Disney Animation: The Inside Story

If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide on the art of animation, look no further than “Disney Animation: The Inside Story” by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. As long-term Disney animators themselves, they are well-equipped to take you through the fascinating history of character animation at Disney.

This book is not just a technical manual; it’s a charming and engaging story of how one company revolutionized an entire industry. Thomas and Johnston take us behind the scenes to show us how classic characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Snow White, and Bambi were brought to life through painstaking trial-and-error development. They also share early sketches used in developing memorable sequences from classic features such as Fantasia and Pinocchio.

With free access to priceless archives at Walt Disney Productions, the authors have chosen the most precise drawings to illustrate their points from among hundreds of thousands of pieces of artwork carefully stored away. This voluminously illustrated volume will delight any fan of Disney animation with its overabundance of original historic drawings.

You’ll learn how the amazingly lifelike effects of Disney character animation were achieved, including charming stories about how many favorite animated figures got their unique personalities. From the perspective of two men who had an important role in shaping the art of animation, this is the definitive volume on the work and achievement of one of America’s best-known cultural institutions.

Whether you’re a nostalgia or film buff, student of popular culture or simply someone who loves Disney animations’ “illusion of life,” this book will be compelling reading (and looking!).

More info on Amazon