Standard and Deluxe Editions Now Available.
LOS ANGELES, CA (September
17, 2024) – Legendary composer, conductor and arranger, Henry Mancini
recognized that music can be one of the most compelling characters in cinema.
His timeless works set the tone and narrative for some of the most
unforgettable moments on film. With masterful vision and skillful elegance,
Mancini’s scores brought playful fun, dramatic grandeur and heartbreaking
tenderness to 20th century popular music and engaged audiences on a deeply
emotional level. Equally engaging is the biographical tale of this celebrated,
award-winning composer, The Extraordinary Life of Henry Mancini,
a beautifully illustrated story from critically acclaimed animation studio, Fantoons.
The graphic novel features a foreword by Hans Zimmer and it is available
today, September 17, at retailers everywhere.
Mancini’s name is synonymous
with his timeless melodies, “Moon River,” “Peter Gunn,” the Pink Panther
Theme, iconic soundtracks to Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 10, Victor
Victoria and countless works that defined how musical score could
elevate storytelling on film and screen. With many of his hits made classic by
Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis and decades of iconic artists and a
body of work boasting some of the most hummed melodies of all time, Henry
Mancini’s catalog earned him four Oscars and twenty Grammy Awards.
Award winning studio, Fantoons
is now proud to present the fully authorized story of the legendary Henry
Mancini in a new graphic novel written by David Calcano, author of fan-favorite
illustrated biographies and books of Rush, Billie Holiday, Motörhead, The Beach
Boys, Tenacious D, Iron Maiden, and many others. Featuring a foreword by Hans Zimmer and
introduction by Christopher Lennertz, The Extraordinary Life of Henry
Mancini is illustrated by Svetlana Palkina, Jorge Mansilla, Lindsay
Lee, and Eriana Mirabal in this vibrant telling of the artist’s true story of
music, love and passion. A sweeping tale; wider than a mile.
The book features two editions:
Standalone hardcover edition and a limited deluxe
edition featuring an interview booklet about Mancini’s influence. Highlights
include interviews with film composer legends John Powell and Patrick
Doyle, alongside interviews with legendary Disney animation directors John
Musker and Ron Clements, as well as business luminaries including Chris Montan
(former President of Walt Disney Music) and Richard Kraft (legendary film music
agent).
The interview booklet is 26 pages and is released in a
beautifully printed format that includes a limited edition 7-inch vinyl record
done in conjunction with Quartet Records. Featuring a performance never before
available on vinyl from the “Sunflower” score and a beautiful piano demo of the
“Love Theme” played by Mancini himself, the vinyl single also includes
“Giovanna,” a classic example of Mancini’s famous Touch and of course
the Pink Panther theme (from Trail of the Pink Panther). The
record features new art from Fantoons Animation Studios.
Book description:
Henry Mancini is one of the most successful and
groundbreaking film composers of all time. From the humble beginnings of his
father’s flute lessons to standing ovations at the prestigious Hollywood Bowl,
this graphic novel by Fantoons beautifully illustrates every step in the
journey of Henry Mancini’s pivotal and industry-shaping career.
Each page features vividly painted illustrations, with
color that encapsulates each of the many emotions–high and low–of Henry
Mancini’s bold, musical adventure.
Audrey Hepburn said, “A movie without music is like an
airplane without fuel,” and rightly so. Henry Mancini’s music has left an
indelible mark on the film industry, transforming it for generations of new
composers to come. Readers can learn the surprising, true stories behind the
unforgettable scores of movies such as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “The Pink
Panther,” and even pop-culture TV classics like “Peter Gunn.”
Before winning multiple Grammys, Golden Globes, Academy
Awards, and becoming one of the highest-regarded composers in the history of
film, step into the shoes of the boy who would bravely set out to change cinema
forever.
Get swept away in the majestic, heartwarming, and
astonishing symphony that is the extraordinary life of renowned composer Henry
Mancini, in this fully illustrated, 180-page, graphic novel.
The Extraordinary Life of Henry Mancini:
Official Graphic Novel will be available in hardcover at
retailers everywhere for a list price of $29.99 (ISBN: 978-1-97004-7-288) on
September 17, 2024.
About Fantoons:
Fantoons Animation Studios
is a group of like-minded artists with a shared passion for animation, stories,
and music. Founded by director David Calcano almost a decade ago, the vision
for the studio was simple: create content surrounding music and tell compelling
stories to celebrate it. Fantoons focuses on the artist’s personal stories
whether on the road, in the studio, or their personal journey, using sequential
storytelling in the form of graphic novels or animated content. Fantoons
creative works have received acclaim from Rolling Stone, The Guardian, PROG
Magazine, and other notable press outlets. Fantoons recently celebrated their
first Webby Award as a 2021 Honoree for Video Animation. As well as winning
multiple awards, Fantoons have accumulated over 100+ million views in their
content across social platforms, and more than 100 thousand books sold and
counting.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER
