Book Description

Cowinner of the Golden Bear at the recent Berlin Film Festival, Spirited Away is the latest fantastical creation by animation master Hayao Miyazaki. A fabulous ghost-infested adventure full of action, suspense, bizarre creatures, and compelling human characters, it is the pinnacle of animated fantasy and depicts the transformation of a sullen little girl into a powerful being. This lavish coffee-table book features artwork, stills, sketches, storyboards, and illustrations from the movie, a Disney release in September 2002. "Miyazaki has done it again, folks. Is anyone surprised?" — Anime Digital ... Read more

Reviews (9)

SIMPLY ASTOUNDING!!!
I am speechless, I really am. I've never felt more compelled to write a review until now. This book is, in two words, ESSENTIALLY HOT!!! I am not gonna blabber much about this book since what I would say has been mentioned by previous reviews and they are soooooo true!!! The print and colour qualities are superb. I've fallen in love with this book right from the start. I don't understand why I couldn't rate it higher than five stars because that is what this book truely deserves...... A MILLION STARS! I feel that the world is really fortunate to have unparallelled artists such as Mr. Hayao Miyazaki. I am such great fan of his.

Artbook from Wonderland
After watching "Spirited Away", I bought the art book companion as an impulse buy. However, now that I think about it, I find myself constantly turning through its pages, even more so than I watch the movie. Hayao Miyazaki created a masterpiece in "Spirited Away", set in a wonderland-esque realm - a Japanese Bath House for the gods and spirits of Japanese mythology. This guide takes its reader through the Miyazaki's creation with great artistic detail and intriguing notations and comments.

For those who have fallen in love with "Spirited Away", as I have, this book offers insight to the multi-layered plots and characters of the film. Readers are graced with early archetural diagrams and sketches of the film's settings, along with galleries of the breath-taking final products. Also, we are offered conceptual drawlings of the cast of characters, from the early images of Yubaba and her gigantic baby to some of the minor characters and apparitions: the No Face, the bouncing heads, Haku and the silver dragon, etc.
The art and designs are a treat for both young and old, whether you have seen the film or not. As an added bonus, the collection also offers the American screenplay dialogues and detailed descriptions of the Spirit World.

This is a must have for fans of the movie, fans of anime or fans of mythology and Asian folklore. Miyazaki's true gift is creating limitless images that spark the imagination. His work in this book rivals the original fantasies and concepts within Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass". There is nothing disappointing about it.

Amazing...
I love Miyazaki's original sketches for things. They are always have such a sweet and mysterious sense at the same time. And they are in such good detail. His archetectual drawings are always my favorite. In nice hardcover.

great book
Although I do have a few complaints about the book, I really liked it. Most of my complaints involved wanting more - more artist commentary, more concept drawings, that sort of thing. The book has an introduction written by Hayao Miyazaki, a section with concept sketches, a section with concept sketches, backgrounds, and character designs, and a section explaining how computer graphics were used in the movie. This book even has the movie's screenplay. I really enjoyed the concept sketches, which show how original ideas changed to create the final product. For instance, a sketch of Zeniba and Yubaba shows how much Zeniba's design changed - she looks more normally proportioned than her sister. Later in the book, there is an explanation for why the change in Zeniba's design occurred. I also enjoyed the computer graphics section, because I would never have noticed any of the things they pointed out on my own. I foudn it fascinating, they way they blended cel art and digital art so well.

Wow, this is one incredible book!
Other anime never has moved me the way Miyazaki did. It is an emotional experience to see the art of Miyazaki. Those lucky few will have a chance to get this book! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Holds a special place on my shelf...
I have long studied, followed, and enjoyed Disney animation, and the film "Mulan" certainly did not disappoint me. So, when I set out to buy this book upon its initial publishing, I was fairly certain I would like it. I was wrong, I loved it!

Jeff Kurtti does an excellent job scribing the background for the making of this feature, and he has quickly established himself as the preeminent writer for Disney books of this nature. I was fortunate to meet and speak with Mr. Kurtti during my wonderful participation at the Mulan Animation Experience held at the Disney Insitute in the summer of 1998, and he comes off as an "ultimate Disney fan". His writing conveys this as well, but in a more polished, informative nature. He really had a good time researching this book, and it shows!

But, with all due respect to Mr. Kurtti, this book isn't called the "Art of Mulan" for nothing. The typical Disney quality is abundant in every frame of artwork within the book, and the sheer volume of development and concept sketches is a real treat. Having also met the film's directors, many of the animators, storyboard artists, etc. at the '98 event (put together, by the way, by Mr. Larry Lauria, a quality individual in the animation industry) I have had the luxury of being exposed to many of the background elements during the development of this film. This book, however, served as a wonderful companion piece to that experience, and also communicates much of the same information and emotion felt at that event. It is that thorough and the result of another top-notch Hyperion production.

Certainly, if you like the movie and/or appreciate Disney animation (or the growing library of "Art of..." books), then this one should be in your collection. Mr. Kurtti, Disney, and Hyperion have "done honour to us all".

This book is awesome!
"The Art of Mulan" is a wonderful book. It is jammed full of information about the making of this wonderful Disney animated feature film. It has scores of production stills from the movie (and even of discarded scenes), as well as many inspirational drawings of the Chinese contryside. I learned a lot about the legend of Mulan, the production of the movie, and the crew's visit to China. This is a great book. ORDER "THE ART OF MULAN" TODAY!!!!!!

Art good - text bad
Serious students of Disney animation will not be disappointed by "The Art of Mulan". This book has many fine pictures of original art of various types used to make the film - from concept pictures to storyboards to close to the final product. I enjoy all of the "Art of ..." books, despite the high price, so I can try my hand at drawing and painting some material similar to the Disney animators. However, the text goes into more detail about their journey in China, rather than the real "making of" type text I expect. That was the only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars. Art students would love this for a gift...

I'm proud to own it!
This is a book we're proud to own. Jeff Kurtti is to be congratulated on bringing together the art and history of the making of a Disney,s masterpiece, MULAN. Beautifully printed on quality paper. To turn the page is to uncover a treasure! I am sure Disney,s films were never been so wonderfully showed in a book.Unfortunately, the price makes the book an expensive tool for many young people beginning a career.A book like this deserves to be read and enjoyed by everyone. But even with that one criticism, this book is a MUST HAVE.

Holds a special place on my library shelf...
I have long studied, followed, and enjoyed Disney animation, and the film "Mulan" certainly did not disappoint me. So, when I set out to buy this book upon its initial publishing, I was fairly certain I would like it. I was wrong, I loved it!

Jeff Kurtti does an excellent job scribing the background for the making of this feature, and he has quickly established himself as the preeminent writer for Disney books of this nature. I was fortunate to meet and speak with Mr. Kurtti during my wonderful participation at the Mulan Animation Experience held at the Disney Insitute in the summer of 1998, and he comes off as an "ultimate Disney fan". His writing conveys this as well, but in a more polished, informative nature. He really had a good time researching this book, and it shows!

But, with all due respect to Mr. Kurtti, this book isn't called the "Art of Mulan" for nothing. The typical Disney quality is abundant in every frame of artwork within the book, and the sheer volume of development and concept sketches is a real treat. Having also met the film's directors, many of the animators, storyboard artists, etc. at the '98 event (put together, by the way, by Mr. Larry Lauria, a quality individual in the animation industry) I have had the luxury of being exposed to many of the background elements during the development of this film. This book, however, served as a wonderful companion piece to that experience, and also communicates much of the same information and emotion felt at that event. It is that thorough and the result of another top-notch Hyperion production.

Certainly, if you like the movie and/or appreciate Disney animation (or the growing library of "Art of..." books), then this one should be in your collection. Mr. Kurtti, Disney, and Hyperion have "done honour to us all". ... Read more

Amazon.com

Director Hayao Miyazaki ranks among the most interesting and originalfigures currently working in world animation. His charming children's filmsMy Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service enjoy a rapidly growingaudience in the U.S., and his brilliant Princess Mononoke, which broke box-office records in Japan, was released theatrically in the U.S. in November of 1999. Although storybook adaptations and a few Japanese volumes about individual films have appeared in the U.S., a major study of his work in English is long overdue. Miyazaki's many fans will enjoy Helen McCarthy's Hiyao Miyazaki and Mark Schilling's Princess Mononoke: The Art and Making of Japan's Most Popular Film of All Time, but neither is fully satisfactory.

McCarthy, who has written extensively about anime, offers an overview of the artist's career in animation and manga. She discusses each film in detail, with character descriptions and plot synopses, but she writes as a fan (rather than a critic or historian), and her text overflows withsuperlatives. Miyazaki is an exceptionally talented director, and his work merits a more discerning evaluation. McCarthy is also surprisingly careless about details: the ill-fated Japanese-American collaboration, Little Nemo, was in the works far longer than six years; and she describes the boar-god Nago in Mononoke as being wounded by a "ball of stone" when it's a actually an iron bullet. The latter may seem like nitpicking, but the hero's search for the source of the iron sets the plot of the film in motion. Finally, like Schilling's Princess Mononoke, Hiyao Miyazaki would have benefited from more careful proofreading; for example, McCarthymisspells the name of animation giant Winsor McCay. Theextensive, but by no means complete, bibliography is a usefulresource. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A decent fan book celebrating Miyazaki
"Hayao Miyazaki : Master of Japanese Animation" is an OK book, and stands out only in the "beggars can't be choosers" world of English books about Miyazaki. Helen McCarthy deserves praise for getting this book out in the first place, and it is certainly not terrible.

The book is full of justifiable praise for Miyazaki, and is clearly intended to be a fan book rather than a critical analysis of his films. Each film gets its own chapter, with a heavily detailed plot synopsis of each film (completely unnecessary to those who have actually seen the films) making up the bulk of the book. Lists of characters and character backgrounds are also included. There are several blatant factual/story errors in her interpretation, which makes me think a better editor might have been useful.

There is some attempt at critical analysis, and it is appreciated, but more depth would have been better. There is a touch of history about Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, and a smap of detail about animation technology, but not enough to provide any real insight or background. I cannot say that I came away from this book with a deeper appreciation of his films.

As a fan book, it is strangely lacking in pictures and rare information. Photographs of interesting Ghibli products would have been appreciated, or rare character sketches or anything that cannot be gleaned from the films themselves. In many ways, that is its main failing. If you have the movies, there is no need for this book.

a good sum-up
Miyazaki is my favorite director, so I tend to carry this book around with me everywhere and pull it out whenever I'm at a loss for words to describe his films, which is, of course, everytime -how can you put words to beauty like that?! With about 5 pages of full color stills from his films, as well as a chapter on each of his major films, this is the perfect way to get an impression of his entire body of work. Particularly good for the new fan who just stumbled upon "Princess Mononoke" or "Spirited Away" and wants an idea of what else this genious has done.

I am, however in agreement with these other reviewers about the content. This isn't for the hardcore fan who wants every detail about the "master at work" so to speak. It isn't a book about Miyazaki so much as a book about his films. The behind-the-scenes pieces on some of the DVDs would be a better place to look right now. We're still waiting for a book like that.

Shallow Interpretations
Although I appreciated Helen McCarthy's inside information from interviews and her filmography list, I found her analysis of these films very superficial. In short, I feel that any avid fan of Miyazaki could have written this book: it is simply a collection of facts and, as the other negative reviewer said, gushing about the films. There is no in-depth, intellectual engagement with Miyazaki's work.

Sock it to the Mouse
An excellent appraisal of anime's master craftsman, from the author of the superb Anime Encyclopedia. I wish there were more books like this about other Japanese directors, but McCarthy has picked the cherry from the top when she got Miyazaki. Better than Disney, better than Spielberg, better than... I guess I'd better stop. Just buy it.

An uniformative gushfest
This book is not terribly informative and not well written. I loved all of the Miyazaki films I have seen and I have nothing against his fans, but this book did nothing to help me appreciate what goes in to making one of his films. The chapters are largely a summary of each film with character analysis. The sections entitled "Art and Technique" have NOTHING about art and technique in them. After reading the book I still don't know the process Miyazaki goes through, what animation techniques he uses or developes, who does the inking? What paints do they use? They used CG on Princess Mononoke, really? Which scenes? What software? Muliplane camera? Computers? Did Miyazaki do the CG himself? Does he do everything himself? The section on technique in Kiki's Delivery Service is really more character analysis, and the chapter on Mononoke is filled with even more plot summaries of the films already summarized in the previous chapters! Mcarthy uses broad generalizations to support her views. She has a few disparaging comments to make about "PC feminists" that she does not support. She criticizes western films but is not at all specific. Its just plain crap! This is a fanzine book and offers no real intelligent insight into how Miyazaki makes his films. It makes me think that just about anyone can get a book published these days! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Art Of Final Fantasy IX Is A Must-Buy
I strolled into EB one day, and upon purchasing Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (great game, by the way), they had this book at the counter. I was really happy and a bit sad as well: my last few bucks just went into Persona 2: EP. But a couple days later, my dad had heard of the book through my constant ramblings and picked it up for me as a gift. Happy like a Moogle with a Kupo Nut, I was. Final Fantasy IX is my favorite game, I loved every second of it. Not since Secret of Mana for the SNES have I loved a game this much. There are drawings of the main characters; non-playable characters; monsters; villages, castles, and dungeons; items and equipment; CG scenes; sketches; air ships and worlds--all of which are rich in both beauty in detail. Final Fantasy IX fans will notice the transformation the characters went through the most when they get a glimpse at their earlier sketches. They early drawings were much more life-like and had a more traditional Japanese look to them (especially Steiner); just try to picture them without their super-deformed look and you'd, for the most part, get the picture (Quina, Vivi and Eiko being the major exceptions). Personally, I think they should have left Amarant with the beanie. Much better than the red weave they gave him in the end. Another bonus is the few drawings you get of parts in the game that were cut. None of what was cut was a serious loss (a house here, a house there), but it would have been nice to have had them in the game. Still, at least we got to see them. Not all the charcters made it into the game (where's Cactrot?!), but they managed to put a good number of them in here. And, well it might be really picky of me, I kinda think the selection for the cinemas could have been better (that scene were Kuja was bleeding would have been nice... heh, not to mention more pictures of Garnet), but what they did put in was good enough. There were a lot of drawings that caught my attention (Garnet on the cover came to mind on that thought), but my favorite was on page 66, there's a picture of a black mage standing at the graveyard in the Black Mage Village. Pretty sad, actually. Anyway, at 159 pages (that might seem like a so-so amount, but when you see how big the book is, you won't think so) of beautiful pictures, you'll definitely love this. Saying this is a must for Final Fantasy IX fans is a bit cliche (not to mention obvious), but it's true, and not only that, but this is a must for fans of just art in general. I love that I can open this book up and relive my favorite Final Fantasy IX moments any time--definitely don't pass this up.

A book worth getting
The Art of Final Fantasy IX is a great artbook worth getting--even for a person who doesn't even have the game could enjoy this and get to know the all of the charicter's personalities before even getting the game. Besides being an art book, it has lots of informaition about the game. In a few sections, it shows how they created the charictor. The art is beautiful and any Final Fantasy fan will truly admire this creative and well-put-together book. ---plus, its in English and has some Japanese writing.

FF9 fans will be pleased.
It's got all the characters, all the settings, all the fun. FF9 was my favorited in the series so I just had to get this homage to it. It's just fun to look at the sketches and rough-drafts and such. The town designs are really amazing.

If you're a fan of the FF series, anime, or just incredible art, I suggest you check this out.

Beautiful, Just Beautiful Drawings from the Best
I love Final Fantasy!! I have been a die hard fan since part one was released in 1990. There are several books out that show the visual effects from the Final Fantasy series, but this one is by far the best. It is strait forward, art, from the original designer of FF characters, Yoshitaka Amano. Page for page you will see the steps that he followed making this characters shine.

The main reason that I took one star away was because most of the art in this book is finished up designs from Amano. I am a very big fan of his work, ex. Vampire Hunter D, FF1-6,and 9 adn several other Japaneese work. I enjoy his early sketches better, they are much more fantasy like. But that does not mean that this collection is not beautiful as printed.

This is a beautiful editon to any Final Fantasy collecton or just plain art or drawings collection. Dont pass this up.

Wonderful Art of Final Fantasy IX!!
When I bought this book, I expected mostly black and white photos and small screenshots from the game, but when I opened it up I was happily suprised with a book full of large, colorful artwork. Being a fan of the game series itself, this book especially appealed to me, as it probably would to many other FF players. But even those who do not play the game will find them selves impressed with the tons of fantastic artwork that fills its pages. I definitely recommened this book if you are a fan of the game or just love great art! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this important book, Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy present anenormous amount of information about 2,000 series and features, detailingtheir plots and relationships to other anime properties. In these areas, thebook is definitive, and readers can only wish a comparable volumeexisted for American animation. The authors are less sure about non-Japaneseinfluences (Cowboy Bebop owes more to noir detective films than toRoute 66), and they focus more on storylines and the business of anime than on visuals. They don't discuss the influence of American Saturday morning TV on early anime designs (Speed Racer, the component series ofRobotech) or the art nouveau styling in Revolutionary GirlUtena. The editorial evaluations are much harsher than McCarthy's The Anime Movie Guide: some of the most popular anime series in America--Tenchi, Evangelion, Ranma 1/2--receive sharp criticism. The result is a book that anime fans will either love or love to argue with.--Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Jonathan Clements, Will You Marry Me?
When I bought the Encyclopedia last month, I wasn't sure about all the hype about it being the most comprehensive anime book ever, etc. But after combing through it obsessively for the past few weeks, I have to confess that my initial hesitations were completely unfounded, and I am in love.

This is an incredibly complete, honest, detailed guide to anime... it lives up to the name of 'Encyclopedia.' Anyone who truly loves anime needs this book--as a reference to familiar shows, as a way of exploring new anime, as a way of testing your anime trivia knowledge. Yes, it's true--some anime fans WILL whine that their favorite show gets slammed (but it's usually deserved) and it's true that the authors aren't afraid of taking a stand and having an opinion.

But the best part (I think) is the very witty, funny, cutting writing style. You might think that hundreds of pages of entries about anime shows would result in a dry, boring, repetitive writing style unless you're a total otaku--BUT NO, it's really amusing and fun to read! Both authors obviously know how to write well--no, make that elegantly, beautifully, sexily, in a very British style--and I've just fallen in love with them, thanks to this incredible milestone of a book!

As Ms. McCarthy is a woman, she'll understand that I don't extend this proposal to her... but JONATHAN CLEMENTS, WILL YOU MARRY ME?

Thank you for writing this wonderful book!

Good Bathroom Reading
If you are like me, a hardcore otaku, and merely want to have a little more insight to the lesser known animes or even need help making purchasing decisions on the most current shows released in America, this book is for you. The reviews in The Anime Encyclopedia vary greatly in size, but all contain good summaries-with only minimal spoilers-and it is full of humor and the authors' own (good) opinions. I have agreed with every review in this comprehensive Encyclopedia.

But even the people out there who are just starting to get into anime, or the friends and family members who are wondering just what the heck we find so cool about these shows, this book is also for you. Each review gives the Japanese, English, and many variable titles of the show, the year it was first released, major crew members, the number of episodes and their length, tells what the show is about, usually what the authors think about the show, and content descriptors for you concerned parents out there.

Whether you are a veteran otaku or a newbie who just wants to learn more about anime, I highly recommend this book based on the excellent opinions, color commentary, and the vast amount of information to be gathered in its pages.

Thanks go to the authors: Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy for such good bathroom reading!

A Must-Have, but not up to par
Firstly and most importantly, this book did not have information on many anime that are pretty popular in otaku culture, one of the most prominent examples I can recall offhand being Hellsing. There also could have been more information on the type of art used. On the other hand, the plot descriptions got a lot in little space. The evaluations of works compared to other works by the same director or comic book creator were very interesting. Unfortunately, Spirited Away had an extremely minute mention, as this book came out before it won the Oscar. Still, I feel it should have had a much larger mention, as it was another work by Miyazaki, and therefore an instant classic and record breaker in Japan. Also, this book is very controversial in the anime world, as the authors' opinions bias the reader throughout the entire book. Fortunately, these opinions are kept in separate paragraphs from the plot descriptions. This book, despite all of it's faults, is still a must-have for any otaku, as it is the most complete literary reference material in the anime world as of yet, with over 2000 entries.

the ultimate anime guide
This is the only one of my college text books that I hung onto last year when it was all over. Why? Because i love it so much. It has something contentious or fascinating to say about most of the anime in the world, and it draws the most incredible links; the authors really know their film, TV and popular culture references, which is a refreshing change from certain other authorities, who have either watched no anime at all, or nothing *but* anime. Either way Clements and McCarthy beat them all. Before this book, anime was a wasteland.

Useful but greatly lacking
While it may be the best and more thoroughly thought-out book about anime so far, it is not quite as relevant as one first hopes. I bought it to have a reference guide, and for this it has proven useful. It is a great tool for finding various animes by a specific directors, or, on the flip side, finding out who produced which shows. However, this is almost the extent of its usefulness.

If one is searching for a comprehensive guide to themes in anime (say the theme of reaching maturity or of encountering alien life or of the woes of war), one will be completely disappointed. The only way to search for anime is by title or producer. If one seeks factual information about anime, like which Mangas or comic strips the animes are based on, one will be disappointed. Even basic terms, plot tools, cliches, genres, and so on are completely overlooked. Japanese culture and language are apparently never consulted by the authors. All that matters to the writers is what the title of the anime was, usually the basic plot, and who made it (and in some instances influences). And that is greatly disappointing for something called an "Encyclopedia." Also, if you seek any form of information on a spin-off or a sequel series to any anime, you are at a loss-- the only references to such follow-ups (often more important or popular than the antecedent), if at all existent, are to be found only within the entries to the original released series. As if that wasn't enough, one must also sustain insult while the author shows disdain and disregard for certain animes which may happen to be some of the most popular and loved (Evangelion comes to mind).

Of course, it is a first edition. And it is already very dated, with much important anime being too recent for any real inclusion (for example, the world-shaking Spirited Away is mentioned as an upcoming Hayao Miyazaki film). Therefore, if one seeks a comprehensive guide to what anime has been out there for a while, it is a crucial and necessary book to own, but not if one seeks to understand a particular anime better, or if one has questions about anime in general. "The Anime Reference Guide" is a title better suited for this book. Definitively buy it if such a book is what you seek, but do not expect an encyclopedia. ... Read more

Book Description

The Art of the Storyboard shows beginners how to conceptualize and render the drawings that will communicate continuity to the cinematographer, set designer, and special effects supervisor, or to create the skeletal outline around which an animated program is developed.

Using sketches of shots from classic films, from silents to the present, The Art of the Storyboard covers the history and evolution of this craft and discusses the essentials of translating one's vision onto paper, from the rough sketch to the finished storyboard. Over 100 illustrations from the author's and other storyboard artists' work illuminate the text throughout. Exercises at the end of each chapter help students to develop essential drawing and visualizing skills.

The Art of the Storyboard teaches basic drawing techniques and illustrates the use of perspective, light and shade, and depth of field needed in order to render the human figure in motion. In this book students are introduced to essential components of storyboarding, such as framing, placement of figures, and use of camera angles

-the only book on storyboarding for media ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Profoundly dissapointing
Siggraph San Antonio was about to close up shop on its last day and I finally made my way to the bookstore. I had about 7 minutes to make my choices. One choice was a nicely done book on character animation in Flash, and the other was "The Art of the Storyboard" by John Hart Hart's book is one that I can truly say I regret buying. There is little of use inside, and some severely misleading bits as well. (For instance Hart tells us that it's the storyboard artist who determines light placement.) I was hoping for a book that would give me some information on generally used techniques for depicting camera moves, fades and other conventions. Instead we get pencil drawings cribbed from films that look more like fan-art than any storyboards I've ever seen or worked with.

Anyone wanting insights into how tho convey their cinematic vision to others would do well to steer clear of this volume.

Amateurish and unfocused
After searching for books on storyboarding for a class, I found and read a handful of them. This book was a big disappointment. For readers looking to learn about the CRAFT of storyboarding, I strongly recommend "From Word to Image" by Begleiter. However, if you like personal anecdotes, personal preferences, Hollywood history trivia, uninspiring graphics, and little teaching content, then Mr. Hart's "Art of Storyboard" will give you much of that. I am giving it two stars instead of one, because there are few books on storyboarding and because there is nonetheless some useful content (but it could have been put in 10 pages).

Storyboarding from the simple to the complex
This book covers storyboards ranging from the most basic to the most detailed. The author recreates frames from classic films--old and new--to illustrate how a storyboard can include light, movement, perspective, and shadow to offer a more complete view of the scene. I found this book to be as much about the art of observing, which is essential to anyone involved in the filmmaking process.

This is a book about storyboarding?
One of the main problems with books about storyboarding is that very few actually outline and explain how to execute it without going into too much theoretics. Like a cookbook, I would like to be instructed step-by-step on how to create storyboards: how to decide which angles best suit a written outline; differences in storytelling metric scenarios (quiet scenes, action scenes, etc.); and what would lead me to decide on how to visually set up a scene properly. All this book does is delve into the loooong history of different films, rambling on and on about significant key storyboard shots in the movie. Unfortunately, none of it is instructional. Worse yet, the examples the author uses are his own pencil sketches, which are lifted from actual scenes from an established movie. This does nothing for his credibility as a storyboard artist, especially if he didn't board the sequences himself. While it is important to explain specific key shots in a film to aspiring artists, using re-drawn sequences to fill an entire book is almost insulting to the very subject one is trying to learn from.

Storyboarding illustrated with storyboard-style drawings
John Hart's book is the very best I've seen on storyboarding. He skillfully draws shots from every camera angle, relates them to story context, and offers his rationale for many shots from classic films--which he draws as a storyboarder would. Also very interesting demonstrations on use of light and shadow. ... Read more

Book 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

Reviews (1)

For people who like pictures....
A very insperational book! It doesn't have much to read, but the illustrations tell a thousand tales (sorry if that was cheezy.) As a student animator myself who would like to someday work at Pixar, it's nice to get a behind the scenes glimpse at the creative process behind their works. I would like to thank Pixar for making this book and also my girlfriend for getting it for me. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is a fully illustrated, step-by-step guide to drawn, model, and computer-generated animation. It offers professional guidance on all aspects of animation- from conceptualization and script treatments to cutout animation and puppet-making. It also includes a gallery of more than 100 finished works from the world's leading contemporary animators. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Good book but lacking
This book is very imformative and educational but I don't recommend this as an animation handbook. It offers very helpful hints and displays various animation styles. I don't think it will teach you much on how to animate. More like a reference and animation library than a how to book. Great read and somewhat obsolete.

were can i found the price of the books
i will like to know how much i have to pay to get this book

Great Overview of Methodology!
This is a good book for looking over different types of animation methodology. The best section by far in this book is the one on stop motion animation. It showed the step by step building of two stop motion characters using two different types of joints. It included suggested tools you should use in building your character. It also included the pro's and cons of different types of set construction. Also included in this section was how to set up the studio for filming. The type of camera lense you should use. The visual effect different types of lenses would have on your scene. The cool thing about all this detail was that it was not drawn they showed actual full color photographs!

Concise and Diverse
The book is concise and covers the entire spectrum of animation. It is consistent with others in the Encyclopedia of Art Series. For animation students it is a good introductory book, but you will find yourself needing more information soon.

Good for quick referance
This book is good for a starter to know the animation how is work ... Read more

Book Description

Suddenly anime is . . . exploding. But where did Japanese animation come from, and what does it all mean? Written for fans, culture watchers, and perplexed outsiders, this is an engaging tour of the anime megaverse, from older arts and manga traditions to the works of modern directors like Miyazaki and Otomo. Read about anime standbys like giant robots, samurai, furry beasts, high school heroines, and gay/girl/fanboy love_even war and reincarnation, plus all of anime_s major themes, styles, and conventions. At the end of the book are essays on 15 of fandom_s favorite anime, including Evangelion, Esca-flowne, Sailor Moon, and Patlabor.

Patrick Drazen holds a Master of Arts degree and lives in Chicago, Illinois, where he writes and lectures on Japanese pop culture.

Reviews (9)

Good information - flawed organization
As a novice to anime, I found many of the cultural explanations new and useful in understanding some of the themes underlying Japanese animation and Japanese cultural myths in general. On the other hand, the first part of the book is mainly devoted to nudity and sex (p.48 - 104) as if that were the most important aspect of Anime. After reading the author's explanations of Hentai, I went to the internet to find out what all the fuss was about. It turns out to be - nothing! Anime experts place these films into a fringe category that is generally of lower quality and questionable taste. Certainly it is not representative of anime or Japanese culture. So why is it given such prominence in Anime Explosion?

Another problem is the use of acronyms and lingo seems to expect some expertise on the part of the reader. Just what are OAVs anyway?

Other than these problems, the book provides a good introduction to Japanese animation that will surely get the reader to explore further into this fascinating realm of entertainment.

Many Words, Few Insights, None Correct
The book appears at first to be an in-depth review of the anime phenomenon and claims to offer insights into the Japanese understanding of the medium. Unfortunately, once one starts asking questions of his assumptions, the whole structure crumbles. This book operates under the fallacy that what you see in anime reflects the values of the Japanese people (just like "South Park" reflects American values, right?), so we get concepts like "yasashii" thrust at us, and claims like "harmony is the most important thing to the Japanese." He overlooks the concept that the Japanese are not a monolithic people and seems to indicate that all the Japanese think alike on an issue.
Actually, the author seems to base his theory that anime is great on the basis that it's not American and his praises of Japan frequently revolve around knocking American moral values (there are quite a few asides to the evils of "conservative America")
Similar to Susan J Napier's book on anime, this book takes the author's preconceived notions and forcs examples to fit them, even when they don't have the meaning he tries to make them convey.
This would be more tolerable if his writing style was not so imperious, giving the impression that these views were solid and immutable facts instead of opinions

uggghhhh
Anime and manga have to rate as the down side to art and eroticism...The art is childish and bland at best, more the art of someone on LSD and a migraine than true art. The ugliness of women with purple hair and eyes the size of trash cans does little for the imagination; this is the art of anal retentives, pure and simple..

Scrutinizes certain popular animated films and series
Japanese popular culture expert Patrick Drazen's Anime Explosion!: The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation is an informed and informative introduction for non-specialist general readers to Japanese animation called "anime", as well as Japanese animated television shows, videos, and feature films. In addition to discussing history, tradition, conventions, common cinematographic techniques, cultural hallmarks, etc. relevant to anime, the latter half of this fascinating volume scrutinizes certain popular animated films and series in depth, including Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Escaflowne, and Key the Metal Idol. Anime Explosion is very highly recommended read for anyone seeking to learn more about the beauty, grace, and foundation of this unique and popular form of cinematic art.

A very detailed book...
The author starts off with the history of anime and manga then gets into folktales, hardcore anime, themes, the Way of the Warrior and the Way of the Teeenage Girl, Japanese mothers, Christianity, Shinto, Idols, nature, war and anti-war themes, birth, death and rebirth, giant robots, Sailor Moon, Pokemon and so much more.
SOME of the things that the author presents as facts are wrong. For example, on page 122, says "Long ago, two members of the interplantary noble house of Jurai traveled to Earth: Tenchi Masaki's mother...and grandfather Yosho-" which is wrong. Achika, Tenchi's mother was born on Earth. Yosho had been on Earth for over 700 years guarding the Masaki Shrine. As he was chasing the dangerous pirate-demon, Ryoko, I DOUBT he brought a baby along for the ride.
Also, at the end, the author tells you the book is based on his own favorites. What happened to list of resources, the titles of anime and manga and history books we should read? If you want to be told what to watch and read DON'T buy this book. This author wants you to think. How un-American.
Oh, the afterword is also kind of weak.
I would suggest this book for a person who just entered the world of anime. It is newer than most and VERY detailed. ... Read more

Book Description

Anime's influence can be found in every corner of American media, from film and television to games and graphic arts. And Fred Patten is largely responsible. He was reading manga and watching anime before most of the current generation of fans was born. In fact, it was his active participation in fan clubs and his prolific magazine writing that helped create a market and build American anime fandom into the vibrant community it is today. Watching Anime, Reading Manga gathers together a quarter-century of Patten's lucid observations on the business of anime, fandom, artists, Japanese society and the most influential titles. Illustrated with original fanzine covers and archival photos. Foreword by Carl Macek (Robotech).

Fred Patten lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews (5)

Visual insights, art & insider's info abound!
This collector's edition of A Bug's Life deserves ongoing mention is a fun accompaniment to the film, requiring good reading skills or parental assistance but pairing film clips with an outline of the story. Visual insights, art and insider's info abound.

The book for every animators.
This book is very much to own for animators and who that love this movie

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A hardcover and full color book on the making of a bugs life.Absolutely wonderful!!Interviews with the directer and clips from the movie.Also encludes many of the story-boards they used.I loved it !!!!!!!

great pictures, atrocious writing
A very handsome book that doesn't appear to've been copyedited at all. The first five pages have more grammatical errors than any ten randomly selected novels. Plus, author Jeff Kurtti's tortured prose stylings seem better suited to a grade 12 english class than a "quality" mass market publication. Still, excellent pictures, an attractive layout, and some good and interesting quotes from the key creatives, albeit rammed bone-headedly in between all the intermittently coherent Kurtti-text. Buy it to look at, not to read.

Behind the film art work and storyboards are truly great!
This is a must have for 3D animation film fans. How the whole story came together over the four years of conception. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A comprehensive view of the first 50 years of animation
I am an animation student and am reading this title because it is a required text. Mr. Maltin does a wonderful and comprehensive job of outlining the history of animation from the Silent Era, to the Golden Age, to a few subsequent years thereafter. Not only does the book chronical the different animation studios, he also gives a brief work history of the most influential animators of the time and gives us an inside view of the animation industry through personal interviews with them. The version I have has been updated, but it seems only through footnotes but I could be wrong as I haven't read the original. An excellent text for either historian, student, or anyone who just loves cartoons, get it!

Lenny Maltin gives movies cartoons respect in this book
In his second book about the history of animated movie cartoons.Leonard Maltin gives us all insight into the films from Walter Lantz,Paul Terry,The Fleischer Bros.,UPA,Rainbow Studios,Charlie Mintz ,The Looney Tunes and Walt Disney.Using extensive research ,interviews from the surviving creators of these cartoons,voice over performers and film/tv historians.Maltin looks into the creation,evolution and the success and flaws with these cartoon series and explains why these cartoons still have an appeal with movie and tv audiences.The book also contains an extensive filmography of the series and some wonderful cell reproductions from the films and some original character designs.No one before or since has given real respect to "Popeye","Betty Boop","Bugs Bunny","Heckle & Jeckle","Woody Woodpecker" or even"Mickey Mouse"before in a film history book.Leonard Maltin is the first film historian,author and lecturer to show another side to these forgotten aspects of film history.Bravo Lenny! Kevin S.Butler.

Long in the Tooth
In 1990, when I purchased this book, I would have given it five stars. Unfortunately, a decade is a generation in film making, even more so for animation, and this book is now 13 years old. Animation has changed a lot since then. In 1990 Don Bluth was practically the only new kid on the block. Now many new major studios are making animated features (the animated short seems to be largely dead except for experiments), Pixar has opened up a whole new area of computer animation, and the Japanese have invaded with both general-audience and adult animation. (Actually, the earliest Japanese landing party was in the late 1980s.) Mr. Maltin, an update is long overdue. (And while you're at it, why not update your movie encyclopedia too?)

Nonetheless, this book is the unique source for much history and data. I especially like the film lists. Until a new edition becomes available, we must be grateful to have this wonderful book as it is.

What I would dearly love to see is a glossy update of "Of Mice and Magic" with color pictures. It would be more expensive but definitely worth it.

THE book on the history of animated cartoons
This book is specifically about American animated cartoon studios. It is written with knowledge, enthousiasm and love for the subject, and deals not only with Disney, but also with the other studios, even the now almost forgotten Charles Mintz and Van Beuren studios. There is a particular emphasis on style, imagination and innovation of the different story men, animators and directors, who, for the first time, get a face behind their films. A must-read for everyone who is interested in the history of animation and of animated cartoons, in particular. Actually, the book is so great, that one yearns for even more biographical/artistic information on the people behind the cartoons, for example Bert Gillett, Jack Kinney, Robert McKimson, Maurice LeNoble, Scott Bradley (to mention a few). A later edition contains a chapter on the aftermath (animated cartoons and feature films beyond 1965), which is less interesting (as were the cartoons in those days), and stops before the renaissance of cartoons, induced by Ren and Stimpy.

THE place to go to learn about animation history
So you are flipping through the channels one night and you come across reruns of an old black and white Looney Tunes cartoon. And it's good. So you want to learn more about these cartoons. Well here is the source for you. Maltin takes a very broad subject, both in terms of years, styles and players, and condenses it into easy to follow chapters. While much attention in animation has been paid to Disney and his animators, there were a lot more out there (and still are today) that strive to work alone, or who wove in and out of the Disney history. Very readable, Maltin takes us through the ups and downs of the major studios. Here are the tales of the origins of characters (how Bugs Bunny got his name due to Bugs Hardaway), how Disney imagined Fantasia as an ever evolving film. How we went from the rich frenetic animation of the 40's to the stilted minimalism of the 60's. In addition there is a reference of output from various studios to help trace the story. Abundently illustrated (though it could always use some more color) it helps connect the names, with the faces, with the characters.

Animation has always been looked down upon and the poor cousin of features. Yet they were an integral part of the movie experience years ago, and still see their media explored, and celebrated today. There is certainly enough to fill several competing cartoon channels on TV today. Often our first exposure is the afternoon, or Saturday morning cartoons. But these are only the latest in a noble line of work, that almost suffered a demise in the 70's, only to roar back strong as ever today. If you want to know more about animated cartoons, be sure to start here! ... Read more

Book Description

Riveting illustrations and step-by-step instructions show animators at .all levels how to create professional, studio-quality 3D models and animations in this easy-to-follow guide that includes a CD-ROM. From basic to advanced information, this handbook covers it all:NURBS and polygon modeling/animating; deformation tools; modeling human figures and expressive facial animation; lighting, surfacing, composition, and special effects. Exercises are provided in a non-software/non-platform-specific format to encourage readers to experiment with their own technology. A huge number of illustrations along with sample animations on a CD-ROM make this a book no aspiring animator, pro, or teacher should be without. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

This book is definitely one of the better ones!
I liked reading through "Mastering 3D Animation" very much. In the first few sections the author Peter Ratner describes the basic need to know stuff of 3D computer graphics in an easy to understand way. Even though I knew most of it already I found parts of it quite interesting. Starting with the section about special effects it becomes helpful even for advanced users. I especially liked the advanced modeling and character modeling part. There are examples and howtos on modeling, animating, shading and lightning for the reader to explore. As an autodidact I buy nearly every 3d book I can lay my hands on and my collection has grown noticeably. This book is definitely one of the better ones!

Jörg Flügge, Munich, Germany 02/25/2001

A goldmine for beginners and advanced users
Mastering 3D Animation is a very useful and clear book. It is a goldmine for beginners and a bag of tricks for advanced users. Peter Ratner does an excellent job at explaining 3D human modeling and animation and also gives a good overview of special effects, lighting and surfacing. The book is mostly software independent and all the lessons are presented in a simple way. The man gives you the fundamentals and possibilities and I thank him for that. --Henri Kuuste, 3D Artist, Tartu, Estonia

"Mastering 3D Animation" suitable as collegiate text
Peter J. Ratner's second authoring effort, Mastering 3D Animation, is a 333-page softcover text that is a comprehensive, detailed and practical tutorial guide addressing nearly every aspect and segment of the 3D graphics genre. The book's 14 chapters-and accompanying follow-along CD for PC and Mac-speak to modeling (beginning and advanced), animation, special effects, lighting, surfacing techniques, facial animation, elements of action, figure movements and composition and cinematography. It's an exceptionally capable complement to Ratner's first book, 3-D Human Modeling and Animation. (Ratner currently is updating the latter text with a wholesale rewrite.)

Make no mistake: This is no cursory guide to constructing simple geometry, slapping on some stock textures, animating basic movements along spline paths and rendering to AVI while you're sipping on a latte, watching the Discovery Channel. A full-time professor in the 3D Computer Animation department of James Madison University and the program's founder, Ratner relies on the broad and substantial digital and conventional art experience that has rewarded him with artistic entries in more than 80 national and international juried exhibitions. Ratner is well-versed in most aspects of 3D art creation, choreography and cinematography. The results of his industry experience are a splendid collection of detailed and refined insights and experiences assimilated into a thorough tutorial guide. I have no doubt-as many experts agree-that Mastering 3D Animation is equipped to serve as a collegiate-level textbook for 3D computer animation curricula.

Spanning the many processes related to generating 3D digital art, Ratner illustrates his critical techniques with 658 black-and-white line drawings and grayscale screen captures. The images vary from basic and sketchy but illustrative black-only perspectives, steps and graphs to grayscale representations depicting character renderings, particle systems, height fields, geometric displacements, facial close-ups, rendered environments and more. Of particular interest to those having cinematography or traditional art backgrounds are the commentary, instructions and grayscale reproductions of painted and sketched art dating back multiple centuries.

Those attending to a more technical emphasis and interest are accommodated in every respect, however-minus superficial references to hardware specifications. Early on, Ratner clarifies his intentions in composing this text: "[The book's] purpose is not to create button pushers who can boast about megahertz, abundant RAM, big monitors and software with all kinds of bells and whistles. It is hoped that aspiring 3D artists will learn some valuable lessons from the great art geniuses that have preceded them." (Foreward/vii) Yes, Ratner does wane philosophical, at times, but his contemplative tendencies bring a refreshing and purist perspective to a field frequently inundated by overly technical meanderings and functionally pointless rambling. Thus, Ratner blends an in-depth artistic and technical knowledge with a practicality and philosophy altogether forming a well-rounded perspective-one catering to persons of various inclinations and backgrounds.

The companion CD contains 200-plus 3D models in a variety of formats: LightWave 3D's .lwo and .lws; Wavefront's .obj; Maya's .ml and the generic .dxf. Tutorial project files are archived in QuickTime (.mov) and JPEG (.jpg) formats, and Ratner also includes a Photoshop brush file (.abr) for creating "grime" textures.

As for the text's informational composition, chapters one and two explore the basics of 3D modeling-polygonal and spline-based (NURBS). Chapter 3 addresses basic 3D animation, while the fourth delves further into animation by considering the role of deformation tools: skeletons ("bones"); kinematics; lattice flexors, etc. In Chapter 5, Ratner explains special effects, including the use of spheres, particles, collision detection, voxels, fragments, displacement mapping and more. Part II of the text, Advanced 3D Modeling, begins with commentary about the human head's structure and composition, including muscles and bone. Ratner explains both the NURBS- and polygon- based methods for modeling the head. Special attention is allotted to features, such as the eyes, eyelids, eye sockets and ears. There's no lack of detail, here, and NURBS fans will experience a rare sensation-a feeling of belongingness.

The next two chapters, six and seven, are devoted to modeling the human figure. The latter stresses finishing-hair, eyelashes and clothing. Chapters 9 and 10 comprise Part III: Preparing for Animation. Lighting is the focus of Chapter 9, and Chapter 10-another that may appeal particularly to conventional artists-deals with surfacing techniques. The author goes beyond the typical texture map types-cylindrical, planar, spherical, cubic, etc.-and the use of photos to address alternative surfacing methods, such as transparency (alpha) and displacement maps. In short, Ratner extends well beyond the conventional surfacing methods most highly publicized, deeply exploring what might be categorized more aptly as upper-echelon trade tips than as common genre knowledge: creating sophisticated bump maps; using grayscale gradients in displacement; and more.

Part IV of the book, Character Animation Fundamentals, includes chapters 11-14: Expressing Emotion with Facial Animation (11); The Elements of Action (12); Movements of the Figure (13); Composition and Cinematography (14). Once again, the author uses an expansive knowledge of choreography and anatomy to help quantify how human emotions are exhibited: body posturing; eye wideness; lip contour; eyebrow position; even directional muscular pull. Each of these considerations can be projected in a 3D figure, and Ratner shows the reader how. "A muscle is composed of a bundle of fibers that work in mutual association to perform common duties," Ratner writes on Page 248. "... It is this combination of movements that results in the complicated harmony of the facial muscles."

The Elements of Action chapter confronts those issues pertinent to a convincing human portrayal by a mere collection of polygons or surfaced curved lines: timing; sound syncing; weight and recoil ("squash and stretch"); walk cycles and more. Chapter 13 addresses concerns complementary to those in the previous one, including body mass motion, pace and impact, equilibrium, action lines, rhythm and still more. The final score of this harmonized tutorial prose pursues line composition, spatial arrangement, blocking (proxy geometry) and all manner of photographic issues and techniques. The reader will learn practical cinematography terminology-camera techniques and movements, transitions, more-and the fundamental tenets of motion depiction utilized by artists centuries earlier.

A thoroughly enjoyable book
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from its technical standpoint of working between the program and the supporting 3D theory/thought process that Mr. Ratner provides.

Finding that balance of an artist and technologist from where to launch one's vision and future visions of creativity starts with good knowledge. Ratner gives many facets of where to see this vision and tutorials to follow through with your own creative projects.

I commonly work with many high-end graphics programs, Lightwave 7.0 being my newest program on my plate. Peter Ratner's 3d book getting me from a begining user from just reading the index to a 3D artist ready to start the new facets of my own portfolio. Mastering 3D Animation helped quite a bit everything from the Modeling and subdivides to the theory/progress.

Joseph Arthur
Information Architects, Principal

First Mediocre Review
Although a nice book that goes into depth in areas that other modeling books haven't, the generalized, not-to-mention-one-specific-application approach the author has taken left me, a beginner, bewildered and drooling. Also, I think some of what isn't explained in detail was not explained purposely as it was difficult to put into words and considered common sense, which seems to be the case with several tutorials and books that I've read on modeling. I want to know things like: Once I have my splines slapped down in a front perspective, how do I push and pull them properly from other perspectives so they'll take shape, or When defining detail with polygons, how many should I tesselate, how can I manipulate them to look like a gradual bump for a muscle and not a sharp cornered cliff? To sum it up, the book was written for the more experienced and those who are very well aquainted with their software packages-I was expecting step-by-step modeling for newbies. ... Read more

Book Description

The current economy has been referred to as the "entertainment economy" because of the cable industry's explosive rise, movies' record box-office grosses, and the Internet's phenomenal expansion. For graphic designers, this has opened up an incredible world of creative opportunities to "design for the screen," T.V. screens, and computer screens. The art of motion graphics combines the arts of design, filmmaking, sound, music design, and animation in solutions that solve communication problems, educate an audience, add to an entertainment experience, or extend the value of a brand.

Motion Graphics explores the process of animated graphic design. From the stunning broadcast of Pittard Sullivan, the cutting-edge cool of work from the Attik to the bold, independent film-title designs of BUREAU, this book presents the individuals and designs creating work that is among the best motion graphic design for television and film. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Not a course or guide.
from the backcover "...this book presents the individuals and designs creating work that is among best motion graphic design for television and film."
Well no technics no tutorials. But inspired book with alot of reallife projects from global companies and individuals with short explanations. Have fun.

Pretty pictures and mostly useless
Extremely disappointed with this. Save yourself the time and just go hang out at www.designinmotion.com. You'll get a lot more insight into making great motion graphics.

Basically, each page of the book has a different design studio, a few pretty pictures of stuff they've done, and a few paragraphs (and sometimes not even that) about why they think they're special... and occasionally, they spend a paragraph talking about their design philosophy.

Very little about why or how they did a certain piece.

It's useful to get the names of design studios so you can go to their web sites and look at some good portfolios, but beyond that I'm not sure what else to do with it. It's mildly inspirational, but with so many web sites offering video clips of great pieces, it's difficult for me to get excited about screenshots. A CD with the pieces shown on the pages, would have enhanced the value of the book.

It's the real deal
The best thing about this book is that it walks the walk. Most books on such an over-hyped subject fill their pages with lots of prattle and jargon but here the possiblities and accomplishments in motion graphics are illustrated, demonstrated and explained. If someone's looking for true information and inspiration, they should get this book.

A bit disappointed...
While I do like this book I was really expecting a bit more. What I was most looking forward to, the "top creatives' thoughts and techniques", are brief at best. Each section has a few paragraphs about the designer or design firm whose work is showcased, then screenshots of the projects are annotated with a few sentences about each project. Visually it's great and a good source of inspiration, but I didn't find the exploration of motion graphics concepts that the book and author indicated were present...

A written and graphical gem
A well-written and graphically documented work on the art of communication design for broadcast and film. There are excellent descriptions of the works, the photographs are of the highest quality and taste. However, even more outstanding is the description of the companies and people who comprise the community of graphic designers . I believe this book should be owned by every student of graphic design, every graphic designer and any person involved with graphic design issues in marketing products. In addition, the book makes for great coffee table material ... Read more