Book Review: The Art of Monsters vs Aliens
This is a great art book filled with concept art, and the content is well written by Linda Sunshine.
The book is split into 5 parts, Character Design, Locations, Visual F/X, The Making of Monsters vs Aliens and Out of the Picture.
The book starts off with an foreword by Stephan Colbert who voices President Hathaway. Just like many animation films, he coincidentally looks like the character he voices.
Every animation film has a specific technical or visual problem to solve. In this case, it was the tricky portrayal of size and scale. This is all in the introduction where the staff talks about this and other technical and story challenges to making the movie.
Under Character Design, we have concept sketches and digital paintings. Each character comes with writeup on how they come into being, from idea to how many times it has evolved as required by story. The characters featured are Susan aka Ginormica, Dr. Cockroach, The Missing Link, B.O.B, Insectosaurus, Gallaxahar and clones, Robots, President Hathaway, General W.R. Monger and other humans.
On Locations and Set. The art featured here shows how the set is caricatured to fit into the comedy. Everything is captioned to explain the rational. There are lots of interesting stuff to read and see. For example, there's one cross-section blueprint on the Area Fifty-Something, and just right outside the facility, there are people tunneling to China. And the humpback commercial airplane looks hilarious.
Part four addresses the more technical aspect of making the movie, like rigging, lighting and texturing. There are 12 pages in all, and I'll probably be getting the DVD when it eventually comes out for additional behind-the-scenes production process.
Finally, the book ends with a few unused concepts.
The beautiful illustrations are printed in low gloss thick paper, well bind in hardcover (with a dust jacket).
Linda Sunshine has done well by providing lots of context into the art and story, making this a very enjoyable book to read.
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Comments
Parka, this book is available
Parka, this book is available in hardback and paperback, which one do you thing would be better to buy?
Thanks
Animator13
@Animator13 I've seen the
In reply to Parka, this book is available by Animator13 (not verified)
@Animator13
I've seen the paperback version and prefer the hardcover. The binding is better and looks sturdier than the paperback book spine
i have purchased this book. i
i have purchased this book. i have quit a number of art concept books and consider the 'art of monsters vs aliens' to be in the top 5.
parka has summed up the book nicely, the art is brilliant and it's choca-full of illustrations and the genesis of each character is well written.
it is well worth the price of $30 odd dollars.
FYI: There is no special
FYI: There is no special effects in this movie. The Special F/X you are referring to should be Visual Effects.
To learn more: https://www.vfxtalk.com/forum/sfx-vfx-t10250.html?s=18412c00c6af7abe993…;
It seems, like The Art of
In reply to @David Thanks for the by Teoh Yi Chie
It seems, like The Art of Finding Nemo, that this book has recently gone out of print. At least, it's not available on Amazon UK or USA for a sane price. Just thought you'd like to know.
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