When I first read about this book, I wanted to read it --- but I wasn't expecting it to be a coffee-table-size book. When I picked up my hold from the library, I then was expecting more pictures than text. And I was wrong: there is a lot of text here. And, this book is completely fascinating!!
The author goes into detail about the women who worked to painstakingly bring to life the various pencil drawings to animate creations at Walt Disney's studios. Like Code Girls, this book focuses on history that basically has gone untold (and pretty unappreciated) until now. The sheer amount of work that went into the early processes is staggering, and now that I've read this, I can really appreciate short pieces from the Silly Symphony catalog. The author explains not only the different color processes and techniques, but also how delicate and precise the work needed to be, as well as the evolution of the animation process through the years. In addition to seeking artists, Disney sought out female story specialists and concept artists to expand the scope of his storytelling. Over the years, women made their way into the male-dominated area of animation. During World War II, even more opportunities became available, and women quickly progressed into all kinds of disciplines within the animation process and production.
This book is obviously extensively researched and is very, very thorough in detail. I found I was reading slowly, because there's just so much information to take in. Really a fascinating book!!
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