Dinosaurs, Dragons, & Drama
The Odyssey of a Trickfilmmaker – Vol.1
An Illustrated Memoir by Jim Danforth

This is the story of visual effects artist Jim Danforth’s journey from a childhood in rural areas of the Midwest to the soundstages of Hollywood and London, and how a shy boy with no inside contacts managed to fulfill his dream of working in The Movies.

Volume One includes:

Jim’s work with Art Clokey, the creator of Gumby

Jim's feature film stop-motion animation assignments on:
Jack the Giant Killer
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
(and others)

Jim's involvement with the creation of
The Pillsbury Doughboy

Volume One concludes with a detailed account of Danforth’s challenging assignment as designer, director, and animator of the visual effects for
the Hammer Films production of
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth.

The book also contains Danforth’s recollections
of interesting people he encountered during
his professional journey.

The CD-ROM book includes ‘clickable’ sidebars and footnotes filled with additional facts, plus thoughts about various eclectic topics that interest Jim.

Auxiliary sections describe various pre-digital film effects techniques and now-obsolete processes.

This is not only a well versed narrative, but an absolute visual feast as well! For the die-hard stop-motion aficionado who is amazed at the how-to aspects, there are plenty of armature drawings and photos, photos of sculptures, partially completed matte painting and fx shots, and all types of behind-the-scenes shots from these films. It is an intimate photographic look at Jim’s life that properly parallels the descriptive and voluminous text through which he takes us on the journey of his life experiences. All told in a way that makes you feel that you are actually watching Jim go through it all… and you feel the joy and the heartbreak of personal and business situations. --Rick Catizone, animator
 

828 pages of main text, plus the Foreword, sidebars,
and supplemental material.

Over 720 photos, drawings, and paintings
in the main text; plus more in the sidebars.

Distributed exclusively by Archive Editions
on a CD-ROM in a DVD-type "snap" case.

$40.00
plus shipping (First Class or Priority Mail)

SOLD OUT

 

(and check or money order by mail)

This Book is available on CD-ROM only. Currently not available for download for use on Kindle, iPad, or other similar devices.

Can be viewed on any computer
with a CD/DVD drive.

Mac and PC compatible.

eBook comes as a PDF document. Adobe Acrobat Reader 6+ required.

System Requirements

Download free Acrobat Reader HERE