In a book to be treasured by cartoonists and animation and film buffs alike, a master of the craft demonstrates the fundamentals of drawing for the screen, offering tips on two- and four-legged figure construction, body and facial movements, and realistic dialogue, and illustrating concepts such as speed, impact, weight, and recoil. Color photos and line drawings.

From the Publisher

The Collector’s Series books offer a selection of popular projects form best-selling titles in the How to Draw and Paint series. The Collectors Series books cover fundamentals and explore the techniques of featured artists. Each title provides in-depth instruction and numerous illustrations. All are perfect for the coffee table or reference library.

(more…)

In a book to be treasured by cartoonists and animation and film buffs alike, a master of the craft demonstrates the fundamentals of drawing for the screen, offering tips on two- and four-legged figure construction, body and facial movements, and realistic dialogue, and illustrating concepts such as speed, impact, weight, and recoil. Color photos and line drawings.

From the Publisher

The Collector’s Series books offer a selection of popular projects form best-selling titles in the How to Draw and Paint series. The Collectors Series books cover fundamentals and explore the techniques of featured artists. Each title provides in-depth instruction and numerous illustrations. All are perfect for the coffee table or reference library.

(more…)

Review

“Halas and Whitaker’s ‘Timing for Animation’ was, and still is, without a doubt, the best book for students of the art of animation. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”Bob Godfrey, Oscar winning leading animated filmmaker and author. “Secrets of ‘action timing’ lucidly explained and demonstrated by two of Britain’s most highly respected and adept practitioners. An essential primer for both traditional and C.G. animators.”Ken Clark, animation historian and writer”…this is the only publication devoted wholly to one of the most vital concepts in the art of animated film… The book is a vital source of reference for students as well as every studio and every animator…It’s also easy to keep around for reference, it’s not a huge coffee-table bible sized book made to impress. It just gives the facts, numbers and formulas and a few drawings to illustrate. Made by animators for animators.Although it was principally written for 2D animation, this book has crucial inf (more…)

To beginners, making an animated movie can seem like voodoo magic. And in fact, until recently, animation was expensive and time-consuming. But now with the help of Beginner’s Guide to Animation, anyone can make animated movies, using a digital camera, basic software, and a computer. The book begins with an illustrated guide to setting up a simple animation studio at home, including a list of essential items. Then, new animators hit the ground running with six innovative, instructive projects designed to develop technical skills and explore the potential of animation. A full collection of scannable templates makes it even easier to get started and to finish up. Tips, tricks, and clear instructions on editing, scoring, even making your own show reels and shorts make this the complete one-volume guide to amazing friends and family—and everyone on YouTube!—with great I-made-it-myself animation.

About the Author

Mary Murphy is an experienced an (more…)

Review

Francis Glebas has put together a really comprehensive and thought-provoking look at the art and craft of film making, specifically directing. His approach, which is to ask a lot of seemingly innocent questions, has much the same effect as the good storytelling he is trying to teach us.it draws us in and makes us think. I can’t imagine anyone, in or out of our business, who won’t find any number of helpful ideas as they work their way through the filmmaking jungles!! – Roy Disney, Director Emeritus and consultant for The Walt Disney Company Francis Glebas was one of our most talented storyboard artists at Disney, and it was our great fortune to have him on the story team. He has a wealth of experience to share. – Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO, Dreamworks AnimationFrancis Glebas has put together a really comprehensive and thought-provoking look at the art and craft of film making, specifically directing. His approach, which is to ask a lot of seemingly innocent questi (more…)

Amazon.com

Compiled by Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-head) and Don Hertzfeldt (Rejected), The Animation Show brought short films back to the big screen. Once upon a time, that’s how the public got to experience them. Now, they’re relegated to film fests, public television, and the internet. It’s better than nothing, of course, but they used to be treated like “real movies.” For those who missed these works in theaters–or to preserve the experience for posterity–this collection presents most of the first two programs (Vol. 3 is on the way). The lineup includes five Academy Award nominees, Mt. Head, The Cathedral, Fifty Percent Grey, Guard Dog, and When the Day Breaks. A diverse array of nationalities and techniques are on display. Locations range from America to Australia, while approaches range from pen and ink to B&W stop-motion. Highlights will vary from person to person, but notable entries include Adam Elliot’s droll Brother/Cousin/Uncle trilogy, Judge’s “Early Pen (more…)

With an introduction by John Lasseter-and very little else in the way of words-this second book in The Artist Series lavishly showcases the most brilliant animation created by such luminaries as Ub Iwerks, Norm Ferguson, Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske, Dick Huemer, Grim Natwick, Art Babbitt, Fred Moore, Bill Tytla, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Marc Davis, John Lounsbery, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, Les Clark, Wolfgang Reitherman, John Sibley, Bill Justice, Clyde Geronimi, Ted Berman, Glen Keane, Andreas Deja, Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn and Tony Bancroft. The artwork-much of which has never before been published-offers the opportunity to marvel at the those magical lines of pencil that brought life to so many unforgettable Disney characters. Animation represents a rare opportunity to enjoy a glimpse into the truly spectacular trove of treasures from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library.

(more…)

• Insiders’ tips from more than 100 big-name animation pros • Great ideas for animators who are starting out or looking for their next job • Packed with information and insights • Perfect for film students and art students Animation is a multibillion-dollar industry. Here’s an insider’s guide to getting into that industry, staying there, and getting ahead. Author David B. Levy has interviewed the top pros in animation, including Steven Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants; Al Brodax, producer of Yellow Submarine; Teddy Newton, character designer on The Incredibles; Linda Simensky, senior director of PBS Kids; John R. Dilworth, creator of Courage the Cowardly Dog; and dozens of others to get their insights on creating a portfolio or reel, meeting animators, networking, and making the leap from working for others to pitching and selling. A resource section lists animation schools, film festivals, studios, Web sites, and publications to get budding an (more…)

From the Studio

“Plots? We never bothered with plots. They were just a series of gags strung together. And not very funny, I’m afraid.” Long before the first animated cartoon film was made, artists had tried to suggest movement in theirs drawings and paintings. Egyptian wall paintings from 2000 BC portray a serialized account of a wrestling match between two men. Cave paintings from other parts of the world show animals having eight legs, which suggest that the animal was running. The Japanese used scrolls with a series of drawings implying movement. Frenchman Paul Roget, who invented the thaumatrope, achieved the first true movement of an object in a picture. His invention consisted of a disc with a string or peg attached to both sides. One side of the disc showed a bird, the other an empty cage. When the disc was twirled, the bird appeared to be inside the cage. This experiment led to the understanding of persistence of human vision and proved that the eye retains im (more…)

Review

“After ‘Why is the sky blue?’ one of the most important questions we ask is ‘What is a cartoon?’. This is the definitive book that tells all about the process closest to our hearts–animation.”–Albie Hecht, President, Film and TV Entertainment, Nickelodeon”This book is great! If ever there was the ultimate textbook for animation, this is it. The Animation Book is the perfect starter kit for anyone interested in entering the animation business or learning about the art of animation.”–Terry Thoren, CEO/President, Klasky Csupo Inc.”I love the new edition of Kit Laybourne’s The Animation Book. As with the first edition, he manages to give a world-eye view on the art and craft of my favorite medium with extra emphasis on personal styles and techniques, while including studio styles and techniques. I’m especially impressed that computer animation has been folded into the blend without overwhelming the mix.”–Henry Selick, Director of The Nightmare Before Christmas an (more…)

Heavy Metal Music