What is one thing both kids and adults love equally? A good animation movie of course! A movie that has not only an exciting story line, but also a great visualisation which, in fact, is one of the most important qualities when it comes to modern cinematography. And trust me when I say that the long-awaited Halloween season cartoon The Book of Life will easily meet those expectations.
Produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Jorge Gutierrez, The Book of Life is the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favourites, the animation movie encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future.
Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? And the good news is that it looks even better! Full of precise details and vibrant colours, the visualisation of the movie brings us into a real wonderland that is simply impossible not to feel amazed by, as the cartoon proceeds.
So who is the author of this masterpiece, you might probably want to know. The great man who made the powerful Day of the Dead Mexican holiday celebration characters come to life is none other than Paul Sullivan, visual development artist and art director who had been working on The Books of Life concept art since 2009, and without a doubt, those long years have definitely paid off.
Some of Paul’s most inspirational illustrations and behind-the-scenes shots are now gathered and published in a visual book called The Art of the Book of Life which will be released on September 30, shortly before the movie itself (official The Book of Life release date in the US is October 17th). So let the countdown begin!
June 30, 2014
Design Academy Eindhoven
British Higher School of Art and Design
Strate College
Pforzheim University
LOFT 42
World Architecture Festival
