Tarzan Chronicles (Welcome Book) [Hardcover]

Howard E. Green (Author)

Book Description

Series: Welcome Book

Scheduled for release in June 1999, Disneys newest animated film, Tarzan, is eagerly awaited by movie fans everywhere. This colourful adaptation of a Hollywood favourite tells the story of a young man raised by apes in the African jungle who must find his place in the world of men, or the world of animals. A phenomenal line-up of stars in the film features the voices of Tony Goldwyn as Tarzan, Minnie Driver as Jane, Glenn Close as Kala, as well as Rosie ODonnell, Nigel Hawthorne, Wayne Knight, and Lance Henriksen.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

For its latest animated feature, instead of adapting a fairy tale, legend, or myth, Disney has chosen the relatively modern story of Tarzan. As it did with the heroes of its other recent movies, the studio focuses on the alienation of adolescence in its Tarzan, who no longer belongs with the apes who raised him but doesn't fit in with the humans who invade his jungle home. The book tie-in to the movie recounts how the filmmakers faced the challenge of developing a new version of the character strong enough to overcome the vivid adult image of Tarzan made pervasive by Johnny Weissmuller and his live-action-movie successors. Besides hundreds of color and black-and-white illustrations, from early conceptual drawings through production stills, the volume features excerpts from diaries kept by the movie's creators, including sketches from a safari the animators went on to research the film's African setting. This handsome coffee-table book should join its fellow Disney tie-ins (e.g., The Art of Mulan ) on library shelves. Gordon Flagg

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Disney Editions (June 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786864036
• ISBN-13: 978-0786864034
• Product Dimensions: 13.5 x 10.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #556,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Book!!!, June 7, 2001

By 

DARYL HOLT (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tarzan Chronicles (Welcome Book) (Hardcover)

I am a student of animation and have enjoyed the art form for a long time. This has led me to collect just about every "Art of" animation book ever published (much to my wife's dismay), but this one is clearly one of the best.

First of all, the visuals are fantastic (as they should be for this type of book). Glen Keane is a master, and any insight into his conceptual art and rough sketches are a real treat! However there is so much more than I have seen jammed into one of these books in quite some time. Sure, other books have storyboards, character development drawings, conceptual art, model sheets, backgrounds, production art, etc., but the quality and quantity of the art in this book is top-notch.

Second, Howard Green does a nice job with the textual additions too. The inclusion of diary / journal entries written during the film's production was also a masterful touch, and really added to the overall "behind the scenes" feeling of the book.

Finally, the production quality of the book itself is impressive. The organization is clean (considering the amount of content involved), the two-page spreads and fold-outs are very nice, and the little things (such as the paper choice for each section introduction) provide an added touch. A fine addition to anyone's library.

Certainly, if you like the movie (or any animated feature), you will cherish this book. I highly recommend it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incomparable, June 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tarzan Chronicles (Welcome Book) (Hardcover)

Rarely does an "Art of" book capture the true essence of every aspect of an animated film. In this case, Howard Green guides us through the very thought processes of the animators so that we can not only observe the progression of the animation drawings, but we can also feel the development of the characters themselves. What many people don't fully understand is how the animators truley capture the character of the voice talent into the animated drawings. It is Disney's ability to capture these characters that has set Disney animated films apart from the competition for decades and which has created so many timeless classics. The Tarzan Chronicles is one of the first books to ever truly capture this process. It is a joy to follow along. In addition to the value of the content, this is one of the most beautifully crafted animation books ever created. It is sure to entertain and educate anyone who picks it up.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are there enough stars?, June 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tarzan Chronicles (Welcome Book) (Hardcover)

I went completely ape over the "Tarzan Chronicals" by Howard Green. The text intermixed with the pictures extremely well. The book and the CD are a good substitute for the movie. In checking to see what else Green has written, I found he will have another book due in July. I can't give it 5 stars, but if you want to know how many stars I can give it, look up in the sky at night.