Toy Story: The Art and Making of an Animated Film by John Lasseter

Toy Story: The Art and Making of an Animated Film Reviews

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  τλιϓλ

  ولأنني من عشاق هذا الفيلم كثيرا فقد وجدته أمرا ضروريا بالنسبة لي إقتناء هذا الكتاب وكان حلما منذ أن شاهدت الفيلم ولم يتحقق إلا مؤخرا بفضل الله.
  تقريبا غطى الكتاب جوانب كثيرة من الفيلم وصناعته مرورا بذكريات مؤدي الأصوات، خبراء التحريك، صانعوا التماثيل، كتاب الأغاني، مؤلفوا القطع الموسيقية وغيرها، لقد كان الفيلم تحفة بكل ماتحمله الكلمة من معنى.
  حتى أصوات الألعاب التي كانت تثير بداخلي الحنين لبعض الألعاب في طفولتي هي أصوات حقيقية تمت الاستعانة بها لتمنح كل لعبة صوتها المميز الذي أشتهرت به.
  بالنسبة لحبكة الفيلم فأنا أعتقد أنها أتت على أجزاء مختلفة لكن متكاملة: علاقة الطفل بألعابه وكيف ينبهر بكل جديد، علاقة الألعاب ببعضها وكيف تتصرف إزاء أي قادم جديد وماهي -بالنسبة لها- الأوقات الصعبة التي قد تمر بها، اندي كأي طفل آخر يبهره كل جديد يضاف لقائمة ألعابه لكنه يبقى وفيا لأول لعبة رافقته منذ صغره، أعتقد أن ذلك هو ماشق على وودي فبعد أن كان الأول دائما لم يدر بخلده أنه سيصبح رقم اثنان ولا حتى صفرا على الشمال، لو أنه صبر فقط لعلم أن اندي سيعود له ليرافقه لكن شخصية وودي لم تحتمل ذلك الإهمال.
  لا يفوتني أن أنوه بجملة عبقرية في الكتاب تقول بما معناه أن بز عليه أن يتعلم أن يخفف من غروره وأن يدرك حجمه لكن على وودي بالمقابل أن يتعلم كيف يتعامل مع الآخرين، أن يدرك حدوده وأن يعرف أن الحال لا يدوم على ماهو عليه فاليوم أنت في القمة وغدا قد تهوي للقاع وذلك لا يعني أن عليك أن تنتقم من أحدهم بل أن تثبت نفسك، إن وودي كما يبدو بحاجة حقا لدروس كثيرة وأظنه قد تعلمها بطرق قاسية.
  تشكيلة الصور رائعة وأظن أن كميتها جاءت مناسبة للغاية.
  حجم الكتاب لا تعليق، صحيح أني قرأت عن حجمه لكن الأمر اختلف حينما أمسكته وأبهرتني الصورة الثلاثية الأبعاد على غلافه، لقد راقتني كثيرا.
  استمتعت كثيرا بهذا الكتاب وأعتقد أن على عشاق الفيلم ألا يفوتوا قراءته أو الإطلاع عليه.
  
  If i have to write in short about this book, then simply: I'm in love with it, very wonderful and must have for the film fans.
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  Simon Sweetman

  This was really cool to read - we take for granted now the leaps and bounds in computer-animation, etc. Great to go back to 20+ years ago when Toy Story was being shaped as the first full computer-driven animated film. The way it all slotted into place over several years is explained in detail here with great early sketch work and explanations of how casting and soundtrack composer selections helped to shape the story and vision.
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  Ross Bonaime

  Toy Story is my all-time favorite film, and ever since I saw it in 1995, I've been obsessed with everything about this film, from little Easter eggs hidden for fans of Pixar, to anything about the development of the first computer-animated film ever made. I went into Toy Story: The Art and Making of an Animated Film sort of assuming it would be nothing but facts I already knew, but I was pleasantly surprised by the things I still learned after 25 years of adoring this film.
  
  There are little gems in this book that were completely new to me, like the fact that until very late in production, Pizza Planet was actually a pizza-themed mini-golf place called "Pizza Putt." I was also shocked to learn that the head of Hannah, Sid's sister, was reused for the creepy baby doll-Erector set creature in Sid's room. Also, Joss Whedon says Sid is the most relatable character in the film, which is...problematic.
  
  While this is largely a book about the art of this world, I found this most interesting as a way to see how this film evolved over time, and how things that seem obvious now weren't clear to the filmmakers at the time. For example, I had known that Woody started out as more of a douchebag, but I don't think I realized just how far Pixar was pushing that character. It also seems like they didn't have a solid idea of what they were doing with Sid, how to wrap up all their stories in the end, or in many cases, how to get from one setpiece to another.
  
  Which brings me to what might have been my biggest shock, which is just how hands-on Disney was with the first Pixar film. I had just sort of assumed that Disney simply distributed Pixar's films, rather than having much involvement. But this book implies that Disney was much more helpful, even bringing in some of their biggest directors, like the teams from Aladdin and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, to help fix story problems. I was totally unaware previously that one of the people who worked on character designs for the "monsters" in Sid's room had just finished working on A Nightmare Before Christmas - a detail that makes so much sense now in hindsight.
  
  But it's also interesting that this book was written in 1995, and while the team is clear that they've made something unlike any film before it, they're not yet aware of just how major the impact will be. The tone is more cautiously optimistic that this will be something people will love, since they've spent years painstakingly putting this film together. If this book was made in 2020, it would likely be more grandiose in its approach to the importance of Toy Story in film history, but since this was released the year the film came out, it reads like a new studio trying to show off their work with the hope that they can continue to improve and tell more unique stories.
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  Elliot Richards

  Despite the film being relatively old by today's computer animation standards, Toy Story is still a benchmark film with regards to its storytelling. This book does a nice job in highlighting some of the ups and downs of the development of the film. It's not an in-depth or deeply technical look at the film, it's more cursory, which makes it an easy read and a great way into reading further on CG movies.
  
  
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  Natalie Pietro

  I’ve had this book since Christmas of 1995. My father gave me this book as a Christmas gift. It’s blue, big, and has a hologram cover. I loved the little details this book added to show you the depth that went into making Toy Story. I also loved the Pre-animation stills. I love how they differ from the movie. I will treasure this book for a life time.
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  Avedon Arcadio

  A great breakdown of a revolutionary film. I only wish it had more conceptual art like more of the newer “Art of” book series that succeeded this one.
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  Tim Milligan

  Pretty good overview of the whole process, just not as in depth as I'm sure I'd enjoy. Unsurprisingly, the best part is Randy Newman.
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  Roos

  SUCH a cool book! They even show what the animation progress looks like in the computer and that is exactly what I'm looking for in artbooks!
  Really such a fun read.
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  Parka

  
  
  (More pictures at
  parkablogs.com)
  
  The cover has a holographic cover to bring across the message that this is a 3D movie. That's pretty unique.
  
  This is a big book close to A3 paper's dimension. The huge pages provide the huge canvas on which the storyboards, character designs and movie renders display. All the art pieces are just beautiful and inspiring to look at.
  
  Text is written by John Lasseter, the director, and Steve Daly. They bring you behind the scenes into the production for the world's first 3d animated movie. I'm pretty amazed that Toy Story was made from around 2000 models!
  
  The focus of the book is actually on the story telling. It's about how the form follows the function. For example, you'll get to understand how Rex's small forearms created his "cream puff" character, why Woody is a soft puppet and Buzz the cool spaceman.
  
  There are plenty of interesting quotes from the staff in the empty pockets of the pages. They provide tremendous depth and insight to the film's production.
  
  Breakdowns for individual characters are included, namely for Woody, Buzz, Andy and other toys. Detailed explanation are given on the development of these characters. You'll understand why characters behave the way they do, and the impression they create in the audience. In essence, you'll see how Pixar breath life into these otherwise inanimate objects.
  
  The concept behind everything used in the movie are explained, from the dialogue, characters, design and music. You get the whole story. You get the feeling that you're working with the animators.
  
  If there's anything the book wants to bring across, it can probably be summed up by this quote from Joe Ranft:
  
  "If the story isn't there, all the breakthrough computer graphics in the world piled onto it won't matter. You'll have made a piece of passing fashion."
  
  That is just so true when you separate the CG movies that you enjoy from those that are just eye candy.
  
  This review was first published on
  parkablogs.com. There are more pictures and videos on my blog.
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  Richard

  I recently read a book about the making of King Kong (the 1933 version, of course!) and I decided to follow it up with a book about the making of Toy Story, another movie for which I have great affection. It was interesting to read about two such innovative movies that were created over 60 years apart. The Toy Story book had a lot of interesting tidbits about the making of this wonderful film and the technical and creative challenges that the creators faced. It wasn't just about the computer graphics; the book also covers the story, the characterizations, the music, the sound effects, and more. A very quick read; the pages fly by because of how many illustrations there were. I would have preferred fewer pictures and more words; this is a great topic that could have stood more depth, but anyone who loves Toy Story (and who doesn't?) would probably enjoy this book.
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  Helen

  This is a good resource for anyone who loves animation. Beyond that anyone who loves "Toy Story". Gives you everything you ever wanted to know about the process and the amount of effort to create and produce a movie of this sort. Also tells you about each of the unique personalities of the movie and how they evolved.
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  Dan Domanski

  This is better than watching most "making of" extras on DVDs (which often end up being high-five fests for the filmmakers and actors). There is so much detail about how Toy Story was made, and the process that the animators went through! How much changed from beginning to end! I have MORE respect for the movie after reading this book.
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  Kat

  Comprehensive information on the making of Toy Story. Includes art and creator's notes and sketches. Great for my wee one who LOVES the movies!
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  Kelly K

  This gave me a whole new appreciation for Toy Story. I love these art and making of books!