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MirrorMask: The Illustrated Film Script
From the incomparable imagination and lucid visions of Sandman creator Neil Gaiman and acclaimed artist and director Dave McKean -- and the innovative minds at The Jim Henson Company -- comes MirrorMask , a breathtaking journey through a strange and magical looking-glass world where anything can happen ... and frequently does. Here is the complete film book of the new high-water mark in family fantasy entertainment. The story of young Helena, daughter of the circus, comes vividly alive as we accompany her on her remarkable mission to a place far beyond wonder; a phantasmagorical quest to rescue a realm from the devouring forces of chaos and shadow in order to win back her stolen "real" life from a runaway interloper from the other side. Containing the full screenplay and more than 1,700 illustrated storyboards of the major motion picture -- as well as movie stills, comments, appreciations, and memories from the authors and filmmakers -- this one-of-a-kind volume is destined to become a classic, a keepsake to be cherished by fans of all ages. For all who believe in the glorious reality of dreams, for everyone who longs to ride their imagination to miraculous places, the door is now open wide. See the world anew through the MirrorMask ... and nothing will ever look the same again.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
June 17, 2010
When I first opened this book, I had low expectation. Certainly, the artwork seems a bit tad lowly. But then, as I progressed through it, I realised something, this is a draft, for God's sake!
If you love Coraline, you would certainly love this! Gaiman never disappoints me in anyway.
The story revolves around Helena who's working in a family-run circus with her parents, and suddenly, her mother drops down, sick of cancer (I didn't guess it was cancer until the end notes written by Gaiman & Dave). She was sad, and was kind of disappointed that she grumbles about her condition all these while, suddenly her mother is sick, and she couldn't do anything about it. She was then transported to a bizarre world, where everything seems a bit scary - cruel looking sphinxes, shadows eating buildings/monuments. There were moments when she peeked into a mirror and saw some other girl is living her life, doing everything else that she won't do in real life. Helena realised something, she's in a world that she created where light and darkness co existed, but the Queen of Darkness is evil, it chews every happiness, and tries to manipulate everything. The other Helena, then, started tearing down the paintings drawn by Helena, so the door for Helena to come back to her real world would be closed forever.
With small budget given by Jim Henson's widow, Naiman & Dave created wonders. It had me hooked for hours, and I was able to finish it within certain hours. The characters are strong enough indeed, and developed beautifully. A must read for both fans!
If you love Coraline, you would certainly love this! Gaiman never disappoints me in anyway.
The story revolves around Helena who's working in a family-run circus with her parents, and suddenly, her mother drops down, sick of cancer (I didn't guess it was cancer until the end notes written by Gaiman & Dave). She was sad, and was kind of disappointed that she grumbles about her condition all these while, suddenly her mother is sick, and she couldn't do anything about it. She was then transported to a bizarre world, where everything seems a bit scary - cruel looking sphinxes, shadows eating buildings/monuments. There were moments when she peeked into a mirror and saw some other girl is living her life, doing everything else that she won't do in real life. Helena realised something, she's in a world that she created where light and darkness co existed, but the Queen of Darkness is evil, it chews every happiness, and tries to manipulate everything. The other Helena, then, started tearing down the paintings drawn by Helena, so the door for Helena to come back to her real world would be closed forever.
With small budget given by Jim Henson's widow, Naiman & Dave created wonders. It had me hooked for hours, and I was able to finish it within certain hours. The characters are strong enough indeed, and developed beautifully. A must read for both fans!
August 22, 2015
I liked this a lot.Every script working should be like this.I am constantly wowed by the imaginations and versatility of Gaiman and McKean.
May 31, 2019
gaiman's version of alice in wonderland
April 12, 2021
I would definitely recommend this book to whoever is interested in it and would also like to add that it is probably a lot better when listening to it on audible than to read it alone (I say possibly because I've only listened to this book and have never been able to actually et my hands on a physical copy). This book holds a dear place in my heart for many different reasons and I find that in my adulthood re-listening to the audiobook to find comfort and or to just pass time and go back into elementary school. The main character, Helena is strong and independent yet it still uncertain about herself and who she is, and what she can do to help her family when they fall into trouble. I would like to add that it is definitely a compelling read and is something that really grabs your attention and takes you on an adventure from a 15-year-old's point of view as she is going through a rough time in life and then has to go through this unknown world to get back to the life she had before. The writing in this book is also really descriptive and allows you to really relate and feel for Helena throughout this story.
March 25, 2022
I listened to the actual novella and couldn't find the Goodreads entry for anything but this film script. The audioBOOK was another 'typical Gaiman' (who is anything but typical) Mastery-of-words Fest. The plot was sufficiently unique, ditto the characters. The tone/setting/voice combo was tinged with Coraline. Not a bad thing in terms of clever storytelling, but since I don't think this was meant as an offshoot, it left me wondering. Was it almost tipping into stale-ish redux territory? Or is it custom made for Coraline super fans of a younger/different demographic than I? I'm sticking with 3 stars (b/c even if relative only to himself I found it not the 4 or 5 I usually rate Gaiman's work).
May 2, 2020
I’m a huge Neil Gaiman fan and got this in Audiobook format for my 12 yr old but had to listen to it immediately upon Audible download. It’s really really great. Not a long commitment- just a few hours- and the reader’s voice is identical to the actor who plays Helena in the movie making it perfect for kids to listen to who enjoyed the movie. I HIGHLY recommend this for anyone who is a Gaiman fan, is looking for something to entertain tweens or maybe who just could use a couple hours lost in fantasy.
It’s a lovely story showcasing the inevitable friction between mother and daughter as the latter strives for independence.
It’s a lovely story showcasing the inevitable friction between mother and daughter as the latter strives for independence.
March 5, 2023
THis book was a short and weird one. I listened to it as an audiobook, and it might work a lot better with ilustrations, or as the film it is ment to be.
The reading of it, without any pictures to accompany it, probably took away a lot of the power of the story. As it is, it just felt a bit half-hearted and silly.
That might just be because of the medium i chose to consume it in, so don't let that hold you back from checking out the actual book!
The reading of it, without any pictures to accompany it, probably took away a lot of the power of the story. As it is, it just felt a bit half-hearted and silly.
That might just be because of the medium i chose to consume it in, so don't let that hold you back from checking out the actual book!
October 8, 2018
This is another good story by Neil Gaiman. It is the tale of a young woman is in a family of circus performers. She says something rude to her mother right before her mother has an accident that leaves her incapacitated. The young lady faces her guilt and deals with it in her dreams that night. Reality is still there when she wakes and she needs to learn how her mother is progressing.
October 30, 2024
This reminded me a bit of the extra material in the Absolute Sandman editions when they would have a script and thumbnails. I enjoyed this mostly for the peek under the hood to see the process. The forward and appendices really added to this by showing how the ideas evolved and how the teo collaborated.
July 1, 2017
This is a visual story. The movie was brilliant, and Stephanie Leonidas' narration were beautiful, but just listening imparted none of the magic of actually seeing the story unfold.
Now I just want to watch the movie.
Now I just want to watch the movie.
July 28, 2019
I listened to this short story on audiobook. It was fine. I liked the British accented reader. Sort of a book about a strange science fiction type dream-a little too random for me. Maybe the illustrated film script would have been better.
June 23, 2017
I haven't seen the movie yet, but the book was good. Very odd, but I enjoyed that.
April 4, 2018
short + sweet
June 6, 2018
Fabulous!
December 30, 2018
Quirky and interesting, I kind of wished it had ended on the roof though.
January 3, 2019
During this entire book, I felt I was missing something. I can hardly believe it wasn’t a movie as well - which I am not at all interested in watching.
October 19, 2020
Strange stories. But I did not like this.
November 26, 2020
This was an intriguing story about circuses, masks, family drama, magic, etc. I enjoyed it very much.
January 17, 2021
This is a very short summary of a film I guess.
May 23, 2021
I really loved the video and this is very intresting
November 15, 2021
i did not remotely understand or enjoy this book, but at least it was short?
April 23, 2024
Audiobook from NPL
July 30, 2007
Buku ini memuat script dan storyboard dari film MirrorMask, yang digarap oleh Neil Gaiman dan Dave McKean. Seluruh produksi desain dan efek visual film ini pun digarap oleh McKean, yg telah berkolaborasi dengan Gaiman selama lebih dari 18 tahun. Dalam buku script ini, Gaiman tetap memasukkan barisan kata2 dan adegan yang tidak mereka pakai dalam film, karena pertimbangan waktu dan budget. Film dari The Jim Henson Company (pembuat seri pertunjukan boneka legendaris, The Muppet Show) ini memang diproduksi dengan dana terbatas, sehingga efek visual pun diakali sedemikian rupa, supaya meskipun tekniknya sederhana, tetap harus menampilkan kualitas tinggi - dan sangat khas bergaya McKean.
Percakapan dalam script mengalir lancar, sementara storyboard juga memegang peranan penting dalam menceritakan kisah ini. Kisah MirrorMask ini memang banyak mengingatkan kita pada petualangan Alice in Wonderland (dengan atmosfir "dunia lain" dan makhluk2 ajaib), atau pada Coraline (dalam hal "ibu lain" - sebab baik Ratu Hitam maupun Ratu Putih, semuanya mirip dengan Joanne, ibu dari Helena, juga dalam hal "jimat" - yang selalu memegang peranan penting). Namun Gaiman dengan lihai dapat memainkan persambungan antara dunia nyata Helena dengan negri Kota Putih - Kota Hitam tersebut. Bagaimana dunia dan makhluk-makhluk di negri misterius ini bersambungan dengan gambar-gambar Helena, atau bagaimana Helena bercakap-cakap dengan Joanne yang berganti rupa menjadi Ratu Putih dan sebaliknya, atau bagaimana sang Putri Ratu Hitam (yg menjadi Helena di dunia nyata, di sini ia disebut Anti-Helena) berinteraksi dengan Helena dan keluarga nyata Helena - semua menggugah imajinasi pembaca.
Sketsa-sketsa sederhana McKean berkarakter kuat, dan beberapa halaman berisi foto-foto dari lokasi shooting dan hasil rekayasa komputer menambah lengkapnya bayangan perupaan film itu di benak pembaca. Namun, McKean terkenal dengan berbagai kejutan visualnya, sehingga buku ini tidak saya anggap sebagai spoiler film, melainkan sebagai pengantar, sambil menunggu diputarnya film MirrorMask itu sendiri. Atau, lebih tepatnya, sambil menunggu interpretasi McKean atas tulisan Gaiman sekali lagi, namun kali ini dalam bentuk film dan animasi.
Sebagai tambahan, di akhir script terdapat lampiran korespondensi antara Gaiman dan McKean, sehingga kita bisa mengikuti perkembangan produksi film ini. Dari sini kita dapat mengetahui ide dasar cerita yg dikarang Gaiman, lalu ditimpali oleh McKean dengan masukan2 baru, dengan pertimbangan peralatan yang tersedia (dan dalam budget) untuk memvisualkan seluruh cerita.
Dari sini pula kita bisa mengetahui konsep dan analogi cerita, yang menganalogikan petualangan Helena di negri Kota Putih - Kota Hitam ini sebagai perjuangan benak dan batin Helena sendiri dalam menghadapi kenyataan bahwa ibunya harus dioperasi. Sehingga bayangan hitam pun digambarkan bagai kanker yang merambat ke mana-mana dan meruntuhkan sekelilingnya. Helena yg tidak dapat berbuat apa2 utk menolong ibunya di dunia nyata, berhasil memenangkan perjuangan ibunya melawan penyakitnya, melalui petualangannya ini.
Percakapan dalam script mengalir lancar, sementara storyboard juga memegang peranan penting dalam menceritakan kisah ini. Kisah MirrorMask ini memang banyak mengingatkan kita pada petualangan Alice in Wonderland (dengan atmosfir "dunia lain" dan makhluk2 ajaib), atau pada Coraline (dalam hal "ibu lain" - sebab baik Ratu Hitam maupun Ratu Putih, semuanya mirip dengan Joanne, ibu dari Helena, juga dalam hal "jimat" - yang selalu memegang peranan penting). Namun Gaiman dengan lihai dapat memainkan persambungan antara dunia nyata Helena dengan negri Kota Putih - Kota Hitam tersebut. Bagaimana dunia dan makhluk-makhluk di negri misterius ini bersambungan dengan gambar-gambar Helena, atau bagaimana Helena bercakap-cakap dengan Joanne yang berganti rupa menjadi Ratu Putih dan sebaliknya, atau bagaimana sang Putri Ratu Hitam (yg menjadi Helena di dunia nyata, di sini ia disebut Anti-Helena) berinteraksi dengan Helena dan keluarga nyata Helena - semua menggugah imajinasi pembaca.
Sketsa-sketsa sederhana McKean berkarakter kuat, dan beberapa halaman berisi foto-foto dari lokasi shooting dan hasil rekayasa komputer menambah lengkapnya bayangan perupaan film itu di benak pembaca. Namun, McKean terkenal dengan berbagai kejutan visualnya, sehingga buku ini tidak saya anggap sebagai spoiler film, melainkan sebagai pengantar, sambil menunggu diputarnya film MirrorMask itu sendiri. Atau, lebih tepatnya, sambil menunggu interpretasi McKean atas tulisan Gaiman sekali lagi, namun kali ini dalam bentuk film dan animasi.
Sebagai tambahan, di akhir script terdapat lampiran korespondensi antara Gaiman dan McKean, sehingga kita bisa mengikuti perkembangan produksi film ini. Dari sini kita dapat mengetahui ide dasar cerita yg dikarang Gaiman, lalu ditimpali oleh McKean dengan masukan2 baru, dengan pertimbangan peralatan yang tersedia (dan dalam budget) untuk memvisualkan seluruh cerita.
Dari sini pula kita bisa mengetahui konsep dan analogi cerita, yang menganalogikan petualangan Helena di negri Kota Putih - Kota Hitam ini sebagai perjuangan benak dan batin Helena sendiri dalam menghadapi kenyataan bahwa ibunya harus dioperasi. Sehingga bayangan hitam pun digambarkan bagai kanker yang merambat ke mana-mana dan meruntuhkan sekelilingnya. Helena yg tidak dapat berbuat apa2 utk menolong ibunya di dunia nyata, berhasil memenangkan perjuangan ibunya melawan penyakitnya, melalui petualangannya ini.
February 8, 2014
Another piece of reference material for the Gaiman and McKean scholars, this book contains the complete storyboards and script of Mirrormask as well as discussions and letters by Gaiman and McKean regarding the original concepts behind the film. I'm not really into reading film scripts (especially when I can watch the film - which is wonderful and strange), but I highly enjoyed the original fairytale that Gaiman wrote and the subsequent discussion via email alterring and adding to the story concept.
February 22, 2008
I actually haven't gotten a chance to see the movie yet, but I received this lovely book for my birthday and had to read it right away. The entire screenplay is here (including some scenes and dialog ultimately cut from the film), all illustrated with Dave McKean's deceptively simple storyboard sketches. There are also some lovely stills from the film, as well as backstage photos.
March 4, 2012
I really loved Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" and was hoping this would live up to that standard. It was OK, but nothing special. The illustrations were fun and the storyline kept me interested enough to keep reading, but it definitely isn't one of Gaiman's best. Maybe the actual movie will be better...
June 4, 2015
I gave it 3 stars just because it's not the best way for me to read the story. I love the story and the movie and when I bought the book I thought it was a graphic novel so that's on me. I do also like that he breaks away from the manuscript to make a joke at one point. I just don't prefer to read manuscripts maybe unless it's my among my favorite movies.
July 11, 2008
i'm not sure how good the book is but the movie was totally amazing....and since his movies are usually kept pretty close to the book i'm guessing bbc did the same with this one. if you haven't seen the movie - at least read the script
March 21, 2013
I listened to the audiobook of this... it was a delight. I just love the way Neil Gaiman plays with and combines words. Listening to the story nap like being shoved into another world where drawings can create a world. just remember, be nice to your books or they could fly back to the library...
March 19, 2007
See this movie, seriously. It's wonderful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews