John Lasseter (Contemporary Film Directors) - Softcover

Neupert, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0252081641 ISBN 13: 9780252081644

Publisher: University of Illinois Press, 2016

Synopsis

Celebrated as Pixar's "Chief Creative Officer," John Lasseter is a revolutionary figure in animation history and one of today's most important filmmakers. Lasseter films from Luxo Jr. to Toy Story and Cars 2 highlighted his gift for creating emotionally engaging characters. At the same time, they helped launch computer animation as a viable commercial medium and serve as blueprints for the genre's still-expanding commercial and artistic development.

Richard Neupert explores Lasseter's signature aesthetic and storytelling strategies and details how he became the architect of Pixar's studio style. Neupert contends that Lasseter's accomplishments emerged from a unique blend of technical skill and artistic vision, as well as a passion for working with collaborators. In addition, Neupert traces the director's career arc from the time Lasseter joined Pixar in 1984. As Neupert shows, Lasseter's ability to keep a foot in both animation and CGI allowed him to thrive in an unconventional corporate culture that valued creative interaction between colleagues. The ideas that emerged built an animation studio that updated and refined classical Hollywood storytelling practices--and changed commercial animation forever.

About this title

About the Author

Richard Neupert is the Charles H. Wheatley Professor of the Arts in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Georgia. His books include French Animation History and A History of the French New Wave.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0252081641
• ISBN 13: 9780252081644
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224