Burton is known for creating fantasy worlds, or fantastical real worlds, that are visually stunning and full of trademark characteristics: gothic sensibilities, spirals, stripes, bold colors, and elongated and exaggerated aesthetics. He populates them with unique and distinctive characters who are large-eyed and taper-limbed and often visibly different in some way. His films are quirky, humorous, emotional, and sympathetic to those who don't fit the definition of normal. Every single one is a celebration of individuality, and Burton's Dumbo is no exception.

In The Art and Making of Dumbo, author and longtime Burton collaborator Leah Gallo, after first setting the stage with a thoughtful history on Disney's 1941 animated classic, shares a detailed account of how Burton and his talented team reimagined this tale into a magical new film. Through interviews with the cast and crew, a breathtaking collection of art and photography, and a stylish design by fellow Burton collaborator Holly Kempf, this book is an appreciation of the dozens of departments and thousands of people who overlapped, interacted, and collaborated to bring to life the story of a flying elephant and the humans who wanted to exploit him along with those who loved and helped him. Dumbo's story development, location scouting, casting, costuming, set design, special effects, music, and more are vividly presented here in a true celebration of heart and imagination.

Leah Gallo is an author and book editor who has also served as a photographer on Tim Burton's films since Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2007. She contributed images for and wrote and edited The Art of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and Big Eyes: The Film, the Art. She also wrote and edited the award-winning tome The Art of Tim Burton and co-edited the companion volume, The Napkin Art of Tim Burton. She contributed photographs and edited visual companions for Dark Shadows, Frankenweenie, and Alice in Wonderland. Under Tim Burton's guidance, Gallo also produced specialized crew books for four of his films. When not immersed in the publishing world or shooting stills on films, she assists on projects at Tim Burton Productions such as his touring art exhibit, The World of Tim Burton. Her portraits have appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Parade, Empire, and Entertainment Weekly. Previously, Gallo edited and contributed images and text for the award-winning documental publication Arrow Rock: Where the Past Is the Future.