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Title: Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin ISBN: 0-452-25993-2 Publisher: Plume Pub. Date: May, 1990 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $28.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.64 (14 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: The definitive book on theatrical animation
Comment: I first read this book some ten years ago, and was astounded. Not only did the book include little-known information on the studios and cartoons we know and love, but those which have passed into history. (Anyone remember the Van Buren Studio? Or Columbia-Screen Gems? Or that the latter produced a "L'il Abner" animated series in the mid-forties?) Maltin's love of animation is obvious, and it makes one wonder why did not choose to devote an entire book to one studio in particular (the sometimes unfairly maligned Terrytoons deserves one, certainly). My sole complaint echoes that of others here--Maltin should update this book more thoroughly, and more often. Even the "updated" version is out of date, and leads one to believe the industry is dying (which was the common belief until "Roger Rabbit" came along). Other than that, I have but one suggestion for Maltin--he should give made-for-TV cartoon studios the same treatment in a follow-up volume. Here's hoping he reads these reviews...
Rating: 5
Summary: A book that changed my life -- really!
Comment: I first encountered this book years ago when I was a young motion picture projectionist at a small theatre in Iowa. We could never afford the top-shelf cartoons to run before our features, so we ran obscure old Krazy Kat cartoons and the like. Maltin's book offered the best description yet available on the importance of these early films and their place in animation history.
Moreso, it contained a chapter on the Ub Iwerks Studio. I never really knew much about old Ub until we happened to get one of his gorgeous Comicolor Classic cartoons (Jack and the Beanstalk) in place of the usual Krazy Kats. I of course went to "Of Mice and Magic" to find out more and whetted my appetite to learn more about this forgotten genius.
Decades later, my youthful interest turned into a full-time pursuit. My biography of Ub Iwerks, "The Hand Behind the Mouse" (ISBN: 0786853204) co-written with Ub's granddaughter Leslie, is now available. Ironically, (or not so) Mr. Leonard Maltin kindly wrote the introduction for our book, thus bringing my foray into animation history full circle. I have always considered Maltin to be like an Old Testament prophet in the field of animation history. "Of Mice and Magic" is still the finest animation book ever written -- which is saying alot (there are many great ones -- ours included.) For anyone who loves animation and the world of cartoons, this is THE essential book and my life has been so much richer because of it.
Rating: 4
Summary: Long in the Tooth
Comment: In 1990, when I purchased this book, I would have given it five stars. Unfortunately, a decade is a generation in film making, even more so for animation, and this book is now 13 years old. Animation has changed a lot since then. In 1990 Don Bluth was practically the only new kid on the block. Now many new major studios are making animated features (the animated short seems to be largely dead except for experiments), Pixar has opened up a whole new area of computer animation, and the Japanese have invaded with both general-audience and adult animation. (Actually, the earliest Japanese landing party was in the late 1980s.) Mr. Maltin, an update is long overdue. (And while you're at it, why not update your movie encyclopedia too?)
Nonetheless, this book is the unique source for much history and data. I especially like the film lists. Until a new edition becomes available, we must be grateful to have this wonderful book as it is.
What I would dearly love to see is a glossy update of "Of Mice and Magic" with color pictures. It would be more expensive but definitely worth it.
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Title: Before Mickey: The Animated Film 1898-1928 by Donald Crafton ISBN: 0226116670 Publisher: University of Chicago Press Pub. Date: November, 1993 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons by Jeff Lenburg, Jeff Leaburg, June Foray ISBN: 0816038325 Publisher: Checkmark Books Pub. Date: July, 1999 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age by Michael Barrier ISBN: 0195167295 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: September, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Chuck Amuck : The Life and Time of an Animated Cartoonist by Matt Groening, Chuck Jones ISBN: 0374526206 Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux Pub. Date: 03 December, 1999 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: Seven Minutes: The Life and Death of the American Animated Cartoon by Norman M. Klein ISBN: 1859841503 Publisher: Verso Books Pub. Date: February, 1996 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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