If you are a fan of film, the film industry, the making of film, especially animation, you will thoroughly enjoy this book by Darl Larson.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting book. I enjoyed it a lot!

As an English and Film undergrad, Darl Larsen's Moving Pictures was a well-informative book that covers a plentiful history that has shaped not only American history but also global cinematic history, to an extent. Letting each decade talk for itself through the films we make and the movies we watch, Moving Pictures paints a picture of a movement still ongoing and ever-evolving with each new creative mind joining the journey.

My only gripe is that I wish Larsen added more on the movies from the 2000s. I felt it was too short compared to other chapters and could've been talked about more.

I highly recommend Moving Pictures to any film buffs who want to dive deeper into learning the past, present and future of American Cinema.

Thank you, NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield Publishers for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Summary: A timeline resource on American animation and its ingenuity

My Review: Moving Pictures - A History of American Animation from Gertie to Pixar and Beyond by
Darl Larsen is "A deep dive into the history of cinematic animation in the United States."

About the Book: "In Moving Pictures, Darl Larsen playfully lays out the history of American animation as it transitioned from vaudeville sub-feature to craftsman-like artistry to industrial diversion and, ultimately, to theatrical regulars on par with blockbusters. Larsen identifies and discusses the major figures, movements, and studios across the nearly 120 years of animation in the United States. Progressing chronologically, the book follows animation from stage performance through to its use as wartime propaganda, its seven-minute heyday and decamp to television, and finally the years of struggle as cartoons became feature films."

My Final Say: There are several things that I could say about this book. The most important is that I genuinely enjoyed walking through history, looking through the lens of American animation. I found the details to be quite fascinating, in fact. Particularly, I enjoyed learning about the origin of the industry. Pre-Disney, during Disney's heyday, and from the "Animation Renaissance" forward - there was more to this field than I knew.

As an information junkie and an animation geek, I was all over the details concerning the power and influence that animation afforded. I loved learning how animators and those who ventured beyond comics forged new paths. While I was familiar with much of the content, there was a lot that I did not know. I was intrigued by the ebb and flow movements in animation, by the shifting points of interest and subject matters presented through animation, and by the approaches to advancement from print to film.

By the time I finished reading this book, I was greatly wishing for more. I could have sat at this author's feet all day and soaked in every morsel he cooked up. Oh to be a fly on the wall in his class!

Other: I confess that I now have a wishlist of wants based on this resource.

- I wish for a volume on the history of animation across continents. (French animation is where my greatest area of interest is, at present. I hope Larsen takes note. Hint, hint.)

- I wish for a volume on each major studio in the U.S.

- I wish for a volume on the greatest animation experts in the world.

- I wish for volumes by the decade, regarding American animation activity. (This whetted my appetite perfectly.)

Special Note: The digital formatting of this book was acceptable, however, it would have been helpful to list the chapters more prominently. As is, they seemed to bleed into each other, which made it cumbersome at times. Also, I must say that I loved the inclusion of pictures as a point of reference. I would have actually enjoyed seeing more. I can appreciate that this is a personal preference, however.

Hopefully, this author will continue writing in this vein, moving to unlock the annals of animation history even more.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: G
Status: Educational
Level: +
Suggested Formats: Hardcover/softcover, E-book Audiobook, Video series

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Rowman & Littlefield | Rowman & Littlefield Publishers), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own. I very much look forward to reading more from this author.

This was great, especially as a film degree grad I of course would love this, I just wish it spent a longer time discussing the early 2000's movies it spoke briefly about in the last chapter only, as I think they're as important as the history of film

As a lover of all the film things, this was fascinating! Learning stories and secrets of the industry is always a great in for me and this did not disappoint!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Rowman & Littlefield for an advanced copy of this new book that looks at the history of American animation from its humble beginnings to its box office dominance of today.

The first movie I ever saw was an animated movie, Walt Disney's Robin Hood, in a small theater in the Bronx. I think I got my first slice of pizza that night, so that was an awesome day. We had arrived early and had to wait to get in. The doors would periodically open and I could see the flash of color, the look of rain, a fox a bear, a snake. It was magic and I have loved movies ever since. Cartoons have always been a semi-addiction. Watching Saturday Cartoons from 7 am with Looney Tunes, ending at 12;30 pm with Flash Gordon. Cartoons are magic, at least that is how I feel, one can do anything, things a movie with real actors cannot do, even show emotions. I've probably cried more in animated films than most other ones. Something many of the people who have worked in animation over the last 100 years have probably done a lot of also. Moving Pictures: A History of American Animation from Gertie to Pixar and Beyond by Darl Larsen is a story of film, the creators who cared, the hucksters who squeezed a profit, the corporations that have done their best to ruin animation, and the style, innovations, and technology that have make it the art form it is.

The book begins with the beginning of film, and something that is used quite a bit now, the need for content. Animated films were perfect to fill out a bill, as they could be cheap, could be easily cut, and kept people in seats for the next. Some of these early animators cared little about the art form. Windsor McKay was probably the true artist, insisting on things being done his way, with his style and no shortcuts. Many made money on the burgeoning technology, grabbing and holding patents as a way of getting others studios to pay money, driving many out of the profession. Disney changed that, making a profit on a full-length cartoon, a thing no one thought possible, as the work involved would never payoff. As Disney grew in stature, other studios began to look at these cartoons, and began to create their own works, works that are considered classics today. However art making money is always something that can be exploited, and the book goes into the many problems of Disney, Dreamworks and other cartoon studios, as bottom lines got in the way of creative instinct.

A complete history of an art form from all sides. I especially liked the early information, as I knew some of the names mentioned, but not their place in the hierarchy of animation. Larsen has a very nice writing style, and a love for the medium, which is apparant throughout the book. Larsen looks at the creators, the business types even the events taking place in society in showing how many obstacles animation had. The book is like a long list from my childhood, especially the Don Bluth's films. As I read the titles I could see the posters in the theater, or even more the boxes on the VHS tapes I used to watch them on.

A very good history, perfect for people just getting into animation, or those who just want to remember their youth and the amazing films that were created.

For almost as long as there has been film at all, there has been animation from Gertie the dinosaur and Felix the Cat through to Mickey Mouse, Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, The Flintstones, The Simpsons to er.... whatever cartoons children watch today. This book covers the long story of American animation in exhaustive detail. In fact, the book is so thorough and comprehensive that it might prove a bit too much for some casual readers. It certainly was for this one.
That's all folks!

I really loved this book. I've been wanting to learn more about animations because I love working in media, so I decided to request this, and I haven't been able to put it down all day. I loved learning about the history of animation because it is something I enjoy watching, but I never truly sat down to think about its history and how it is made, despite the fact that I work in film and media myself. Larsen created a well-rounded book that illustrates the history of animation and does so in a way that keeps you entertained and wanting to learn more. She doesn't dumb anything down but also makes sure to explain it in a way that isn't overwhelming because there is a lot (and I mean a lot) of history in the animation world.

If you are interested in learning about the history of animation or just looking for something different to read about this is the book for you.