Stuff We Love

STUFF TO READ

The Art of Soul [Chronicle Books, $40] Find yourself in animated flmmaking heaven with this guide to the making of Pixar’s new original. This comprehensive 168-page hardcover reveals the behind-the-scenes story of this unique movie about a music teacher’s disembodied soul (Jamie Foxx) tasked with training a reluctant soul-in-training (Tina Fey) while trying to get back to Earth and pursue his dreams. Original artwork, illuminating details and exclusive interviews bring life to Soul’s afterlife, with a foreword by Fey and introductions by director Pete Docter and writer Kemp Powers. Soul and its 2020 sibling Onward are also included in the new, expanded edition of The Art of Pixar color-scripts collection, out the same day from Chronicle. [Oct. 20]

Be Gay, Do Comics [IDW Publishing, $25] This massive queer comics anthology from The Nib is packed with dozens of tales from the LGBTQIA experience — from personal stories to historical fashpoints to cutting satire about modern gender and sexuality politics and the evolving fght for equality and representation. The 250+ page tome (also available on Kindle and comiXology) features work by more than 30 incredible indie cartoonists, including Hazel Newlevant, Joey Alison Sayers, Maia Kobabe, Matt Lubchansky, Breena Nuñez, Sasha Velour, Shing Yin Khor, Levi Hastings, Mady G, Bianca Xunise and Kazimir Lee.

My Neighbor Hayao: Art Inspired by the Films of Miyazaki [Cernunnos, $30] Celebrate one of the most inspiring and infuential living legends of animation and see the worlds and characters he’s created through fresh eyes with this enchanting tribute, compiled by Spoke Art Gallery. You can page through loving commemorations of Miyazaki’s whimsical sense of adventure, deep reverence for nature and championing of strong female characters, created by more than 250 artists/fans in an array of media — from painting and prints to sculpture and embroidery — which attracted more than 10,000 visitors to Spoke’s exhibitions in San Francisco and NYC. [Oct. 6]

Steven Universe: End of an Era [Abrams, $35] In this eagerly anticipated follow-up to his bestselling Art & Origins, Chris McDonnell returns to Beach City to reveal new concept art, storyboard, background paintings and exclusive interviews with the creative crew behind Cartoon Network’s Emmy-winning series. This installment covers season four through to the critically acclaimed fnale, “Change Your Mind,” and beyond—- with a special focus on creator and showrunner Rebecca Sugar’s elaborate lore-crafting process. [Oct. 13]

STUFF TO WATCH

B: The Beginning Season One [Shout! Factory/Anime Ltd., $30 BD] Production I.G’s action-suspense series, directed by Kazuto Nakazawa (Parasite Dolls) and Yoshinobu Yamakawa (Little Busters!), grippingly blends visually stunning sci-f fantasy and gritty crime procedural storytelling into one genre-bending tale acclaimed by anime fans worldwide. Get caught up in the mystery with dogged former detective Flick — who returns to the beat to catch the mysterious vigilante executioner Killer B, then soak up enriching bonus features. The Blu-ray Combo Pack also comes with a mini-poster and two art cards, or opt for The Ultimate Collection (LE, $160) and truly throw yourself into Cremona’s bloody streets with a 160-page book, OST on CD and more. [Oct. 6] Space Ghost & Dino Boy: The Complete Series [Warner Archives, $25 BD] Grab a bowl of your favorite sugary cereal and cozy up by the TV’s glow to enjoy this 1960s Hanna-Barbera adventure through space and time. Follow the futuristic escapades of interstellar lawman Space Ghost as he battles with Brak and Zorak, then hop back to the Stone Age as Dino Boy, Ugh and Bronty turn some primeval foes into fossils. This nostalgic seven-hour compilation, available for the frst time on Blu-ray, also features the six-part Space Ghost arc “The Council of Doom.” [Oct. 13] The Wonderland [Shout! Factory, $17 | $27 BD] A mysterious alchemist whisks a young girl away to a fantastical world and reveals she is a goddess destined to return the natural balance to order and save this magical realm from an encroaching industrial terror. Tale as old as time! Director Keiichi Hara (Miss Hokusai, Summer Days with Coo) worked with Russian illustrator Ilya Kuvshinov to craft the colorful characters and extraordinary landscapes that viewers are swept through in this complex and unexpected coming-of-age fantasy. Set includes commentary, cast interview and featurette with voice star Mayu Matsuoka. [Oct. 6] Osamu Tezuka’s Cleopatra [Discotek Media, $25 BD] Japan’s “Godfather of Manga” is best known for kid-friendly favorites like Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion — and it’s likely to stay that way. However! In the interest of a fully-rounded animation education, we must inform you that his MST3K-worthy X-rated fop is fnally available on Blu-ray in Region 1. Directed with colleague Eiichi Yamamoto, Kureopatora is a 1970 time-travelling sex romp which sends three humans from the distant future back to Roman-occupied Egypt to unravel a nefarious alien plot known as the “Cleopatra plan.” But that’s just a sliver of the sex, violence, bodyswapping, historical chicanery and sci-f peril that make up this odd quirk in the anime time continuum. [Oct. 27]

— Mercedes Milligan