Saturday, 24 July 2021

Alrightreads: Art Books III

Hayao Miyazaki, Nobuhiro Watsuki and artists, The Art of My Neighbor Totoro

2005 / Ebook / 173 pages / Japan

****

There's enough background, extracurricular detail and technical commentary to make this more than a load of pretty pastoral-fantastical art, but it's got that going for it too.


Hayao Miyazaki and artists, The Art of Kiki's Delivery Service

2006 / Ebook / 208 pages / Japan

***

Chronological concepts and cels to compare and contrast with commentary, but there's nothing too enlightening this time around. The surrounding chapters are dull technical affairs that might be useful if your dream is to be an animator 30 years ago.


Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman, Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers 1989-1997

1989-97 (collected 1997) / Ebook / 206 pages / UK

****

I'd never thought to bother with what seemed like a reasonable cash-in, but the inclusion of another short Gaiman/McKean tale and running commentary from the author make it a valuable appendix to the greatest story ever told.


Various, The Art of Morrowind

2002 / Paperback / 48 pages / Unknown

***

I forgot I'd had this, because of its lightweight and modest nature as added value to a special edition game bundle, but like the accompanying soundtrack CD, it's a nice supplement to a game I was once immersed in, though never sufficiently obsessed by.


Various, Hubble: A Journey Through Space and Time

2010 / Hardback / 144 pages / Space

****

A greatest hits of desktop backgrounds that's nice to have, even if some like the Ultra Deep Field are best served by a screen (preferably IMAX). Also a nice pictorial supplement when I get around to reading Carl Sagan again.