Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation [Hardcover]

Hans Bacher (Author), Don Hahn (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 23, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0240520939 | ISBN-13: 978-0240520933 | Edition: 1

A truly unique visual delight offering insight into the development of animation classics like Bambi, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Lilo and Stitch as well as a tantalizing examination of unfinished Disney projects.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dream Worlds is a must have for its visuals alone - I can only describe them as gorgeous." .. World Animation Journal

About the Author

By Hans Bacher, Hans Bacher has been a major influence on the design of Disney films for nearly 20 years. His work appears in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Mulan. Winner of the prestigious "Annie" animation award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production" for his work on Mulan.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (November 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240520939
• ISBN-13: 978-0240520933
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.7 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Computers & Technology > Digital Media Management > Video Production

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars stunning December 29, 2007

By P. Bergmans

Format:Hardcover

This book exceeded all expectations, and that means quite something if you've been looking forward to it for almost 2,5 years. It is filled to the top with pre-production artwork and designs. There is not so much text, but what's there is useful and informative. It's as much about the creative process as about pure practical knowledge and cinematic rules, the latter ones which often seems to be absent in graphic books like this one, but not here!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring! December 13, 2007

By Julie Neal TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wow! I want to gaze in awe at every page of this beautiful yet practical book, which is filled with art. Dozens of backgrounds from "Bambi" show the stunning skill and style of those artists like you've never seen it before. Another section illustrates many creative ways to imagine a bird, from concept pieces from "Fantasia 2000." Other pages show thumbnails and composition notes from the early stages of "Lilo & Stitch." There's also a whole chapter on composition that combines a how-to manual with frames of Disney's "Brother Bear."

I could go on forever, but suffice it to say that this book is an absolute must-buy. Anyone who wants to study the best artists in the animation business, or just loves to look at imaginative watercolors and stunning uses of color, will find it truly inspirational. Yes, it's nearly all Disney, but don't let that mislead you. This book is not published by the Disney company, and has no promotional feel.

For more art from "Cinderella" check out Walt Disney's Cinderella. For a nice academic companion try To Infinity and Beyond!: The Story of Pixar Animation Studios.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Lost opportunity April 1, 2008

By B. Hay

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

What a wonderful opportunity the publishers have squandered here. The author is clearly very informed and his own art work, outstanding. The illustrations are essentially wonderful too. So what's wrong? Lack of courage on the part of the publishers. A work of this magnitude needs to be reproduced at a size to fit its contents. The illustrations are very often way too small - little bigger than postage stamps at times - and even the full-pagers would have benefitted from a larger page to fill. The text is also far too brief - almost anecdotal and saying far less than it could. This book cries out for pages that are 2 - 3 times larger and the text demands a book of twice the length. It was extremely frustrating to peer at art work that so deserves to be reproduced at a good size on quality paper. Would I recommend it? Of course. Much of the art work has not to my knowledge been published elsewhere. Just make sure you have a magnifying glass to hand!