Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters: From Mickey Mouse to Hercules
Ten years after the first edition and six years since the second, Grant has again updated his mammoth illustrated guide to beloved Disney creations. Where the previous revision brought a new section on TV characters, the only substantial changes this time pertain to new Disney productions of the last few years. The ratio of information per page is high, particularly in the feature-film sectionAwhere credits are followed by a history of the production and the critical and popular response, a plot synopsis, and analysis of all significant characters. The organization of the short-films section (which includes no new entries since 1992) is more idiosyncratic, though the writing is still a delight and not without occasional criticism of the company. The TV section is, however, not up to par, even if it has doubled in size this time to 20 pages. The real disappointment is the flat, even muddy quality of the illustrations that are lavishly spread throughout the text. A peerless reference work for those countless film fans and figurine collectors, this is still an imperfect coffee-table companion. Because there is relatively little new material, libraries with a second edition in good condition could probably wait for the inevitable fourth.AEric Bryant, "Library Journal"Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.