Product Description: 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.
great book ^ great book. arrived in excellent condition in good time.
thanks.
THIS ODYSSEY OF DISNEY'S TARZAN IS AS GOOD AS THE MOVIE ITSELF ^ I don't know if I'll ever get over this movie - especially if I keep running across books like this one. It is nicely designed, intelligently organized, and chock-full of pre-production art, journal entries, productions stills, photographs and stories of how the film came to be. If you think the movie is incredible, wait until you learn all the behind the scenes stuff. This book chronicles that odyssey in wonderful detail.
Did you know the Tarzan character was animated in Paris, while the rest of the film was being animated in Burbank, California? Supervising animator Glen Keane (arguably the top animator in the field) was living in Paris with his family when directors Kevin Lima and Chris Buck approached him with the offer to supervise the animation of the adult version of Tarzan. One of his stipulations for coming on board was that he be able to stay in Paris and work with the Disney Animation Studio there. Meanwhile, back in Burbank, an entirely different team of animators was working on the rest of the film. The two studios used a computer system called "Scene Machine" to correspond with each other and coordinate characters in the same scene over the 6,000-mile distance.
Keane's journal, sketches, thoughts, stories and photos offer amazing insight into his real-life adventure animating Tarzan. Here's just a taste, from one of his journal entries: "Worked on `Strangers Like Me' sequence. The process is never easy - particularly for this song - at first the route was to teach Tarzan to speak - but it has evolved into Tarzan's quest for knowledge. I went on my own quest - reading books on Einstein's Theory of Relativity - and books explaining physics and great scientific discoveries as in astronomy. I am in awe of the universe and God's perfect design clearly displayed in its breadth and beauty. Tarzan must be in awe and wonder. Joy of discovery. He must have an insatiable thirst to know. The audience should feel the same joy as Tarzan. They should enjoy watching him discover."
Here's another one that sends chills down my spine: "My mind was churning on the scenes I'd been seeing with the animators this morning - and it struck me how real Tarzan is to me. He is not a drawing or even an animated character. He is a living personality with character traits, personal habits and a body language all his own. I could almost see him before me. He is real yet invisible living in my imagination, which is a very real place to inhabit." Good stuff.
The book is probably one third text and two-thirds pictures. It's divided into seven sections, each named after a Phil Collins song from the movie, plus introduction and acknowledgements. Glen Keane's story is just one of many chronicled in the book. If you're a fan of the Tarzan stories, love Disney animation, or are interested in the art of animation in general, you've got to have this book.
Waitsel Smith
great art of book ^ The Art of Tarzan has eveything you'd expect in an art of animation book. The book is filled with characters sketches, background art, interesting making of notes, storyboards, great art by John Watkis, and the amazing Glen Keane. I like how they went with a pure hardback sans dustjacket book design which is different from previous Art of Disney bboks.
visually amazing! ^ When I recieved this book I couldnt believe how much work was infront of me. Thankyou Disney for a wonderful addition to the "art of" books.
Incredible Book!!! ^ 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!
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