Ken Plume
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THE ART OF DUCKTALES (reducks)
🕑 Added 2022-11-08 09:02:09 +0000 UTCAMAZON ORDER LINKS:
DELUXE EDITION: amzn.to/3Mc1OkQ
STANDARD EDITION: amzn.to/3JZVyv0
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: bit.ly/ducktalesbook
BOOKPLATE/ART PRINT: bit.ly/duckart
"From tiny tweets mighty books grow" is not something anyone has ever said until now, but the journey to realizing THE ART OF DUCKTALES has been all about charting a path into the unknown with confidence borne of an overwhelming desire to celebrate something special fueling a relentless drive to overcome seemingly-insurmountable obstacles.
My acknowledgements in the book itself speak to just how inspiring and essential the core creative family behind DuckTales was when it came to making this book a reality, but it bears repeating (if you've already read the book) just how much of a joy it was to collaborate with Matt Youngberg, Frank Angones, Suzanna Olsen, Sean Jimenez, and Laura Leganza Reynolds to celebrate the show's entire creative team by crafting this titanic tome as a supplemental testament to their collective achievement. That joy extended beyond the core group, as well - Not only was everyone I spoke with for the book genuinely proud of the show itself, but also just sincerely swell folks.
This was not an easy book to make. There was the pandemic, the collapse of the supply chain, rising costs - There were many, many factors that made it a challenge, beyond just the base logistical issues of publishing a book even in the best of times. THE ART OF DUCKTALES would absolutely not exist without my editor at Dark Horse Books, Patrick Thorpe, who found a way to navigate all of the rogue waves that threatened to sink us, as well as manage a rogue writer who inveterately wants to be able to cram much more in a book than is ever physically, or economically, feasible. (That inveterate writer is me). But, after Patrick was able to make our previous collaboration, GO TEAM VENTURE: THE ART & MAKING OF THE VENTURE BROS., a reality, there was absolutely no one else in the publishing world I'd want to work with on a special project like this. I am deeply fortunate and eternally grateful that he answered my phone call and took my proposal both seriously and with enthusiasm. (If you knew what herculean will and patience it took from Patrick to realize the Venture Bros. book, you'd understand why I was so surprised!)
I conducted over a hundred hours of interviews with the crew and cast of DuckTales for the book, covering every single episode and aspect of production. We did our absolute best to include as many creatives and as much information as we could, but please know that there were many factors that precluded anyone or anything not represented in the book - from scheduling issues (Which, let me make absolutely clear, is no fault of anyone unrepresented - The last couple of years were, let's say, a weird time for communication) to matters of space. Books are finite things, and page count is not unlimited. We all did the absolute best we could to make this book as comprehensive as possible, given constraints of time and space, and any number of circumstances outside of our control. That we were able to include even more information and art in the deluxe edition of the book is a miracle for which I am forever grateful. Consider this a heartfelt shout-out to the brilliant artists who made DuckTales, Dark Horse and its legendary staff for publishing THE ART OF DUCKTALES, and Disney for making it all possible. I am immeasurably proud of this book, and ultimately the show itself is the legacy of *every single talented individual* who worked on it - And THE ART OF DUCKTALES is wholly intended to be a celebration of *everyone* who was out there making DuckTales. Is the book perfect? No. It could never meet every possible expectation that anyone could have for it. But it exists, I'm proud if it, and I'm happy that it could possibly open the door to other shows being celebrated in similar fashion.
I hope anyone who picks up the book will, at the very least, walk away with a deeper understanding of the complicated process behind the production of a project like DuckTales and - more importantly - an appreciation for the profound artistry of those who crafted it, in every aspect, from start to finish.
And to the folks & fans who’ve been reaching out about the immense creativity of other shows being rightly celebrated in similar fashion - FWIW, the success of this book would be a clear indication that fans want this kind of thing & will support it.
Let me just wrap this up by saying that it does not cease to be a distinctly odd feeling to live with a project for years, during most of which you're unable to speak of its existence, and then finally arrive at the point where not only do people know its happening, but it's also finished and out there in the world for people other than you to see that it is, in fact, REAL.
THE ART OF DUCKTALES is real. You can hold it in your hands. And by you, I mean not me. I've lived with it for far too long - I'm glad you're getting your turn.
I hope you enjoy it.
-Ken Plume
(PS - I have some supplemental materials and fun goodies I've posted at bit.ly/ducktalesbook. I also still have some of the signed gold foil art print/bookplates available, if you'd like to get one before they're gone - bit.ly/duckart.)
