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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Both of these heavily illustrated books look at two less celebrated sections of the Disney empire, and the rare artwork that both contain is their strongest asset. Canemaker’s book is on the people who created preliminary sketches “that explore the visual possibilities in a literary property.” These possibilities for any proposed cartoon include the visual style of the film, how the characters will look, the way a major scene could be portrayed, and so on. Specific sketch artists have put their individual stamp on the entire look of the finished film in such cases as Sleeping Beauty, Bambi, and Night on Bald Mountain. In addition, they have created memorable minor characters, such as Pocahontas’s raccoon pal and Beauty and the Beast’s Mrs. Potts. Canemaker primarily concentrates on the feature-length cartoons, and he gives special attention to Fantasia. By chronologically examining the life and work of the significant sketch artists, he ably demonstrates their contributions. An interesting look at a neglected aspect of the Disney films. With a combination of imagination and engineering skill, the Imagineers create all elements of the Disney theme parks, from the rides, attractions, shops, and restaurants to the signs, light fixtures, trash cans, and landscaping. Starting with Disneyland and continuing up to the present day, this book attempts to show how “imagineering” created so many memorable experiences. Even with the aid of copious illustrations?never-before-seen artwork from the Imagineering Division’s own files?the act of imaginative creation is difficult to re-create, and this work doesn’t completely succeed in showing how the Imagineers brought their creations into being. It is further hampered by a once-over-lightly writing style. But that is a minor quibble in what for the most part is a fascinating before-the-curtain-rises look at the Disney theme parks. Both books are highly recommended for academic and larger public libraries.?Marianne Cawley, Enoch Pratt Free Lib., Baltimore
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
“Imagineering” is a coinage of the Disney corporation that denotes the combination of imagination and engineering it employs to create the attractions in its theme parks. This big, lavish artbook spans four decades of imagineering, from the relatively unsophisticated rides, such as Main Street U.S.A. and the Matterhorn, with which Disneyland opened in 1959, to the high-tech, special effects^-inspired rides at Disney-MGM Studios (many concepts that never got off the drawing board also appear). It takes readers through the entire imagineering process, from original idea, through blueprints and scale models, to actual construction–all illustrated by hundreds of concept sketches, character designs, architectural drawings, and other artwork. It goes to show: the Disney crew puts impressive effort into providing simple fun for tourists. Chock-full of the behind-the-scenes info and trivia Disney fans love, the book is a fascinating display of state-of-the-art theme park development and stimulating incitement for Disney-bound vacationers who want more than travel guides will give them. Gordon Flagg –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.