STUDIO: PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS Bio: Pixar is an Academy Award-winning computer animation studio with the technical, creative and production capabilities to create a new generation of animated feature films, merchandise and other related products. Pixar's objective is to combine proprietary technology and world-class creative talent to develop computer-animated feature films with memorable characters and heartwarming stories that appeal to audiences of all ages. In partnership with Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar created and produced Toy Story (1995), A Bug's Life (1998), and Toy Story 2 (1999). INTRODUCER: JOHN LASSETER Bio: John Lasseter is a two-time Academy Award-winning director and animator. In addition to serving as head of all of Pixar Animation Studios' creative projects, he directed Toy Story, A Bug's Life, and Toy Story 2. INTRODUCER: PETE DOCTER Bio: Monsters, Inc. director, Pete Docter has been with Pixar since 1990. He was part of the original story team that helped to write and board Toy Story, working on the project for 4-1/2 years and taking on the role of supervising animator.
What a treat! Pixar's Monsters, Inc. was, as far as I'm concerned,
the best animated feature released this year. This art book,
published by Chronicle (not Disney -- how odd?), is the only
"making of" tie-in created for the film and a delightful visual
companion to the movie. This book is a wonderful collection of
preliminary inspirational artwork created for the film. Most of the
pieces selected contain characters and concepts that bare no
relation to the monsters and mayhem in the final product. But by
allowing us to see all the hard (but funny) creative work that goes
into the visual decision making, the filmmakers shed some light on
the secrets of creating classic animation; they add to our
knowledge of the development process and garner our respect for the
enormous talent at large within Pixar. Inspirational art is a vital
component of every great animated film but average moviegoers never
get to see any of it. As John Lasseter and Pete Docter point out in
their intro, "Once the film is completed, the inspirational artwork
is filed away in the archives, never to be seen by the general
public." What makes this book so enjoyable is the array of talent
Pixar assembled for inspiration. The paintings, sketches and
layouts, done in pastels, markers, acrylics, gouache, pencils and
mixed media presented here, are just plain fun to look at. Many of
the artists were given a few details about the settings or the
characters, and were then allowed to let their imaginations run
free. The artists themselves are amazing. Some of my favorite
pieces are from Lane Smith, J. Otto Siebold and Oscar Grillo.
Stealing the show however, are striking works from Geefwee Boedoe,
Ricky Nierva, Lou Romano and Dominique Louis. Though famed for
their landmark work with computer graphics, this book reminds me
that Pixar is first and foremost a "cartoon studio" the finest in
the world, at this point in the 21st Century. Dominique Louis'
painting of Sulley's apartment exterior, showing a street filled
with sinister looking brownstones, or Harley Jessup's grand
concepts for the Monsters Inc. factory, are filled with tiny
details that can't be written. The inherent humor of these design
defy a literal, verbal description and the wit in the color and
line cannot be produced in a word processing program. (Yes, even
color has wit as amply demonstrated in Tia Kratter's color studies
of Sullivan's fur and Dominique Louis' color script thumbnails.)
It's joyous to see a variety of professional cartoonists letting
loose with a free reign to create creatures that defy logic and all
sense of human comprehension.
The secret of Pixar's success (only one of their secrets, I might
add) is that they aren't out to use the computer to recreate
reality. They know the computer can already do that. They are
trying to make authentic, honest-to-goodness, animated cartoons
that tell great stories and touch the heart. Walt Disney
accomplished that goal in the 20th Century. Lasseter and his crew
are the heir apparent. They understand what makes great, appealing
characters and what it takes to bring them to life. This book gives
us an over the shoulder peek, with some spectacular artwork that
deserves to seen, admired and kept. Animation World Magazine
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