Book Review - The Color of Pixar

As you guys know, I am a sucker for Disney books so when I was asked if I wanted to read/review this, I jumped at it.

With this coffee-table book, each page is a still from all of Pixar's feature films, including the recent Cars 3 and the upcoming Coco. Instead of being organised by film, they are organised by colour, starting with white and lilic and continuing through blue, green, yellow, red onto black.

Now, I like art-movie books, and this is the same. It's visually stunning, seeing how much time and detail each frame takes. It's very much a book for art lovers.

But, it lacks something. I can't put my finger on it. It's missing something that would have made reading this better. Maybe a bit of detail here and there. But because it's missing a bit of magic, it feels lacking.

Like I said, visually stunning, but it feels very style over substance.

Book Review - The Art of Finding Dory

As you guys know if you have followed this blog for a while, I like those arty books. I especially like reading those "The Art of [Insert Movie Name Here]". This is something I have been curious over for years, but it seems to be the past few years that I treat myself and devour the art, design and little notes. I have the Art of Finding Nemo, Up, Frozen, The Avengers (aka Avengers Assemble) and, of course, Harry Potter: Page to Screen and Harry Potter: The Creature Vault. Not a lot, but I enjoy staring at the art.

So, when I was emailing the lovely people at Abram and Chronicle Books (who's imprint, Chronicle Books who publish most of the Disney The Art of books), I chatted about The Art of Finding Dory. They said "We'll try and chat to Disney about you getting a copy", but I didn't think much of it. Sorry, but I couldn't imagine the powers at Disney allowing a tiny blog such as my tiny Pewter Wolf baby to read and review it?

So imagine my shocked delight when this came through my door. So, thank you Chronicle Books and Disney/Pixar!

Highly anticipated sequel to Finding Nemo (one of my fave movies, FYI), Finding Dory is finally about to come out in the UK! And here, in The Art of Finding Dory, we see snippets of ideas and artwork that went into making the movie. From new characters and locations, from photographs and concept art to sculptures and sketches, this is an insight to how the movie was made.

This is one side of how the movie was made, and it's the one I really enjoy. I always enjoy how people designed themes and who the get ideas/emotions over within a scene, and how they created new characters (I found the new characters Hank the octopus, Destiny the whale shark and Bailey the beluga whale so interesting and, without even seeing the movie yet, I know I will love these characters oh so much!) and locations.

My advice to you guys is that if you are going to get this, get it after you watched the movie. There is a few hints towards how the movie ends. It doesn't go really into depth but if you dislike spoilers, I would say buy/read after watching the movie.

But I really enjoyed reading this! And I shall be skimming this and The Art of Finding Nemo after I watch Finding Dory... 

I'm feeling in a good mood, so let me show you some (non-spoiler) pictures within the book...

This is my favourite illustration within this book, so I have to give it credit. The below is a "Digital Painting" (no idea what that means) is done by Rona Liu and Sharon Calahan, and isn't it cool? ISN'T IT?! 

GoodRead - The Art of Frozen

If you have followed my blog for a while, you know I like these types of books. I like reading about how films such as Finding Nemo, Up, The Avengers and Harry Potter got made and the art behind it. So, for Christmas, I asked for two books tackling the art behind the films. The first is about one of my main book/film loves (and with that, am going to take my sweet time over reading it) and the second was this.

The Art of Frozen does exactly what it does on the tin. With a preface from John Lasseter, the creative head of Disney's Animation Studios, and foreward from Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the directors of the movie, this book shows the art of how the movie was made. We had scenes from the storyboard stages, pencil drawings, digital designs, photography among others which showed how Frozen was created.

I love these types of books. I love staring at the pictures and going "Oh, that's cool!" or "I see why this had to be done, because of that!" There are a few scenes I saw in art form where I went "I didn't realise that was the original trail of thought for this movie but am glad they didn't continue with that!"

But I loved reading this and staring at the pretty pictures. Yes, this isn't much of a review, I know that, but I loved reading this and I shall be plotting to watch the movie again soon.

GoodRead - The Art Of Up

As you guys probably know from my previous review of The Art of Finding Nemo (review here, if you fancy a quick read), I adore Pixar movies. And one of my faves is Up. I adore the story, the meaning, the music (how can you not listen to Married Life and not cry?!). I seem to be going through a "Must Read Books About Art" phase at the moment because as soon as I saw this, I knew I had to have it. It was one of those impulse buys that I did with no one going "You're spending your money on that? Is that wise? Surely you should be saving for your future...?"

Yeah, I bought it without anyone knowing till it was too late.

So, The Art of Up is exactly what it says on the cover. With a foreword from the director, Pete Docter, the author does short write-ups per the few chapters that this book have. Which means most of this book is art and design of the movie and, after reading The Art of Finding Nemo, it was very interesting to read the difference of how these movies were created (although I know most people won't buy both books and will only buy or read one of them). And yes, I drooled over the art and the sketches that started and known what it was turned into. And I understood why the characters were drawn the shapes they were...!

I loved it. I did enjoy reading this and it made me want to watch the film again (this was the same after I read Finding Nemo and I do have plans to watch them soon...)

So, if you are a Pixar fan or a fan of the movie, then you might want to give this a look...

GoodRead - The Art Of Finding Nemo

As you guys are probably aware, I adore Pixar movies. I own most of them and seen all bar two of them (I know, I fail but SOON!!!). Two of my fave Disney Pixar movies are Up (I sob every time I watch it. I'm not ashamed to admit that!) and, one of my favorite movies EVER, Finding Nemo. And, in the past few months/years, I seem to be have a thing for The Art of books on how a movie is made. I did try to buy The Art of Rise of the Guardians (a Dreamworks movie, and no, I haven't seen it yet!) but when Amazon screwed up my order, I cancelled it and saw this for second-hand so I HAD to have it. I had to. There was no thinking it over. I bought it within a few minutes of seeing it (I had to find my credit card).

So, The Art of Finding Nemo. It's exactly what the title states. With a foreword from John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton (the main two of Pixar), this shows the art work the people involved in making this movie from the beginning to the later stages. And I drooled over each and every picture, which ranged from quick and cartoony to very serious and very indepth.

And I loved it! Loved to discover how one of my fave movies was created. And I discovered several pictures that I DESPERATELY want to frame. Might ask Disney/Pixar for a print to hang on my wall. Yes, I am that sad!

If you are a fan of the movie or interested in art, this is for you. Enjoy. And remember, JUST KEEP SWIMMING!



PS - I have one other The Art Of in my stack and I will read it soon. If you're smart, you know which one I have...

PPS - THERE'S GOING TO BE A FINDING DORY!!!! *flails*

Finding Dory

As you guys know, I am a bit of a Pixar fan. One of my fave movies from Pixar is Finding Nemo. I can actually quote lines from the film (mainly Dory's), so, of course, when the rumours/the news that Pixar was going to make a sequel last year, I had mixed feelings. While I was excited, I had fears. What if the movie sucked? What if the movie screws up my love for the first movie? So, the news was revealed...



IT'S CONFIRMED! IT'S GONNA HAPPEN!

So, reactions. Are you excited or scared over this news? Or leave your fave line from Finding Nemo or best Dory line!

PIXAR!!!

Have I told you guys I ADORE Pixar?!

Thanks to the tumblrs of FzngWizbee and Mickey & Minnie

OMG! UP is REAL?!?!

Don't believe me? Here's my proof!

Finding Nemo - On Ice???

Okay, I am a big of a PIXAR fan. My fave PIXAR film is FINDING NEMO (though UP is cool! And as for WALL-E...). And last year, my friends and I discovered that Finding Nemo was put on ice. An ice show for Finding Nemo?! AWESOME!

But we missed the date. However, I saw an image of it and it has freaked me out. I'll show you want I mean. Here is a Finding Nemo image



And this is a Finding Nemo On Ice image...



See! IT'S WEIRD!!!

Dory & Dug - Fighting Crime Together!

Okay, while I was at work, my friends and I got chatting about Disney films. And Pixar films. Then, out of nowhere, my friend and I suggested that Dug from Up! and Dory from Finding Nemo should join up.

I mean, they are the fave characters in Pixar movies, aren't they? And it would be cool!

And we thought of two titles will high on sugar (well, I was!). There are:

"Dory and Dug Take On Kevin" (That's the kid from Up!)

OR

"Dory and Dug Take On - SQUIRREL!!!" (Up! reference joke...)

(in case you haven't noticed, I think Pixar should have a UK office so I can work there!)

Up! - Upular Remix

I saw on youTube and I love it. (I love Up, even though on Saturday when I watched it, I cried. Twice!)