With all the attention focused on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, it’s easy to forget that Sony Pictures Animation released another feature in 2018: Genndy Tartakovsky’s Hotel Transylvania 3.

For fans of that earlier film, there’s a nice Easter egg on Sony Animation’s website: a comprehensive Hotel Transylvania 3 digital art book with hundreds of pieces of pre-production artwork and other goodies. The digital art book idea is one that Sony first tried out last year for The Emoji Movie — possibly the only good thing that came out of that film — and it’s nice to see them continuing the tradition with HT3.

It seems that they’re only doing these digital art books for films that don’t have a printed art book, so don’t expect one for Spider-Verse, which has its own art book that you can purchase here.

In many ways, I actually prefer these digital books. The files are nicely sized and downloadable, untouched by a book designer who might shrink or otherwise tamper with a particular piece that I want to see in its full glory. It also allows for the inclusion of much more work than is possible to fit in a printed book, so you’re not seeing some book designer’s curated version of a film’s artwork, but a more complete look at the entire design process.

The online format also allows for the inclusion of video progression reels and other video content, like character model turnarounds. Further, the artwork is organized multiple ways, including by individual artist, a handy feature that allows one to see an artist’s contributions to a film as a body of work.

Frankly, if the artwork were available in full resolution and downloadable, I would much rather pay for the digital version than a printed book.

Here’s a taste of what you can find in the Hotel Transylvania 3 digital art book:

Development of Stan the Fishmen by (l. to r.) Genndy Tartakovsky, Craig Kellman, and Yoriko Ito.
Development of Stan the Fishmen by (l. to r.) Genndy Tartakovsky, Craig Kellman, and Yoriko Ito.
Van Helsing character concept by Scott Wills.
Van Helsing character concept by Scott Wills.
Van Helsing character concept by Chris Reccardi.
Van Helsing character concept by Chris Reccardi.
Ericka character expression by Craig Kellman.
Ericka character expression by Craig Kellman.
Ericka color concept by Scott Wills.
Ericka color concept by Scott Wills.
Monster designs by Andre Medina.
Monster designs by Andre Medina.
Gremlin Airplane design by Sylvain Marc.
Gremlin Airplane design by Sylvain Marc.

Gremlin Airplane design by Miguel Gil.
Gremlin Airplane design by Miguel Gil.
n

Atlantis design by Sylvain Marc.
Atlantis design by Sylvain Marc.
Atlanteans character concepts by Craig Kellman.
Atlanteans character concepts by Craig Kellman.
Color key by Celine Desrumaux and Scott Wills.
Color key by Celine Desrumaux and Scott Wills.
Atlantis concept by Aurelien Predal.
Atlantis concept by Aurelien Predal.
The Legacy ship design by Aurelien Predal.
The Legacy ship design by Aurelien Predal.
Bermuda Triangle by Scott Wills.
Bermuda Triangle by Scott Wills.
Atlantis design by Luc Desmarchelier.
Atlantis design by Luc Desmarchelier.
Atlantis design by Christian Schellewald.
Atlantis design by Christian Schellewald.

Latest News from Cartoon Brew