Cartoon Modern

I have been wanting to mention for some time a relatively new book that has been released on the animation styles of the 1950's, Cartoon Modern, by Amid Amidi. It seems like there are relatively few books on the art of animation, and almost no books available on the art form outside of major studios, like Walt Disney, and Dreamworks. So when a book like this is created it is quite a big deal. Being a big fan of the simple stylized animation from that time period, a book like this is pure gold, featuring lots and lots of artwork, a studio by studio breakdown of work and artists, and a nice overall history of the animation industry of the time period.
Definitely a must have for any animation professional, and highly reccommended for anyone who loves cartoons.

"Between the classic films of Walt Disney in the 1940s and the televised cartoon revolution of the 1960s was a critical period in the history of animation. Amid Amidi, of the influential Animation Blast magazine and CartoonBrew blog, charts the evolution of the modern style in animation, which largely discarded the "lifelike" aesthetic for a more graphic and often abstract approach. Abundantly found in commercials, industrial and educational films, fair and expo infotainment, and more, this quickly popular cartoon modernism shared much with the painting and graphic design movements of the era. Showcasing hundreds of rare and forgotten sketches, model boards, cels, and film stills, Cartoon Modern is a thoroughly researched, eye-popping, and delightful account of a vital decade of animation design. " (description from amazon.ca)

Cartoon Modern on Amazon.ca

You can also read more of Amid's reviews and writings on animation on the following two blogs,
Cartoon Modern, and Cartoon Brew, as well as in Animation Blast Magazine.