Here the art is almost entirely dazzling, including what I think is the best overall piece in the book, a lovely composition by Noelle Triaureau featuring the young vampire Mavis picking fruit outside a lone window. Halfway through the book we switch gears to production design (which seems to be “anything that is not character design”) with an emphasis on landscapes and scenery. Alas, that can often be the case when some support characters are taken from 2D to the realm of 3D models.
![hotel transylvania bellhop hotel transylvania bellhop](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/atwAAOSw~bFWFpIa/s-l640.jpg)
The final models and designs really lack the life (no pun intended) of the gestural sketches and hilarious concepts on the first pages. Unfortunately the biggest disappointment came on page 82 when we’re shown the final look of the zombie bellhops mentioned above. The art throughout this section ranges in terms of design quality, with some standouts (Noelle Triaureau’s Box Stamp designs on page 45 are quite nice) and some that are easy to forget. (Likewise I don’t think any art of the character Jonathan, concept or final-film, can compare to Kellman’s drawings on page 40.) Another standout is Andrew Erekson, whose storyboard sketches are filled with that magical, “in-motion” quality that all artists strive to get into single, still images. The “Dracula and Cape” designs by Kellman on page 24 should not be missed, and are a tremendous study of solid but fluid line work, and appealing shapes. The 2D sketches of Craig Kellman and storyboard artist Denise Koyama leap off the page with a dynamism that shows their mastery. It doesn’t take long, even in just the first few pages of Character Designs, for a few artists and animators to stand out from the crowd. (After all, if you want to see shots that made it to the screen you’d just watch the movie!) The good news is this book takes cues from most Art Of books of the 21 st century and keeps the shots directly from the film to a minimum.
#Hotel transylvania bellhop full#
Dracula gets the largest spread with 10 full pages of art, designs, and examples from the film. After a short introduction the book features pages dedicated to the main characters, including their final posed 3D model. The art is dynamic and wonderfully plussed, as well as superbly composed across the paper.
![hotel transylvania bellhop hotel transylvania bellhop](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/89up1zDlKDU/maxresdefault.jpg)
![hotel transylvania bellhop hotel transylvania bellhop](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/93/50/63/9350630c30a6da1201feba4587d9a099.jpg)
The title page for the start of the character design section (see partial below) eludes to great things beyond, as it features a two page spread of zombie bellhop concept art. The Character Designs of Hotel Transylvania After brief forwards by director Genndy Tartakovsky and Sony Pictures president Bob Osher, the book dives into two sections, Character Design and and Production Design. Boasting over 400 pieces of concept art, it’s easy for any animator to be in awe of a lot of the images that this book offers.