Film art books are wonderful things because they highlight a very intricate process that arguably the average movie-goer forgets about. When we’re presented with worlds like Pandora, The Grid, Corusant or even an average city landscape, there is so much more happening behind the scenes other than just rendering it. These ideas were visualised and drawn. They were concepts. And these concepts were drawn by artists that grappled with what their director envisioned. Their job was to paint a world that, more often than not, was impossible. When artbooks get released, it is always such a joy to see how an idea evolved. A simple drawing can completely change the trajectory of a film. The overall aesthetic, the colours, the symbolism that is weaved into a visual tapestry can all flourish thanks to a single drawing.
From another perspective, art books also add an extra layer of appreciation. There’s something engrossing about seeing an artistic progession. Take Avatar for example, the Hallelujah Mountains were among the first things that Dylan Cole worked on, and they had a knock on effect that ultimately impacted Pandora’s inception. So when you sit back and watch these films and shows that embody pure escapism, it’s impossible not admire the craft of concept art and world building. What sets Cole’s Creating Worlds apart from other art books is that it focuses on his entire career rather than just a singular project, and it was an absolute joy to read.
In a way, it’s almost autobiographical. For a production designer such as Cole, an autobiography would have to be visual. To truly understand his journey, Cole takes us through his life from when art first became an interest to his most recent projects. Filled with an abundance of gorgeous sketches and paintings, Cole’s rich and diverse gallery showcases his own natural growth as an artist, as well as his unbelievable ability to adapt. Whether it’s a forest on Pandora, a futuristic neon city, comic book sketches, or even adorable birthday doodles of TIE Fighters, Cole’s talent is unparalled. However, Cole’s ability to tell a story completely embues this book with so much life and heart. Every image has a back story regarding why certain decisions were made, how his collaborative relationships worked, and the inspiration behind even the most minute detail.
As an avid film fanatic and absolute lover of fictional storytelling, this book is simply a must-have. The combination of rich and playful storytelling with the stunning artwork make for an exceptionally exciting reading experience with new discoveries to be found on every page. While my main motivation was to learn as much about the creation of Pandora as humanly possible, the inclusion of additional projects like Tron Legacy and Alice in Wonderland were a very welcomed treat. Again, it really enhances the learning experience because different processes are used for a wide variety of different things. The same critical and creative thinking used to create the Tree of Souls in Avatar differed drastically to that of the The Grid from Tron Legacy. But at the same time, Cole’s deep dive into his childhood passion reveals these subconscious inspirations that is rooted in his more recent work.
I naively dived into this thinking just about Avatar, but once I finished I was so glad and thankful for the experience of actually learning about the process behind a number of different projects and films. Despite my deep love for some of these worlds, I wouldn’t be able to tell you just how any of it was done, but Cole’s chronical walks you through so much of it without being overly complicated. It was an immensely inlightening and immersive read that not only has me reaching for my own pen and paper, but has also forced me to change my way of thinking. Instead of just looking at how things were “made”, let’s start looking at how they were first created.
Verdict
Creating Worlds is a perfect companion that really contextualises the practical methods that are implimented into these huge, out-of-this-world tent pole movies. As movie goers, we typically just accept these fantastical environments without really thinking about how they were made, and we’re not talking about how they were digitally rendered, but where the ideas originated from. Dylan Cole’s career, and indeed this indepth look, truly helps us to understand the journey from a mere sketch on a tablet or piece of paper to a lived-in and organic world that moves, breathes and provides the utmost form of escapism. It’s a beautiful evolutionary exploration that is fun and insightful, and it unlocks a greater appreciation for the work that goes into these massive projects.
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Creating Worlds: The Disney and 20th Century Studios Cinematic Art of Dylan Cole is available to order now from Amazon and releases in stores on November 30, 2025.
With Avatar: Fire and Ash just around the corner, this art book is a perfect way to properly understand just how fictional worlds are designed, created and populated.
