If your loved one is a Disney fan, so much the better.
There are some wonderful new books by and about Disney that are well worth buying (and owning) in a real, live printed version.
It's worth noting that because Disney has expanded its universe pretty aggressively in recent years, our list includes books for fans of Marvel Comics and Star Wars as well as all things classic Disney.
For fans of Disney parks
Author: Daniel Handke and Vanessa Hunt
List price: $40
Published: Sept. 11, 2012
About the book: If someone asked you to conjure up an image of the poster for the Jungle Cruise back in the day, you might not be able to do it. Hint: It promised a "true-life adventure." But if you saw the poster again, it would bring back a flood of memories. (Maybe you'd even see the backside of water!) This book collects attraction posters from across the decades and around the world. The artwork dates to 1956, and there are posters included from the Disney parks in Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong.
For fans of Classic Disney animation
Author: Ken Shue
List price: $50
Published: Oct. 9, 2012
About the book: What would you get if the dozens of talented Disney artists through the decade had contributed to a single sketchbook, passing it from one animator to the next, from Steamboat Willie to Tangled? That's the idea behind this book. It includes everything from pencil studies that bear little resemblance to the final characters to detailed studies of the characters as they appeared in films.
Author: Pete Docter
List price: $60
Published: Jan. 8, 2013
About the book: Although it won't come out until after the New Year, this is a collection any fan of Disney animation would be willing to wait for. The set contains nine flip books, each paying tribute to one of Walt Disney's original animators and including an iconic scene from an animated Disney movie in its line-drawn form. The movies represented include "Bambi," "Dumbo," "Lady and the Tramp" and "101 Dalmatians," among others.
For fans of today's Disney animation
Title: The Art of Wreck-It Ralph
Author: Maggie Malone, Jennifer Lee Monn; prefaces by John Lasseter and forward by director Rich Moore
List price: $40
Published: Nov. 1, 2012
About the book: If you're still all warm-and-fuzzy from seeing "Wreck-It Ralph," this book may tide you over until the DVD comes out. This behind-the-scenes look at Disney's latest animated movie is illustrated with character sketches, storyboards, visual development paintings.
Author: Mark Salisbury, with a forward by Tim Burton
List price: $50
Published: Feb. 5, 2013
About the book: This one isn't out yet either, but fans of Tim Burton's latest may be willing to wait for the full illustrated behind-the-scenes story. Not interested in waiting? There's also a Frankenweenie novel, graphic novel, "cinematic storybook," wall calendar ... Or, you could go old school with "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
For fans of Snow White
Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" turns 75 years old this month, and to mark the anniversary, we have a pair of books by J.B. Kaufman, an author and film historian on the staff of the Walt Disney Family Museum.
Author: J.B. Kaufman
List price: $75
Published: Oct. 16, 2012
About the book: Disney's chief creative officer, John Lasseter, described this book as "by far the most complete telling yet of the making of this spectacular film, which paved the way for a medium and industry that has been healthy and vibrant for 75 years." The book includes stories, photos and artwork.
Author: J.B. Kaufman
List price: $35
Published: Oct. 16, 2012
About the book: If you're really serious about "Snow White," you can make this a two-book set. What's the difference between these two books, besides the price? This one walks you scene-by-scene through the movie, accompanying the more than 200 pieces of art with behind-the-scenes stories about the film's production.
For fans of the Muppets
Title: Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal
List price: $29.95
Published: Nov. 7, 2012
About the book: If you liked the idea of the "Disney Sketchbook" mentioned earlier, take note. This book is derived from the diary Jim Henson kept throughout his career and includes a wide range of his work, from the Muppets to the world of "The Dark Crystal." It's supplemented by sketches, personal and production photos, storyboards, doodles and more.
For fans of Marvel Comics
Title: Avengers: The Art of Marvel's The Avengers
Author: Jason Surrell
List price: $49.99
Published: May 2, 2012
About the book: The glossy, hardcover "Art of ..." book is a tradition for Disney's animated movies, and one we're happy to see continue with "The Avengers." The book takes you behind the scenes from the beginning to end -- includes concept art, set photos and interviews with cast and crew, including writer/director Joss Whedon.
Author: Sean Howe
List price: $26.99
Published: Oct. 9, 2012
About the book: Howe, a former editor at Entertainment Weekly, has put together a history of Marvel "with a fanboy's dedication to continuity and detail," according to a warm review by the New York Times. How begins his story in 1940 with the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. From Booklist: "Casual fans may find more than they bargained for, but for the Marvel faithful, this is the definitive book on the company responsible for aligning the cosmos in their favorite fictional universe."
For Star Wars fans
With the Disney universe expanding to include Star Wars, we could do a whole different list of Star Wars books for the holidays. Instead, we just picked one super-geeky book released this year that focuses on merchandising -- something Disney knows a little something about.
Author: Stephen J. Sansweet
List price: $40
Published: Nov. 28, 2012
About the book: Maybe you're used to stepping on your kids' Boba Fett action figure. Or maybe you have your mint in box Darth Vader in a safe deposit box somewhere. The point is: The appeal of Star Wars action figures is pretty universal. This book collects all 2,500-plus Star Wars figures produced over the past 35 years. Sansweet, owner of the world's largest private collection of Star Wars memorabilia, chronicles the rare, popular, forgotten and beloved figures from all realms of the Star Wars universe.
0 comments:
Post a Comment