Serious Business: The Art and Commerce of Animation in America from Betty Boop to Toy Story

by Stefan Kanfer

Book Overview

Charts the evolution of animation with the intention of decoding the social history of cartoons. The author reappraises classic characters, suggests reasons for how animation became a box office success and why it is currently enjoying a renaissance.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684800799
• ISBN13: 9780684800790
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic book on the birth and rise and fall of the great animators.

From the very beginning of animation, to the great rivalries, to the rise and fall of many great animation houses--this book tells it in a clear and engaging way. Superb book to learn the history of animation and what made it tick. A great read. Well worth the time to read.

A good book, but not a great one.

A good read, but not the great book it could have been. It could easily have been twice as long. Early chapters are strongest. Strong on Disney. Would like to have seen more on Looney Tunes

Great intro to American animation history!

Well written, concise survey of American animation history. The only slights are that he doesn't have much to say on non-Disney animated efforts of the past decade, especially television animation, and that too many pages praise the horrendous UPA 'toons. Otherwise, this is a great intro to a neglected sector of American culture. If you want to learn about cartoons without buying a separate book on each major company, this should be your choice