If you’re anything like us, you’ve been watching a lot of cartoons recently.
Animation is the perfect escape when you’re stuck at home. It can take you to worlds both similar to our own and so radically different that they are unrecognizable. What better escape could you ask for?
The books we have this month will give you an inside look at exactly how these incredible worlds are created. From the geniuses that dreamed up the golden age of Disney, to a guided tour through every single episode of The Venture Bros, and finally to an intricately detailed look at the design of basically everything in Neon Genesis Evangelion. As always, some of these are new and some you may have missed, but each deserve to be checked out.
All of the books go on sale on TODAY at 2pm CT.
________________________________________________________________________
They Drew As They Pleased: The Hidden Art of Disney's Late Golden Age
By Didier Ghez and published by Chronicle Books. Expected to ship worldwide in May. $45
Walt Disney always envisioned the studios that bear his name remaining relevant by consistently taking creative risks and doing the unexpected. Heading into the 1940s, he crafted an entirely new division of the studio called the Character Model Department, which focused solely on the details of character development. 
This latest volume from famed Disney historian Didier Ghez profiles six remarkable artists from that department, sharing uncommon and never-before-seen images of their influential work behind the scenes. With vivid descriptions and passages from the artists' journals, this visually rich collection offers a rare view of the Disney artists whose work gave rise to many classic Disney characters, and who ultimately rewrote the future of character creation in animation.
_________________________________________________________________________
They Drew As They Pleased: The Hidden Art of Disney's Mid-Century Era
By Didier Ghez and published by Chronicle Books. Expected to ship worldwide in May. $50
The 1950s and 1960s at The Walt Disney Studios marked unprecedented stylistic directions brought on by the mid-century modern and graphic sensibilities of a new wave of artists. This volume explores the contributions of these heroes with special emphasis on the art of Lee Blair, Mary Blair, Tom Oreb, John Dunn, and Walt Peregoy. 
It includes never-before-seen images from CINDERELLA, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, PETER PAN, and SLEEPING BEAUTY and discusses Disney's first forays into television, commercials, space, and science projects—even the development of theme parks. Drawing on interviews and revealing hundreds of rediscovered images that inspired Disney's films during one of its most prolific eras, this volume captures the rich stories of the artists who brought the characters to life and helped shape the future of animation.
__________________________________________________________________________
They Drew As They Pleased: The Hidden Art of Disney's Early Renaissance
By Didier Ghez and published by Chronicle Books. Expected to ship worldwide in May. $50
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Disney animation studio redefined its creative vision in the wake of Walt Disney's death. This latest volume from renowned Disney historian Didier Ghez profiles Ken Anderson and Mel Shaw, whose work defined beloved classic Disney characters from films like THE JUNGLE BOOK, THE ARISTOCATS, ROBIN HOOD, and THE RESUCERS.
With vivid descriptions of passages from the artists' autobiographies and interviews, accompanied by never-before-seen images of their art and process, this visually rich collection offers a rare view of the Disney legends whose work helped shape the nature of character and story development for generations to come.
_________________________________________________________________________
Go Team Venture! The Art and Making of the Venture Bros.
By Jackson Publick, Doc Hammer, and Ken Plume and published by Dark Horse Books. Expected to ship worldwide in May. $39.99
Written by Venture Bros. creators Jackson Publik and Doc Hammer, with an introduction by Patton Oswalt, this is an all-encompassing look at the characters, art, history, and influences of the beloved series.
Ken Plume sits down with both series creators to have a conversation about the creation of every single episode through season six and much more. From the earliest sketches of Hank and Dean scribbled in a notebook, pitching the series to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, learning the ins and outs of animation, character designs for each season, storyboards, painted backgrounds, behind-the-scenes recollections of how the show came together, it's all here.
__________________________________________________________________________
Neon Genesis Evangelion: TV Animation Production Art Collection
Published by Udon Entertainment. Expected to ship worldwide in May. $39.99
The Neon Genesis Evangelion television series revolutionized Japanese anime with its incredible animation, sophisticated storytelling, and dynamic mecha designs.
This book is an archive of design sketches created for the 1995 television series, as well as the 1997 theatrical release.
Included are draft artwork of characters, mecha, weapons, vehicles, interior and exterior locations, and more, all supported by the original artists’ detailed design notes. This 432-page tome is a must-have for any fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion, animation production, and character design.
