the Silver Age.

This Fall, The Walt Disney Animation Studios returns to its timeless art form of hand-drawn animation. From the creative minds of directors John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid and Aladdin) comes an American fairy tale and musical set in the heart of New Orleans during the Jazz Age. This unforgettable tale of love, enchantment, and discovery features Tiana, a young girl with big dreams who is working hard to achieve them amid theelegance and grandeur of the fabled French Quarter. The Art of The Princess and the Frog showcases the lush concept art of this sure-to-be-classic movie, including sketches, character designs, lighting studies and storyboards, alongside inspiring quotes from the directors, producers, artists and designers, including veteran hand drawn animators that brought you many of Disney's most classic and unforgettable characters.

It is almost an enchanting experience to see all this behind the scenes concept and how this movie came together. It quickly becomes obvious how much work went into the creation of this movie and how many people were working on this together. They have really been able to put a certain magic into the final product.We are all aware that this movie was inspired by the How To Train Your Dragon series which was written by Cressida Cowell. If you haven't read any of her books you might not know how different her work is compared to the movie. Like for example her Toothless was only tiny dragon which Hiccup wouldn't be able to ride, but they changed that completely. As a fan of this franchise it's almost like going to Disneyland to see all of this behind the scenes concept and how this crew came up with this world and the beginning of these movies which we still love today. The Red DeathScenery that wasn't used in movie Books in the series:\
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↠ Genre: Art, Dragons, Vikings↠ Pov:  Multiple↠ Type: Book 1 out of 3 of the Art Of How To Train Your Dragon series↠ Rating: 5 starsTwitter | Instagram | Youtube | Last.fm

Porco Rosso the story of a lovable Italian pilot who by way of some strange curse has turned from a human being into an anthropomorphic pig, is an often overlooked early Miyazaki film which really has some deeply beautiful scenes and important messages. This book collects some of the artwork which helped to set up the titular film, including characters, scenery, objects and settings, and how they were drawn/what inspired them. While not a book that will appeal to everyone, it will definitely be one that Miyazaki fans and lovers of Japanese animation will enjoy. I found the book to be presented very well visually, the pictures included were all printed nicely with nothing blurry or skewed, and it was fun seeing how these pieces of art factor into Porco Rosso as a film in general.

This beautiful book is essential reading, for any Studio Ghibli fan, and for any person, that desires to learn more about the art and work, that went into the making of the incredible film, My Neighbour Totoro. This film, is one of my personal favourites from Studio Ghibli, and I think it is impossible to actually dislike it. It is one of this films that you watch, and afterwards, you just cannot stop smiling. I just love it.The book showcases the gorgeous art from the film, and pays attention to the rich colours and effects, and we are told how they achieved those. The imagination behind this is amazing, and I just love the whimsical cat bus. What I'd give, to have a ride on one of those!This was a real treat, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest in the series.

Disney's newest animated feature, Zootopia, is a comedy-adventure starring Officer Judy Hopps, a rookie bunny cop who has to team up with fast-talking scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to crack her first case in the all-animal city of Zootopia. This lushly illustrated book offers a behind-the-scenes view of the elaborate artistry involved in creating the film.Copyright ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Art of Moana is the latest title in our exceptional series showcasing artwork from the creation of Walt Disney Animations' latest releases. Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world ventured across the Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped—and no one today knows why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios, Moana is a CG-animated adventure about a spirited teenager who sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfill her ancestors' unfinished quest. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demi-god Maui and together they traverse the open ocean on an action-packed adventure, encountering enormous fiery creatures and impossible odds. The stunning artwork in this behind-the-scenes book includes character designs, storyboards, colorscripts, and much more.

From Pixar Animation Studios, the Academy Awardwinning 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 bookthe only movie tie-in book for adultswill delight film-goers, artists, and animation fans alike.

Brave is Pixar's thirteenth feature film, but it marks two big firsts for the award-winning animation studio. It's Pixar's first feature film driven by a female lead and its first set in an ancient historical period. Against a backdrop of castles, forests, and highlands, Brave follows the fiery Merida as she clashes with the duty of her royal life and embarks on a journey through the rugged landscape of the dark ages of Scotland. At once epic and intimate, the latest Pixar masterpiece weaves a story of magic, danger, and adventure and the fierce bonds of family.  Featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with the film's many artists and filmmakers, The Art of Brave showcases the gorgeous concept art that went into the making of this movie, including color scripts, storyboards, character studies, environment art, sculpts, and more. A Foreword by Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews, the film's directors, and a preface by Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter shed light on the creation of this landmark film.

Walt Disney Animation Studios' Big Hero 6 is the story of Hiro Hamada, a brilliant robotics prodigy who must foil a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. This new title in our popular The Art of series, published to coincide with the movie's U.S. release, features concept art from the film's creation—including sketches, storyboards, maquette sculpts, colorscripts, and much more—illuminated by quotes and interviews with the film's creators. Fans will love the behind-the-scenes insights into Disney's newest action comedy adventure.

From LAIKA, the Academy Award®-nominated studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls, comes a new adventure set in a mythical ancient Japan. In Kubo and the Two Strings, scruffy, kind-hearted Kubo cares devotedly for his mother while eking out a humble living in their sleepy shoreside village. But when a spirit from the past appears, Kubo suddenly finds himself entwined in a violent struggle against gods and monsters. This fully illustrated book offers a behind-the-scenes view of the amazingly detailed artwork and unique stop-motion animation style involved in the film's creation.

From LAIKA, the studio behind the hit film Coraline, comes another marvel of stop-motion animation and creative storytelling. For ParaNorman, LAIKA's team of artists and animators built and brought to life a miniature town, a horde of zombies, and a quirky cast of characters to tell a tale of a boy with spooky talents who must save his hometown from a centuries-old curse. Featuring the amazing and detailed artwork that went into the film's creation—from character sketches and concept art to puppets, textiles, set dressing, and 3-D printed facial models—The Art and Making of ParaNorman goes behind the scenes to explore the exacting, exciting steps that are achieved frame by frame in this newest LAIKA masterpiece.

The art of animation

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Urban sketching

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