Customer Reviews

Stepping into the Picture: Cartoon Designer Maurice Noble

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!!

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!

When I found out that my CALARTS buddy Craig McCraken wrote the forward to it I got excited but the "look inside this book" preview kind of threw up a red flag for me because it had no artwork.

Against the red flag and because I have yet to find a book on Maurice Nobles artwork I purchased it and, well, I was very disappointed when I got the book!

I was looking for a book that shows Maurice's amazing artwork. What I got was a small paperback biography with a few color plates that weren't very colorful.

This man is one of the greatest production designers EVER! who shaped the animation art form and to this day has a heavy influence on the industry and he deserves a freaking huge coffee table book on his art.

This was a very good biography but a DISMAL resource for Maurice Nobles artwork!

I've been a big fan of the cartoon genre for as long as I can remember. When I had the opportunity to read in greater detail some unknown "gems" of information, it made my heart race back to the times I first enjoyed the medium. The book itself is extremely well done and insightful. Contrary to some of the "poorer" reviews previously posted, I'm looking forward to seeing another book written by Mr. McKinnon. Well done and Bravo!!!

This is the first concise review of one of the great stylists of the Golden Age of Hollywood cartoons. You may not have known Maurice personally, but you enjoyed his work. Every time a Roadrunner cartoon or Bugs Bunny, you saw Maurice's wonderful design sense. This book not only speaks about his work, but also his influence on the subsequent generations of artists. And it gives you a good sense of the man's passion and drive.

Anyone with an interest in animation history and technique is well served by this book. A wonderful tribute to a great artist and an insight into the historical technique and approach of film animation. A fun and worthwhile read.

Maurice Noble was a world class artist and designer and a wonderful friend. Its great to see such a comprehensive book on the life of someone who influenced so many contemporary artists.

Stepping Into the Picture is a terrific read for anyone with even a passing interest in the golden age of animation. For someone like myself who enjoyed the Warner Brothers cartoons growing up, this book gave a very entertaining insider's look at how the films were made and the personalities and events that shaped them. Maurice is a fascinating character and Robert Mckinnon's book is well researched and full of interesting anecdotes from interviews with the artist. The next time I watch a Maurice Noble Warner or Disney feature I will have a much better appreciation of the artistry behind it because of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend Stepping Into the Picture.

I don't rate this book highly because though it is an affectionate account of the life and career of Maurice Noble, it doesn't feature his art very much. There are only about ten pages of imagery in the center of the book (which is a small paperback), and they are obviously, judging from their graininess and lack of contrast, freeze-frames taken from DVDs of the Warner's shorts-- none are taken from original artwork and all are no more than two or three inches square. The book reads like a resume of where he worked, which any artist could recount to you in a job interview or over a beer, but I'm only interested in his design concepts and methods. He was a sweet man but I'm not so concerned with his personal story.