The Art of Avatar

Academy Award-winning writer/director James Cameron, the maker of Titanic and the creator of the Terminator series, first imagined Avatar while still in his teens. The film follows the story of an ex-marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on a distant planet filled with exotic life forms. As an avatar, a human consciousness in an alien body, this disabled vet is torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for both his own survival and that of the indigenous people. The Art of Avatar, the companion book to this epic 3-D action adventure, explores the developmental and conceptual art used by the creative team to craft this wholly original world. With over 100 exclusive full-color images including sketches, matte paintings, drawings, and film stills, The Art of Avatar brings readers behind the scenes of this unprecedented movie-going experience. This official artbook companion to the feature film reveals the process behind the creation of set designs for the imaginative vistas, unique landscapes, aerial battle scenes, bioluminescent nights, and fantastical creatures. Interviews with art directors, visual effects designers, animators, costume designers, and creature makers delivers unique insights into the team's creative processes -- all driven by James Cameron's one-of-a-kind vision.