From Publishers Weekly
Originally published in 1973, Finch’s classic book on the artistic innovations of Walt Disney has been revised and expanded several times, and with each edition his definition of "art" becomes more suspect. The book’s original material, much of which Finch wisely retains, patiently records the art, inventions and shrewd enterprises of the studio’s legendary early years, while offering a fascinating tutorial on the birth of animation. Seventy lavishly illustrated pages are devoted to the Mickey and Donald years, another 50 to the movies Snow White and Pinocchio. Walt Disney stars in these early chapters as an artistic Icarus whose prodigal budgets and "quest for perfection" pushed his production teams to unprecedented heights. An unapologetic apologist, Finch is always there to defend Disney (whom he considers "the ultimate auteur") against critics who have called him a "backward-looking" artist and even "an advocate of political authoritarianism." Such biases aside, the book manages to tell a rousing tale of Disney’s creative life—right up to his 1965 deathbed hallucination of the yet-unrealized Epcot Center. This new edition, however, also takes on Disney’s posthumous life, when his ambitions outlive his quirky personality and are carried out by foot soldiers called "imagineers." The sundry innovations of Tim Burton, Pixar and two Broadway spinoffs may loosely qualify as the "Art of Disney," but so, too, according to Finch, do the corporation’s war chest of "toontowns," movie rides and international theme parks. Boldly blurring the line between art and money, Finch’s sprawling hagiography of the Magic Kingdom touches down for a perfect Hollywood ending: "Perhaps the greatest achievement of Michael Eisner …," it concludes, "has been to build a company in which no creative endeavor need be aborted for lack of available funding."Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Library Journal
The Art of Walt Disney was first published in 1973. This major revision (some 50 percent of the text is new, with 200 new illustrations) carries the Disney story up to such current feature films as Pocahontas and even stories in production like The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Finch (The Art of the Lion King, Hyperion, 1994) also continues his exploration of Disney's nonanimated enterprises: the live-action films, television productions, and Disney theme parks in the United States, Japan, and France. As one would expect, excellent full-color illustrations abound, although the type size has been reduced in comparison with the first edition, presumably for reasons of economy. Solomon (The History of Animation, LJ 12/95) takes a vertical approach to the Disney phenomenon, concentrating on the fascinating world of Disney-animated features that were never released for a variety of reasons. In doing so he draws on the resources of the studio's Animation Research Library, where he was able to take advantage of countless detailed drawings and notes preserved even for productions that never came to fruition?a common practice at Disney. In this volume the Disney connoisseur will learn about Disney projects like Chanticleer and Reynard, as well as a curious collaborative venture undertaken by Disney and Salvador Dali. Disney propaganda, training, and entertainment films made during World War II are detailed in one of the most fascinating chapters. Few Disney fans would associate the animation giant with such films as Four Methods of Flush Riveting or Prostitution and the War. As contributions to the history of animation, both volumes are essential for academic and American studies collections. Public libraries with limited budgets may opt for Finch's more broadly appealing book.?Janice Zlendich, California State Univ. Lib., FullertonCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
When it first appeared in 1973, Finch's massive tome immediately became the standard work on the history of the Disney studio. While revised as recently as 1995, so much has happened in animation since then that this further revision, brimming with full-color illustrations, is definitely in order. Most of the text covering the lengthy history of the studio, from Walt Disney's early silents to the introduction of Mickey Mouse to Snow White, the first U.S. feature-length cartoon, to the 1990s Disney animation renaissance, remains intact. Finch also details the company's moves into live-action films, television, and theme parks. New chapters cover such recent releases as Mulan and Lilo and Stitch, Broadway adaptations of Disney cartoon features, and, most significant, Pixar's digital-animation releases, such as Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., whose phenomenal popularity prompted Disney to phase out its traditional-animation unit. Although authorized, Finch's book accords each film balanced critical assessment. The initial edition is a library mainstay, but the renewed popularity of animation mandates replacing shelf-worn copies of it with this update. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
The Art of Walt Disney is one of Abrams' enduring classics. Thirty years and well over half a million copies after its first publication in 1973, it is still considered the definitive study of The Walt Disney Company's vast artistic achievements through the decades. The book tells the remarkable story of Walt Disney and the company he built, from Mickey Mouse to animated feature films to theme parks. Based on hundreds of interviews with Disney staff members past and present, the text is illustrated with more than 800 illustrations ranging from concept art to film stills to views of the theme-park attractions.

This revised and expanded edition covers all of the major projects since the 1995 edition, including the films Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, and Home on the Range, as well as Disney's collaborations with Pixar: Toy Story I and II; Monsters, Inc. ; Finding Nemo (the highest-grossing animated film in history); and The Incredibles, due for release this year. The live-action films and Broadway productions are also covered, as well as the latest theme-park developments, including brand-new parks such as Tokyo DisneySea and Hong Kong Disneyland. AUTHOR BIO: Christopher Finch is a regular contributor to Architectural Digest and the author of more than 20 books, including The Art of the Lion King, Jim Henson: The Works, and Abrams' Norman Rockwell's America.


From the Publisher
The Art of Walt Disney is an enduring classic-a book that has sold nearly 600,000 copies in two lavish hardcover editions. Now, for the first time, Abrams is proud to announce an affordable condensed paperback version of this remarkable book. Drawing on unfettered access to Disney artists and archives, Christopher Finch chronicles every facet of Disney art-animation, live-action, and theme parks-from Mickey's 1928 debut in Steamboat Willie to the forthcoming Fantasia 2000. All the major milestones receive full coverage, including recent projects-Toy Story, the Broadway Lion King, Mulan, and Disney's Animal Kingdom, among others-that don't appear in the 1995 hardcover edition. With 250 striking illustrations and a wonderfully inexpensive price, this will be an irresistible gift for Disney fans everywhere. 250 illustrations, 150 in full color, 911/2 x 1111/4" 1Christopher Finch is the author of more than 20 books, including Abrams' Norman Rockwell's America. ROY DISNEY is the nephew of Walt Disney and vice chairman of the board of the Walt Disney Company


About the Author
Christopher Finch is a regular contributor to Architectural Digest and the author of more than 20 books, including The Art of the Lion King, Jim Henson: The Works, and Abrams' Norman Rockwell's America.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The story of an extraordinary man and the company he built from the creations of his fertile imagination. Chronicles the early cartoons, the first animated features and live action films, and the development of the Disney theme parks through the 1970s. 9 1/2" x 12".

ANNOTATION

The first and only major updating and revision of a classic that has sold more than 500,000 copies since its first publication in 1973, this elaborately illustrated volume tells the remarkable story of Walt Disney, and chronicles the dramatic resurgence of the company he founded as it grew under new management, up to the release of The Lion King. 666 illustrations, 350 in color.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Art of Walt Disney is one of Abrams' enduring classics. Thirty years and well over half a million copies after its first publication in 1973, it is still considered the definitive study of The Walt Disney Company's vast artistic achievements through the decades. The book tells the remarkable story of Walt Disney and the company he built, from Mickey Mouse to animated feature films to theme parks. Based on hundreds of interviews with Disney staff members past and present, the text is illustrated with more than 800 illustrations ranging from concept art to film stills to views of the theme-park attractions.

This revised and expanded edition covers all of the major projects since the 1995 edition, including the films Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, and Home on the Range, as well as Disney's collaborations with Pixar: Toy Story I and II; Monsters, Inc. ; Finding Nemo (the highest-grossing animated film in history); and The Incredibles, due for release this year. The live-action films and Broadway productions are also covered, as well as the latest theme-park developments, including brand-new parks such as Tokyo DisneySea and Hong Kong Disneyland.