Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation [Hardcover]

Charles Solomon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 1994

Hundreds of full-color and black-and-white illustrations and photographs accompany a definitive chronicle of the history of animation, from magic-lantern shows, through the art of Walt Disney and the growth of cartoon characters, to Beavis and Butthead.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The first chapter of Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation begins with a quotation from Arthur C. Clarke: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." This elegant, richly illustrated book tells the story of animation from its 18th-century beginnings as a magic lantern show (a box with a lamp and a mirror) to the creation of Jurassic Park and The Lion King.

From Library Journal

This revised edition enlarges on the original text and updates animation's screen history to include such recent blockbusters as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. Along with a detailed text, this "showy browser's delight" (LJ 11/15/89) includes more than 400 illustrations-250 in color. If you grudgingly passed on the $75 original, now's your chance to snap it up for the terrific price of $29.99.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing; Revised edition (October 16, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517118599
• ISBN-13: 978-0517118597
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 10.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #439,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent history, April 30, 2009

By 

A. B. Crain ""SydCrainBop"" (Louisiana, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation (Hardcover)

One of the important things missing from many other cartoon histories are the animated cartoon MOVIES. This book includes lots! Great info and quotes from the people who made them. So far, it's the most complete history of American cartoons that I have ever read. I am an Art teacher who created a "History of Animation" unit for my students. It's a valuable resource for such things, and a truly nostalgic look back at great childhood memories in front of the TV (and at the movie theater). Also, beautiful color pictures of actual animation cells from cover to cover!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The finest overview of American animation, by far...so far, October 8, 2010

By 

K. Swanson (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation (Hardcover)

What a bee-yoot! Easily the most technically comprehensive and emotionally engaged book on animation I've ever read, THOA is pretty much flawless. You'll perhaps find one or two artists or studios given less space than some aficionados might feel they deserve, but then again there's so much more detail here than one would expect about so many artists and ideas.

Solomon clearly knows and loves these works and artists well, and his devotion comes through in technicolor. Exceptionally in-depth interviews and well chosen comments highlight this tome, and it's full of cels and sketches and other previously unseen gems from the artists' personal collections, all reproduced flawlessly. I've been loving the old 'toons for decades and enjoyed many books on them, but have never seen more good info and art in one volume than this.

My favorites include Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng, and each is given many pages of in-depth discussion featuring reminiscences from coworkers and the artists themselves. Those wonderfully nutty cartoons couldn't have come from boring people, and that's made quite clear here. Solomon is honest and calls it as he and they saw it, for better and for worse, and it all adds up to one of the most accurate portraits of those times and these men as we're ever likely to get.

While some folks forget to discuss the grand animated movies, Solomon goes way into them, as one must, for they were Walt's babies to begin with, and Disney is given full due here as the man who really made animation happen on a large scale, warts and all. Many love to pick on the Mouse House but this is one author who shows Walt in his full historical context, and you can't help but agree that Disney is at the heart of it all.

The book goes all the way up to Roger Rabbit, a true masterpiece to my eyes (and fitting homage to animation's golden years), and by the time you've finished this book you'll know much and maybe most of what matters about American animation in its first century. Plus your eyes will have feasted on hundreds of gorgeous works of art that stand perfectly well on their own as little masterpieces, from some of the most fun-loving artists of the 20th century.

Unhesitatingly recommended to any and all who have ever loved Bugs, Droopy, Mickey, Daffy and so many other characters who will live on as long as people watch moving pictures, bringing delight and hilarity to everyone who likes to laugh and loves truly splendid, unique artistry full of personality.

You'd have to be a maroon to pass up Enchanted Drawings!

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best!, August 21, 2011

By 

R. GALVEZ "rodelfg" (USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation (Hardcover)

I received the book in very good conditon as advertised,i am very happy for the fast response and delivery,i will always buy my books here and will be happy to recomend them to my friends and family,keep up the good work!