Product Description
Since the birth of cinema, movie-makers have created stunning special effects by combining still "matte" paintings with live-action film. Matte painting techniques were closely guarded secrets that never left the studio lot. In this unprecedented retrospective, Mark Cotta Vaz and Craig Barron reveal the history of a visual effect that has defined movies as we know them-from Gone with the Wind and Citizen Kane to Star Wars and Titanic. Lavishly illustrated, The Invisible Art showcases the finest examples of now-rare matte paintings and unveils a century’s worth of fascinating stories, legendary personalities, and cunning movie craft. Including a foreword by George Lucas and a CD-ROM that brings to life these moving pictures, this volume is packed with exclusive interviews and a narrative that time travels from the first pioneering "glass shots" to the dawn of digital technology. The definitive book for the consummate movie fan, The Invisible Art conjures a never-before-told story of film wizardry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Beautiful
What a real treat, anyone interested in matte painting or the history of those out of this world shots on the big screen, this book is a must.I can't put it down.Get this one!

A TRIBUTE TO UNSUNG ARTISTS
Matte artists have always helped bring a movie to life, and until now, they were never really appreciated. In this beautifully layed-out book by critically-acclaimed writer Mark Cotta Vaz and insider Craig Barron, the history of matte painting is finally revealed. Living in Los Angeles, California, I was given the truly remarkable privilege to tour these once forbbiden glass artist studios and see a first hand account of what it was like to be part of the movie-making process. Matte artists have been such great assets to the movie studios in terms of saving a lot of time and money during what would be an other-wise laborious task to build an intricate set. What's great about this book is that it shows comparison views of a shot before and after a matte painting is included. Such famed directors as Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, and George Lucas have used the artwork of these amazing artists to create worlds that would be almost impossible to make without. The book also includes a companion cd about the matte paintings, and includes scenes from movies such as "Star Wars," "Casino," and "Titanic." If you hadn't known these were paintings, you would never have guessed. Finally, these truly genuine artists are credited, and Hollywood owes many thanks to the epic scenes they were able to create! So to all matte artists everywhere, THANK YOU!

Absolutely Perfect!
I received this book last week, and had time over the weekend to enjoy a lot of it's contents.
Matte Paintings have always been my favourite aspect of SFX, so this book was one I have been waiting for. The price put me off, so I spent longer than I should deciding to buy it.
I diddn't need to worry. If you love the art of the Matte Painting, this is the one book you'll need, and the only one you'll need. From interviews with the Matte Artists themselves, and a complete history of the Matte painting, it simply covers all you'd want. A CD rom is included which compliments the book perfectly.
A beautiful book- Well written, and with the quality of layout that a subject like this deserves. Well done to the creators of this excellent publication!

Finally an explanation for what my father does!
I grew up in L.A. in the 50's and 60's when it was not OK to discuss matte painting as the studios did not want people to know that they really didn't go on location to film in exotic places.When people asked what my father did for a living, I said he was in "special effects." Then they would say "So, he blows up things?""No, he paints in things that aren't there..."

Now, everyone can see what it is that he did for so long.He paints in things that aren'tthere.The authors did a fantastic job of explaining and demonstrating the incredible art of matte painting.Now I have the book to show my kids and others who never quite understood what it was that my father did.Also, this book has a great picture of him dancing with Betty Grable!

Very interesting. The authors really know their stuff.
I bought this book to mainly look at the pictures and thats mainly what I did. The writing of the book was so well done and knowledgable that I read a bit of it also. Before looking/reading at this book I believed that matte paintings were used for primarely sci-fi, fantasy, and other incredible landscape shots. This is not the case as most matte paintings are used for houses, interiors, street scenes, and many other shots that I never would have guessed they were used for. To think that all these years I've been fooled watching so many movies and seeing matte paintings and never even realizing it. An eye opening book to say the least. ... Read more

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
The Art of The Matrix goes beyond the film. But you cannot be told what this book is...you have to see it for yourself! The most unusual one-of-a-kind giftbook of the season, and the first and only book licensed by the creators of this awesome film--this is the complete pre-production archive of artwork and conceptual drawings, along with the script and commentary in the artists' own voices, in a beautifully printed, large format book, four-color throughout--long awaited by Matrix fans worldwide. Grossing more than $400 million worldwide, ranked as one of the all-time top-selling home video releases with over 2,000,000 DVDs sold, and winner of four Academy Awards--Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing--The Matrix has proven to be nothing short of a phenomenon. The tale of Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves), a computer hacker forced to confront his special destiny in the salvation of mankind, challenged our perceptions of reality and expanded our expectations of what a movie could be. Spencer Lamm writes in his introduction: "This book was created to express some sense of the massive planning that went into the film. It showcases the bulk of the artwork, presenting a close approximation of what was shown to the studio...Combining all the art, the Wachowskis were able to walk people through the script [219 scenes] producing, essentially, a 400-page giant comic book. Initially a tool to sell the picture, it became a detailed map for production."

Exclusive to this volume are:
* The complete shooting script by writers/directors Larry & Andy Wachowski
* The complete B&W storyboards (700+) by Steve Skroce (Spider-Man, Wolverine)
* The complete color storyboards by Tani Kunitake (Armageddon, 12 Monkeys)
* The complete and intensely intricate conceptual illustrations by Geof Darrow (Hard Boiled, Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot), presented in four double-sided gatefolds
* Introduction by Zach Staenberg, Oscar-winning Film Editor
* Afterword by William Gibson, author of Neuromancer, Mona Lisa Overdrive, and All Tomorrow's Parties
* 32-page color photo album of memorable stills and posters
* Commentary by all the artists about their work on the film, interviewed especially for this book
* Also: Thumbnail sketches by the Wachowski Brothers, deleted script excerpts, scene notes by Phil Oosterhouse (assistant to the Wachowski Brothers), three cut storyboard sequences, film credits.
* 488 pages (including 4 double-sided gatefolds and 32 page photo section). 8 38" x 10 78". Over 1000 illustrations. Complete storyboards and conceptual drawings, screenplay, more than 30 movie photos, posters, credits. Four-color printing throughout.

"Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself." --Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), from the shooting script of The Matrix

The Matrix motion picture artwork and photography copyright (c) 2000 Warner Bros. All rights reserved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

good stuff!
If you are a fan of the first Matrix movie, or you enjoy general cinematography books, this is a sure-fire winner.

Whare are the rest of the sketches?
I have read some of the glowing reviews so I felt I had to write.If you don't own the ultimate matrix movie set and you haven't seen the glorious full color illustrations and sketches that brought these amazing movies to light, then you might love this book.It felt more like the story board or comic book Matrix but NOT the art. Many of the production illustrations, certainly the costume illustrations are left out of this book.Rarely have I seen a movie or movies have so much artwork created so I am baffled by this oversight.When I watched the making of disc dedicated to the illustrators and artists, I was shocked that the Brothers Wachowski would slight so much of their immensely talented team.And as much as I appreciated the script in the book, I would have traded it without hestitation for all the beautiful illustrations and sketches that were missing.

Irresistible
This book is a piece of art by all means. It is also very tempting; you can't look at it without picking it up.
The contents are great and so is the making of the book.

I am really pleased to own such a book.

... and I will show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Indeed this book gives very deep insight and should be of interest to anyone who looks for an answer to the question what the matrix is.

Excellent.
The perfect Matrix book !
I wonder why they don't publish the same book for Reloaded and Revolutions... :-( ... Read more

Product Description
A celebration of TVs Buffy the Vampire Slayer from the woman CNN hailed as the Mother of Buffy StudiesRhonda Wilcox is the worlds foremost authority on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its characters, and its themes. Wilcox argues that Buffy is enduring as art by exploring its excellence in both long-term story arc construction and in producing individual episodes that are powerful on their own. She examines the larger patterns that extend through all seven seasons: the hero myth, imagery of light, naming symbolism, Buffys relationship with Spike, sex, and redemption. Wilcox also focuses on acclaimed and noteworthy episodes, including the musical Once More, with Feeling, the largely silent and wordless Hush, and the dream episode Restless. She examines Buffys literary narrative, symbolism, visual imagery, and sound. Combining great intelligence and wit, written for fans, this is the worthy companion to the show that has claimed and kept the minds and hearts of watchers worldwide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I have not read the entire book yet, but the pieces I have read seem to offer clues about the symbolism present in the show that, upon watching the episodes again, give it greater meaning.

Go buy it now
I found this book absolutely fascinating. Anyone whom is interested in the critical analysis of televison or film should read this. In terms of her writing, she does digress and is often bias- but she has clear and strong arugments with which she backs up well.
I admit, I am a huge Buffy fan. And yes, I am making an effort to read all the literature out there on the show (I do myself write articles) BUT I don't think you need to be a Buffy fan to read this.

great book, daughter loved it
bought for daughter for Christmas a huge Buffy fan she loves it but hasn't read it yet although i did and found it very informative

buffy/angel fan
the book was ok but just for a read not to have,rhonda talk about other things then just buffy which i didnt like i got a bit bored with it and skip a few pages,i have read better books.

For all lovers of Buffy out there!
I cannot deny it, I am a Buffy fan. I have all the dvds, posters, cd with the musical, board game, calendar...this book is the last addition to my collection and so far it's very comforting to see that I am not mad, that this show had a message and it reached not only me. A must for all Buffy lovers out there! ... Read more

Product Description
To compliment the new Special Edition versions of the classic Star Wars films being released in theaters, these new editions of the bestselling companion books each include sixteen pages of all-new material, plus all of the breathtaking photos, and artwork that have made them a must for all Star Wars collectors and movie buffs.Complete scripts for A New Hope and Return of the Jedi are also included.

Some highlights of the three volumes:

• Storyboards of action sequences detailing the evolution of the story and characters
  
• Spectacular US and foreign movie posters
  
• Costume sketches
  
• Design and animation techniques used for the immense Imperial Walkers
  
• The evolution of Yoda
  
• Model construction of the new Death Star
  
• Blueprints and sketches of the Imperial shuttle design
  
• Rebel and Imperial vehicles
  
• And much more!
  

Customer Reviews (9)

Very Helpful For Artists
I'm not obsessed with the Star Wars films, although I did enjoy them.But the great thing about this book (and the other "Art of Star Wars" books) is that you don't have to be a huge fan to appreciate the conceptual artwork.As an artist, I consider this book to be one of my favourite reference books.It showsmuch about what goes into the preparation of a film.This book IS rather fan-oriented, and lacks some critical information such as the sizes of sketches, and other technical information about the paintings and drawings which would have been helpful to aspiring artists & designers.However, it is never-the-less an almost daily source of inspiration for me as I do my own futuristic art.
As for the script, I could take it or leave it.I've never read the whole thing, only bits here and there.What amuses me is how the script is subtly different from the movie.It's clear that although Lucas has a great mind for stories, his writing is only adequate.The script is rather awkward.If you want a good story, see the movies: the script doesn't do them justice.But for great behind-the-scenes production and concept artwork, see the book.
I would also recommend getting the modern 1995 re-issue of the book, not the 1979 version, if durability is an issue, because mine, like so many others I see here, has fallen apart.

Five stars for content, minus one for durability
In 1979, Ballantine Books (then the sole licensed publisher of Star Wars novels and most tie-ins) published two versions of this book. One was a limited edition hardcover, which I have never seen, the other was one of those "trade paperback" editions (coffee table size but in softcover).What made this book a must-get was that it contained the entire fourth revised draft of the screenplay for A New Hope (it was the first time I had seen the Episode IV subtitle...even though I bought this book AFTER seeing The Empire Strikes Back). The screenplay I read included scenes that were later edited out of the final film (mainly scenes on Tatooine focusing a bit on Luke's life there and introducing Biggs Darklighter.Another deleted scene -- later restored for the Special Edition 20 years later -- introduced Jabba the Hutt...he would have been very different in look and demeanor from the final Jabba, but at least he was there.Some of these scenes appear both in the novelization (make that ALL) and in the Radio Drama.

The other attractive thing of this book was the amazing artwork. It ranges from pre-production paintings, costume concepts, actual photos, storyboards, and poster art.It even has a section devoted to spinoff art and some cute fan art, mostly drawn by small children.

The one flaw in the book is not content related but the choice of paper and binding. The pages are glossy, like those of a yearbook...but the glue that holds the pages to the binding was not strong enough to hold the pages together.I went through three copies of this book in the time it was in print...I only looked at the last one ONCE and the pages still came loose.Thus, out of 5 stars, I give this book 4.

The Original and Still the Best!
Okay...I have owned several copies of this book.Never the hardcover, since that one is rare ... It is lovely to look at and the screenplay...the fourth draft, which has scenes that were cut in the first version and some adapted in the Special Edition, gives us more of the story as it would be presented in the novel and radio dramatization. It is a wonderful book to look at, ALTHOUGH my other copies had the weakness of falling apart even if one was careful when perusing it. Some problem with the binding, I imagine.It is worth getting, though.

SIMPLY WONDERFUL
I can't even to begin to express how delighted I am with this visit to George Lucas' galaxy, "far, far away".To see designs from the minds of these amazing creators, popular gadgets, gizmos and vehicles as they were conceptionalized, is a real treat and forever an inspiration of how the magic of film making and imagination can transport an audience.

Everything from the beginning...
This is a nice book for the addicted fans who are looking for more. Well,there is not much more than in the movie, but is nice to read the originalscript (expecially for those like me who are not from an anglophonecountry) and take a look at the pre-production sketches and to the mattepaintings. I appreciated it very much, but if you aren't an addicted fansit's sufficient to search in the net to see the same pictures. ... Read more

Product Description
From the comic mind of Jerry Seinfeld and the artistic talent of DreamWorks Animation (creators of Shrek), comes Bee Movie. In a hive built around making mon...er...honey, a young, idealistic bee named Barry just doesn't seem to fit in. On a chance opportunity to venture outside the hive, Barry's life changes forever when he meets a beautiful florist named Vanessa and discovers an appalling secret: humans have been stealing honey for themselves! The Art of Bee Movie dips into the artistic pot of this hilarious film with more than 300 bee-autiful pieces of art, including sketches, pastels, digital paintings, and clay models. Delicious quotes from the artists, production designers, producers, and Jerry Seinfeld himself will tickle the funny bone and the imagination of all animation fans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Worth the price.
Book was sold at a great price. and like new condition. I would order from this seller again.

Grade B
The art is good, the text is interesting, but the book design is bad in this pricey hardback. Each stage of creating this computer-animated movie is shown, from early concept drawings to discarded set ideas to showing the different wax textures chosen for the Hive scenes. Especially interesting are the dozens of different characters and bee vehicles. Adding to the fun are lots of comments from Jerry Seinfeld about the creation of "Bee Movie."

But the poor design! Several boxes of text, and many page numbers, are white on yellow, which is almost impossible to read. There's no index, and the table of contents is vague. And there are several typos. The gorgeous art deserves better.

Here's the table of contents:

* Foreword by Jerry Seinfeld
* Introduction
* The Hive (includes: Early hive and Honex development, bee vehicles, pollen-jock guns, hive furniture)
* Central Park
* Manhattan (includes: Vanessa's apartment, Vanessa's flower shop, town and country, courtroom, vehicles)
* The characters (includes: Vanessa, Ken, early bee development, Barry, Adam, Barry and Adam together, Martin Benson, pollen jocks, queen bee, Montgomery)
* Visual effects, props and graphics

A Delightful Find
I found the "The Art of Bee Movie" to be a delightful visual exertion into the creative development of a wonderful film. Have not completed the reading of the book yet , but have eye walked many times over the illustrations. Have found many visual ideas that will leave me thinking for a period to come. Only wish two things where made better. There are page bleeds at top and bottom (page 12 and 39 are examples) that seem to hurt the illustrations. Also several times there is white letters on a light yellow back drop, who can read that text? Glad I brought the book and saw the movie. I would suggest this book for anyone interested in the creative process. ... Read more

Product Description
Pop Chalee was one of the first Native American women artists to achieve national fame, recognition and commercial success. Her popularity sprang from the strength and charm of her personality as well as her unique artistic style. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

AN OUTSTANDING NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIST
Onehallmark of Native American art, a reverence for the earth, is gloriously celebratedin the work of Taos Pueblo artist Pop Chalee,now displayed in a beautiful volume, The World Of Flower Blue.

While it is regrettably true that a score of Native American women artists receive scant attention, Pop Chalee was one of the first to gain national recognition and commercial success.The daughter of a Native American father and Swiss mother, Pop Chalee, who adopted her Tiwa name, Flower Blue, utilized her rich multi cultural heritage to create an enchantedworldrooted in ceremonial and daily activities.

It's said that Jackson Pollack, one of the great Abstract Expressionists, may have been influenced by Native American sand paintings, others try to categorize Native American art as expressionism or postmodernism.Chalee's work defies such narrow perimeters, as is seen in her exultant renderings of dancing figures and nature.

A graduate of the noted 1937 class of the Dorothy Dunn Studio at the Santa Fe Indian School, Chalee was trained in what is known as "Traditional Indian Painting," representations of native scenes painted in flat colors with clear outlines.Among the school's goals "was to encourage the study of tribal cultural traditions while allowing for individualism."Chalee was more than an individual, expanding her oeuvre beyond paintings to jewelry, textile designs, and murals.

Chosen by the artist to be her biographer, poet Margaret Cesa has delivered a sympathetic yet candid portrayal, a journey into the world of Native American artists that few visit.In doing so, she, too, helps to smooth the path for those who follow Pop Chalee.

A debt of gratitude is owed to "Flower Blue," who broke down barriers and left the world a rare heritage of magical beauty.

Award Winning Artistic Biography of Native American Painter
Pop Chalee was a Native American artist trained at the Santa Fe School of Indian Art during the seminal 1930s.Her style was traditional, and consequently her work has been ignored in recent years.This book shouldrestore her reputation.Superb color plates.Winner, Border RegionalLibrary Association's 1998 Southwest Book Award. ... Read more

Product Description

With the premiere of Toy Story in November 1995, a new era in the history of feature film animation was born. The first-ever computer animated full-length motion picture, Toy Story was the extraordinary result of a unique collaboration between the Walt Disney Company, the leader in traditional animation, and Pixar, the award-winning computer animation studio.

     In Toy Story: The Art and Making of the Animated Film, author Steve Daly teams with director John Lasseter to tell the tale of how these two visionary companies joined together and set out to do what had never been done before. At the heart of their journey lies the collaboration and sense of discovery that went into developing this computer animated "buddy movie," in which a rag doll cowboy named Woody and high-tech space toy Buzz Lightyear compete for the affections of a boy named Andy.

     The authors explain and illuminate how Toy Story achieved its pioneering look while taking the elements of animation entertainment—humor, heart, and the creation of a world both real and fantastic—to new three-dimensional horizons. Richly illustrated with concept and storyboard art as well as images from the film, this book provides an in-depth review of the amazing technology, creativity, and artistry that went into the making of this breakthrough motion picture.

Customer Reviews (6)

GREAT!
I Loooooooooove this book! So many stunning pictures & info!

However, be warned, this book is HUGE. Not the size of your average book.

Favorite "Art of" book
I was really excited to learn that this book was finally being re-released. I have just about all of the "Art of" books of Pixar's films, and I must say that this one is my favorite. What sets this one apart from the rest is how much more in depth the contributors go into the making and behind the scenes processes of Toy Story. I feel like some of the newer books are more focused on displaying the beautiful developmental artwork, but this one really dives into explaining the production process. I think this can be contributed to the fact that Toy Story was the breakthrough movie computer animation - there's no doubt that there would be a wealth of information to offer. The only minor downside to this book is the actual size; it doesn't fit standing up on my bookshelf. I wish it were the same dimensions as the other "Art of" books, but it's definitely not a big issue.

Go behind the scenes and learn how they did it
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R24WOKZR7V91B6 The first edition of this art book was published in 1995. After being out of print for more than a decade, Disney has finally decided to reprint it. I guess that's because of the Toy Story 3 which is coming out in 2010.

This book is only on the first Toy Story movie. To better relate to the book, it's recommended to watch the movie again since it was released so long ago.

The book measures about 18 inches diagonally, which is really big. On the hardcover is a hologram with the Toy Story gang in it. The message is clear -- Toy Story's the world's first 3D movie. The huge canvas is laid out with storyboards, character designs and movie renders display. It's inspiring to see how they turn concept art into reality.

Text is written by John Lasseter, the director, and Steve Daly. Their commentary bring us behind the scenes into the production for the world's first 3d animated movie. You'll read about storytelling, challenges on overcoming computer limitations, creating the characters and other interesting stuff. I'm pretty amazed that Toy Story was made from around 2000 models!

Profiles for individual characters are included, namely for Woody, Buzz, Andy and other toys. Detailed explanation are given character development but the focus of the book is really on the storytelling. It's about how the form follows the function. For example, you'll get to understand how Rex's small forearms created his "cream puff" character, why Woody is a soft puppet and Buzz the cool spaceman. You'll understand why characters behave the way they do, and the impression they are trying to create in the audience. In essence, you'll see how Pixar breath life into these otherwise inanimate objects.

There are plenty of interesting quotes from the staff in the empty pockets of the pages. They provide tremendous depth and insight to the film's production. The concept behind everything used in the movie are explained, from the dialogue, characters, design to music. It's like working beside the animators in the studio.

If there's a message the book wants to bring across, it can probably be summed up by this quote from Joe Ranft:

"If the story isn't there, all the breakthrough computer graphics in the world piled onto it won't matter. You'll have made a piece of passing fashion."

That is so true when you separate the CG movies that you enjoy from those that are just eye candy.

There's absolutely no different between this book and the 1st edition. So grab yours now before it goes out of print, again.

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

art of toy story dissapointing
The seller of the book was great in getting the book to us quickly. I was just disappointed because I did not realize it was a miniature book. Then I was unable to return it. It was suppose to be a gift. I've bought many of the other Pixar, art of... books. They were all cheaper and the big, full size version of them.

A Perfect Guide to How the Pro's Do It

After seeing the film, the book was a natural progression.As a teacher of computer animation, Toy Story has enabled my students and I to study a piece of work which has very few flaws, other thanthe one's talked about by the animators and directors themselves.

For a student of the art of animation, the book gives a superb insight into how an idea is developed from conception right through to production.Explanations are concise and clear and illustrations are comprehensive and in most cases beautiful.

If you are embarking on a career in computer animation, buy this book! ... Read more

Product Description
For more than twenty-five years, the visual brilliance of the Star Wars films has captivated audiences far and wide. From lush words to intricate landscapes, from lavish costumes to amazing creatures, the Star Wars design artists have pioneered the technological revolution, while never surrendering the dazzling sense of wonder.

Filled with stunning examples of beautiful, never-before-seen movie artwork, The Art of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones takes us through antakes us through an incredible gallery of astonishing images. As an added bonus, this volume features the exclusive illustrated screenplay, as well as:

• More than 500 extraordinary illustrations—including sketches, costume designs, set pieces, models, and brilliant full-color paintings
• An in-depth look at the amazing new creatures introduced in Episode II
• Fascinating behind-the-scenes accounts and anecdotes related by the artists themselves
• Magnificent visuals of exotic new planets, exciting new spacecraft, and dramatic new characters such as Jango Fett, Count Dooku, and Jedi Luminara Unduli
• Thrilling movie poster art art created especially for Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones

Experience the Lucasfilm magic with visuals more striking than ever before, and become one of the first to witness the worlds and the wizardry of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Inspiring Artwork
A fascinating look at how the artwork was developed for the movie.I found it particularly interesting to see the development of the costumes. Recommended for anyone wanting to enhance their understanding of the artist's role in the making of films, or for those interested in developing their own artistic skills.

Great look at the art behind Star Wars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R9KNH7QB5301Z This art book is noticeably better that the already good The Art of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

This time round, even more details are added to the concept art. Most of the sketches are now coloured. As usual, the pages are filled to the brim with character designs, environment paintings, storyboards, sculptures and ships. All drawings are captioned by the individual artists on the idea they are trying to bring across.

In some ways, the character designs and sketches look better on book than in the movie. The environment paintings are just epic.

Included also, at the back of the book, is the full script for the movie.

This book is highly recommended to sci-fi artists, concept artists and of course Star Wars fans.

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

really good artbook
lots of sketches on environment, and outfits for the queen, its really cool art book to collect

Amazing amount of design work
Sometimes is easy to forget the amout of design works that takes to make a star wars movie, with lots of designers hired trying to get the ship, landscape or character design that fits into the visuals and story of the movie.
This book gathers lots of artwork, focused on the Star Wars Attack of the Clones movie and will satisfy both old and new star wars fans for sure.

Awesome book (and prequels) no matter what some say.
The first time I really started Really liking Star Wars was with The Phantom Menace. Personally, I don't go in for the dissecting crtisicm kind of thing. So Yea, there may be a some flaws, but to me there was more right than wrongs.
So about this book; I am crazily into art, and my copy of this one
is starting to look worn out. It is an amazing collection of conceptual art (drawings, paintings, digital designs, ect.) arranged chronologicaly paralleling the script. I believe that when
I started studying the works of Iian McCaig, Dermot Power, and others; my ideas and artwork really took off, and seeing the quality and height of what I wanted to reach laid out inspired me
greatly. Well, in all, this book is brilliantly executed and would be awesome to look at for any Star Wars fan or art fanactic. ... Read more

Product Description
A companion to The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring, this authoritative and insightful book is packed with more than five hundred full-color images — many exclusive to this volume — and shows the development of the imagery in The Two Towers from concept drawings to wide-screen glory. With illuminating captions telling the story of the images in the words of the artists and designers responsible for the look of the film, including the renowned artists Alan Lee and John Howe, and contributions from Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, Grant Major, Ngila Dickson, Paul Lasaine, and others, this book is a must for all fans of The Lord of the Rings.In this essential reference to the architecture and costumes of Jackson's onscreen Middle-earth, the stunning large-format art, from sketches to paintings to three-dimensional maquettes and digital art, is lovingly reproduced with lavish production values to create a spectacular keepsake for the film's millions of fans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Lord Of The Rings
This is a great book about the artwork of "The Two Towers" part of "The Lord of the Rings" that one will enjoy reading over and over again.

Excellent art book but got scratch on dj
The book itself is magnificent and fantastic for LOTR fans. The only negative is a scratch on cover (dj) :-((

Good, but not as Good as the first
The second art book of the movie trilogy is not as shockingly good as the fellowship, but still a great book to own, especially for the Tolkien fan. Some of the maquettes pictured are very cool, especially the varied ents. It's always nice to see how differnt artists interpreted the characters and mood of the scene. These books show how much of a difference the art behind the movie plays on the quality of the film. The paintings are great and in general there is more commentary than in the first book. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book but not over the first one simply because the drawing s in The Fellowship art book surpass the Two Towers, and the organization of the first book is better. If The Two Towers is your favorite movie in the trilogy, then this will probably be your favorite book of the three.

Buy this book or die trying!
This book is a action pact, drama filled, and a adventures book
that when you start reading it you get caught in it and when you finish the book you start bagging for more.

So you should go get this book right now, and take my advise and order it one you get done reading it.

Buy it now or die of guilt!
This was an incredible book! This book proved to be an invaluable resource to me as a costumer. Any costumer or anyone remotely interested in LotR will benefit from this; it made the difference when I was making the Arwen Blood Red Dress. (Mom helped, but the book did more :) ... Read more

Product Description
Film is an art form with a language and an aesthetic all its own. Since 1979, David Bordwell's and Kristin Thompson's Film Art has been the best-selling and widely respected introduction to the analysis of cinema. While it continues to provide the best introduction to the fundamentals of serious film study, the eighth edition has been revised be more classroom friendly by introducing film techniques earlier in the text, followed by the chapters on Film Genres. Supported by a text-specific Tutorial CD-ROM with video clips, Film Art is automatically packagedwith this outstanding student learning tool. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Money back
I orderd Film Art: An Introduction with Tutorial CD-ROM here at amazon earlier this summer. Tree weeks later, as agread upon, I got the book in the mail. It looked shabby and I did not get the tutorial cd. On the cover it says nothing about a tutorial cd, but the second last page is ripped out. I told the seller that they must have sendt me the wrong book, and a used one. They apologiced and refunded all my expences. Its sad that I didnt get the cd, but I got a book for free and that is good service.

good quality
The book I bought is in very good quality and it actually arrived before the date said in the email.

Excellent Product
I need this book for uni and the semester hasn't begun yet so i cannot tell you about the actual book. However, i can tell you this is a fantastic second hand copy which is in great condition. It also contains the learning CD so you should feel very confident buying from this seller.

For Film Buffs!
This book goes through the basics into the intermediate stages of understanding film. The pages are bright and the text is very interesting. I read most of this textbook for fun. The specific reference films are good ones so you won't mind watching them(which I highly suggest anyway). The pacing is great and the topics covered include film art and how to understand what you're watching as well as some technical aspects. I learned quite a bit in the 1st chapter alone - this is what a textbook should be like!

Very confusing and difficult to comprehend
One of the worst text books I have ever had the displeasure of reading. The text very confusing and often difficult to comprehend. If you are required to read this book for a Film class, I pity you. ... Read more

Product Description
The media arts are the newest and most technologically intensive of the arts. Consisting of narrative, documentary and avant garde film and video, digital art, and installation art using media, they represent a mix of the performing and visual arts. Despite their short history, they are also marked by many of the trends that characterize the arts sector as a whole. This report discusses the origins and developments of the media arts and component disciplines, their distinguishing features, and the key challenges they face in the future. The authors also compare the issues facing the media arts to those facing other artistic disciplines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Media arts within the context of their broader environment
Collaboratively written by art media experts Kevin F. McCarthy and Elizabeth Heneghan Ondaatje, From Celluloid To Cyberspace: The Media Arts And The Changing Arts World is a scholarly and engaging survey and analysis of the dynamics of America's media arts - that is, art produced by film, video, computers, or any combination thereof. Looking at media arts within the context of their broader environment, and discussing the audiences, arts organizations, and funding applied to media arts, From Celluloid To Cyberspace is a fascinating, informative, and confidently recommended study of how the American silver screen continues to evolve and influence American popular culture. ... Read more

Product Description
Pixar Animation Studios, the innovators behind Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Ratatouille, created its latest genre-defying film with an intriguing and unorthodox question in mind: What if mankind had to leave Earth, and somebody forgot to turn off the last robot? WALL E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earth Class) is this last, soulful robot. When his lonely work is interrupted by the arrival of the sleek probe-droid EVE, a rollicking adventure across the galaxy ensues.

The Art of WALL E features the myriad pieces of concept art on which this fantastic, futuristic film was built, including storyboards, full-color pastels, digital and pencil sketches, character studies, color scripts, and more. Astute text-featuring quotes from the director, artists, animators, and production team-unearths the filmmakers' historical inspirations and recounts the creative process in intimate detail. This richly illustrated portal into the artistic spirit of Pixar reveals a studio confidently pushing the limits of animation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Art of Wall-E book
I'm always a fan of the "Art of [Pixar movie]" books.They are always packed full of wonderful goodness, and this one is no exception.It really shows how much goes into just the planning phases of Wall-E.The art and articles are such fun to browse through even if you're not interested in reading the interviews, etc.Readers who are not familiar with the animation process will find it intriguing to see how the film's style progressed and developed over time.A complete hit as usual with these books.

Less than expected
Unfortunately I must confess this one went below my expectations.
Yes, all the contents are really valuable, with beautiful artwork (several pencil sketches of WALL-E and the Pixar lamp, colour schemes and background settings were what I personally enjoyed best) and inspirational thoughts - being Bulgarian I must mention Antony Christov's comments which were very entertaining for many of my friends, and myself.

Keeping in mind the inevitable positive remarks, this book contains less text than I hoped it would (I read ALL OF IT for somewhat 1-2 hours), less story/character/design development that I would have enjoyed, and less pages, too! (even though I DID see the parameters before purchasing)

However, I would be getting back to the book over and over again but I would not recommend it unless you are either a fan of WALL-E, Disney/Pixar, and animation (as myself), or have some spare money to spend ;)

Met my expectations
I'm a computer animation student, and my teachers are always encouraging any "The Art of" book we can get our hands on. The artwork in here is gorgeous, and I definitely don't regret buying this book. There are a lot of interesting drawings in the section of the book concerning prospective character designs of the people aboard the Axiom. The only letdown was that there were not very many concept sketches of Wall-E or Eve. The artists said that there was never really any dispute about what Wall-E should look like. I'm really into character design, so I personally liked The Art of Ratatouille better, because it focused more on that. Art of Wall-E has a lot of quick digital paintings that focused more on environments. It's great for visual development, because most of the art seemed to be focused on capturing the general mood and color palette of the environments.

Genius
Pixar makes amazing movies, and this book shows the average Joe why.Brimming with awe-inspiring pre-production artwork, you just have to love everything this studio does.A great book for the best movie of 2008.

Over average Pixar's "art of" series book
Although most Pixar's "art of" series of books are very good to excellent, this one is just slightly over a fair rating. The book is full of artwork from several of Pixar's artists, a lot of very early works from pencil to digital (in this case, a lot more digital works than previous movies), and to my surprise extremely few watercolour.

It lacks some of the other design and concept, and even evolution of works, from other excellent Pixar books such as The Art of Finding Nemo. There are fair description of character evolution, few construction, and a fair converage of the work from concept to final stages.

The book is, however, a must for any Pixar enthusiast, and since the movie is one of the Pixar's best, this leverages the book to a fine piece of artwork. ... Read more

Product Description
This work is the first of its kind to single out individual short fiction films for comprehensive presentation and close study. Two Men and a Wardrobe (Roman Polanski, Poland, 1958, 15 min.), Coffee and Cigarettes (Jim Jarmusch, USA, 1986, 6 min.), Sunday (John Lawlor, Ireland, 1988, 8 min.), Cat's Cradle (Liz Hughes, Australia, 1991, 12 min.), Eating Out (Pal Sletaune, Norway, 1993, 7 min.), Come (Marianne Olsen Ulrichsen, Norway, 1995, 4.5 min.), Wind (Marcell Ivanyi, Hungary, 1996, 6 min.), Possum (Brad McGann, New Zealand, 1997, 14 min.), and The War Is Over (Nina Mimica, Italy, 1997, 7 min.) are the nine short fiction films studied.

The films represent a broad range of storytelling approaches and a number of very different film cultures. Each film has a chapter of its own, including a shot-by-shot reproduction of the film with a still from every shot. In most cases, an interview with the director and an original screenplay and storyboard is also included. The book also describes a new conceptual model, derived from the films studied in the work, which can be used both for analyzing the ways in which a short fiction film tells its story and as a set of guidelines for student filmmakers writing their own screenplays. ... Read more

Product Description

Caleb Watson is not like the other children at his Washington, D.C., private school. Having skipped a grade—and being younger and smaller than the rest of the boys—he finds that his Southern accent and sensitive, reserved nature set him even further apart. Caleb simply does not belong.

Customer Reviews (9)

I Can Make You A Man
Growing up off the beaten path, a young man finds his guiding lights in Andy Warhol, pop art, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. This is a window into a world of people trying to find what they carry inside of them by comparing the edges of it with what they find outside of them, and not always getting it right.

Pop Salvation contains elements of queer theory, gender construction, pop art, 80s nostalgia, and, of course, the rise and rise of Andy Warhol. Reynald touches on his subjects with a deceptively deft touch, making it easy to forget just how easy it is to get caught up in the lives of his characters. Until, of course, the inevitable crunches come.

Discovering Oneself
Reynald, Lance. "Pop Salvation", Harper Perennial, 2009.

Discovering Oneself

Amos Lassen


"Pop Salvation" is a novel about discovering oneself. Caleb Watson is different from the other students in his private school in Washington DC. First off he skipped a grade and is therefore younger and then he has a southern accent and a reserved and sensitive nature. While on a field trip to a museum he discovers the art of Andy Warhol and he realizes that he is not the only one who doesn't fit in. He finds salvation in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and in Warhol's representation of Marilyn Monroe's lips. Because of that trip, Caleb changes his appearance to look like Warhol and begins making movies a la Warhol. He has his own group to work with him--Aaron, his partner in discovering his gay identity, Sonia, his muse and personal Edie Sedgwick and Brit, a runaway boy who looks like Marilyn Monroe and loves "Rocky Horror".
Q Caleb begins his journey of discovery and he experiments with sexual fetishes, drugs and even suicide.
The book is like a series of vignettes of the glamour of the 1980s and a look at teenagers who do not fit and are regarded as outcasts. Set in Georgetown, we get an interesting look at Reagan era America. The best parts of the book are those when Caleb is with is friends as we read about alienated characters that drive the story as each tries to find a way to belong. Each is "different" in his own way and we enter their world and journey with

rich kid's basketball diaries
This novel was too seeped in rich kid angst and the associated privileged indulgences for my liking.Admittedly, the themes in the novel do not resonate with me; specifically gender identity struggles,gay exploration and prostitution of youth and the angst of growing up rich and privileged.For those who this has appeal, this will be an enjoyable read for sure. It is written utilizing a very simple style that does give it strong voice.

I felt that it lacked the grittiness and depth that would have strengthened the novel.At times the story propels so abruptly as though the writerwas in a great hurry to get from one part to the other withoutnavigating through the transition. At one point a very important side character is a naive shy kid, then in the space of a few days he drops acid, smokes pot, snorts cocaine, mainlines heroin, and becomes a junkie. Elsewhere in the story, the main character is asked "I can't believe you don't want to go to college" on the top of one page, and by the bottom of the next page he's enrolled in Georgetown under scholarship and four pages later is transferring to a university in Paris.

But I do have to give the author high praise for writing a difficult to tell story with perhaps a narrow appeal, but for an audience that does not have many similar novels to choose from.

Garbage.Trite creative writing 101.
This book is so trite.This is poor creative 101 writing typified.How did this book get published?Don't waste your time or money on this book.

Extraordinarily Startling Simplicity!
The thing about Reynald's book that absolutely kills me, is its startling simplicity*. As a writer, he respects the reader enough to grant them access into the world he's created without spoon-feeding them any more than is absolutely necessary - which allows us to become active participants in the journey.

It's a bit like an extraordinary black and white photograph in that way: so vivid, that you can see every single color in the monochrome.


*Simplicity which cannot have been anything but unbelievably difficult to achieve. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Robotech: The Failed Sentinels Series
The primary focus of this third installment of the Robotech Art books is the art and planned storyline of the failed series, Robotech II: the Sentinels.For an "art" book, this one is rich in text. However, if you are a die hard Robotech fan, this is the only reliablesource of information concerning the series and its development (or lackthereof).I for one recommend it if you want to round out your Robotechcollection. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (19)

Brilliant, beautiful and totally inspirational!
The artwork in this book is fun, beautiful and totally inspirational! If you liked the movie and are interested in conceptual processes (sketches), I highly recommend. One for the art book collection for sure!

Best of the Best for September 2010
This book was rated a "Best of the Best" by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet for September, 2010.

Amazing book
I really loved this, the detail in the process and the amount of love and care that went into the movie. I rarely buy art books, but this one was totally worth it.

A dragon for any budget!
I LOVE this book. As always, I am overjoyed to see the conceptual and character art that builds up to a final product. This is a great coffee table book and a delightful work of art.

From concept sketches to full-fledged beauty
I'm not a huge collector of art books like some are--not being an artist, I have to be stunned enough by the animation (and the film itself) to want the art book. So this is perhaps the third one I've ever purchased, but it certainly fit my amateur art critic qualifications.

The book is stunning, from the incredible cover to all the little drawings once would expect from an art book.Cressdia Cowell's preface sets up the emotion of the collection, and everything flows right in that vein of explaining all the art that went into the movie.

The book is well-organized, its chapters focusing on characters, background, dragons, etc., making a straight-through read logical and a delve for something specific easy.To my surprise and delight, even Cowell's book illustrations have been included to demonstrate the inspirations.Sketches as well as fantastical concept art that seems to exist simply for beauty's sake are all in here.And, as every art book should have, the Powers That Be have included plenty of great notes and thoughts about the work.

This should please fans of art as well as those who simply loved the movie. ... Read more