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Academy Award-winning writer/director James Cameron, the maker of Titanic and the creator of the Terminator series, first imagined Avatar while still in his teens. The film follows the story of an ex-marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on a distant planet filled with exotic life forms. As an avatar, a human consciousness in an alien body, this disabled vet is torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for both his own survival and that of the indigenous people. The Art of Avatar, the companion book to this epic 3-D action adventure, explores the developmental and conceptual art used by the creative team to craft this wholly original world. With over 100 exclusive full-color images including sketches, matte paintings, drawings, and film stills, The Art of Avatar brings readers behind the scenes of this unprecedented movie-going experience. This official artbook companion to the feature film reveals the process behind the creation of set designs for the imaginative vistas, unique landscapes, aerial battle scenes, bioluminescent nights, and fantastical creatures. Interviews with art directors, visual effects designers, animators, costume designers, and creature makers delivers unique insights into the team’s creative processes — all driven by James Cameron’s one-of-a-kind vision.
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257 reviews for The Art of Avatar: James Cameron’s Epic Adventure
4.3out of 5
★★★★★
★★★★★
9
★★★★★
1
★★★★★
2
★★★★★
0
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1
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★★★★★
Jane F. Schmidt –
I was underwhelmed by much of the stuff in the book. The fact that it is a skimpy book didn’t bother me as much as its content. There is a usual number of technically well executed images, but lacking inspiration: less the fault of the artists than Cameron’s taste I would assume. There are some interesting creature and environment concepts, but it’s stuff we have seen in countless video games and movies: mechanized suites, propellered ships, space marines… I was hoping for more exotic images of truly alien lands but not in this book. I know the film is supposedly filled with amazing night time shots of the planet with glowing plants and aliens but not in the book.
What you do see in the book are endless photo-manipulated Photoshoped imagery which is a great ad for Photoshop as an illustration tool. One image that somewhat irritated me was a two-page spread of the blue aliens having hunted a larger creature while they were cutting up the hunt. Well, the image looked familiar to me then I realized that it was actually a well known National Geographics photograph of Pygmies hunting and cutting up an elephant. The aritst seems to have simply manipulated the photo to create the piece. All fine if just used to show the director ideas, but to give the picture a two-page spread didn’t sit well with me.
If you love Art of books, then by all means pick this up. But this book is certainly not the most awe-inspiring of the bunch.
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★★★★★
Victor –
Fantastic book. Great condition. Fast postage.
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★★★★★
GEA –
First of all, i have to say i was expecting this to be delievered around the 16th. I ordered it on the 10th of January, it then dispatched 11th and came today, the 13th, with the free delivery service, 3 days ahead. Well done Amazon! Second the actual book. Just flicking through it, i found myself intrigued and awed at the creation of the movie. The art here reflects that of the film. The film wasn’t soo much directed at the developement of the characters, more of the lush world of Pandora, and the book echoes this. What you see is the vibrance of the world painted by the artists. What’s more, the commentaries on it give a more indepth description and view concerning how the artists and Cameron came up with Avatar. If you liked the film, this is almost an essential.
Good -Vivid and lush pictures reflecting that of the film -Commentaries giving indepth descriptions -The sheer beauty of it -Developement of the world
Bad (hardly matters, just picky# -No 3D images to be seen with cinema 3D glasses #just wishes) -Quite thin with character pictures and developement -A good quantity of pictures, but could have some more
For any fan of Avatar, this is a superb book. If not a fan, it’s still a good book. Recommend the soundtrack and Avatar: The field guide. 5/5
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★★★★★
Leen –
The book itself is filled with art works and pictures, though i would’ve loved more context and information besides the art, plus i think the book is too short? Like it should’ve been better if it contained more pages. Otherwise i loved it.
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★★★★★
Leen –
I love scifi and speculative fiction. And while the movie didn’t offer that, this book does.
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★★★★★
Thomas Emerson –
i will order again from this seller. book was wrap with platic wrap. preventing the dust jacket from getting damage during shipping. that alone lets you know that the seller want you to be happy with your purchase. as for the product, not many pages in the book. should had another 25 pages. it just small.
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★★★★★
Héctor –
The book was severely damaged!
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★★★★★
Austzulu –
War ein grauslicher Plastikeinband drüber
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★★★★★
Amazon Customer –
Es un artbook súper bonito. Tanto como si eres fan de Avatar como estudiante de diseño o dibujo, es un producto más que recomendable.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
SSH –
We’ve all read the main complaints: Too short, too costly, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I rather enjoy this book. It may not be the BEST art book, but it is full of amazing artwork. And even though there are only about 100 pages, these pages are freakin’ HUGE, with two or three GIANT fold out pages of conceptual artwork. The whole thought process behind creating the creatures of Pandora (including the ever so beautiful Na’vi) is captivating to say the least, and I’m not just saying this because I intend on seeing the movie ten more times.
I also suggest the Pandora Activist Guide if you’re more prone to smaller carry-with-you books. But, trust me, there are several worse ways to spend twenty bucks.
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★★★★★
talos72 –
Beautiful condition, gorgeous art. I’d like to get more of my own hard covers laminate protected. It’s good for making them last even through gentle usage.
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★★★★★
Serena Madrigal –
I bought the book for a friend who loved the movie but I had also loved it (I saw it three times). I took a peek at it before I gave it to her and I couldn’t put it down. It was like watching the movie all over again! The pictures are magical. It even has stories about how the creators got their ideas for the characters and the animals. It’s an art book and it has information about making the movie. I highly recommend owning this beautiful book. Jane
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
ellen george –
I received The Art of Avatar yesterday and it was one of the most amazing looks into the brilliance of technology and James Cameron’s vision I’ve ever seen! I am a screenwriting student and film student and I was amazed at every page, every idea that is needed to put an idea for a motion picture to life. And it is mindboggling. Cameron had to wait for the technology to catch up to his ideas, and that took almost a decade. Peter Jackson’s preface uses the phrase ‘Suspension of Disbelief’ as the world between the filmmaker and the audience. You as a member of the audience are watching a film in its real time. The world you are in is the world you see onscreen. And to do that properly is the magic of film. The Art of Avatar shows the people, the animals, the humans, the natives of the moon Pandora, in magnificent detail is worth purchasing the book. The process of the evolution of how a character or beast is created in amazing. I cannot wait to see this film and given the taste of its beauty and plotting, am amazed this technology exists to give this to us. The only negative I can give and it is nothing really, but the middle page of my book was not connected, and I don’t think that was on purpose. There are fold-out pages that blow your mind in the book, but the middle photo encompased just the 2 middle pages. If that is the worst criticism I can give to a book, fuggetaboutit! I did and carefully fitted the page back. The Art of Avatar is a wonderful art showing unto itself, but if you are at all interested in seeing the movie, or are a film maker, you will appreciate this gorgeous book.
Jane F. Schmidt –
I was underwhelmed by much of the stuff in the book. The fact that it is a skimpy book didn’t bother me as much as its content. There is a usual number of technically well executed images, but lacking inspiration: less the fault of the artists than Cameron’s taste I would assume. There are some interesting creature and environment concepts, but it’s stuff we have seen in countless video games and movies: mechanized suites, propellered ships, space marines… I was hoping for more exotic images of truly alien lands but not in this book. I know the film is supposedly filled with amazing night time shots of the planet with glowing plants and aliens but not in the book.
What you do see in the book are endless photo-manipulated Photoshoped imagery which is a great ad for Photoshop as an illustration tool. One image that somewhat irritated me was a two-page spread of the blue aliens having hunted a larger creature while they were cutting up the hunt. Well, the image looked familiar to me then I realized that it was actually a well known National Geographics photograph of Pygmies hunting and cutting up an elephant. The aritst seems to have simply manipulated the photo to create the piece. All fine if just used to show the director ideas, but to give the picture a two-page spread didn’t sit well with me.
If you love Art of books, then by all means pick this up. But this book is certainly not the most awe-inspiring of the bunch.
Victor –
Fantastic book. Great condition. Fast postage.
GEA –
First of all, i have to say i was expecting this to be delievered around the 16th. I ordered it on the 10th of January, it then dispatched 11th and came today, the 13th, with the free delivery service, 3 days ahead. Well done Amazon!
Second the actual book. Just flicking through it, i found myself intrigued and awed at the creation of the movie. The art here reflects that of the film. The film wasn’t soo much directed at the developement of the characters, more of the lush world of Pandora, and the book echoes this. What you see is the vibrance of the world painted by the artists.
What’s more, the commentaries on it give a more indepth description and view concerning how the artists and Cameron came up with Avatar. If you liked the film, this is almost an essential.
Good
-Vivid and lush pictures reflecting that of the film
-Commentaries giving indepth descriptions
-The sheer beauty of it
-Developement of the world
Bad (hardly matters, just picky#
-No 3D images to be seen with cinema 3D glasses #just wishes)
-Quite thin with character pictures and developement
-A good quantity of pictures, but could have some more
For any fan of Avatar, this is a superb book. If not a fan, it’s still a good book. Recommend the soundtrack and Avatar: The field guide. 5/5
Leen –
The book itself is filled with art works and pictures, though i would’ve loved more context and information besides the art, plus i think the book is too short? Like it should’ve been better if it contained more pages. Otherwise i loved it.
Leen –
I love scifi and speculative fiction. And while the movie didn’t offer that, this book does.
Thomas Emerson –
i will order again from this seller. book was wrap with platic wrap. preventing the dust jacket from getting damage during shipping. that alone lets you know that the seller want you to be happy with your purchase. as for the product, not many pages in the book. should had another 25 pages. it just small.
Héctor –
The book was severely damaged!
Austzulu –
War ein grauslicher Plastikeinband drüber
Amazon Customer –
Es un artbook súper bonito. Tanto como si eres fan de Avatar como estudiante de diseño o dibujo, es un producto más que recomendable.
SSH –
We’ve all read the main complaints: Too short, too costly, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I rather enjoy this book. It may not be the BEST art book, but it is full of amazing artwork. And even though there are only about 100 pages, these pages are freakin’ HUGE, with two or three GIANT fold out pages of conceptual artwork. The whole thought process behind creating the creatures of Pandora (including the ever so beautiful Na’vi) is captivating to say the least, and I’m not just saying this because I intend on seeing the movie ten more times.
I also suggest the Pandora Activist Guide if you’re more prone to smaller carry-with-you books. But, trust me, there are several worse ways to spend twenty bucks.
talos72 –
Beautiful condition, gorgeous art. I’d like to get more of my own hard covers laminate protected. It’s good for making them last even through gentle usage.
Serena Madrigal –
I bought the book for a friend who loved the movie but I had also loved it (I saw it three times). I took a peek at it before I gave it to her and I couldn’t put it down. It was like watching the movie all over again! The pictures are magical. It even has stories about how the creators got their ideas for the characters and the animals. It’s an art book and it has information about making the movie. I highly recommend owning this beautiful book. Jane
ellen george –
I received The Art of Avatar yesterday and it was one of the most amazing looks into the brilliance of technology and James Cameron’s vision I’ve ever seen!
I am a screenwriting student and film student and I was amazed at every page, every idea that is needed to put an idea for a motion picture to life. And it is mindboggling.
Cameron had to wait for the technology to catch up to his ideas, and that took almost a decade.
Peter Jackson’s preface uses the phrase ‘Suspension of Disbelief’ as the world between the filmmaker and the audience. You as a member of the audience are watching a film in its real time. The world you are in is the world you see onscreen.
And to do that properly is the magic of film.
The Art of Avatar shows the people, the animals, the humans, the natives of the moon Pandora, in magnificent detail is worth purchasing the book. The process of the evolution of how a character or beast is created in amazing.
I cannot wait to see this film and given the taste of its beauty and plotting, am amazed this technology exists to give this to us.
The only negative I can give and it is nothing really, but the middle page of my book was not connected, and I don’t think that was on purpose. There are fold-out pages that blow your mind in the book, but the middle photo encompased just the 2 middle pages.
If that is the worst criticism I can give to a book, fuggetaboutit! I did and carefully fitted the page back.
The Art of Avatar is a wonderful art showing unto itself, but if you are at all interested in seeing the movie, or are a film maker, you will appreciate this gorgeous book.