The Art of Mulan

Rating:
Summary: This book is awesome!
Review: "The Art of Mulan" is a wonderful book. It is jammed full of information about the making of this wonderful Disney animated feature film. It has scores of production stills from the movie (and even of discarded scenes), as well as many inspirational drawings of the Chinese contryside. I learned a lot about the legend of Mulan, the production of the movie, and the crew's visit to China. This is a great book. ORDER "THE ART OF MULAN" TODAY!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Yet Another Fascinating Book About Disney's Animated Art
Review: As long as Walt Disney Feature Animation keeps coming out with beautiful movies, Hyperion will keep releasing equally beautiful books about them. As with past "The Art of..." books, this large volume is highly recommended for anyone who loves the movie "Mulan" or just loves the artistry of Disney's animators.

Its striking cover announces that the book itself is a piece of art, and the oversized pages within certainly live up to expectations. Every single page in "The Art of Mulan" contains colorful images, thought-provoking Chinese proverbs, interviews with the artists and actors, or other insights from author Jeff Kurtti.

The book is so beautiful that it is tempting just to thumb through the pages, but the casual browser would miss many interesting facts by doing so. Although reading the hefty book from cover to cover may seem like a challenge, it is very worthwhile. As the book says, quoting a Chinese proverb, "A journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step."

Rating:
Summary: Holds a special place on my shelf...
Review: I have long studied, followed, and enjoyed Disney animation, and the film "Mulan" certainly did not disappoint me. So, when I set out to buy this book upon its initial publishing, I was fairly certain I would like it. I was wrong, I loved it!

Jeff Kurtti does an excellent job scribing the background for the making of this feature, and he has quickly established himself as the preeminent writer for Disney books of this nature. I was fortunate to meet and speak with Mr. Kurtti during my wonderful participation at the Mulan Animation Experience held at the Disney Insitute in the summer of 1998, and he comes off as an "ultimate Disney fan". His writing conveys this as well, but in a more polished, informative nature. He really had a good time researching this book, and it shows!

But, with all due respect to Mr. Kurtti, this book isn't called the "Art of Mulan" for nothing. The typical Disney quality is abundant in every frame of artwork within the book, and the sheer volume of development and concept sketches is a real treat. Having also met the film's directors, many of the animators, storyboard artists, etc. at the '98 event (put together, by the way, by Mr. Larry Lauria, a quality individual in the animation industry) I have had the luxury of being exposed to many of the background elements during the development of this film. This book, however, served as a wonderful companion piece to that experience, and also communicates much of the same information and emotion felt at that event. It is that thorough and the result of another top-notch Hyperion production.

Certainly, if you like the movie and/or appreciate Disney animation (or the growing library of "Art of..." books), then this one should be in your collection. Mr. Kurtti, Disney, and Hyperion have "done honour to us all".

Rating:
Summary: Holds a special place on my shelf...
Review: I have long studied, followed, and enjoyed Disney animation, and the film "Mulan" certainly did not disappoint me. So, when I set out to buy this book upon its initial publishing, I was fairly certain I would like it. I was wrong, I loved it!

Jeff Kurtti does an excellent job scribing the background for the making of this feature, and he has quickly established himself as the preeminent writer for Disney books of this nature. I was fortunate to meet and speak with Mr. Kurtti during my wonderful participation at the Mulan Animation Experience held at the Disney Insitute in the summer of 1998, and he comes off as an "ultimate Disney fan". His writing conveys this as well, but in a more polished, informative nature. He really had a good time researching this book, and it shows!

But, with all due respect to Mr. Kurtti, this book isn't called the "Art of Mulan" for nothing. The typical Disney quality is abundant in every frame of artwork within the book, and the sheer volume of development and concept sketches is a real treat. Having also met the film's directors, many of the animators, storyboard artists, etc. at the '98 event (put together, by the way, by Mr. Larry Lauria, a quality individual in the animation industry) I have had the luxury of being exposed to many of the background elements during the development of this film. This book, however, served as a wonderful companion piece to that experience, and also communicates much of the same information and emotion felt at that event. It is that thorough and the result of another top-notch Hyperion production.

Certainly, if you like the movie and/or appreciate Disney animation (or the growing library of "Art of..." books), then this one should be in your collection. Mr. Kurtti, Disney, and Hyperion have "done honour to us all".

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring!
Review: I love this book. It is in fact one of the few "Art Of" books that I've read from beginning to end, instead of just skimming around for the "good parts". For me, it was ALL good parts. The book is filled with amazing artwork. You get to learn some interesting secrets about the movie. And, read about the gang's trip to China, which I found very interesting.

If you liked Mulan, like animation or just like art, you definitly should buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: Coffee Table Treasure
Review: Not to be confused with the usual "Disney" kiddie books,
this beauty is chock full of beautiful artwork that deserves
a place in your living room .. A+

Rating:
Summary: Art good - text bad
Review: Serious students of Disney animation will not be disappointed by "The Art of Mulan". This book has many fine pictures of original art of various types used to make the film - from concept pictures to storyboards to close to the final product. I enjoy all of the "Art of ..." books, despite the high price, so I can try my hand at drawing and painting some material similar to the Disney animators. However, the text goes into more detail about their journey in China, rather than the real "making of" type text I expect. That was the only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars. Art students would love this for a gift...

Rating:
Summary: Art good - text bad
Review: Serious students of Disney animation will not be disappointed by "The Art of Mulan". This book has many fine pictures of original art of various types used to make the film - from concept pictures to storyboards to close to the final product. I enjoy all of the "Art of ..." books, despite the high price, so I can try my hand at drawing and painting some material similar to the Disney animators. However, the text goes into more detail about their journey in China, rather than the real "making of" type text I expect. That was the only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars. Art students would love this for a gift...

Rating:
Summary: I'm proud to own it!
Review: This is a book we're proud to own. Jeff Kurtti is to be congratulated on bringing together the art and history of the making of a Disney,s masterpiece, MULAN. Beautifully printed on quality paper. To turn the page is to uncover a treasure! I am sure Disney,s films were never been so wonderfully showed in a book.Unfortunately, the price makes the book an expensive tool for many young people beginning a career.A book like this deserves to be read and enjoyed by everyone. But even with that one criticism, this book is a MUST HAVE.