7 Books Every Pixar Fan Should Own

Since 1986, Pixar Animation Studios has captured our imaginations and shown us how magical computer animation can be! From Tin Soldier to The Incredibles 2, the creativity and inventiveness of Pixar is matched only by their ability to tell and heartfelt story.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy Pixar even more is to collect their “Art Of” series of books.  Here are some of our favorites.  We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

1. The Color of Pixar, by Tim Kratter

Bold and beautiful, this volume presents hundreds of film stills from the Pixar archives in a glorious spectrum of color. Starting with bright white images and seamlessly flowing through the colors of the rainbow, it becomes crystal clear how each frame tells a story.

2. The Art of Pixar: 25th Anniv.: The Complete Color Scripts and Select Art from 25 Years of Animation, by Amid Amidi

Over the past 25 years, Pixar’s team of artists, writers, and directors have shaped the world of contemporary animation with their feature films and shorts. From classics such as Toy Story and A Bug’s Life to recent masterpieces such as Up, Toy Story 3, and Cars 2, this comprehensive collection offers a behind-the-scenes tour of every Pixar film to date.

3. The Art of Finding Nemo, by Mark Cotta Vaz

This visually stunning underwater adventure follows eventful and comic journeys of two fish-a father and his son Nemo-who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef. The underwater world for the film was conceptualized and developed by the creative team of artists, illustrators, and designers at Pixar, resulting in a lush landscape rich with detail.

4. The Art of Up, Tim Hauser

The Art of UP contains more than 250 pieces of concept art developed for the feature, including storyboards, full-color pastels, digital and pencil sketches, character studies, color scripts, and more. Quotes from the director, artists, animators, and production team reveal the sky-high creativity that elevated this whimsical film to new heights.

5. The Art of Monsters, Inc., by John Lasseter and Pete Doctor

This incredible body of artwork was commissioned from the top artists, illustrators, and animators in the industry and from it the ultimate visual approach of the film was defined. From sketches scribbled on napkins and quickly inked marker drawings, to finished oil paintings and fabulous pastel color scripts, this behind-the-scenes artwork reveals the elaborate creative process behind a blockbuster film.

6. The Art of Pixar Shorts, by Amid Amidi and John Lasseter

In The Art of Pixar Short Films, animation expert and short film devotee Amid Amidi shines a spotlight on these and many more memorable vignettes from the Pixar archive. Essays and interviews illuminate more than 250 full-color pastels, pencil sketches, storyboards, and final rendered frames that were the foundation of Pixar’s creative process.

7. The Art of Brave, by Jenny Lerew

Featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with the film’s many artists and filmmakers, The Art of Braveshowcases the gorgeous concept art that went into the making of this movie, including color scripts, storyboards, character studies, environment art, sculpts, and more.

What “Art Of Pixar” books do you suggest?

Leave us a comment below!