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The Art and Making of Hannibal: The Television Series
The Art & Making of Hannibal: The Television Series
is a detailed look at the making of this highly original, critically lauded, and visually stunning series. Released ahead of the start of the 3rd season, this book will bring Fannibals into the world of secrets, lies, and intrigue of their beloved show.
With stars including Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas and guest spots by Gillian Anderson, Eddie Izzard and Michael Pitt, Hannibal is one of the most elegant, engrossing and deliciously haunting shows on television today. The Art & Making of Hannibal: The Television Series celebrates all aspects of this unique show. A highly stylized illustrated book featuring extracts of the shooting scripts of the first and second seasons, exclusive cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes photography, production notes, storyboards, alongside Hannibal's sketches and music notations.
Hannibal Lecter was a brilliant psychiatrist in the employ of the FBI. His task: to help an unusually gifted criminal profiler, Will Graham, who is haunted by his ability to see into the minds of serial killers.
With stars including Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas and guest spots by Gillian Anderson, Eddie Izzard and Michael Pitt, Hannibal is one of the most elegant, engrossing and deliciously haunting shows on television today. The Art & Making of Hannibal: The Television Series celebrates all aspects of this unique show. A highly stylized illustrated book featuring extracts of the shooting scripts of the first and second seasons, exclusive cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes photography, production notes, storyboards, alongside Hannibal's sketches and music notations.
Hannibal Lecter was a brilliant psychiatrist in the employ of the FBI. His task: to help an unusually gifted criminal profiler, Will Graham, who is haunted by his ability to see into the minds of serial killers.
176 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 12, 2015
I became a Hannibal (the TV show) fan very early, after episode 2 of season 1. It was clear that it was special, amazing, completely different from any TV show out there. It very soon sucked me in, and I remember telling a friend in October 2013 that I wanted a book like this. It finally became true! So you can imagine that when it finally arrived I was like this:
and
I enjoyed it a lot. Reading books about how TV shows and films are made always remind me of the incredible effort of many people, and not just the producer and the cast. Therefore, I liked the interesting things revealed by the prosthetic, special effects, design etc. departments. Perhaps even more interesting were the chapters dedicated to food and the food specialists. In fact, I think we need a whole book on all the dishes served on Hannibal!!!
There are some small flaws that bug me a bit. Firstly, the text on dark pages is not legible enough. Maybe a bolder font would solve this? Secondly, I think I would have structured the book differently. The murders and the chapters on characters are mixed - I think I would have preferred them separately, but it works this way too. Thirdly, some things are missing, like the character Matthew Brown (Jonathan Tucker) and his... deedsand pics of his beautiful abs. I know he was only in one episode, but I felt that he changed completely the relationship dynamics of the show. There was also nothing on the S2 finale?! My feelings about this lack:
The pictures, drawings and designs/plans are all amazing and high-quality. All in all, I am a happy Fannibal, and I hope to see a book on the food and one on the next seasons too. Thank you to Bryan, the cast and crew and everyone involved for such an outstanding show!
and
I enjoyed it a lot. Reading books about how TV shows and films are made always remind me of the incredible effort of many people, and not just the producer and the cast. Therefore, I liked the interesting things revealed by the prosthetic, special effects, design etc. departments. Perhaps even more interesting were the chapters dedicated to food and the food specialists. In fact, I think we need a whole book on all the dishes served on Hannibal!!!
There are some small flaws that bug me a bit. Firstly, the text on dark pages is not legible enough. Maybe a bolder font would solve this? Secondly, I think I would have structured the book differently. The murders and the chapters on characters are mixed - I think I would have preferred them separately, but it works this way too. Thirdly, some things are missing, like the character Matthew Brown (Jonathan Tucker) and his... deeds
The pictures, drawings and designs/plans are all amazing and high-quality. All in all, I am a happy Fannibal, and I hope to see a book on the food and one on the next seasons too. Thank you to Bryan, the cast and crew and everyone involved for such an outstanding show!
June 7, 2015
I think that NBC’s ‘Hannibal’ is the best show on TV right now. The writing is dark and intriguing. The performances from Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne and others are all top-notch, portraying complicated characters with surprising subtlety. I think that their portrayals of these popular characters should be considered the definitive representations by now (Anthony Hopkins is great as Hannibal, but Mikkelsen’s Hannibal is deeper, more human). The show is also the most visually interesting thing on television. Though this book spends time on multiple aspects of the show, its primary focus is on the visuals and the behind the scenes of how they brought those visuals to life.
It’s often surprising how much ‘Hannibal’ is able to put on TV. This is a gory show. ‘The Walking Dead’, TV's other extremely gory show, mostly shows nasty bites and heads getting pulverized. ‘Hannibal’ is inventive with its bloody set pieces, not only pushing the boundaries of what’s allowed on TV, but also pushing the people working on the show to do their very best on schedules that are less than ideal.
If you’ve not seen Seasons 1 & 2, you should do so before beginning this book. Basically every episode and every major crime scene of the first two seasons is covered in detail. We get concept art, BTS photos, and final shots taken from the show. Added to that are many interesting comments from the cast and crew. These are smart, creative people and they offer some interesting insights, not just to the ‘making of’ aspects but also to storytelling and characterization.
The show picks and chooses how to incorporate sections from Thomas Harris’ books. Instead of going for a direct adaptation that follows the books from point A to point B, Bryan Fuller and his writers like to surprise people about what comes next. For example, certain portions of the third novel appear in the show before parts of the first novel do. This ‘making of’ book kind of does the same thing in that it does not begin with episode 1 and continue on from there. The book and its writer Jesse McLean cover every episode, but with no discernable order; not chronological, and certainly not based on dramatic importance. The final major chapter of the book focuses on the Lance Henriksen episode with the human totem pole. I personally consider the episode to be among the more forgettable episodes of Season 1, but it does feature that incredible set piece of the human totem pole. So it makes perfect sense to close out this book – a book about dead bodies. Well, it’s more than just that, of course. But the fact that the totem pole is given extra treatment at the end should make it clear that the makeup and effects work are the primary focus of this book.
Since only the first two seasons are covered here, this book is bound to feel somewhat dated within a year’s time. That can’t be helped, as Season 3 began just the other day. Perhaps we can hope for a Volume 2 sometime in the future? If this book is any indication, there are going to be many more stories to tell. ‘Hannibal’ is my favorite show on TV. So dark, so weird, so good. And I think this book is a decent companion piece to the show.
It’s often surprising how much ‘Hannibal’ is able to put on TV. This is a gory show. ‘The Walking Dead’, TV's other extremely gory show, mostly shows nasty bites and heads getting pulverized. ‘Hannibal’ is inventive with its bloody set pieces, not only pushing the boundaries of what’s allowed on TV, but also pushing the people working on the show to do their very best on schedules that are less than ideal.
If you’ve not seen Seasons 1 & 2, you should do so before beginning this book. Basically every episode and every major crime scene of the first two seasons is covered in detail. We get concept art, BTS photos, and final shots taken from the show. Added to that are many interesting comments from the cast and crew. These are smart, creative people and they offer some interesting insights, not just to the ‘making of’ aspects but also to storytelling and characterization.
The show picks and chooses how to incorporate sections from Thomas Harris’ books. Instead of going for a direct adaptation that follows the books from point A to point B, Bryan Fuller and his writers like to surprise people about what comes next. For example, certain portions of the third novel appear in the show before parts of the first novel do. This ‘making of’ book kind of does the same thing in that it does not begin with episode 1 and continue on from there. The book and its writer Jesse McLean cover every episode, but with no discernable order; not chronological, and certainly not based on dramatic importance. The final major chapter of the book focuses on the Lance Henriksen episode with the human totem pole. I personally consider the episode to be among the more forgettable episodes of Season 1, but it does feature that incredible set piece of the human totem pole. So it makes perfect sense to close out this book – a book about dead bodies. Well, it’s more than just that, of course. But the fact that the totem pole is given extra treatment at the end should make it clear that the makeup and effects work are the primary focus of this book.
Since only the first two seasons are covered here, this book is bound to feel somewhat dated within a year’s time. That can’t be helped, as Season 3 began just the other day. Perhaps we can hope for a Volume 2 sometime in the future? If this book is any indication, there are going to be many more stories to tell. ‘Hannibal’ is my favorite show on TV. So dark, so weird, so good. And I think this book is a decent companion piece to the show.
November 14, 2022
sob. bring back hannibal
Want to read
May 27, 2016Holy hell, I need this.
Read
March 19, 2025This is definitely a must-read for Hannibal fans! It was really interesting to see behind the scenes and learn how the sets and props were made, and the thought that went into everything. It was so cool to see the props (read: fake corpses) up close because they look so realistic! I guess you must get used to them after a while, but I feel like I'd be scared if I worked on the Hannibal set since they were so detailed and gory. (Also, fun fact, sometimes the set designers had to add more gore to the corpses to cover nudity, since broadcasters are more afraid of bare butts than blood and guts which is insane.)
This isn't something that I'll ever re-read, but I'm glad I picked it up! It really makes me want to re-watch the show, but also reminded me that I'm not misremembering how horrifying and gory the show is.
This isn't something that I'll ever re-read, but I'm glad I picked it up! It really makes me want to re-watch the show, but also reminded me that I'm not misremembering how horrifying and gory the show is.
January 3, 2023
Задротсько-фанатське-прекрасне-з-безліччю-фотографій-обожнюєм.
І після 180 сторінок я все ще не уявляю як можна було зняти Ганнібала так довершено. Тут багато про спецефекти, акторські інсайти, сет-дизайн, музику, одяг, і як воно все створювалось.
Цікава, наприклад, концепція - створити шоу про Ганнібала, тоді коли це вже культовий персонаж, з якихось дуже маленьких моментів попрацювати цілий новий світ, але який би не розлютив Гарріса і фанатів попередніх штук.
Креативні рішення стосовно їжі. Наприклад, є момент в 2 сезоні де Вілл і Ганнібал жеруть цілих пташок разом з ногами. Виявляється, вони зроблені з марципану (але це все одно челлендж, їсти багато таких пташок через постійні дублі). Величезні витрати на флористичні композиції. Як зробити реалістичну людську ногу з мʼяса зі свинячих рулетів.
Дуже цікаво про світло - нічорта не видно, але це спеціально, щоб всю кровʼяку і жесть все таки пустили на телебачення, ну і плюс додає момент містики, і не кровʼяки-заради-кровʼяки, а більш взаємодіє з емоційним горрором. Найбільш гарно освітлений морг в ФБР (де, за іронією долі, ми як глядачі почуваємось найбільш захищено).
Також про редагування - Ганнібал повільне шоу як на телевізійний стандарт, і це все відредаговано спеціально, і музика тонка і мінімалістична, надихнена Сяйвом.
Ще багато про динаміку персонажів всякого чудового. Не знаю чому я така рада, що головні актори і Брайян Фуллер ідеально розуміють закулісся, мотивації і розвиток цих персонажів (напевно, бо іноді шоу-раннер і актори нічого вбіса не розуміють).
І після 180 сторінок я все ще не уявляю як можна було зняти Ганнібала так довершено. Тут багато про спецефекти, акторські інсайти, сет-дизайн, музику, одяг, і як воно все створювалось.
Цікава, наприклад, концепція - створити шоу про Ганнібала, тоді коли це вже культовий персонаж, з якихось дуже маленьких моментів попрацювати цілий новий світ, але який би не розлютив Гарріса і фанатів попередніх штук.
Креативні рішення стосовно їжі. Наприклад, є момент в 2 сезоні де Вілл і Ганнібал жеруть цілих пташок разом з ногами. Виявляється, вони зроблені з марципану (але це все одно челлендж, їсти багато таких пташок через постійні дублі). Величезні витрати на флористичні композиції. Як зробити реалістичну людську ногу з мʼяса зі свинячих рулетів.
Дуже цікаво про світло - нічорта не видно, але це спеціально, щоб всю кровʼяку і жесть все таки пустили на телебачення, ну і плюс додає момент містики, і не кровʼяки-заради-кровʼяки, а більш взаємодіє з емоційним горрором. Найбільш гарно освітлений морг в ФБР (де, за іронією долі, ми як глядачі почуваємось найбільш захищено).
Також про редагування - Ганнібал повільне шоу як на телевізійний стандарт, і це все відредаговано спеціально, і музика тонка і мінімалістична, надихнена Сяйвом.
Ще багато про динаміку персонажів всякого чудового. Не знаю чому я така рада, що головні актори і Брайян Фуллер ідеально розуміють закулісся, мотивації і розвиток цих персонажів (напевно, бо іноді шоу-раннер і актори нічого вбіса не розуміють).
May 16, 2015
I absolutely adore the content of this book, however I feel it's quality let's it down. Firstly, it's not a hardcover. The print quality is slightly questionable and if I'm honest I would have loved more interior information. With that being said, it's a book on possibly one of the greatest television shows ever made. Buy it, read it, love it. Eat the rude.
July 29, 2016
This book is for fans of the short-lived television show. Its organized like a meal. First the Aperitif, then the Entrée, the Main Course and so on. The Main Course is divided into three subsections, one for each of the three leading characters, Hannibal, Jack Crawford and Will Graham. Those are divided into smaller chapters that profile the supporting characters or other subjects, like the food and wardrobe. An inventive way of telling this story, I thought.
But the star of the book are the pictures. Pictures from the shows themselves and pictures taken while scenes are being set up of the actors and crew. Color pictures of the victims, sometimes full page, explaining how the props were staged and the how the grisly effects were created. In the subsection of the supporting characters usually the pictures are of how that character met his or her end at the hands of Hannibal. Again, an inventive method of showcasing the actors.
I had two complaints about the book. First, the author must assume the reader has full knowledge of the individual episodes. Some of the episodes are referred to in the subsection about the supporting characters, but its been a while since I've seen the show, a recap of the episodes would have been a nice addition. Secondly, there are several pages where the text is printed in white on a page with a black or dark blue background. The font size is small and its very hard to read.
I enjoyed the book. It was fun to revisit the characters and get some insight on how the show was put together. It makes me want to buy the DVD set.
But the star of the book are the pictures. Pictures from the shows themselves and pictures taken while scenes are being set up of the actors and crew. Color pictures of the victims, sometimes full page, explaining how the props were staged and the how the grisly effects were created. In the subsection of the supporting characters usually the pictures are of how that character met his or her end at the hands of Hannibal. Again, an inventive method of showcasing the actors.
I had two complaints about the book. First, the author must assume the reader has full knowledge of the individual episodes. Some of the episodes are referred to in the subsection about the supporting characters, but its been a while since I've seen the show, a recap of the episodes would have been a nice addition. Secondly, there are several pages where the text is printed in white on a page with a black or dark blue background. The font size is small and its very hard to read.
I enjoyed the book. It was fun to revisit the characters and get some insight on how the show was put together. It makes me want to buy the DVD set.
August 8, 2018
First of all, Hannibal is my favourite TV show (and if you haven't watched it yet, you bloody well should) and for that reason alone, I'm glad to have this book in my possession.
What this book does well is provide an overview of the storyline from series one and two of Hannibal, information on the production design, prosthetics etc., as well as give some insight into possible motivations for the characters' actions.
However, if you're an avid fan of the show and have seen and read your fair share of interviews with the creators and cast, I'd say you'd most likely already be familiar with most of the background "insider information" in this book, which was a bit disappointing. Also, for a show that prides itself on outstanding visual design/cinematography and creativity, the design of this book is rather uninspired. A large portion of the pictures is just production stills, which are not in the highest resolution either, and the text is difficult to read at times. The witty, thoughtful writing of the show isn't reflected in here either; the order of the topics seems sort of random, I don't really see the intention behind it, and the writing itself is at times halting/incoherent.
That said, I still enjoyed going over all the major themes and everything in my mind whilst reading this and simultaneously rewatching the show. I just wish the book had been on a par with the show's quality.
What this book does well is provide an overview of the storyline from series one and two of Hannibal, information on the production design, prosthetics etc., as well as give some insight into possible motivations for the characters' actions.
However, if you're an avid fan of the show and have seen and read your fair share of interviews with the creators and cast, I'd say you'd most likely already be familiar with most of the background "insider information" in this book, which was a bit disappointing. Also, for a show that prides itself on outstanding visual design/cinematography and creativity, the design of this book is rather uninspired. A large portion of the pictures is just production stills, which are not in the highest resolution either, and the text is difficult to read at times. The witty, thoughtful writing of the show isn't reflected in here either; the order of the topics seems sort of random, I don't really see the intention behind it, and the writing itself is at times halting/incoherent.
That said, I still enjoyed going over all the major themes and everything in my mind whilst reading this and simultaneously rewatching the show. I just wish the book had been on a par with the show's quality.
September 9, 2019
A wonderful and insightful book for a fan of NBC's Hannibal!
The Art and Making of Hannibal: The Television Series goes into detail about how the show's unique aesthetics are composed, how the gruesome (yet strangely beautiful) corpses and murder scenes are created and what the show's creator Bryan Fuller wanted to achieve with his versions of Thomas Harris' characters, and what the actors and actresses think of their characters, their personalities, arcs and motivations. It's a fascinating read for a Fannibal. It was fun to learn about the process of creating all the bizarre and horrendous and stunning aspects of the show, and the importance of every little detail, whether it be what Hannibal's dining room's center-pieces are made of or the lighting in the FBI morgue. I also enjoyed the actors' interviews and their thoughts on their roles and the interviews of the crew members and their stories on how they managed to make the show what it is. I love watching behind-the-scenes footage and all that stuff and I'm endlessly intrigued by how film and TV are made, so this book was a fun one for me.
Definitely would recommend for any fan of the show!
The Art and Making of Hannibal: The Television Series goes into detail about how the show's unique aesthetics are composed, how the gruesome (yet strangely beautiful) corpses and murder scenes are created and what the show's creator Bryan Fuller wanted to achieve with his versions of Thomas Harris' characters, and what the actors and actresses think of their characters, their personalities, arcs and motivations. It's a fascinating read for a Fannibal. It was fun to learn about the process of creating all the bizarre and horrendous and stunning aspects of the show, and the importance of every little detail, whether it be what Hannibal's dining room's center-pieces are made of or the lighting in the FBI morgue. I also enjoyed the actors' interviews and their thoughts on their roles and the interviews of the crew members and their stories on how they managed to make the show what it is. I love watching behind-the-scenes footage and all that stuff and I'm endlessly intrigued by how film and TV are made, so this book was a fun one for me.
Definitely would recommend for any fan of the show!
May 6, 2015
[3.5 out of 5 stars, but I rounded it up to 4 because a simple 3 was too low]
The Art and Making of Hannibal is a nice little behind the scenes look at how Hannibal as made. While not as comprehensive as some of Titan Books' other offerings in this category, it's still an entertaining and informative read, even if it never really goes much deeper than surface fluff with tidbits of information. The design and photos featured throughout the book are beautiful as promised, however a number of other features were lacking. The original description for the book promised musical notations and script excerpts and these are nowhere to be found within the roughly 170 pages of the book. While this isn't a major deal as all the scripts have been published on the LivingDeadGuy website, it's still frustrating for a book to say it will include something and then not include it.
That being said, it's still a nice read and a wonderful gift for any fan of the show.
The Art and Making of Hannibal is a nice little behind the scenes look at how Hannibal as made. While not as comprehensive as some of Titan Books' other offerings in this category, it's still an entertaining and informative read, even if it never really goes much deeper than surface fluff with tidbits of information. The design and photos featured throughout the book are beautiful as promised, however a number of other features were lacking. The original description for the book promised musical notations and script excerpts and these are nowhere to be found within the roughly 170 pages of the book. While this isn't a major deal as all the scripts have been published on the LivingDeadGuy website, it's still frustrating for a book to say it will include something and then not include it.
That being said, it's still a nice read and a wonderful gift for any fan of the show.
December 17, 2019
nbc hannibal is my absolute favorite tv series. getting such an elaborate insight from the staff and cast makes me gain even greater appreciation for their work. i understand that including a larger amount of even more specific information wouldve made this book way too long and painful to make but i wouldve loved to read more about making the series happen. it holds so much meaning to me i stg
June 2, 2015
Love this show.
July 5, 2015
Amazing and beautiful book dedicated to the equally as awesome TV show Hannibal . Definite must read if your a fan of the show.
July 23, 2015
A gore-geous book with loads of pictures about the poetic and artistic show Hannibal.
January 22, 2016
I've basically said it to anyone who will listen but Hannibal was the best show on TV and it still pains me that it was cancelled. I hold onto hope for a fourth season someday or a movie or something but at the same time it ended beautifully.
Moving right along into the actual text of this book, I loved it. It was a fantastic look to see how this was made. Someone describes it as a show you wake up from rather than finish watching and that is just so true. The show is such a dark fairy tale, horror, gothic sort of thing and it was done so wonderfully. It's wonderful to look at even though you know it's something horrific. The gore is not there for gore's sake and the ramifications of violence are so very important. There is a heck of a lot of time, and care, and love in this show and I'm grateful to get a look at that and that it all came together to even exist. There's no way this show would have ever been allowed on the air 5-10 years ago and I'm just glad that NBC took a chance on it and that we got three fabulous seasons out of it.
I'll try to stop fangirling. I really just loved the experience of reading this and the insights from everyone involved. I love especially when my attention is drawn to things I'm not the best at noticing (like colour scheme and the fact that the only steady lighting in this show is in the morgue). It's all just awesome. A must read for all Fannibals. :)
Moving right along into the actual text of this book, I loved it. It was a fantastic look to see how this was made. Someone describes it as a show you wake up from rather than finish watching and that is just so true. The show is such a dark fairy tale, horror, gothic sort of thing and it was done so wonderfully. It's wonderful to look at even though you know it's something horrific. The gore is not there for gore's sake and the ramifications of violence are so very important. There is a heck of a lot of time, and care, and love in this show and I'm grateful to get a look at that and that it all came together to even exist. There's no way this show would have ever been allowed on the air 5-10 years ago and I'm just glad that NBC took a chance on it and that we got three fabulous seasons out of it.
I'll try to stop fangirling. I really just loved the experience of reading this and the insights from everyone involved. I love especially when my attention is drawn to things I'm not the best at noticing (like colour scheme and the fact that the only steady lighting in this show is in the morgue). It's all just awesome. A must read for all Fannibals. :)
June 2, 2015
I so, so so wanted to give this 5 stars. And it is so, so so close. The photographs are luscious. The people interviewed in this book are so open. And the information and details that are put into this show! Amazing.
But the writing itself was so, so so bad. Sometimes the text itself was hard to read. Like, kind of a rush job on the writing part.
I was like, am I crazy? Are my expectations too high because this is my favorite show? But then I read Rue Morgue's May 2015 issue, with Hannibal on the cover and with an interview with Brian Reitzell. And it was actually written decently. Like, I know the whole question and answer format is... "dorky," maybe, to some. But I think there is a place for it, especially if you don't actually have an idea for where to go with it... if you don't actually have a grand, New Yorker, Rolling Stone or NPR-like sweeping idea that ties it together. This is like threads of ideas tangled together. I wish they straightened it out.
But the writing itself was so, so so bad. Sometimes the text itself was hard to read. Like, kind of a rush job on the writing part.
I was like, am I crazy? Are my expectations too high because this is my favorite show? But then I read Rue Morgue's May 2015 issue, with Hannibal on the cover and with an interview with Brian Reitzell. And it was actually written decently. Like, I know the whole question and answer format is... "dorky," maybe, to some. But I think there is a place for it, especially if you don't actually have an idea for where to go with it... if you don't actually have a grand, New Yorker, Rolling Stone or NPR-like sweeping idea that ties it together. This is like threads of ideas tangled together. I wish they straightened it out.
January 3, 2016
A must-read for any hardcore NBC Hannibal fan. The book has a lot of high quality images from behind the scenes, set layouts, and insight into how they pulled off a lot of the gore on the show. As the book will tell you, the more shrouded in darkness and shadow and the darker the blood, the more screen time allowed for the gore. (It's pretty hilarious to me that they had to negotiate how many frames to shave off of each of those scenes). This explains why we had to squint our eyes a lot in season 3 to see anything on screen, but fair warning- that means the gore you're gonna see in the book is a bit more distinct than in the show. It's a truly beautiful book and covers all of the main characters of season 1 and 2 (there's even a page for Will's dogs!). My only disappointment is that it was published before they could include season 3. I would have loved to have seen those episodes and characters covered in there as well.
July 18, 2016
I love and adore this show SO MUCH. If you are a fan of the 'Hannibal' series and always wanted a closer look at the "death tableau" left behind by the season one and two killers, you will probably enjoy this book a little more than I did. I had to use my hand to cover up the images while I read the text as I am a total wuss and easily grossed out.
That being said, the book is a nice addition to your collection if you are a Fannibal BUT if you are a Fannibal, you have probably watched all the special features on your blu-rays and you know pretty much everything that is written in the book. I didn't find many surprises in here and since it only covers the first two seasons, I found myself wondering what the actors and writers would say about where Season 3 went and thoughts on a (hopefully) fourth season arc.
It's a nice coffee table book, though you wouldn't want to leave it out for anyone uninitiated to flip through, because of the graphic images and spoilers.
That being said, the book is a nice addition to your collection if you are a Fannibal BUT if you are a Fannibal, you have probably watched all the special features on your blu-rays and you know pretty much everything that is written in the book. I didn't find many surprises in here and since it only covers the first two seasons, I found myself wondering what the actors and writers would say about where Season 3 went and thoughts on a (hopefully) fourth season arc.
It's a nice coffee table book, though you wouldn't want to leave it out for anyone uninitiated to flip through, because of the graphic images and spoilers.
May 13, 2015
I have been a fan of the Hannibal Lecter character long before the show, but since the day the show aired, it has won my heart. There is nothing like it, on another network or cable. Upon becoming further invested, I had the pleasure of getting meet the entire cast and crew as well as communicate with them. In doing this, I learned not only is the show one of a kind, but the people behind it are too. This book highlights the beauty of this cast, crew, and show perfectly; when I was informed they were working on a book, I knew the quality would above and beyond, just as the show is. It doesn't disappoint, the colors, photographs, and information is both informative and enjoyable. Highly recommended for any Hannibal Lecter fan, or even someone who enjoys learning how television shows are made.
June 17, 2015
Really a beautiful behind-the-scenes look at the NBC TV show Hannibal. Full of details and photos which were fascinating to me, as an avid viewer of the show. I loved this book and wish it had been twice as long! (Not recommended for people not familiar with the show, however, since they may not know what they are getting into re the gore and horror.)
I will make two small comments on quality, which kept the book from being five stars. One, the print is very tiny and extremely hard to read on certain pages - grey on dark background, etc. And two, the paper quality and photo quality are not the best. I assume this was to keep costs down, but it's a bit disappointing when the art direction on the show itself is so masterful. The book is well laid-out, tho, and nicely put together.
I will make two small comments on quality, which kept the book from being five stars. One, the print is very tiny and extremely hard to read on certain pages - grey on dark background, etc. And two, the paper quality and photo quality are not the best. I assume this was to keep costs down, but it's a bit disappointing when the art direction on the show itself is so masterful. The book is well laid-out, tho, and nicely put together.
July 9, 2015
I am a huge Fannibal and so was keen to get my hands on a copy of the book. As many reviewers have already noted, some decisions on font size and colour were not the best and in places the text is hard to read. The quality of the production of the book does not mirror the quality in the production of the show.
The main disappointment for me, though, was the lack of new information. Everything in the book I'd already heard through extras on the DVD releases etc. I was hoping the book would provide new info and a really in-depth look at the cinematography and design of the series.
That said, this is still a nice resource for fans, especially with the show's future currently hanging in the balance.
The main disappointment for me, though, was the lack of new information. Everything in the book I'd already heard through extras on the DVD releases etc. I was hoping the book would provide new info and a really in-depth look at the cinematography and design of the series.
That said, this is still a nice resource for fans, especially with the show's future currently hanging in the balance.
October 21, 2019
I keep re-reading it. This television series was an obsession for my inner backstage tech and rightly so I think. Every single artistic decision (I don't think you heard me..EVERY SINGLE ARTISTIC DECISION) they made only enhanced the viewers experience whether they realized it consciously or not. The show is a must watch, and anyone who fell in love with it like I did can't let the opportunity to read this book pass by.
Occasionally it happens that a look "behind the scenes" can dull some of the magic of a movie/show series/play etc, I believe this book only gives the viewer an even deeper understanding that makes the second and third viewing of the show even better.
Occasionally it happens that a look "behind the scenes" can dull some of the magic of a movie/show series/play etc, I believe this book only gives the viewer an even deeper understanding that makes the second and third viewing of the show even better.
April 18, 2016
It helps to go into a book like this with low expectations. Essentially, it's a promotional item, and as such, it's full of fulsome praise for all who worked on the show and analysis that is often little more than plot summaries.
I would have liked more behind-the-scenes detail, but there were a few interesting tidbits. Mostly, though, this is a picture book, and the pictures were impressive, although, again, I would have liked to seem more shots that didn't so closely mirror the images that made it into the show.
I would have liked more behind-the-scenes detail, but there were a few interesting tidbits. Mostly, though, this is a picture book, and the pictures were impressive, although, again, I would have liked to seem more shots that didn't so closely mirror the images that made it into the show.
March 14, 2016
This book was a pleasant evening read for a Hannibal fan. Unfortunately it only covers the making of the first two seasons of the show, which I found disappointing because I was looking forward to info about the final season. There are also nice some 3D layouts of various sets and information on the sets' design influence, as well as essays on the overall look and themes of the show. Hardcore fans who read a lot of blogs and fansites might not find much new information, but the info it does have is beautifully gathered and packaged.
August 23, 2018
A must-have book for Fannibals who want a look at the production of the show. The book captures the creation of some of the dark art of the show and gives behind the scenes details as well as multiple photographs. At 175 pages, it still isn't enough. What fascinated me about the show was how beautifully dark, or darkly beautiful it was. I was both fascinated, and horrified by that fascination with Hannibal's dark art. So much so that I needed this book to remind me that beauty resides everywhere, even in the grotesque.
June 7, 2019
This is a handsome book, with a simple but expectedly food-festishistic cover of a heart on a plate, the blood leaking off in the shape of elk's horns, which is a recurring theme in the show. (And if the show has a weakness, it's the food preparation by Hannibal in every episode. Yes, we get it, he's a cannibal and that the food he's cooking is probably PEOPLE.)
You can read R.J.'s full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read R.J.'s full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
September 25, 2015
This is a must have book for any fannibal interested in behind the scenes info for some of the episodes, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the praying angels episode. This book describes how they can have such violent and sometimes over the top murders on public access television, while its not chock full of interviews it's still a great read.
It's been a pleasure dining with all my fellow fannibals during these great 3 years.
It's been a pleasure dining with all my fellow fannibals during these great 3 years.
January 14, 2016
An obvious must read for any 'Fannibal' this book is a guide to the making of the first two series of Hannibal.
Packed full of insights from the actors and creators and accompanied by fantastic set photos and drafts of the designs for the gruesome murders. This book will be of particular interest to someone who enjoys the special effects in horror as it describes the various tools and techniques used to create some of the most artistic pieces of horror out there.
Packed full of insights from the actors and creators and accompanied by fantastic set photos and drafts of the designs for the gruesome murders. This book will be of particular interest to someone who enjoys the special effects in horror as it describes the various tools and techniques used to create some of the most artistic pieces of horror out there.
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