What do you think?
Rate this book
The Disney Princess: A Celebration of Art and Creativity
The Disney Princess is a one-of-a-kind celebration of the timeless Disney characters who have enchanted audiences for generations.
This landmark book serves as the definitive visual history of the Disney princess from 1937 to today.
Fans and collectors have the chance to get an inside look at how each of the princesses came to be, with behind-the-scenes stories and stunning art from the legendary Disney archive.
From Snow White to Moana, The Disney Princess explores how the personality, style, and spirit of each princess developed and evolved. It features insights from directors and artists, and even photos of the live-action actors and models who inspired the animators.
• Eye-catching hardcover with pink cloth, ribbon marker, and silver glitter page edges
• Features over 200 colorful illustrations, photos, and graphics
• Filled with never-before-seen concept art from the archive
The Disney Princess spectacularly captures the enduring magic and legacy of the iconic Disney princess.
• Features chapters on Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, and Moana
• Perfect gift for Disney fans and must-have for collectors of all things Disney, especially nostalgic memorabilia
• Perfect for those who loved The Art of the Disney Princess by Disney Book Group, Disney A Magical Pop-Up World by Matthew Reinhardt, The Art and Flair of Mary Blair by John Canemaker, and the Disney Animated Classics series
©2020 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This landmark book serves as the definitive visual history of the Disney princess from 1937 to today.
Fans and collectors have the chance to get an inside look at how each of the princesses came to be, with behind-the-scenes stories and stunning art from the legendary Disney archive.
From Snow White to Moana, The Disney Princess explores how the personality, style, and spirit of each princess developed and evolved. It features insights from directors and artists, and even photos of the live-action actors and models who inspired the animators.
• Eye-catching hardcover with pink cloth, ribbon marker, and silver glitter page edges
• Features over 200 colorful illustrations, photos, and graphics
• Filled with never-before-seen concept art from the archive
The Disney Princess spectacularly captures the enduring magic and legacy of the iconic Disney princess.
• Features chapters on Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, and Moana
• Perfect gift for Disney fans and must-have for collectors of all things Disney, especially nostalgic memorabilia
• Perfect for those who loved The Art of the Disney Princess by Disney Book Group, Disney A Magical Pop-Up World by Matthew Reinhardt, The Art and Flair of Mary Blair by John Canemaker, and the Disney Animated Classics series
©2020 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
- GenresNonfictionArt
240 pages, Hardcover
Published November 17, 2020
9 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 9, 2022
A must-read for every Disney Princess lover out there! This book contains a detailed history of the creation process of the 12 official Disney Princess movies. It's also filled with lots of concept art, which makes the book visually stunning! ♥️
The reason I cannot give this a 5-star rating, is because of the frequent editing issues. There are many instances in this book where you're reading a sentence at the bottom of one page, and when you flip the page, part of that same sentence is repeated on top of the next page. Sadly, this appears in the book multiple times and it puts you off, especially because this book isn't cheap.
The reason I cannot give this a 5-star rating, is because of the frequent editing issues. There are many instances in this book where you're reading a sentence at the bottom of one page, and when you flip the page, part of that same sentence is repeated on top of the next page. Sadly, this appears in the book multiple times and it puts you off, especially because this book isn't cheap.
December 31, 2023
Cute coffee table book! I liked reading about the inspirations behind each princess and such, but I LOVED the various concept art for each one.
January 10, 2021
First book of 2021 and a great way to start the year. I received this from Chronicle Books to cover on our "Book of the Mouse Club" podcast, and it exceeded my expectations. As a child of the 90s, I grew up in the princess dominated Disney renaissance and in an era where previous films were readily available via home video. These films were the backbone of my childhood, and even led me to write a paper on the evolution of the Disney Princess in a college Women's Studies class.
I found many of the themes I explored present in this text! I initially expected just a surface level exploration of concept art and some background information, but this book goes much deeper. The princesses are framed not only in terms of the process of their development at Disney but also along with historical context of their time periods (those in which the film take place as well as the time of the film's release). A must read for any Disney Princess fan.
I found many of the themes I explored present in this text! I initially expected just a surface level exploration of concept art and some background information, but this book goes much deeper. The princesses are framed not only in terms of the process of their development at Disney but also along with historical context of their time periods (those in which the film take place as well as the time of the film's release). A must read for any Disney Princess fan.
January 1, 2023
This is a great book, but the oddly large number of editing and proofreading errors make me unwilling to give it five stars. I’m surprised that a book designed so well and so visually pleasing has this many easily spotted errors in the text.
April 4, 2021
A very enjoyable read through the major Disney princesses. The book discusses how the story was chosen to become a film, what storytelling and technical challenges each film contained, as well as what the filmmakers were hoping to convey with each princess. I liked that although it spoke with respect for what the earlier princesses did for the art of animation, it acknowledges their flaws and the ways they don't hold up as well to a modern audience. It also goes into the research that went into some of the more recent films, as Disney tried to become more diverse in its storytelling.
This was very close to 5 stars for me, but there were some copyediting issues that really bugged me. It was not infrequent for several words, or even a whole sentence, to be repeated on the next page. This was confusing.
This was very close to 5 stars for me, but there were some copyediting issues that really bugged me. It was not infrequent for several words, or even a whole sentence, to be repeated on the next page. This was confusing.
January 31, 2021
Such a lovely read, and so interesting. It would’ve gotten 5 stars if it included Elsa and Anna😅💕
December 17, 2020
[Review published at https://www.laughingplace.com/w/artic...]
Disney’s princesses have been captured in one way or another across a multitude of history and animation books, not to mention children’s books. However, they have never before been explored in such a way that showcases the beginnings, context, personalities and development of our favorite heroines in a clear, accessible way.
The latter is precisely what Charles Solomon’s The Disney Princess: A Celebration of Art & Creativity does, and more.
If you are one of the endless sea of Disney princess fans spanning across the ages, like I am, you might have wondered from time to time why no history or animation book dedicated thoughtfully and exclusively to the Disney princesses ever existed.
Thanks to The Disney Princess, no longer must we trawl through dense history books to better understand some of our favorite characters and why they have the impact that they do on our lives. Solomon takes us on a warm and welcome journey through the past and into the present – from Snow White through to Moana – addressing what can only be described as true ‘Disney magic’ in a sincere, thorough, and introspective way.
Beyond the more than 200 color images including concept art, storyboards, reference photos and other treasures shared from the Disney archives, what I found to be most engaging about The Disney Princess is the evolution of the princesses over time.
This ‘princess evolution’ means going beyond the rich history of twelve of Disney’s most beloved female characters and considering the groundbreaking developments inherent in their very existence.
For example, Disney princesses are created not merely to entertain, but to show fans of all ages, sizes and backgrounds that they are ‘regal.’ Anika Noni Rose’s words strike at the heart of the deep-seated sense of belonging that these characters tap into:
“What Tiana has done, in addition to showing little brown children that they too are regal, is showing their friends that they too are regal.”
Furthermore, the book emphasizes the character’s right to pursue their dreams but makes clear that humanity and kindness are also worthy of emulation.
Solomon also highlights what, in his view, is the reactive nature of the classic princesses (Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora) who largely respond to what happens to them, while comparing it to the proactive nature of more modern princesses (Belle, Moana, Mulan, Merida) who go out in pursuit of their adventure. This builds upon the traditional assumption that the princess simply be beautiful and adds drive, determination, and deeper authenticity of emotion. Such a multi-layered approach not only makes characters more relatable, but more believable, transporting them from screens and storybooks into our own belief systems.
One great comparative example looks at how the characters respond to matrimony. Solomon writes:
Merida rejected matrimony; Jasmine and Belle found partners unexpectedly. Like Mulan, Moana acts out of duty to her family and her people. She never expresses any interest in marriage; her partner in her journey is the demigod Maui. They’re friends who share an adventure as Moana follows the ocean’s call.
Disney animator Eric Goldberg also makes clear that “now it's not enough for a princess – or any heroine – to say ‘someday my prince will come.’ Now, we’ve got not just the freedom but, I would say, the duty to create new kinds of princess characters.”
The evolution of the characters is therefore not only artistic (as Disney ventures beyond the days of strictly hand-drawn animation and engages new technologies) but emotional and cultural as well, drawing upon changing societal norms and values.
The Disney Princess is separated into chapters for each princess, though thematically it can be broken down into the following six categories:
1) Early accounts – where these tales as old as time originated
2) The origins of Disney’s adaptation of classic stories
3) The uniqueness of each Disney princess
4) Context that surrounded the Disney films
5) Character development as compared to the princesses that came before
6) Character progression and transformation
While some examples of these categories were discussed above, the role that context and visual inspiration plays is wonderfully expressed. Solomon draws parallels so beautifully in his descriptions of what the artists sought to achieve in creating individuality and an overall mood for each princess. He also extrapolates the stories and settings to give the reader a fuller picture of the characters and their circumstances. For example:
The individuality of Pocahontas’s look was especially evident in the memorable sequence in which she and John Smith meet for the first time… Allowing the visuals to tell the story gives [the] scene an almost mythic power that suggests an encounter in the Arthurian legends or Aragorn meeting Arwen in Lord of the Rings. [emphasis added]
Another great example:
If Prince Eric could trace his realm’s history to the Renaissance – or, better yet, ancient Rome or Greece – he and Ariel might have hosted a succession of prominent visitors. Artists, artisans, entertainers, and innkeepers would have enjoyed the income tourists provided. Ariel, Eric and their lands would have been mentioned in letters to members of governments and high society, and cited in published journals and travel guides.
Readers also get a taste of the vast array of challenges the artists face. Despite advances in computer processing power and more sophisticated software, hair allegedly remains one of the hardest things to do. The technical team had a tough time making Rapunzel’s 70-foot tresses realistic, so the motions of the hair instead had to be caricatured to reflect Rapunzel’s personality and assist in the storytelling. Ultimately, the team animated 147 tubes representing the structure of the hair, which was rendered into a final image with up to 140,000 individual strands.
Speaking of hair, Glen Keane reflects on his time animating Pocahontas, stating that “Marc [Davis] opened the door for me to think of hair in a very design-y, structural way, but with a fluidity and spirit that comes from within.” (Apparently Aurora’s golden curls were drawn to “float over [her] shoulders, emphasizing her dreamy infatuation with a newly met suitor.” I totally floated away with all these enchanting descriptions.)
These and many other animation facts and trivia are also revealed in this book. I relished in real-life behind-the-scenes magic as I learned that Brenda Chapman went from shy, quiet achiever to become the first woman to direct a Pixar film (Brave). I also appreciated Solomon setting the record straight that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first US feature, the first Technicolor feature, and the first musical; while recognition for the first feature-length animated film belongs to Quirino Cristiani’s El Apóstol (Argentina, 1917). (Snow White has, in the past, been held out to be the first feature-length animated film when this is not correct.) There is just so much to take away from this book.
The Disney Princess is a must-have for Disney princess fans, historians and those interested in the multifaceted “how” and “why” behind Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida and Moana. While the making of these films spans from the 1930s to 2016, this book takes the reader even further into the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries and sets the stage for a thriving, continuing legacy. Solomon’s thorough and well-researched commentary is a breath of fresh air, making this read less textbook-y and more leisurely. Beautifully packaged with ribbon markers, dual finish and impressive holographic edges, The Disney Princess is the ultimate dreamy, definitive Disney princess book.
Disney’s princesses have been captured in one way or another across a multitude of history and animation books, not to mention children’s books. However, they have never before been explored in such a way that showcases the beginnings, context, personalities and development of our favorite heroines in a clear, accessible way.
The latter is precisely what Charles Solomon’s The Disney Princess: A Celebration of Art & Creativity does, and more.
If you are one of the endless sea of Disney princess fans spanning across the ages, like I am, you might have wondered from time to time why no history or animation book dedicated thoughtfully and exclusively to the Disney princesses ever existed.
Thanks to The Disney Princess, no longer must we trawl through dense history books to better understand some of our favorite characters and why they have the impact that they do on our lives. Solomon takes us on a warm and welcome journey through the past and into the present – from Snow White through to Moana – addressing what can only be described as true ‘Disney magic’ in a sincere, thorough, and introspective way.
Beyond the more than 200 color images including concept art, storyboards, reference photos and other treasures shared from the Disney archives, what I found to be most engaging about The Disney Princess is the evolution of the princesses over time.
This ‘princess evolution’ means going beyond the rich history of twelve of Disney’s most beloved female characters and considering the groundbreaking developments inherent in their very existence.
For example, Disney princesses are created not merely to entertain, but to show fans of all ages, sizes and backgrounds that they are ‘regal.’ Anika Noni Rose’s words strike at the heart of the deep-seated sense of belonging that these characters tap into:
“What Tiana has done, in addition to showing little brown children that they too are regal, is showing their friends that they too are regal.”
Furthermore, the book emphasizes the character’s right to pursue their dreams but makes clear that humanity and kindness are also worthy of emulation.
Solomon also highlights what, in his view, is the reactive nature of the classic princesses (Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora) who largely respond to what happens to them, while comparing it to the proactive nature of more modern princesses (Belle, Moana, Mulan, Merida) who go out in pursuit of their adventure. This builds upon the traditional assumption that the princess simply be beautiful and adds drive, determination, and deeper authenticity of emotion. Such a multi-layered approach not only makes characters more relatable, but more believable, transporting them from screens and storybooks into our own belief systems.
One great comparative example looks at how the characters respond to matrimony. Solomon writes:
Merida rejected matrimony; Jasmine and Belle found partners unexpectedly. Like Mulan, Moana acts out of duty to her family and her people. She never expresses any interest in marriage; her partner in her journey is the demigod Maui. They’re friends who share an adventure as Moana follows the ocean’s call.
Disney animator Eric Goldberg also makes clear that “now it's not enough for a princess – or any heroine – to say ‘someday my prince will come.’ Now, we’ve got not just the freedom but, I would say, the duty to create new kinds of princess characters.”
The evolution of the characters is therefore not only artistic (as Disney ventures beyond the days of strictly hand-drawn animation and engages new technologies) but emotional and cultural as well, drawing upon changing societal norms and values.
The Disney Princess is separated into chapters for each princess, though thematically it can be broken down into the following six categories:
1) Early accounts – where these tales as old as time originated
2) The origins of Disney’s adaptation of classic stories
3) The uniqueness of each Disney princess
4) Context that surrounded the Disney films
5) Character development as compared to the princesses that came before
6) Character progression and transformation
While some examples of these categories were discussed above, the role that context and visual inspiration plays is wonderfully expressed. Solomon draws parallels so beautifully in his descriptions of what the artists sought to achieve in creating individuality and an overall mood for each princess. He also extrapolates the stories and settings to give the reader a fuller picture of the characters and their circumstances. For example:
The individuality of Pocahontas’s look was especially evident in the memorable sequence in which she and John Smith meet for the first time… Allowing the visuals to tell the story gives [the] scene an almost mythic power that suggests an encounter in the Arthurian legends or Aragorn meeting Arwen in Lord of the Rings. [emphasis added]
Another great example:
If Prince Eric could trace his realm’s history to the Renaissance – or, better yet, ancient Rome or Greece – he and Ariel might have hosted a succession of prominent visitors. Artists, artisans, entertainers, and innkeepers would have enjoyed the income tourists provided. Ariel, Eric and their lands would have been mentioned in letters to members of governments and high society, and cited in published journals and travel guides.
Readers also get a taste of the vast array of challenges the artists face. Despite advances in computer processing power and more sophisticated software, hair allegedly remains one of the hardest things to do. The technical team had a tough time making Rapunzel’s 70-foot tresses realistic, so the motions of the hair instead had to be caricatured to reflect Rapunzel’s personality and assist in the storytelling. Ultimately, the team animated 147 tubes representing the structure of the hair, which was rendered into a final image with up to 140,000 individual strands.
Speaking of hair, Glen Keane reflects on his time animating Pocahontas, stating that “Marc [Davis] opened the door for me to think of hair in a very design-y, structural way, but with a fluidity and spirit that comes from within.” (Apparently Aurora’s golden curls were drawn to “float over [her] shoulders, emphasizing her dreamy infatuation with a newly met suitor.” I totally floated away with all these enchanting descriptions.)
These and many other animation facts and trivia are also revealed in this book. I relished in real-life behind-the-scenes magic as I learned that Brenda Chapman went from shy, quiet achiever to become the first woman to direct a Pixar film (Brave). I also appreciated Solomon setting the record straight that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first US feature, the first Technicolor feature, and the first musical; while recognition for the first feature-length animated film belongs to Quirino Cristiani’s El Apóstol (Argentina, 1917). (Snow White has, in the past, been held out to be the first feature-length animated film when this is not correct.) There is just so much to take away from this book.
The Disney Princess is a must-have for Disney princess fans, historians and those interested in the multifaceted “how” and “why” behind Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida and Moana. While the making of these films spans from the 1930s to 2016, this book takes the reader even further into the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries and sets the stage for a thriving, continuing legacy. Solomon’s thorough and well-researched commentary is a breath of fresh air, making this read less textbook-y and more leisurely. Beautifully packaged with ribbon markers, dual finish and impressive holographic edges, The Disney Princess is the ultimate dreamy, definitive Disney princess book.
February 27, 2024
A beautiful collectible for any fan of Disney, particularly the princesses~ It crams a crash coarse on 12princesses, from snow White til Moana, cramming in an abundance of facts from the creative process, historical fun facts of the hypothetical timeline of the princesses had they lived, to box office grossings and interviews and quotes from insiders. I found the earlier chapters the best written, with more focus on the princesses themselves and a cohesive message that has clearly been researched and talked about ad nauseum, while the modern movies focused less on the characters and more on the technical achievements and the director's intentions with the story--which kinda shows how less thought out the modern characters are. While love and thought was embedded in the very movement of, say, Cinderella or Aurora, 'Moana' was crafted to always appear 'Badass' (a vague and kinda insulting term when paired with the one animator claiming "No, that pose is too girly!"; whose idea was it to keep that quote in the book??) Merida's chapter focuses on vague quotes about getting the lush setting right and mastering the natural textures, hand waving aside the ousting of the director and that controversy. Again, it's great for a collectible and as an intro into the multiply stories--expect to find more in depth analysis in individual books, but still a beautiful book with only the occasional questionable low-res blown-up pixelated still from the movie...
September 13, 2025
Loved the combination of the history of each princess along with historical information of her times and quotes from the animators/directors/etc. on the process to create these films. And the art was beautiful. I love seeing how animation starts out and what it ends up being. But I have to dock a star because, as others point out, there were editing issues- missing words and repeat sentences on next pages; Moana even had what looks to be a missing sentence or opener. Also, every Princess had historical information - except Jasmine. That just feels... a little racist. She's the only Arab princess. Their culture is so rich that there should have been something. It just doesn't sit well. Hopefully there will be an updated version (this is missing Anna and Elsa which is weird as they were around by this point- Frozen 2 is even mentioned) and they'll also update Jasmine's bio.
March 21, 2021
A Disney Princess has entered language as a rags to riches story. This is a really nice book to hold with a pink matt cover, nice turnable pages and the beautiful artwork behind twelve of Disney's nicest films. Met in a theme park shop, it would plead with you to spend your otherwise useless Disney dollars and take it home with you.
It isn't a story book and it isn't really for children. It's for parents and grandparents and tells of how stories were composed and illustrated. It tells how a story of the sixties is different from the twenties. Alas, as in real life, becoming a princess and completing a heroic task isn't the end-sequels beckon.
Borrow this book from your library first and ask yourself the question-which princess am I?
It isn't a story book and it isn't really for children. It's for parents and grandparents and tells of how stories were composed and illustrated. It tells how a story of the sixties is different from the twenties. Alas, as in real life, becoming a princess and completing a heroic task isn't the end-sequels beckon.
Borrow this book from your library first and ask yourself the question-which princess am I?
December 8, 2020
“I firmly believe the reason these stories are important is that they have the power to shape reality, not merely reflect it. With the rise of the cinema and the tremendous rise of mass media, this interplay of imaginative ideal and reality keeps happening. Fairy tales move and interact with the values of the times.”
There were quite a couple of editorial mistakes in the book, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed looking at the many pieces of concept art and illustrations by different artists and learning more about the history, ideas, and creative process behind each Disney princess film.
There were quite a couple of editorial mistakes in the book, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed looking at the many pieces of concept art and illustrations by different artists and learning more about the history, ideas, and creative process behind each Disney princess film.
March 19, 2021
Attractive packaging, which I expect from these official Disney books. I thought this was going to be kind of an art book, but there's a lot more here. Each princess gets her own chapter, which covers her development from both an art and writing standpoint. More, Solomon positions each princess in historical context, and not just the context she was created in. Interestingly, he writes about how each princess's life might have played out, if they'd actually lived in the time period that her movie is (usually loosely) based on. It's worth pointing out that this book covers only the official Disney princesses, which means that Mulan is here but Anna and Elsa are not.
July 13, 2021
okay this one is actually really great. each chapter was dedicated to the creation of each disney princess since snowwhite to present (except for Anna, Elsa [I know she's a queen not a princess but whatever], and Raya). i have a greater appreciation for the animation effort each project took and see the some of the princesses in a new light.
April 4, 2021
This is a beautiful book, full of stories of creating the movies and production artwork. Recommended.
(Note: princesses featured are Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, and Moana. Anna and Elsa are not included.)
(Note: princesses featured are Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, and Moana. Anna and Elsa are not included.)
December 26, 2020
Literally perfect! The were so many beautiful pictures and interesting facts and analysis. I will definitely be rereading in the future!
Read
February 23, 2021This book has glittery pages and I could not stop staring at it
January 8, 2022
It was beautiful at some parts, but i found myself cringing about Pocahontas. They really thought that they reached perfect Native rep with that...
August 18, 2023
The selection to feature toward the end (i.e.: no Frozen) was odd, but the art is beautiful, and I love to see the creative process.
December 11, 2023
Such an informative book!!! There were a couple of typos but I learned a lot
December 17, 2023
Very nice large size book full of concept art, and generally well-written essays about each princess and their movies. Good for flipping through leisurely. Several typos though...
June 26, 2024
Loved it 😄
June 13, 2025
One of the most beautiful art books I own, but had to take off a star due to some shockingly bad layout editing.
April 11, 2021
A brief history of the twelve official Disney princesses. Each portrait explores the story development for that princess but also touches on her time and place in history. Interviews with animators, directors and art designers gives you a sense of how this character came to life on screen for generations of Disney fans. This book is also loaded with paintings, sketches and finished art for the movies. Definitely a must read for Disney fans!
October 31, 2022
I'd heard rave reviews about this one from a couple of other people in the book world who are big Disney fans, and I really wanted to pick it up for myself. I couldn't justify the steep price tag, but ended up grabbing it from the library. I do think it was definitely an interesting read, filled with tidbits of Disney history, and beautiful animations that really showcased the way things change in animation from the start of a story to the finish.
In particular, I really enjoyed reading the chapters about the characters that Walt Disney worked on directly the most, as his vision and creativity are truly unparallel to anyone else. Aside from that, I found it interesting reading about the challenges the animators faced when animation switched from classic drawings to computer generations, and that of all things, hair is one of the hardest things for them to animate nowadays.
As a huge book nerd, I loved the included tidbits in some of the chapters as to what books a princess in that time period would have been enjoying. It was a fun fact, and definitely something to think about.
However, I didn't feel this book really provided that much history about the creation of any of these characters that I didn't already know, and that was a bit of a letdown for me. I also found that several of the chapters didn't seem to go into too much detail, and it more just skimmed the surface of the creative process.
I have to mention that I found it a bit strange that Frozen was completely left out of the title, even though it features technically two Disney princesses. I would have loved to have gotten a glimpse into the process of bringing Anna and Elsa to life on the screen, and I definitely missed them being included.
All in all, this is a beautiful book with gorgeous photos, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting, and I'm glad I borrowed it from the library rather than investing the money in buying it.
Maybe if I'd read this back a few years ago when I was still really into Disney I'd have finished feeling differently.
Final Rating: 3/5.
In particular, I really enjoyed reading the chapters about the characters that Walt Disney worked on directly the most, as his vision and creativity are truly unparallel to anyone else. Aside from that, I found it interesting reading about the challenges the animators faced when animation switched from classic drawings to computer generations, and that of all things, hair is one of the hardest things for them to animate nowadays.
As a huge book nerd, I loved the included tidbits in some of the chapters as to what books a princess in that time period would have been enjoying. It was a fun fact, and definitely something to think about.
However, I didn't feel this book really provided that much history about the creation of any of these characters that I didn't already know, and that was a bit of a letdown for me. I also found that several of the chapters didn't seem to go into too much detail, and it more just skimmed the surface of the creative process.
I have to mention that I found it a bit strange that Frozen was completely left out of the title, even though it features technically two Disney princesses. I would have loved to have gotten a glimpse into the process of bringing Anna and Elsa to life on the screen, and I definitely missed them being included.
All in all, this is a beautiful book with gorgeous photos, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting, and I'm glad I borrowed it from the library rather than investing the money in buying it.
Maybe if I'd read this back a few years ago when I was still really into Disney I'd have finished feeling differently.
Final Rating: 3/5.
January 18, 2024
This would have been the perfect book for Lish and I to have our hands on 3 years ago when we started preparing for Scenario D. The blend of concept art, historical context, and anecdote made this a real joy to read through. Like many of the other books he's written for Disney, Solomon's tone of voice is one that speaks to how much he loves and respects the Disney Company, and as a fan of not only the princess films but also Disney as a whole, that's always a treat to encounter.
I also really appreciated the snippets of history around the development of each story, and where it came from. It added a nice layer of intentionality and texture, if you will, to where each of these princesses came from and why we as an audience have grown to love them so much.
The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is because the editing was, quite frankly, atrocious. I don't know if everyone's copy of this book had either huge chunks of paragraphs repeated (literally like, copy and pasted) on pages side by side, or extra words, or even just a huge piece missing from my Moana section, but that just felt sloppy to me. Considering how beautiful this book is and, as a result, the investment financially, I expect better.
That being said, will I revisit this one time and time again? Absolutely.
I also really appreciated the snippets of history around the development of each story, and where it came from. It added a nice layer of intentionality and texture, if you will, to where each of these princesses came from and why we as an audience have grown to love them so much.
The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is because the editing was, quite frankly, atrocious. I don't know if everyone's copy of this book had either huge chunks of paragraphs repeated (literally like, copy and pasted) on pages side by side, or extra words, or even just a huge piece missing from my Moana section, but that just felt sloppy to me. Considering how beautiful this book is and, as a result, the investment financially, I expect better.
That being said, will I revisit this one time and time again? Absolutely.
January 29, 2024
Disney Princesses from Snow White to Moana with art and short history of the character and her development.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews