Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones preview video shows off the sketches

HBO has released a video preview of its upcoming book of art assets for the popular show.

Game of Thrones is a massive undertaking in many ways, not the least of which is the sheer amount of original design which must go into the adaptation of the franchise. Dozens of artists are responsible for transforming the descriptions in the books into real life objects for the props in the show.

Essentially, this means that everything – including costumes, statues, fortresses and hairstyles – has to be designed by someone. This generates quite a lot of artwork that does not make it into the final production, such as character sketches, set elevation studies, storyboards and fashion plates. All of the unused extras, so to speak, will also be featured in Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones.

The video itself is actually pretty interesting in its own right, so even if you’re not all that interested in the coffee-table book, take a gander at the video:

The book also contains transcripts of interviews with the cast and crew, along with lots of trivia and further behind-the-scenes type info. It will be printed in full glossy color on thick pages in a hardbound volume.

The third season of Game of Thrones, which covers the events of the first half of book three of George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy novel series, Song of Ice and Fire, kicks off March 31, 2013 on HBO.

Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones will hit bookshelves on September 25th, 2012.