Stepping into the Picture: Cartoon Designer Maurice Noble [Hardcover]

Robert J. McKinnon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2008

Stepping into the Picture: Cartoon Designer Maurice Noble reveals the extraordinary personal journey of one of the pioneers of the Golden Age of Animation. In a career spanning seven decades, Noble (1911-2001) developed a unique, creative philosophy that enabled him to play an integral role in many of the best-loved animated films ever made, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, What\'s Opera, Doc?, Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th Century, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

The author presents Noble\'s inside view of the workings of the celebrated Disney Studio during its earliest days, the triumph of the groundbreaking animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the notorious Disney strike. The book also examines Noble\'s stint in WWII and his fortuitous alliance with Theodore (Dr. Seuss) Geisel and Col. Frank Capra. The three helped create inspirational short films for U.S. Armed Forces.

Noble\'s best known and most highly regarded work took place at the Warner Bros. Studio. This volume covers his long and fruitful collaboration there with the legendary director Chuck Jones. At Warner Bros. the artist\'s wealth of experience enabled him to create unsurpassed concepts of animated cartoon design that have delighted generations.

Robert J. McKinnon is director of choral music at New Hyde Park Memorial High School. His work has appeared in the Comics Journal, Comic Book Marketplace, In Toon Magazine, and Comics Buyer\'s Guide.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This biography of the artist who mastered concepts of animated design for Disney, Warner Bros., and Dr. Seuss

---Provides the only in-depth study of one of the unsung masters of animation, Maurice Noble
---Offers an insider's account of the creation of Chuck Jones's masterpieces such as What's Opera, Doc? and How the Grinch Stole Christmas
---Explores Noble's extraordinary personal journey as a pioneer in the history of this fascinating art form
---Presents a wealth of previously unrevealed detail and facts, and provides great insight into the artist's unique philosophy regarding the creation of much-loved animated cartoons during the Golden Age of Animation
---Includes approximately 20 black-and-white pictures --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

A biography of the artist who mastered concepts of animated design for Disney, Warner Bros., and Dr. Seuss

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 177 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934110434
• ISBN-13: 978-1934110430
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,999,985 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a biography, not a coffee table book., February 16, 2008

By 

Nancy Beiman "Northernexpress" (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Stepping into the Picture: Cartoon Designer Maurice Noble (Paperback)

The earlier reviewer has not read this book, or looked at the pictures. This is a biography of designer Maurice Noble, not a coffee table book of illustrations from Warner and Disney films. That aside, few artists deserve the "Art Of" treatment more than Maurice Noble, one of the finest graphic talents--in any medium--from the last century. This book should have a color illustration on every page.
The artwork (included in two small sections) was reproduced from originals donated by Noble himself and/or collectors, not screen grabs.
The problem is that the book is small in more ways than one; none of the layouts can be shown at actual size, so it is difficult to see the detail.
The book is well written and long overdue. Maybe we can now have a companion volume with full sized, color artwork. Noble deserves the same treatment as the latest 'blockbuster' that was highly influenced by his groundbreaking style.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A NOBLE WORK!, February 7, 2008

By 

Jeff Laffel "rube2424" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stepping into the Picture: Cartoon Designer Maurice Noble (Paperback)

I loved this book! From the touching opening paragraph where we encounter the young Maurice Noble in 1917 creating a world of magic for his fellow elementary school schoolmates, through his rich, anecdote filled life in which he created some of the most lasting animation of our time, to his demise in 2001, this is a well researched, beautifully written tribute to one the screen's greats. (Full disclosure: the author ran some of his ideas past me as he was writing this, and I was happy to give some criticism, however, now that the book is in print and I have read it in full, had it failed to accomplish what it set out to do, I would never write a review of this kind. I am thrilled that a book I saw in bits and pieces has become such a fine finished product.) I am delighted that Bob McKinnon devoted himself to this effort, as we all knew about Chuck Jones and Walt Disney, but to learn about someone not as well known who helped create some of our memories, is a delight. Let me repeat myself; I loved this book!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I stepped into the picture!, March 20, 2008

By 

Marie Heck - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stepping into the Picture: Cartoon Designer Maurice Noble (Paperback)

I had eagerly awaited Stepping into the Picture: Cartoon Designer Maurice Noble, because it brought back fond memories of my friendship with this versatile, remarkable man. I was not disappointed. I remember Maurice as a pleasant, down to earth man, humble and immaculate who surprised us as a gourmet cook and an accomplished piano and organ player. During the early 50's when Maurice was a sojourner in St. Louis, the rage for renovating kitchens was the snazzy Youngstown look--a stark, utilitarian style of metal cabinets and appliances. While my kitchen was being redecorated in this latest fashion, no coordinating backdrop had yet been selected. Maurice instinctively sensed artistic urgency and had the prescription. He took charge by saying, "Let me take care of this matter!" Maurice planned and oversaw the installation details that centered on the unusual and imaginative color scheme of purple and green wallpaper depicting flowers and grapes. These striking features wonderfully offset and enriched the plain white Deco equipment. An illusion of crawling vines encircling the room and meeting above the sink at a focal point was just what was needed. Everyone who saw this distinctive room expressed amazement. I guess you could say that we really stepped into the picture!