Kazu Kibuishi's "Amulet" series is a popular graphic novel series that follows the adventures of a young girl named Emily and her younger brother, Navin. After their father's mysterious death, Emily and Navin move with their mother to a new home in a small town. However, their lives take a dramatic turn when their mother is kidnapped by a tentacled creature. In their search for their mother, Emily and Navin discover a magical amulet that grants extraordinary powers to its wearer. This amulet leads them into a mystical world filled with strange creatures, dangerous monsters, and ancient secrets. Along the way, they meet new allies, including a robotic rabbit named Miskit and a talking stone named Cogsley.
By Kazu Kibuishi
David Saylor instilled confidence in me that the audience could handle the scene s intensity and asserted that the dramatic sequence should stay intact. Already several years out of college, time was of the essence and I was looking to gain storytelling experience, so I signed away the rights to the movie and left my job in animation to focus my efforts on graphic novels.
Along the way, they meet new allies, including a robotic rabbit named Miskit and a talking stone named Cogsley. As the story progresses, Emily becomes the rightful heir to the stonekeeper's power, which gives her control over the amulet. She must learn to master her newfound abilities and face the challenges that come with wielding such power.
Amulet
Amulet is a project I have thought about since I was 19 years old. I was a sophomore Film and Media Studies major at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1997 when I read the graphic novel series Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki for the first time. It left me emotionally overwhelmed. Soon after, I read Bone by Jeff Smith and felt equally inspired. To me, these books represented some of the highest forms of literature- like The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia but with the addition of worlds and characters fully illustrated by the authors- and the stories within the pages were told in the form of comics! I immediately knew I wanted to make something like these books, so I set a goal to create a graphic novel series that could deserve to stand on the bookshelf next to the works of these masters.
The comic below represents my first attempt at writing and drawing the story. It depicts early versions of the characters Trellis (Trelly the Thief), Leon Redbeard (Leod the Cat), and a cat named Riley. At the end of this series of pages, a few panels of Emily and Navin were drawn before they go on their journey to Alledia, and Miskit is seen as a regular stuffed animal. By the end of drawing these pages, I was already burned out, I felt the results were disappointing, and the prospect of drawing thousands more pages seemed an unacceptable amount of work for a hobby project.
Making Amulet was a personal goal, not a career ambition, so I set the project aside to focus on developing job skills. Sketches and notes for Amulet slowly developed over the years while I worked as a graphic designer in architecture and later as a writer/director/3D animator for a small animation studio in Pasadena, California.
In 2003, I pitched an animated movie called Let’s Get Francis to Walt Disney Feature Animation and they optioned the rights to make it. I was brought on board as co-director and writer of the film. Having done extensive research on films with long development processes, I had a pretty good sense I was not going to get a chance to direct this movie. Already several years out of college, time was of the essence and I was looking to gain storytelling experience, so I signed away the rights to the movie and left my job in animation to focus my efforts on graphic novels.
Early efforts during this time included Daisy Kutter: The Last Train, a comic book mini-series published by Viper Comics, and the graphic novel anthology Flight, published by Image Comics (and later by Ballantine/Villard Books at Random House). They were both released to critical acclaim in 2004, while my webcomic Copper was growing in popularity online. Around this time, Scholastic sent me an email to inquire about new projects. With two published books under my belt, I decided to return to Amulet and give it another try. In 2005, I pitched Amulet to Scholastic Creative Director David Saylor and Editor Janna Morishima at Scholastic’s new Graphix Books imprint. Along with a short synopsis, I showed them the pages displayed below. Scholastic Graphix signed on to publish the first two books.
The series explores themes of bravery, family bonds, and the struggle between good and evil. Kazu Kibuishi's artwork is visually stunning, bringing the fantastical world of "Amulet" to life. The story is engaging, filled with twists and turns that keep readers eagerly turning the pages. Each volume of the series builds upon the previous one, creating a rich and intricate narrative. "Amulet" has been highly praised for its compelling storytelling and beautiful illustrations. The series has captivated readers of all ages and has received numerous awards, including the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids and the Cybils Award for Graphic Novels. It has also been praised for its diverse and relatable characters. Overall, Kazu Kibuishi's "Amulet" series is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure. It combines breathtaking artwork with a captivating story, making it a standout in the world of graphic novels. Whether readers are new to the genre or longtime fans, they will find themselves immersed in the magical world of "Amulet" and rooting for Emily and Navin as they navigate their extraordinary journey..
Reviews for "The Influence of Mythology and Folklore in Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet"
1. John - 2/5 - I found "Kazu Kibuishi Amulet" to be quite underwhelming. The artwork was nice, but the story failed to captivate me. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, with little character development. I couldn't connect with the protagonists, and the lack of depth left me uninterested in their journey. Overall, it fell short of my expectations, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 3/5 - While "Kazu Kibuishi Amulet" had stunning illustrations and a unique world, I felt like the story itself was lacking. The pacing was off, and I found myself losing interest at times. The characters also fell flat, with minimal depth and development. Despite its potential, the series failed to fully engage me, and I wasn't motivated to continue beyond the first book. I had high hopes, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to them.
3. Michael - 2/5 - As a graphic novel enthusiast, I was excited to dive into "Kazu Kibuishi Amulet." However, I was ultimately disappointed. The artwork was visually appealing, but the story left much to be desired. It felt cliché and predictable, lacking originality. The characters were one-dimensional, and I struggled to feel invested in their struggles. Overall, it fell flat for me, and I wouldn't recommend it to fellow graphic novel fans.