The Art of The Lion King

by Christopher Finch

Simba and trusty friends Pumbaa, Timon, and Nala set out to challenge Simba's evil uncle Scar and regain his rightful place in the Circle of Life. Relive the excitement, humor, and adventure in this elegant miniature.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Media Tie In, Classics, Childrens, Art and Photography

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Christopher Finch was born in Guernsey in the British Channel Islands, and now lives in Los Angeles. He is an artist and a photographer who has had one person shows in New York and California, and he is the author of almost thirty non-fiction books including the best sellers Rainbow: the Stormy Life of Judy Garland, The Art of Walt Disney, Jim Henson: the Works, and Norman Rockwell's America. Recently he has embarked on a series of noir-inflected mystery novels set in New York in the late 1960s and featuring the private investigator Alex Novalis. The first of these, Good Girl, Bad Girl, is to be published by Thomas & Mercer in 2013. These books draw on his own experiences in the New York art world at a time when today's SoHo was an urban wilderness with rats frolicking in the gutters and artists eking out a living in barren loft spaces. He is married to Linda Rosenkrantz, an author and a co-founder of the website Nameberry.

Reviews

[Gretel Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

La obra cumbre de Disney; fue muy bueno ver su arte.

[Drew Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is apparently out of print, and very hard to find, but I managed to locate a used copy online, and I'm so glad to finally add it to my Disney art book collection. After the frustration of reading the subpar Aladdin offering, this is a real breath of fresh air, and the start of a series of really excellent art books on the Disney films.

I was without question obsessed with The Lion King when it was released, and although it doesn't stand as my favorite after all these years, the story, characters, music and art make impossible to deny it is one amazing film. This oversized book is full of artwork from the movie, from the earliest concept character sketches and color studies to finished stills from the film. The first part of the book provides a concise telling of the story of the film from start to finish, and includes art and lyrics relevant to the scenes and musical numbers as it goes. There are storyboards, pencil sketches, color paintings and digital art, thumbnail and full-page illustrations. Featured artists include Chris Sanders, Andreas Deja, Mark Henn and Andy Gaskill. Only in the last 30 pages or so does the author actually step in and provide some insight to the making of the film. It's concise, but thorough, and just enough information. He describes the research trip key members of the production team took to West Africa and its stylistic and artistic influences on the development on the film. He discusses the characters--the ones who lasted and the ones who were cut from the story early on--and how the story evolved into the one that so many know and love all these years later. He talks about the animators, the clean-up artists, the process of writing the music, and various other aspects of filmmaking, including the increased use of computers. It doesn't drag on, it's very well-written, and it gives a good amount of insight into just how much work goes on in the making of an animated film, and just how collaborative the process really is.

This book is a beautiful companion piece that fans of The Lion King, animation or art in general will enjoy immensely.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would have been SO much better if - instead of making the bulk of the book into a Lion King storybook - the contents of the Afterword had been the main text content of the book. That's where all the "making of" info is located, and I'd have liked so much more detail, defined sections, e.t.c. that being said, this is still a beautiful book. Really covers all the beauty in everything we love about the movie.

[Birutė Beresnevičiūtė · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great art book with a lot of concept and production artwork: storyboards, concept art, animation stills, background color keys and more.
It is structured in a sort of storybook-like layout, showcasing and describing the artwork in a scene-by-scene manner. That works to its’ advantage and disadvantage. On one hand, in such a way the editor does not have to rely on showing just the model sheets and very general concept art - very scene-specific pieces can be showcased as well, providing more insight into the creative process for each scene. On the other hand, a solid amount of the general artwork and written information on behind-the-scenes work gets crammed into the Afterword. The Afterword contains details that could have easily filled several sections on their own.
However, that is a minor problem, and does not retract from what is a great art book to check for Lion King fans and those interested in the process of animation alike.

[aslıhan poppins]

I've been meaning to read an artbook about an animation i liked since forever, and my first time was fairly enjoyable. I love looking up the concept arts and storyboards since i was a kid and having such a variety of them in one book was a feast to my eyes!! in this artbook i especially loved comparing the storyboards and the sketches, they consist of the same characters that we see in the film but the style changes according to who the artist is and i love seeing the differences of each artist's respective vision of a character. i loved reading this and i hope to read more artbooks in the future

[Apex157x · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, solid coffee-table style book about the making of the Lion King, with storyboard and still shots, a generous amount of text with good explanations of the inner workings and collaborations of the various teams. A fun quick read, I was able to complete in a hour or two. Delightful description of the artistic process. Solid 3 stars.

[Bajabii · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rich gallery of artwork follows the story of Simba the lion cub's quest for the royal mantle. Includes beautifully reproduced production stills, artwork from the film and drawings from the animation. The last part of the book is devoted to the behind-the-scenes of the project, from its inception to its screening. The Art of The Lion King is an animated mystery and exciting adventure for every reader. Chritopher Finch's book opens with the epic "Circle of Life" that will ring right in your ears.

The Lion King tells us the story of the enduring bond between father and son that is so strong it transcends even the father's death - it remains in the memories and principles that Mufasa taught Simba. It begins with an admirably written script about a child who is challenged by his father's death on his quest for the throne, and with a number of charming illustrations and sketches, and as I read it, the whole film flashed through my mind from beginning to end: I could hear them talking to each other, I could hear the music and the songs they were singing...

Mufasa says to his son: "Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the circle of life." The magical art of this incredibly crafted little book invites each of us into that circle.

The cast of The Lion King included a variety of talented actors. As they spoke lines the camera recorded their demeanor and body gestures. Using this recording, the animators incorporated elements of the physical form of the 'character voice' into the drawings.

By the time the animated film went into production, a bunch of script pages had already been created. The earliest of these drafts date back to 1989, when the idea of creating a story that was rooted in nature first emerged.

During the development of the scripts, the artists were trying to visualize the world that our main characters would inhabit. In November 1991, a group from the studio traveled to East Africa to help them resolve many unresolved issues. They were armed with cameras, travelled by Land Rover, slept in tents, visited remote areas and explored what it was like to be under the stars with lions and hyenas... One day they went on an excursion to the top of a cliff from where you could see for all eternity. This excursion gave them another opportunity to observe animals in the wild and at the same time, learn about African culture.

What struck me as unusually interesting is that the little nonsense song that Rafiki sang on the rock ("Asane sana, Squas banana") came about as a result of this excursion. It was originally sung by one of the guides, and Brenda Chapman recorded the rhyme in her notebook.

Shortly after the magical "trip" to Africa, the main theme of the film began to be addressed, which was a problem because early drafts of The Lion King lacked a clear theme. Eventually the theme became responsibility - it's about leaving childhood behind and facing the realities of the world.

Soon, the music became a key element when the studio brought in Tim Rice, who was invited to make suggestions on how the songs could be incorporated into the film. The lyricist eventually agreed to join if a suitable songwriting partner could be found. We're talking about Elton John, who, along with Tim, created the heartbreaking songs.

Later, a group of animals were brought into the studio - meerkats, baboons, lions... so the animators could explore their characters and embody them. A subsequent key member of the creative team was Andy Gaskill, a man with a flair for effective ways of staging a scene.

One of the last members of the team, is the music composer, who has to match his final piece with the final cut. We're talking about Hans Zimmer, who began writing and recording the music a few weeks before the animation began. The motivation for choosing this brilliant composer was the fact that he had already composed the music for two films with an African setting. "That doesn't make me an expert on African music," he says, "but it does mean that I have experience in creating the illusion of what you might expect to hear if you visit an African town, and I think that illusion is what the film is about. Animators create one kind of illusion. I'm creating another one and we're trying to make them connect to each other."

I rate the book a definite five star and the film no less. After all, it's a film close to my heart and in the form of this art book, it was an exotic experience (:

[Eduardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The issue with “The Art of the Lion King” is that while it has a lot of art, so little of the book feels like it’s revealing anything. The introduction by James Earl Jones is nice, yeah, but then I flipped the page and found a little bit of concept art, and a whole lot of what appears to be storyboards, or something like them, and no commentary.

It’s basically like if someone went scene-by-scene of the movie, and showed you how everything was planned, but without telling you anything about the thought processes behind them.

I was about to write off this book entirely, but then the book’s Afterword had basically everything I’d ask for in a book like this: the decisions behind design, why they chose this or that direction, how different aspects of production affected the art, and so forth. I wish that it was spread out throughout, along with the art, so I had an idea about the individual pieces and scenes and what they meant to the people making the movie.

This is not a bad art book, by any means, but it is not a particularly good one, because of the format. If you’re a really big fan of the movie, I guess you’ll like it, but as far as art books go it’s not a must-read.

[Karpalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pocket-sized art book on the Lion King. Tells the Lion King through pictures and some text.
I really liked how they added early sketches from the drawing board. They are rare to come by. Can't really find them anywhere on the Internet.
Book sparked the my interest to watch Lion King. Haven't watched it in a while.

[Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick short recall if the story. Begin with this and then watch the movie.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

434 - 2020

[That-Disney-Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical.

[jamez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork and the story of how the film was created was mesmerizing.

[Azucena Oberle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simba hav a friends with Pambaa and Timon and Napa or starting it out had a challenge about Simba has a uncle Scar evil in a place on circle around excited of humor in Elegant jungle animal.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the art book to one of my favorite movies of all time.

[Violetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the LARGE (10.5" x 13") version of The Art of the Lion King. In principle, it is the same as the "Disney Miniature" edition (The Art of the Lion King). In content, there are some differences, summed up by saying that the Large edition simply has room for more content than the Miniature edition. One benefit to the Large edition is that the images all include short captions and artist credits, which isn't necessary for appreciating the artwork, but is useful for some people (aspiring animators, for example).

Comparison of the Tables of Content:

Miniature:
Foreword p.18
Act One p.25
Act Two p. 105
Act Three p. 155

Large:
Foreword p.18
Act One p.21
Act Two p.95
Act Three p. 137
Afterword p. 165

Both editions share some beautiful artwork, and a poetic narrative throughout, that takes the reader through this timeless story. An excellent book for fans of the movie and collectors, though copies in good condition are getting harder to find.

[Jaimie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a simple little volume, this collection of artwork from the Lion King does a wonderful job of bringing back the magic of the film. It has a well-balanced selection of different styles, from rough sketches to finished animation stills with a few selections of concept artwork, that tell the emotional story much better than would be done by a restriction to finished animation. Lots of the Disney stories were transfered into book format this way successfully, but the wild setting of the Savannah and the nature of the lion pride is perfectly suited to something a little less polished. Clearly the images were chosen with care, since the choice of art style often evokes a certain mood from the film itself that is tied up in more than just imagery. I found myself remembering snatches of the soundtrack and the unique tones of characters' voices (Jeremy Irons' Scar or the drumbeats that accompany Simba up Pride Rock especially), so I might have to go watch the film again soon,

[Violetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This version of The Art of the Lion King is one of the Disney Miniatures imprints. The book is about 1/6th the size of a sheet of paper, although still contains much of the same material as it's larger counterpart.

It tells the story of The Lion King through movie stills, layouts, and concept art, with a very poetic narrative in script tying the sequences together. An introduction by James Earl Jones (voice of Mufasa), makes you appreciate the value that choosing great voice actors gives to an animated movie.

This book has gotten to be hard to find, however, so if you come across it at any used bookstores, I highly recommend that TLK fans buy it.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I opened the book not expecting too much, but was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful and vibrant collection of artwork from the earliest days through to the production screenshots itself. The text describing what happens in the film scenes, with their vivid imagery and words. I would strongly recommend this beautiful book to anyone who loves animation in general, seeing what went on behind the scenes, so to speak, and those who have loved--or still love--The Lion King.

[τλιϓλ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in poetic like form, provided with lots and lots of sketches, some pictures from the movie, the wonderful songs of the movie and there you go, enjoy this lovely book of art of the most wonderful epic ever: The Lion King. I have to say it wasn't what I expected, so different from other books, I enjoyed fully specially at the end of the book when I came to read few pages. One of my treasures indeed.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Az elmúlt pár év animációról szóló könyveihez képest elég béna. Alig van benne szöveg, ami van, az is semmitmondó (mintha 10 év alatti célközönségnek készült volna), és rajzokból is csak keveset mutatnak, azok is rosszul vannak kiválogatva. Karakterdizájnról, karakterfejlesztésről alig ír valamit, az „így készült” youtube-os videókból többet meg lehet tudni. Tanulni egyáltalán nem lehet belőle, az Oroszlánkirály fanoknak esetleg érdekes lehet.

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of the sketches were so gorgeous, I wish I could buy prints of them. I really enjoyed the foreword and afterword - they provided a lot of fun behind-the-scenes facts about the Lion King that I had never heard before. Besides that, it's just a good coffee-table-type book to flip through. 3.5

[Kelly K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cool but wasn't what I was expecting. The other "Art of..." books spoke of the animating and creative process to create the picture but this was just a short summary of the story with some artwork.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading about the making of movies - looking in on the creative process is fun, and seeing how ideas and art develop is fascinating. This is an excellent example of that, with lots of glorious images from one of Disney's most visual movies.

[Bulma Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely breath-taking~. Reminds me why I loved the movie.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful drawings and nice to read the stories about how they came about the movie.

[(Jen) The Artist Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed the large version from the library ... Great art and a behind the scenes look on what many consider a classic animation film.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous art. Decent--albeit cold--text.