The Art and Making of Peanuts Animation

Description

For the first time, this deluxe visual history treats Peanuts fans to an in-depth look at the art and making of the beloved animated Peanuts specials. From 1965's original classic A Charlie Brown Christmas through the 2011 release of Happiness is a Warm Blanket, animation historian Charles Solomon goes behind the scenes of all 45 films, exploring the process of bringing a much-loved comic strip to life. The book showcases the creative development through the years with gorgeous, never-before-seen concept art, and weaves a rich history based on dozens of interviews with former Peanuts directors, animators, voice talent, and layout artists, as well as current industry folk. Filling a void in animation publishing--there is no other history or art book of the Peanuts specials--this volume celebrates five decades of the artistry and humor of Charles M. Schultz and the artists who reimagined the comic for the screen.

Charles Solomon is an animation historian and the author of several books, including The Art of Toy Story 3 and Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

"Not only a visual delight - original cels, backgrounds, storyboards, animation drawings, Schulz model sheets and scripts, behind the scenes photos, television station publicity materials - but Solomon's text is goes deep into the making of these landmark specials (and theatrical features) with new information and interviews with noted participants, including Lee Mendelsohn, Phil Roman, the late Bill Melendez and Bill Littlejohn - and many others including the voice actors. The text is loaded with great inside information and I particularly appreciated how Solomon tied the influences of UPA and earlier animation to the Peanuts shows - and how these Charlie Brown specials have influenced important directors and creators of animation working today. The bottom line: the book is great fun and highly informative. I never thought a book about Peanuts specials could be so enlightening and entertaining. Bravo, Mr. Solomon, the Schulz estate and the editor/designers at Chronicle for a job well done. You've done Mr. Schulz and Mr. Brown proud." --CartoonBrew "The beautiful, display-worthy book unfolds the history of the Peanuts TV specials and is filled with interviews with the creators of the 'toons; insider scoop on the productions; and fun, exclusive material like storyboards, Charles Schulz's model sheets, scripts, original cels, and publicity materials." Yahoo! TV "The book offers a compelling journey through Schulz's world. If you loved those specials growing up, you can appreciate what "The Art and Making of Peanuts Animation" has to say. Nothing good is easy. And 'Peanuts'? It was very, very good." -Sioux City Journal "This engaging art book features dozens of interesting interviews, but the real treasure is all the often-seen images and little-seen artifacts associated with the five decades of Emmy-winning "Peanuts" specials. Animation historian Charles Solomon pulls it all together, with a foreword by producer Lee Mendelson." - Washington Post "What a smart idea to write a book about the making of the Peanuts TV specials. The Peanuts universe is so big with the features, comic strips, etc, but as much as I love the movies, it's the TV specials that really define Peanuts for me. A Charlie Brown Christmas, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and It's the Easter Beagle stand out personally, but there were 45 TV specials going all the way back to 1965. Charles Solomon goes over all of them, interviewing directors, animators, voice talent, execs and just about everyone who would talk to him. Also included is never before seen production and concept art for these specials" Ain't It Cool News "Considering the popularity of the Peanuts animation on TV and in DVDs, and the dearth of printed information about them, The Art and Making of Peanuts Animation: Celebrating Fifty Years of Television Specials is one book that animation fans and public libraries have to have!" - Animation World Network