The Cinematic Art of World of Warcraft: Volume 1
WORLD VIEWS See how the world of Azeroth has been visualised via cinematics in this unique exploration of the Warcraft universe
Authors Gregory Selano and Matt Burns Publisher Titan Books Price £35 Web www.titanbooks.com Available Now
Blizzard Entertainment’s cinematics have come on a long way, and by the time World of Warcraft was released in 2004 the studio had settled on a hyperrealistic art style for its cinematics. This book shows how this look continued to evolve. Complete with concept art, storyboards and stills from the cinematics themselves, this deep dive also uncovers how each short film fulfils a certain function. They’re a masterclass in how art and storytelling can work together. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the later titles up until Warlords of Draenor are better represented, while the first cinematic feels a bit thin on the ground in terms of behind-the-scenes art. It’s a minor complaint though, as we see a wealth of illustrated ideations for the cinematics in the follow-up games.
More insights from the creative team could’ve pushed this book to greater heights, but for the creative decisions it does reveal, there’s plenty here for gamers and artists to enjoy.
RATING ★★★★