There are many reasons to love NBC’s critically lauded series, Hannibal, an elegant and deliciously haunting psychological thriller.
One of the primary elements that distinguishes it from everything else on television is that it is so visually stimulating and strikingly beautiful, turning nearly every gory frame into a dreamlike masterpiece. The Art and Making of Hannibal: The Television Series by Jesse McLean, a detailed look at the series’ making, takes us behind-the-scenes of NBC’s engrossing hit, from conceptualization to creation.
Released ahead of the start of the 3rd season, the coffee table book cover is bound to entice Fannibals; it’s clean white with an embossed bloody red heart on a plate. It perfectly sums up the contents of the book and its chapters, which are cleverly separated into different courses (Aperitif, Entrée, Main Course, Sorbet, Dessert, Digestif). Inside you’ll discover informative artworks of the gruesome murders (it does not flinch away from detail), various sketches of Hannibal’s food, 3D visualisations of the different sets, behind-the-scenes photographs, details on the music and sound design, insightful stories about the characters (mainly Hannibal, Jack Crawford, and Will Graham) and the makers of the show (including interviews with executive producer Bryan Fuller and director David Slade). Even Will Graham’s dogs get a mention.
At 176 pages, the monster book truly shines and is worthy to stand alongside the show. Everything is dissected, with an immense amount of information overflowing within its pages. Readers will be fascinated and reminded how truly awesome Hannibal is. A book like this is a rarity and deserves to be celebrated – just like its subject matter.
