Disney's Animation Magic: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How an Animated Film Is Made

by Don Hahn

Discusses the techniques and people involved in creating Disney's animated films, from the first story idea to opening night

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference

96 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1996

Reviews

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good starting place if you want to know how à Disney film is made but it is fairly juvenile

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good primer and there's nothing really wrong with it. But it's not quite the best of any world.

If you want to follow an animated film through production, I feel like you get a better takeaway from John Culhane's Disney's Aladdin: The Making of an Animated Film. Even though Hahn gives more information on certain important jobs like in-betweening and editing.

On the other hand, although Don Hahn has great perspective as a producer, you can't top the 50-year track record of Thomas and Johnston in The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation Even though Hahn's book is a much more digestible size.

(One thing this book is not meant to be is a how-to. For that you go to something like Richard Williams's The Animator's Survival Kit: A Manual of Methods, Principles, and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators or some Preston Blair material.)

The only other thing I'll say is that this book is definitely a product of 1996. Prepare for a lot of examples from Hunchback and Pocahontas.

[زاهي رستم · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about Disney way in making animation movie, not a pro book, but it was nice to read it.
It's add more knowledge to me, and it has a beautiful drawing and photos.
Give it a try.

[Violetta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book is more for ages 10-14, I'd say. Decent book to browse through for some nice images though.