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Once Upon a Time: Behind the Magic

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"In this official companion to the hit show, you can go behind the magic, discovering everything that goes into the making of the enchanting series. The show's stars talk about portraying characters who are both classic and new. Plus, the show's producers, writers and behind-the-scences wizards share their secrets about creating the magical episodes you see on screen, including production art and sketches." --Publisher description.

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

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Titan Comics

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5 stars
151 (68%)
4 stars
43 (19%)
3 stars
24 (10%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Linda Jaejoong.
570 reviews6 followers
February 6, 2017
Ich liebe die Serie und natürlich musste ich mir das Buch holen. Nur weil man ein Fan der Show ist heißt das nicht das man das Buch unbedingt kaufen müsste, aber für mich ist es eine kleine, nette Ergänzung. Wir erfahren wie die Show entstanden ist und was für eine Menge Aufwand wirklich für jede einzelne Folge betrieben wird.

Kostüme müssen am laufenden Band entworfen und realisiert werden. Szenen werden gedreht nur um dann verworfen zu werden. Die Visuellen Effekte sind harte Arbeit und brauchen auch eine Menge Zeit. In "Once Upon a Time" steckt mehr als man vermutet hätte. Es gibt auch sehr interessante Interviews im Buch.

Die Erschaffer der Serie melden sich zu Wort, genauso wie einzelne Hauptcharaktere und andere wichtige Mitarbeiter der Serie. Es sind auch sehr schicke Bilder vorhanden. Das Buch dreht sich um Staffel 1 und 2 der Serie und es gibt auch für jede Folge der beiden Staffeln eine kleine Zusammenfassung, was ich sehr schön finde.

Ich habe den Kauf auf jeden Fall nicht bereut und kann das Buch nur weiterempfehlen. Das Buch ist sehr schön gestaltet und besitzt eine Menge Infos rund um die Serie. Ich hoffe das es dieses Buch auch für die nächsten Staffeln geben wird, besonders jetzt wo es so viel Emma und Hook in Staffel 3 gegeben hat.
Profile Image for Meghan.
2,435 reviews
June 19, 2017
I wish there were six or maybe even ten stars to give for this book!!! I LOVE this series and I can't wait for the next season!
Profile Image for Amy.
259 reviews6 followers
June 28, 2015
Obviously, this is a book for a certain niche, but it's a wonderful behind the scenes look for OUAT fans. Lots of text packed into this book.
21 reviews
July 3, 2020
As a huge fan of Disney's Once Upon a Time TV series, I really love learning about the process and hard work that went into the making of the show. Not only does this guide tell you about the first two seasons, but it went into detail about how they made some props, what it was like filming in different conditions, and it has interviews with many of the main characters as well as some of the creative crew. Read this and learn the secrets of creating Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest!
4 reviews
August 31, 2018
Tante piccole e interessantissime curiosità. Molte interviste e pareri degli attori che condividono con il lettore tutta la passione e il divertimento dell'interpretare questi curiosi e anche complessi personaggi. Quindi lo consiglio vivamente. ONCER fatevi avanti e correte ad acquistarlo!!
Profile Image for Celine.
373 reviews4 followers
December 19, 2023
I loved this book and would definitely recommend this to any Oncer fans! I loved reading the cast’s interviews as well as reading about how they do the costumes/props as well as the scenes! This was a real fun read and I enjoyed seeing the pictures from the show too. I also enjoyed reading the interviews from the producers, writers, etc.
Profile Image for Tiffany Spencer.
1,941 reviews19 followers
April 2, 2018
Once Upon A Time: An Insiders Guide To Storybrooke
PLOT: This book was intended to get a little more in-depth into the show. It gave the main cast thoughts. It gave summaries of the first two seasons and Easter eggs. It gave the people behind the scenes like the prop creators, the costume designer, the visual effects team, the writers, and the producers. Actually, it talked to everyone but Adam and Eddie.

MY THOUGHTS: Behind the Magic certainly gives you your money's worth in content. But was this a necessary read? The cast interviews were interesting but it wasn't need to know their takes on the characters they play. It's good for a read but nothing that's gonna stick with you when you turn the last page. Unless you’re a super huge fanatic of the cast. And that's not taking anything away from the cast because I think they're all fantastic! Especially Lana. What she puts into the Evil Queen is just AMAZING! How this woman has not won an award for her portrayal of this character I don't know. It's much more interesting to me to hear their thoughts on the DVD commentaries. One of the most interesting parts to me was Edwardo Castro's interview about the costumes because in the past I've done sketches of outfits. He's absolutely brilliant! How he stays so true to the original looks and the details he puts into each and every single piece is inspired! And what I'd like to see is a Beyond The Magic Inside Edwardo's sketchbook where we see all his sketches and thoughts on every costume from Season 1 to the current. I would love that, and buy it! There's a YouTube video that goes into his wardrobe room and it was even more fascinating to see. I think that a lot of the content of this would work better as a DVD personally because I am visual. Such as the interview with the VFX team. And this is also I think something I saw on a DVD extra. They talk about how they created the whale, the ship, and Pinocchio. When you read them talking about it unless you’re a FX geek and you speak effects then you're gonna read through that fast. Versus when you actually see it on screen and then playing it out before your eyes. Which makes you want to actually spend a day with them and watch them at work. As well as the props. Which we get nice pictures and stories about some of the props. But I think that as a DVD this would work for them to have shown us the construction of the boat, and the beanstalk. And maybe the prop people going around different shops and we see them actually purchasing finds and creating from those finds what we see on screen. Or instead of reading about a writer's session let us actually see one, where they're discussing the ideas. I think I actually saw a YouTube video of this as well. So a lot of the criticism I have for this isn't because it's not good information but it's a personal preference to see these things rather than read about them. And I really wish I could go on a tour of the OUAT sets. Admittedly when I got to the end of the book although I wanted to read every page of it I also wanted to skip the last 12 because they were the Episode Guide of Season 2. Another criticism is this book is very poorly made. To not have owned it that long the pages have all come a loose as if I've owned it for years!!


RATING: 7, In summary, it's a really good book to own if you are a fan of the show. But it's not a have to have.
Profile Image for Danielle Rose.
49 reviews
March 8, 2014
This book is a great companion to anyone who loves the series 'Once upon a Time'. There are great interviews with the actors and actresses as well as the writers, producers, set team and anyone else who help to create the show. It gives you a great insight into what goes to into making the show from the first script writings to buying the props and preparing costumes etc. You really appreciate from reading the interviews how much work goes into making this show and how much they all love making it. The cast and crew explain why they decided to take part in this show and what fairy tales they loved as a kid. The behind the scenes sections looking at the props and how they do the special effects was really interesting to read and understand how all the magic is created. There is also a short episode by episode guide of the first two series with little snippets that you may have missed. This was great to read and remember what had happened in the first series and how the characters have developed since then.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the show and wants to see what goes into creating the series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, especially because you can dip in and out of it and read whichever section you fancy at that moment in time.
Profile Image for Teresa.
708 reviews
April 9, 2014
I read somewhere that this is actually a bind-up of two magazines that were released about the show but since I don't have those magazines it doesn't bother me. This book only encompasses seasons 1 and 2, but I think its still worth it with the inside look and everything. It includes episode guides for seasons 1 and 2, as well as interviews with many of the people who work on the show, such as some of the writers, cast, and crew. So I might be a little biased since I've been a bit obsessed with the show lately, but I loved reading this book and really getting an inside look of the show through the people who work on it. I really hope they do something like this for the 3rd season at some point (and any other seasons that may happen too).
Profile Image for Lucy.
421 reviews38 followers
March 8, 2015
5/5 stars
This is an absolute essential for lovers of the show as it includes loads of behind the scenes information that is so interesting and adds greatly to the overall experience of the watching as well as giving a greater understanding of what goes into making an episode.
Don't know if they'll do one of these for seasons 3 and 4 as this only cover seasons 1 and 2 but I really hope they do.
176 pages of glossy pictures and background wonderfulness
241 reviews1 follower
October 20, 2013
Good behind-the-scenes book about the TV show.
Profile Image for Jennifer Baratta.
2,061 reviews
December 4, 2013
A must read for Once Upon a Time Fans. You learn a lot from Actors writers and the Wonderful man who gives the music to the show. Please read.
Profile Image for Hannah.
336 reviews88 followers
March 17, 2014
The interviews and pictures were my favorite parts. The format/placement was a little weird but I liked it.
Profile Image for Mads .
32 reviews22 followers
April 14, 2015
A must-own for any once upon a time fan!!!
Profile Image for RumBelle.
2,055 reviews19 followers
April 21, 2017
This was an entertaining guide to one of my favorite TV shows. All the main characters were discussed in depth, you were shown how props were made, how the different lands were conceived and so much more. The pictures were amazing.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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