Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A superbly detailed, in-depth, and entertaining look at the life and work of 30 great animators. Filled with riveting, full-color examples from Winsor McCay, Walt Disney, Jim Henson, Richard Williams, Hayao Miyazaki, and more.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

What makes this volume unique is its international dimension--rare among English-language books, which usually leave the impression that filmic cartoons are strictly products of the US, and, even more erroneously, that they are the private domain of Disney. Nearly a third of Grant's 37 featured individuals (or partnerships: Halas and Batchelor, Hanna and Barbera, Harman and Ising, the Fleischers) hail from Canada and Europe. This said, only Japan's Hayao Miyawaki does not fit Western geographic confines, an indication of the book's chief problem: its Euro-American centrism. Grant does not even mention the colossal giants of Chinese animation, Te Wei, A Da, Wan brothers, and others among his "also-rans." Additionally, because the author does not spell out his selection and evaluation criteria--equating masters with intelligence only--the reader must wonder why Canadian Frederic Back--an innovative genius in story, style, and technique--merits two pages whereas Ralph Bakshi gets 12 pages, much of the text describing Bakshi's failures. Certainly what Grant gives the reader is informative, interesting, and visually pleasing--little-known facts and anecdotes, a fascinating narrative style, scores of annotated movie synopses, and many full-color illustrations; it is just that he needs to give more, perhaps in a second volume. Recommended for scholars, practitioners, and fans. J. A. Lent Temple University