Non-fiction “Living With A Legend” is an homage to Iwao Takamoto by daughter Leslie E. Stern about Disney and Hanna-Barbera animator and creator of Scooby-Doo
Living With A Legend
ATLANTA – Multi-Award-Winning non-fiction book LIVING WITH A LEGEND by Leslie E. Stern offers touching personal stories about her acclaimed stepfather, Iwao Takamoto, who designed such animation masterpieces as Scooby-Doo, Astro, Mutley, and Dino. He directed Charlotte’s Web and had worked on classic films such as Lady and the Tramp and Cinderella.
Leslie’s musings of growing up in a multi-ethnic home amidst cartoon genius tells the story of her stepfather’s influence on her, stories of her youth, and Iwao’s influence on others. This full-color coffee table book includes never-before-seen personal drawings done by Iwao for Leslie and for her mother, drawings done by other famous animators for Iwao, as well as rarely-seen photographs and drawings. These are a delight to behold for anyone who is a fan of Scooby-Doo, The Pink Panther, The Flintstones, and The Jetsons. A must read for any cartoon lover and a pleasure to read for anyone with a heart.
Iwao Takamoto is considered a legend in the animation industry. He would ultimately design cartoon icons like Scooby-Doo, Astro, Mutley, The Great Gazoo, and Penelope Pitstop for Hanna Barbera. He began his career at Disney Studios when he was a young man, fresh out of the Manzanar concentration camp. In fact, he was the first inmate to be released because he had been recruited by Walt Disney. He worked as an animator on classics films such as Lady and the Tramp (he helped design Lady), Cinderella (he designed the loveable mice), Sleeping Beauty, and 101 Dalmatians. When he was asked to join the start-up company Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera were creating, he leapt at the chance.
“Living With A Legend is a loving, personal tribute to one of the top talents in the history of animation." — Leonard Maltin, movie reviewer, movie historian, and author
Writers Biline:
Author Name : Leslie E. Stern
Author Bio : Los Angeles native Leslie E. Stern graduated from the University of Miami in Coral Gables at twenty years old. She pursued her doctoral degree in philosophy and was offered an Assistant Professorship. She attained her Master's Degree in English literature. She went on to an illustrious career in public relations but she never forgot her roots in fiction writing. She wrote her first short story when she was ten years old and has never stopped writing. Her passion comes from her family. Her step-father was world-renowned animation genius Iwao Takamoto, whom her mother married when Leslie was five years old. His passion for his own craft was such that he always boasted that he never worked a day in his life. Leslie feels the same. When she is writing it is pleasure.
Format: Print
Pub Date: Sep 25, 2012