Books like The Art of The Lion King

This book is apparently out of print, and very hard to find, but I managed to locate a used copy online, and I'm so glad to finally add it to my Disney art book collection. After the frustration of reading the subpar Aladdin offering, this is a real breath of fresh air, and the start of a series of really excellent art books on the Disney films.I was without question obsessed with The Lion King when it was released, and although it doesn't stand as my favorite after all these years, the story, characters, music and art make impossible to deny it is one amazing film. This oversized book is full of artwork from the movie, from the earliest concept character sketches and color studies to finished stills from the film. The first part of the book provides a concise telling of the story of the film from start to finish, and includes art and lyrics relevant to the scenes and musical numbers as it goes. There are storyboards, pencil sketches, color paintings and digital art, thumbnail and full-page illustrations. Featured artists include Chris Sanders, Andreas Deja, Mark Henn and Andy Gaskill. Only in the last 30 pages or so does the author actually step in and provide some insight to the making of the film. It's concise, but thorough, and just enough information. He describes the research trip key members of the production team took to West Africa and its stylistic and artistic influences on the development on the film. He discusses the characters--the ones who lasted and the ones who were cut from the story early on--and how the story evolved into the one that so many know and love all these years later. He talks about the animators, the clean-up artists, the process of writing the music, and various other aspects of filmmaking, including the increased use of computers. It doesn't drag on, it's very well-written, and it gives a good amount of insight into just how much work goes on in the making of an animated film, and just how collaborative the process really is.This book is a beautiful companion piece that fans of The Lion King, animation or art in general will enjoy immensely.