The Walt Disney Film Archives. The Animated Movies 1921–1968. 45th Ed. (45th ...

Description

One of the most creative minds of the 20th century, Walt Disney built a unique and unrivaled imaginative universe. Like scarcely any other classics of cinema, his astonishing collection of animated cartoons revolutionized storytelling on screen and enchant to this day across geographies and generations. This expansively illustrated publication on Disney animation gathers hundreds of images as well as essays by Disney experts, taking us to the beating heart of the studio’s “Golden Age of Animation.” We trace Disney’s complete animation journey from the silent film era , through his first full-length feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Fantasia (1940), right up to his last masterpieces Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966) and The Jungle Book (1967). With extensive research conducted through the historical collections of the Walt Disney Company, as well as private collections , editor Daniel Kothenschulte curates some of the most precious concept paintings and storyboards to reveal just how these animation triumphs came to life. Masterful cel setups provide highly detailed illustrations of famous film scenes while rare pictures taken by Disney photographers bring a privileged insider’s view to the studio’s creative process . Each of the major animated features that were made during Walt’s lifetime —including Pinocchio , Fantasia , Dumbo , Bambi , Cinderella , Peter Pan , and One Hundred and One Dalmatians — is given its own focus chapter , without forgetting less-familiar gems such as the experimental short films of the Silly Symphonies series and under-appreciated episodic musical films such as Make Mine Music and Melody Time . Realizing the Disney style was a collective project and, as much as the master himself, The Walt Disney Film Archives acknowledges the outstanding animators and designers who influenced the style of the studio, among them Albert Hurter, Gustaf Tenggren, Kay Nielsen, Mary Blair, Sylvia Holland, Tyrus Wong, Ken Anderson, Eyvind Earle , and Walt Peregoy . Copyright © 2020 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Review: An absolutely outstanding book, dedicated to the animated movies of Walt Disney! - If you are a fan of Classic Disney animation, this Taschen archive edition of the Walt Disney animated movies, from Snow White to The Jungle Book, will educate and entertain even the most discerning taste. I’m sure that there are countless other Disney books that have probably covered this information in the past, but for someone who wants everything in one book, from the early beginnings of Disney’s animated shorts, up to Disney’s last animated feature The Jungle Book, who, sadly, never lived to see completed, this is THE book that will satisfy any Disney fan! Jam packed with rare, colorful photos, The Walt Disney Film Archives covers each animated feature in chronological order and dedicates a chapter for each one. I highly recommend this book! One discrepancy I must take note about. In the description, it says this 45th Edition is multilingual. I’ve read other Taschen books that were multilingual and I must say that I never felt that I got my moneys worth because the text would be repeated in different languages, taking up pages that only provided you photos to look at. I ordered The Walt Disney Film Archives knowing that this was what I’d have to endure while reading the book. Surprisingly, when the book arrived, I noticed that the entire book is written in English and it flows so much better. Plus, I feel that we are given much more valuable information that may have been edited down to support a multilingual format. So, for us English readers, we are given a wonderful treat! I hope Taschen has release this book in other languages also, because it’s a story that the whole world needs to read about; the fantastic animated world of Walt Disney! If you’ve been holding back, stop and buy your copy today! Review: A Definitive Reference - But Not a "Children's" Book - This is a "bookshelf" version of the very large $200 "coffee table" version; I have both, and my comments apply to both. All of the text and all of the pictures (albeit smaller in this volume) are included in both versions. As someone who has studied animation, and in particular Disney animation for 50 years, I find this book to be the most definitive book on Disney feature animation that I have read. Keep in mind that this volume only deals with the films released during Disney's life time (it ends with "The Jungle Book"). As this is labeled "Volume 1, I have to assume that there will be more coming. The early chapters deal with the Laugh-o-Grams, the Alice Comedies, Mickey and company, and the Silly Symphonies. For these, there are other books that go into greater detail; they are presented in this book as a preface to the main part of the book - the feature films. Every feature film from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" through "The Jungle Book" is discussed - most in their own chapters. Each film has an essay (sometimes 2) written by an art and/or animation scholar. As such the text is written at a college-level art history book, or a museum exhibit catalog. There are many illustrations; frames from the features, animation and layout drawings, character model sheets, etc. are all included. Children may enjoy looking at the pictures (especially in the large format version), but this is NOT a children's book. I have many Taschen art books, and they are all superbly curated, printed and bound - and reasonably priced. At $20, this book is literally a steal; I cannot recommend it highly enough.