Avatar Aang Movie Art Book Gets a First Look Ahead of Its Release
Your coffee table has been waiting for Appa.
The Avatar Aang movie is getting its own art book next week, and IGN just shared a first look inside. Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender: The Art of the Movie comes out November 10 from Abrams Books (IGN).
It's a 256-page hardcover for $50, written by Ramin Zahed, the editor in chief of Animation Magazine. Abrams also lists a deluxe edition (Abrams).
What's inside the Avatar Aang art book?
The official description promises never-before-seen concept art, character designs and new locations from the movie. It shows how Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph and Zuko changed for the film, plus its new threats and new hybrid creatures.
Co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko share their thoughts in the book. So do director Lauren Montgomery and the animation team. IGN's preview has five images from the book, so you can get a feel for it before it ships.
Why does the book focus on the animation?
The movie mixes 2D and CG animation, and the book spends a lot of time on how they pulled it off. Abrams calls it a blend "never before seen from a Western studio."
Zahed knows this kind of movie well. He also wrote the art book for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, another film famous for mixing styles, and that one became a New York Times bestseller.
How did the Avatar Aang movie do?
Fans liked it a lot, even after a rough road to release. Its theatrical release was scrapped, a leak changed plans again, and it went straight to Paramount+. IGN's review still called it "lovingly crafted and gorgeously animated."
It came out on Blu-ray and DVD on November 3, which we covered here. Abrams is also releasing Allison King's novel version on November 10, so it's a big week for Aang fans.
Is the Avatar Aang art book worth it?
My read is that this is an easy pick for anyone who loved how the movie looked. Art books are where you get to see the designs and ideas behind the final film, and this team clearly cared about every frame. (Your coffee table has been waiting for Appa.)
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Are you picking up the art book? Tell us in the comments.
