Curious about a career in the story department? Interested in the intricacies of storyboarding? S&BT has put together a short, sharp list of books to obsess over, books GUARANTEED to increase your knowledge, ability and appreciation for the often overlooked artistry of story.
Walt Disney Animation Studios The Archive Series: Story
The first book in The Artist Series lavishly showcases the most brilliant story artwork created by such luminaries as Bill Peet, Don DaGradi, Joe Rinaldi, Roy Williams, Ub Iwerks, Burny Mattison, and Vance Gerry for such films as Steamboat Willie and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Alice in Wonderland and 101 Dalmatians. The art will be displayed in its full glory with all the notes, flaws, and hole punches that were so much a part of the story development process. Featuring the best examples-many never published before-as well as some pieces by unidentified artists-Story will be the must-have art book for collectors, artists, and Disney fans. — Disney’s official press release description
Paper Dreams: The Art And Artists Of Disney Storyboards
“Paper Dreams is an oversize book about the storyboards and artists working for Walt Disney Studios. [...] Published in 1999, the book takes a close look at the storytelling department of Disney, from where storyboards were created — sketches on the floor of Webb Smith’s office were pinned to the board for the first time. John Canemaker has loaded the book with lots of quotes from Walt Disney, the animators and story artists, providing insights into the storytelling process. The evolution of storyboards and their relevance are laid out to us, as each animated short gets progressively longer until full length movies were created.” — Parkablogs
Don Bluth’s The Art of Storyboard
From Don Bluth - master animator, artist and director of such cartoon classics as The Secret of N.I.M.H., An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Anastasia and Titan A.E. - comes Don Bluth’s The Art of Storyboard, a one-of-a-kind textbook that describes in detail the technical and artistic processes involved in crafting storyboards for animated films, the visual blueprints that lay the foundation for the animators magic.
Don Bluth takes readers on a journey as only an artist of such vast skills and filmmaking experience can, going from the breakdown of a script, through story conferences with Don Bluth Films collaborators Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy, and onto the finished boards. Loaded with technical tips and insights into the tapping of the creative imagination, The Art of Storyboard also features page after page of Bluth’s beautiful storyboard illustrations, many in full color. Whether used as an inspiring tool for professional and aspiring animators or just for the sheer joy of seeing how the written word is channeled through the animator’s mindscape on its way to the screen, Don Bluth’s The Art of Storyboard is a fascinating peek behind the curtain of film’s most creative storytelling medium. — Amazon’s product listing
You know that old expression, “If it looks like a fish and swims like a fish, it probably is a fish”? Bill Peet: An Autobiography blows this ol’ axiom all to hell. Here’s how:
It’s written like a children’s book. It’s illustrated like a children’s book. The first 1/4 of the book detailing Peet’s poor, provincial childhood would easily appeal to a child reader.
But the rest of the book?
- The final 3/4 of the book that chronicle Peet’s employment at the Walt Disney Studios?
- The chapter charting Peet’s near-nervous breakdown after drawing page after page of Donald Duck in-betweens? (“NO MORE DUCKS!!! NO MORE LOUSY DUCKS!”)
- The huge chunk in the middle where Peet pulls away the curtain on working with Walt Disney, giving an illuminating, evenhanded, warts-and-all report on the boss’ affable genius and casual cruelty?
- The final portion of the book where Peet breaks down what it was like to write 101 Dalmatians and The Sword and the Stone (a dream come true!) at the same time Walt was losing interest in animated features (wait, what?!)?
That stuff will bore the average kid to tears.
But the nerdy, cartoon-crazy kids?
They’ll LOVE it.
Their Disney-phile parents?
They’ll savor every doodle and detail.
Animation aficionados who happen to pick it up on a lucky lark whilst browsing the kids’ section of their local bookstore, hopelessly hunting for the ‘perfect present’ for a niece yet to be born?
It will BLOW THEIR MINDS. It will provide them with dozens of new anecdotes about the golden age of the greatest American animation studio — written and illustrated by someone who was actually there! — My review of the book
Two Guys Named Joe: Master Animation Storytellers Joe Grant & Joe Ranft
One Joe was in his ninety-seventh year when he died in 2005; the other Joe died the same year at age forty-five. Both died before their time. This book explores the interplay between personal creativity and the craft of animation storytelling, as seen through the lives and art of two of its greatest practitioners: Joe Grant and Joe Ranft. — Amazon’s product listing
Francis Glebas, a top Disney storyboard artist, teaches artists a structural approach to clearly and dramatically presenting visual stories. They will learn classic visual storytelling techniques such as conveying meaning with images and directing the viewer’s eye. Glebas also teaches how to spot potential problems before they cost time and money, and he offers creative solutions on how to solve them. — Amazon’s official listing
