Disney's Art of Animation #1: From Mickey Mouse, To Beauty and the Beast [Hardcover]

Bob Thomas (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1 Up-- A lavish book of previous and current film techniques. From the early attempts with zoetropes, praxinoscopes, and kineographs to the eloquent special effects of Beauty and the Beast , the achievements of the Disney company are traced. Thomas explores the animation process with an informative history, accompanied by interviews ; the behind-the-scenes work on story lines; and production processes. The innovative and visionary Walt is profiled, from his early shaky enterprise with his brother Roy to their commercial success with Mickey Mouse. Both familiar and new cartoon characters appear in this chronological study. The second section is devoted to Beauty and the Beast , tracing the legend through the storyboard process to the final product. Full-page, full-color illustrations, examples of story sketches, layouts, drawings, and photographs further enhance this volume, making it far more entertaining than the biographies by Barbara Ford (Walker, 1989) and Katherine and Richard Greene (Viking, 1991). --Judie Porter, Media Services Center, Portsmouth School Department, RI Grades 3-6
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This book is really two volumes in one. The first volume updates the author's earlier publication Walt Disney: The Art of Animation ( LJ 3/1/59), tracing the evolution of the Disney Studio's animated features up through the release of the recent Rescuers Down Under . The second volume showcases all the processes involved in crafting Disney's newest feature, Beauty and the Beast . As a veteran Disney watcher, Thomas used his entre into the Disney archives to choose the book's 200 color illustrations, set off by a lenticular cover. He also interviewed key creative personnel at Disney, touching on all aspects of making animated films, including conceptualization, scripting, storyboarding, artwork, character development, production, direction, acting, music, layout, animation, and special effects. Sidebar notes and drawings illustrate how characters and storylines evolve as the film moves towards completion. Highly recommended for general collections.
-Janice Zlendich, California State Univ. Lib., Fullerton
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Disney Editions; Revised edition (January 1, 1900)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562829971
• ISBN-13: 978-1562829971
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,022,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for Disney fans. :), September 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Disney's Art of Animation #1: From Mickey Mouse, To Beauty and the Beast (Hardcover)

In Disney's Art of Animation, Thomas explains the birth of the Walt Disney co., from a handful of people meeting in a home, to the huge Disney phenomenon we know today. The first half of the book explains the formative years of Disney, from before Mickey's time. This book looks into facts about the films themselves from an outside veiw. It keeps its eye on the whole company as it struggled along through the 30's, 40's, and even 50's. It talks about pre-Snow White cartoons and all of the full length feture films from Snow White to 1990's Rescures Down Under. The last half Explains the process of creating a modern animated film from the standpoint of many of the people who had an infleuance creating the only Disney Picture to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy AwardsÐBeauty and the Beast. Thomas explains how each aspect of the film is created and consolidated into one final, breathtaking work. An excellent book for anyone intrested in animation and, not to mention, a Disney fan's wish come true.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love This Book!, August 23, 2010

By 

Kristi - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Disney's Art of Animation #1: From Mickey Mouse, To Beauty and the Beast (Hardcover)

Following in the path of Disney, I love this book, and the others in the series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disney fans, rejoice!, December 18, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Disney's Art of Animation #1: From Mickey Mouse, To Beauty and the Beast (Hardcover)

What if the seven dwarfs had been Deafy, Wheezy, Baldy, Nifty, Swift, Lazy, and Burpy? Believe it or not, these are actual names animators considered for the dwarfs in Snow White. This fun fact and a wealth of other information can be found in Bob Thomas's comprehensive journey into the world of Disney animation. The first half of the book is a history of Disney animation starting with Oswald the Rabbit, Mickey's predecessor, and going all the way through 1990's The Rescuers Down Under. The second half of the book is a detailed look into the making of the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast. This book is filled with beautiful pictures and sketches from all of the Disney animated films through Beauty and the Beast. Any Disney lover will be intrigued and entertained