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BoJack Horseman: The Art Before the Horse
Netflix’s BoJack Horseman has quickly become one of the most critically acclaimed animated comedy series in recent memory. Set in an off-kilter, cynically spun rendering of modern-day Hollywood, the show follows washed-up horse actor BoJack Horseman (voiced by Will Arnett) as he attempts to turn his life around. BoJack Horseman: The Art Before the Horse is the official behind-the-scenes companion to this cult-hit series. Part oral history sourced from original interviews with the show’s cast and crew, part art book—including sketches, storyboards, and background art—this book will trace the series from conception to post-production. Beginning with the initial development of creator/ showrunner Raphael Bob-Waksberg and production designer Lisa Hanawalt’s inimitable aesthetic vision, The Art Before the Horse goes on to reveal all of the moving parts—direction, writing, casting, animation, and music—that come together to form this uniquely bleak, emotionally potent, very funny show.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2018
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1114 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 24, 2020
A peek behind the curtains and the glimpse into creation of the best tv show ever.
September 21, 2018
My favorite current television show now has content in book form?
What is this, a crossover episode?
Enough has been said about the brilliance and hilarity of Netflix’s Bojack Horseman that I need not repeat here. I will instead focus on a fascinating art book that I’m not sure I’m actually reading correctly. It’s about the size of a coffee-table book but I have no coffee table, and while I did flip through to look at Lisa Hannawalt’s concept art and the master folders of different props and expressions, I returned to the beginning to read the whole thing cover to cover. Artists, please let me know if I’m doing this wrong.
Unsurprisingly, the story of Bojack’s conception and the behind-the-scenes teamwork required to pull together an animated show in only a few months is just as neat as the art that inspires it. I found out so many trivia tidbits about this show like how creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg originally pitched it to the Animal Planet channel (Imagine how different the show would be on THAT network). Bob-Waksberg also refuses to do fart and poop jokes not because he thinks he’s above them, but simply because the human body grosses him out.
I also learned so much about Lisa Hanawalt, the animation designer who grew up as a horse-obsessed girl (She based her design of Bojack off of her childhood horse, Tony the Pony), went to high school with Raphael Bob-Waksberg, and actually refused the job offer to work on Bojack initially. Thank goodness she stayed on because the show would not be complete without her zine-style watercolor aesthetic, or her unique anthropomorphic animals with no tails and wide range of expression.
There is so much behind-the-scenes information on the writing process, the animation process, the music, the in-world rules and jokes, basically everything that makes a show about a depressed horse so awe-inspiring and relatable. Of course the art is beautiful too. There is something I like about a multitude of patterns and colors, along with the animal puns supplied by the character designs. It’s the perfect book for any Bojack fan or for anyone who wants to know how tv shows (especially animated ones) are put together.
Finally I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this is an early Christmas gift from Kate. I mean it was SUPPOSED to be a Christmas gift but she couldn’t wait that long (her words, not mine). It’s still appropriate I think. Christmas in September is a novel yet brilliant Todd Chavez-esque idea...
What is this, a crossover episode?
Enough has been said about the brilliance and hilarity of Netflix’s Bojack Horseman that I need not repeat here. I will instead focus on a fascinating art book that I’m not sure I’m actually reading correctly. It’s about the size of a coffee-table book but I have no coffee table, and while I did flip through to look at Lisa Hannawalt’s concept art and the master folders of different props and expressions, I returned to the beginning to read the whole thing cover to cover. Artists, please let me know if I’m doing this wrong.
Unsurprisingly, the story of Bojack’s conception and the behind-the-scenes teamwork required to pull together an animated show in only a few months is just as neat as the art that inspires it. I found out so many trivia tidbits about this show like how creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg originally pitched it to the Animal Planet channel (Imagine how different the show would be on THAT network). Bob-Waksberg also refuses to do fart and poop jokes not because he thinks he’s above them, but simply because the human body grosses him out.
I also learned so much about Lisa Hanawalt, the animation designer who grew up as a horse-obsessed girl (She based her design of Bojack off of her childhood horse, Tony the Pony), went to high school with Raphael Bob-Waksberg, and actually refused the job offer to work on Bojack initially. Thank goodness she stayed on because the show would not be complete without her zine-style watercolor aesthetic, or her unique anthropomorphic animals with no tails and wide range of expression.
There is so much behind-the-scenes information on the writing process, the animation process, the music, the in-world rules and jokes, basically everything that makes a show about a depressed horse so awe-inspiring and relatable. Of course the art is beautiful too. There is something I like about a multitude of patterns and colors, along with the animal puns supplied by the character designs. It’s the perfect book for any Bojack fan or for anyone who wants to know how tv shows (especially animated ones) are put together.
Finally I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this is an early Christmas gift from Kate. I mean it was SUPPOSED to be a Christmas gift but she couldn’t wait that long (her words, not mine). It’s still appropriate I think. Christmas in September is a novel yet brilliant Todd Chavez-esque idea...
December 29, 2018
I'm a big Bojack fan and this book was gifted to me. I'm grateful for had it not been gifted, I would have never known it existed! This is the definitive Bojack book. From the humble beginnings to the animation, sound, characters, actors, etc. everything is covered in depth. I would argue that this isn't your average coffee table book either; this took me a few hours to read and it was time well spent. Not only did I get a glimpse into a show that I love so much, I learned a lot about the process as a whole.
If I had to list one shortcoming it would be the lack of insight from the actors. Don't get me wrong, they are definitely in there but it seems as though the actors have led to the continued development of their characters as much, if not more so, than the writers so it would be interesting to hear a little more from their perspective. One voice that is particularly absent (although still present) is that of Will Arnett. I would have loved to hear more from him. Even a handful of additional paragraphs would have been fascinating. Regardless, the book holds its own and is essential reading for even the most casual of Bojack fans. For those of us more enamored with the show, be prepared to learn, love, and appreciate the hell out of all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes of Bojack.
If I had to list one shortcoming it would be the lack of insight from the actors. Don't get me wrong, they are definitely in there but it seems as though the actors have led to the continued development of their characters as much, if not more so, than the writers so it would be interesting to hear a little more from their perspective. One voice that is particularly absent (although still present) is that of Will Arnett. I would have loved to hear more from him. Even a handful of additional paragraphs would have been fascinating. Regardless, the book holds its own and is essential reading for even the most casual of Bojack fans. For those of us more enamored with the show, be prepared to learn, love, and appreciate the hell out of all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes of Bojack.
January 18, 2022
Phenomenal insight into the making of my favorite show. It’s filled with so much detail about the creative and writing process, as well as the nuances of animation. It greatly increased my love and appreciation for the greatness that is Bojack
January 19, 2021
super interesting inside look at one of my favorite shows from its conception to finalization! go bojack go!
September 18, 2018
Lisa Hanawalt has a brilliant creative mind and incredible artistic talent and she deserves more credit for her role in the creation and success of Bojack Horseman. This book is beautiful. Highly recommended for fans of the show.
January 1, 2024
This is a really solid art concept book. There is so much in here covering the show from every angle. I've been able to learn a lot from writing to animation and it's so detailed and interesting.
February 12, 2020
Bojack Horseman is one of the greatest in-entertainment-media portrayals of depression that I've ever encountered. If somebody you know tells you that they are depressed, you should excuse yourself politely, go home, get a netflix subscription, get a television set or computer, watch shows and movies that involve horses so that the netflix algorithm suggests Bojack Horseman, watch the 6 seasons of Bojack Horseman (and season 6.5 as well), and then return to your friend and tell them you understand what they are going through. This is your responsibility as a friend, and once you have done this, you have fulfilled that responsibility.
This is a book of pictures that I got for Christmas, with some words in it as well. It also has interviews in it, and if you read them, you will be reminded of the show, which was really good. I really liked it.
This is a book of pictures that I got for Christmas, with some words in it as well. It also has interviews in it, and if you read them, you will be reminded of the show, which was really good. I really liked it.
August 12, 2021
bojack 🥺
May 28, 2025
I've never actually read anything this in-depth about the process that goes into making an animated show and seeing how one of the greatest animated shows of all time was made, felt truly special! There are so many different voices in this book highlighting so many important and interesting aspects of the animation process. Sure, it gets quite technical at times, but I didn't feel like the book was asking me to understand everything 100%. This book gave me a new appreciation for the show and especially for the people who helped create it (especially Lisa Hanawalt was so much fun to read about)! A must-read for all fans of the show!
July 21, 2025
Super cool to hear about the behind the scenes of Bojack Horseman, one of my all time favorite shows. The oral history style of putting this book together and spotlighting a lot of the people involved in its creation was just great. Super fun read with lots of pictures and artwork that contributed to this show. Live, laugh, love Bojack
January 31, 2021
the friend that lent me this coffee table book affectionately called it the “bojack bible.” taking that comparison to its logical conclusion, bojack is jesus and his mom is the virgin mary? i should probably stop talking.
April 30, 2021
what a good book
funny horse go brrrrrrrrrrr
the art is really cool
i'm glad i bought this book
funny horse go brrrrrrrrrrr
the art is really cool
i'm glad i bought this book
December 29, 2023
a fun book that showed me how genius and meticulous the people who made bojack are, on my way to rewatch asap
February 23, 2024
great show, great book by proxy
June 9, 2025
HEEHEEHEHEHHEEHHHEEEEEEEERHEEE4HEHEEEEER4E444EEEEE IM GOIJG INSANE
February 11, 2026
god i love this show and getting to see more bts and info on it
January 15, 2019
Fun and informative read for any Bojack fan. I loved learning a little of how the sausage is made. So much work goes into creating this masterpiece show.
October 30, 2024
the book felt super average to me, even though the show is my all time favorite
August 30, 2025
As a big fan of the show this book was very fun to read. I enjoyed looking through the drawings and the pictures as well. The overall quality of the book is top notch.
Highly recommended if you love the show like me and you would like to get more insight into the characters, story and whatnot.
Highly recommended if you love the show like me and you would like to get more insight into the characters, story and whatnot.
November 12, 2024
This is a really great book to look at. But it also has details to the creative process and the thoughtfulness behind this show I love and that’s very cool too.
February 16, 2025
Loved it
March 31, 2024
A beautiful book with interesting details about how they made the best show on TV.
December 21, 2018
Like the “bonus features disc” of a DVD set packed with extras, Bojack Horseman: The Art Before the Horse is packed full of behind the scenes info, interviews with creators and actors, and other insider background regarding Netflix’s most biting and insightful dramedy. However, like the bonus features, it may be really of interest to only the most obsessed.
As quite a Bojack fan myself, there are definitely some interesting tidbits here. The highlights were at the beginning, specifically the foreword by Lisa Hanawalt, whose inimitable art style creates the surreal but realistic world of coexisting humans and animal people, and the hilarious introduction from showrunner Raphael Bob-Waksberg. You can definitely see the show’s wit, heart, and innovativeness in the pair’s collaboration on various zines and comics republished here, but the majority of the accounts of, say, the show’s development period or its animation process in Flash were a little dry. However, since I’m not myself an animator or producer, it may have meant less to me, though the creative process was the most interesting.
It’s definitely worth checking out just to flip through, though, for the plethora of production art and storyboards. It was also fun to see some of the shows various background jokes from Hanawalt’s animal people interpretations of famous art and the California state flag, to the full list of Todd and Mr. Peanutbutter’s ideas for the Oscars, among other details easy to miss while watching the show.
As quite a Bojack fan myself, there are definitely some interesting tidbits here. The highlights were at the beginning, specifically the foreword by Lisa Hanawalt, whose inimitable art style creates the surreal but realistic world of coexisting humans and animal people, and the hilarious introduction from showrunner Raphael Bob-Waksberg. You can definitely see the show’s wit, heart, and innovativeness in the pair’s collaboration on various zines and comics republished here, but the majority of the accounts of, say, the show’s development period or its animation process in Flash were a little dry. However, since I’m not myself an animator or producer, it may have meant less to me, though the creative process was the most interesting.
It’s definitely worth checking out just to flip through, though, for the plethora of production art and storyboards. It was also fun to see some of the shows various background jokes from Hanawalt’s animal people interpretations of famous art and the California state flag, to the full list of Todd and Mr. Peanutbutter’s ideas for the Oscars, among other details easy to miss while watching the show.
May 4, 2022
Este libro explica la manera con la que se ha creado la (brillante) serie de Bojack Horseman: desde el diseño de fondos, a las características propias de cada especie animal, como surgió la idea, pasando por el control de duración de las escenas durante la creación de una temporada entera. Me ha parecido útil a la vez que entretenido, poder ver la manera de trabajar de TANTA (porque es mucha) gente especial involucrada en un proyecto tan bonito como este, acompañado de páginas de storyboards, de portadas de revistas o carteles de películas imaginarias que aparecen durante la serie. Creo que es un 'must' para todo aquel interesado en el mundo de la animación, o sencillamente en escribir una historia y entender que el personaje principal forma parte de un universo tan importante como el mismo personaje.
March 4, 2019
Maybe I'm a bit biased because I love the show, but I really enjoyed learning more about its origin story, how it was made and seeing all the artist's previous works was really fascinating to me.
July 1, 2022
No puede explicar lo mucho que amo esta serie y cuándo leo el amor que le ponen a cada frame, cada gag de animales y cada diálogo no puedo hacer más que AMARLA EL DOBLE.
December 30, 2025
Whew! As a Bojack fan this was a absolute delight to read!
This book is a beauty, utilizing Bojacks unused imagery, coloring, and backgrounds which makes this book absolutely beautiful to look at. It was so much fun to see all the photos on each page and read the blurbs on how it developed and how each thing that came to be in the show was developed. I really do appreciate that there was a photo on each page and nothing was straight reading which I appperciate!
Reading this made me appreciate Bojack so much more as a show. Like DAMN the amount of effort that went into writing, animating, designing, hell even the little details of animal puns had so much care and work put into them it made you appreciate the show even more then you did beforehand.
Seeing how the show was able to eventually be pitched to Netflix was so enticing. Raphael Bob-Waksberg is an incredibly talented writer and paired with the talent of Lisa Hanawalt’s drawing they made a perfect team. Seeing how long it took Raphael to pitch to Netflix and the dedication he put really puts into perspective how much it paid off. Lisa Hanawalt is such an amazing artist and I thank god they got her to do the show. The fact she said no at first was a SHAME and if she didn’t do the character design on the show I genuinely think the show would’ve gone to shit.
I have two major issues with the book which lowers the rating to ~3.75 rating (rounded up to a 4).
1. This book is kind of set up like an interview where everyone is just talking to each other. Sometimes the person talking would go off track of Bojack and it was such a drag to read, like I don’t care about the difference between a Yellow lab and a lab. However it happened so little I didn’t really care.
2. My major issue is WHY COULDNT THIS BE RELEASED UNTIL AFTER SEASON 6? Like that really pissed me off when I found out this only went up to season 4. Making a book about the process of making your show before your show is even done is baffling. What makes it worse it Season 5 and Season 6 are EASILY the best two seasons of the show so the fact we can’t learn ANYTHING about the process of making those two seasons is so disappointing. Reading about how, artistically, “Times Arrow” (S4, E11) and “Fish Out Of Water” (S3, E4). Were designed was so interesting and they are artistically very interesting episodes. Learning about the blacking out of background characters in times arrow and the vibrant Tokyo like colors of Fish Out Water were great to read. I would’ve LOVED to hear about the stylist choices of episodes like “Free Churro” (S5, E6), “The Showstopper” (S5, E11), “Good Damage” (S6, E10), or “TVFHD” (S6, E15). Is something we will never hear because this book was released to early.
Overall, this was a lovely read and I’d highly recommend for those who loved Bojack Horseman, or those who want pursue a career in animation or writing!
This book is a beauty, utilizing Bojacks unused imagery, coloring, and backgrounds which makes this book absolutely beautiful to look at. It was so much fun to see all the photos on each page and read the blurbs on how it developed and how each thing that came to be in the show was developed. I really do appreciate that there was a photo on each page and nothing was straight reading which I appperciate!
Reading this made me appreciate Bojack so much more as a show. Like DAMN the amount of effort that went into writing, animating, designing, hell even the little details of animal puns had so much care and work put into them it made you appreciate the show even more then you did beforehand.
Seeing how the show was able to eventually be pitched to Netflix was so enticing. Raphael Bob-Waksberg is an incredibly talented writer and paired with the talent of Lisa Hanawalt’s drawing they made a perfect team. Seeing how long it took Raphael to pitch to Netflix and the dedication he put really puts into perspective how much it paid off. Lisa Hanawalt is such an amazing artist and I thank god they got her to do the show. The fact she said no at first was a SHAME and if she didn’t do the character design on the show I genuinely think the show would’ve gone to shit.
I have two major issues with the book which lowers the rating to ~3.75 rating (rounded up to a 4).
1. This book is kind of set up like an interview where everyone is just talking to each other. Sometimes the person talking would go off track of Bojack and it was such a drag to read, like I don’t care about the difference between a Yellow lab and a lab. However it happened so little I didn’t really care.
2. My major issue is WHY COULDNT THIS BE RELEASED UNTIL AFTER SEASON 6? Like that really pissed me off when I found out this only went up to season 4. Making a book about the process of making your show before your show is even done is baffling. What makes it worse it Season 5 and Season 6 are EASILY the best two seasons of the show so the fact we can’t learn ANYTHING about the process of making those two seasons is so disappointing. Reading about how, artistically, “Times Arrow” (S4, E11) and “Fish Out Of Water” (S3, E4). Were designed was so interesting and they are artistically very interesting episodes. Learning about the blacking out of background characters in times arrow and the vibrant Tokyo like colors of Fish Out Water were great to read. I would’ve LOVED to hear about the stylist choices of episodes like “Free Churro” (S5, E6), “The Showstopper” (S5, E11), “Good Damage” (S6, E10), or “TVFHD” (S6, E15). Is something we will never hear because this book was released to early.
Overall, this was a lovely read and I’d highly recommend for those who loved Bojack Horseman, or those who want pursue a career in animation or writing!
January 29, 2019
"I kinda feel that we live in a time where we so crave to know how the sausage is made, we forget to just enjoy the sausage." -- Will Arnett, voice of BoJack Horseman
This is far from an unbiased review, as I've told anyone who would listen that BJH is one of the best, most consistently rewarding and affecting 'shows' on 'television' right now. It makes no sense, how a show about an anthropomorphic horse could have so very much to say about what it is to be human.
Reading this tome -- a kind of oral and artifact history of the making of this wonderful show -- makes the reader appreciate the insane amount of love and craft that goes into everything this show does. From character designs to background puns to casting and lighting and music choice, this is a strange and fully-realized world that takes the efforts of a lot of geniuses to pull off.
This is the kind of book that invalidates the kind of snide criticism of people who dismiss art out of hand based purely from the medium or genre of expression. No medium has any inherent worth or superiority over any other. Books and movies and cartoons and reality shows -- forget that, reality shows have no value -- are only as beautiful and powerful as the people who bring something unique to them to express themselves. BJH could only be a cartoon, because to watch what this show covers would be too wrenching as anything else.
This is a book not only for fans of the show, but for anyone with even a passing interest in how beautiful things are made.
This is far from an unbiased review, as I've told anyone who would listen that BJH is one of the best, most consistently rewarding and affecting 'shows' on 'television' right now. It makes no sense, how a show about an anthropomorphic horse could have so very much to say about what it is to be human.
Reading this tome -- a kind of oral and artifact history of the making of this wonderful show -- makes the reader appreciate the insane amount of love and craft that goes into everything this show does. From character designs to background puns to casting and lighting and music choice, this is a strange and fully-realized world that takes the efforts of a lot of geniuses to pull off.
This is the kind of book that invalidates the kind of snide criticism of people who dismiss art out of hand based purely from the medium or genre of expression. No medium has any inherent worth or superiority over any other. Books and movies and cartoons and reality shows -- forget that, reality shows have no value -- are only as beautiful and powerful as the people who bring something unique to them to express themselves. BJH could only be a cartoon, because to watch what this show covers would be too wrenching as anything else.
This is a book not only for fans of the show, but for anyone with even a passing interest in how beautiful things are made.
May 9, 2020
the main reason this beautiful book took me so long to read is i feel like it’s more of a dipping-in type book, whereas i wanted to read it cover to cover & really absorb all the gorgeous double-page spreads of concept art. i literally spent hours poring over the illustrations in this book - you never feel like you can do justice to the sheer amount of work & love which has gone into them.
anyways, i’d obviously recommend this book to any serious fan of the masterpiece which is bojakc horseman. the book probably aint gonna win any awards but more than anything it’s just really really interesting. it tells u stuff u didn’t even think u wanted to know - it chronicles the entire process of creating an animated show, from conception (was so cool seeing the first email ralph sent to lisa w an embryonic bjhm idea!!) all the way to the final touches of each episode.
there’s SO much stuff that goes on behind the scenes that make this show visually, auditorily & emotionally such an unmatchable work of art. it is truly a labour of love. reading this book helped me realise how many people devoted so much energy into this show & all the different stuff they contributed - it’s a marvel of collaborative effort.
whatever, it’s obviously great, im sure u know that. defo read this if you love bjhm, but also it’s just rly enjoyable to jus open it on a random page and stare at it all afternoon .
made me wanna scurry bakc to the show & binge it start to finish again w all this new knowledge abt how it was made :)
anyways, i’d obviously recommend this book to any serious fan of the masterpiece which is bojakc horseman. the book probably aint gonna win any awards but more than anything it’s just really really interesting. it tells u stuff u didn’t even think u wanted to know - it chronicles the entire process of creating an animated show, from conception (was so cool seeing the first email ralph sent to lisa w an embryonic bjhm idea!!) all the way to the final touches of each episode.
there’s SO much stuff that goes on behind the scenes that make this show visually, auditorily & emotionally such an unmatchable work of art. it is truly a labour of love. reading this book helped me realise how many people devoted so much energy into this show & all the different stuff they contributed - it’s a marvel of collaborative effort.
whatever, it’s obviously great, im sure u know that. defo read this if you love bjhm, but also it’s just rly enjoyable to jus open it on a random page and stare at it all afternoon .
made me wanna scurry bakc to the show & binge it start to finish again w all this new knowledge abt how it was made :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews