With complete and unrestricted access to artwork created over a five-year period, this authoritative and insightful book illustrates the creative development of The Fellowship of the Ring. This official publication contains 500 exclusive images, from the earliest pencil sketches and conceptual drawings to magnificent full-color paintings that shaped the look of the film. All the principal locations, costumes, armor and creatures are covered in stunning detail, including concepts, storyboards and images that did not make it into the final film. As well as a wealth of sketches, paintings and digital images, The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring contains photographs showing how the creative process was realized and a number of stills from the film. Contributors include Alan Lee and John Howe, the two artists who inspired Peter Jackson's vision of Middle-earth and who worked with him to bring his trilogy to the big screen. They and a dozen other designers who created all of these diverse elements explain how they contributed to the development of the film, giving a fascinating insight into how Middle-earth was brought to life. With text compiled from exclusive interviews with director Peter Jackson, special effects supervisor Richard Taylor, designers Grant Major, Ngila Dickson, Paul Lasaine and others, this unique book celebrates the pivotal contribution made by a handful of people which help turn the first Lord of the Rings movie into an award-winning global success.

Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring has become one of ther most successful and visually stunning movies ever made. But that was only the beginning. For The Two Towers, the second part of the trilogy, the artists and designers knew that they would have to surpass even their own outstanding achievements. Within the pages of this authoritative and insightful book are the incredible results of their work. The Art of The Two Towers illustrates the creative development of the film from sketches to special effects, and features more than 600 images, most appearing nowhere else. This official, fully authorized book includes pencil sketches by Alan Lee and John Howe, costume designs by Oscar-nominated Ngila Dickson and magnificent full-color paintings, sculptures and digital artwork from Oscar-winner Richard Taylor's Weta Workshop. All the spectacular landscapes, costumes, buildings, armor and creatures are covered in stunning detail, including concepts for characters and scenes which did not make it into the film. Accompanying this wealth of imagery are detailed and informative commentaries by all of the features artists, designers and other key personnel, together with a special afterword by Andy Serkis, the actor who breathed life into Gollum. Their thoughts and explanations give a unique and fascinating insight into how The Two Towers was brought to life, and how J.R.R. Tolkien's spellbinding literary descriptions were transformed into unforgettable movie magic.

With Peter Jackson's Acadamy Award-winning epic motion picture trilogy drawing to a spectacular and triumphant close, Gary Russell's detailed research takes us back into the world of Middle-earth, to relive all the visual drama and excitement of The Return of the King. The Art of The Return of the King illustrates the creative development of the film from sketch to special effect and features 600 images, most appearing nowhere else. This fully authorized book includes pencil sketches by Alan Lee and John Howe, costume designes by Ngila Dickson, magnificent full-color paintings by Jeremy Bennett, and prop designs, concepts, sculptures and digital artwork from Weta Workshop and Weta Digital. From Minas Tirith to Mount Doom, from the Army of the Dead to Shelob the monstrous spider, all the spectacular landscapes, characters and creatures are covered in stunning detail, including concepts that did not make it into the final film. To accompany this wealth of imagery, detailed and informative commentaries appear by all the featured artists and designers, together with a special afterword by Peter Jackson. Their personal thoughts and explanations offer unique and fascinating insight into how The Return of the King was brought to life. An artistic journey begun in 1997 reaches its glorious conclusion within these pages, giving the reader a unique chance to witness the creative process that led to one of the most spectacular movies of all time.