From New Line Cinema, Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. comes J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, brought to the big screen in an epic trilogy. Weta Workshop was thrilled to return to Middle-earth once again, contributing design, specialty props and specialty costumes to all three films.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Chronicles: Art & Design explores and celebrates the creative vision of the second film in Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson's trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
This lavish volume follows Bilbo, Gandalf and Thorin's Company of Dwarves eastward, through hitherto unseen regions of Middle-earth, on their quest to reclaim the lost realm of Erebor from the Dragon Smaug.
Exploring the design and development of the environments, cultures, creatures and artefacts encountered by the characters, its 224 pages are filled with more than 1,000 stunning images of conceptual art, supplementary photographs and detailed commentary provided by the film's cast and crew.
The Hobbit Chronicles show the incredible attention to detail that goes into everything that is being produced for these films and are a wonderful opportunity to showcase the designs and artistry of so many people within their respective departments.
The book showcases art by the film's concept art directors Alan Lee and John Howe, alongside work by other artists from Weta Workshop, Weta Digital, and 3Foot7. In addition to artist quotes, cast members reflect on the work and share insights into their involvement in the design process.
It truly is a unique opportunity to see artwork by a wide range of artists across a multitude of disciplines in the film-making community of Wellington, New Zealand and to hear directly from them about the inspiration behind their work.
The book includes an introduction by The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug's concept art director Alan Lee and a foreword by the film's set decorator Ra Vincent.
As a bonus feature, unique to this book, there is a special fold-out replica of the portrait of the Master of Lake-town, played by Stephen Fry, exactly as it appears in the film.
Compiled by Weta Workshop senior concept designer Daniel Falconer, this is the third book in The Hobbit Chronicles series and it has been created in full collaboration with key members of the production's creative team to ensure the most comprehensive and authentic film companion possible.
As the previous volumes, the book is published as an embossed hardcover edition without dustjacket. All books ship directly from Weta's warehouse in Wellington, New Zealand in a specially commissioned cardboard box sturdy enough to ensure your book will arrive in great condition.
