[g:tech]

Hi, gang!

I'm looking for a really well known, respected book on animation techniques (ie: poses, conveying movement, squashing/stretching techniques, coloring, etc).

I remember someone (was it you, Spooge?) saying that the bible of animation was "Illusion of Life", a Disney book. I went to look for it, and it's out of print and a collector's item, so they wanted hundreds of dollars for it.

So, is there a more modern version of this book or a similar book that covers all these techniques that's (importantly) still in print?

Lemme know if there's something like this around! I'm a big fan of Disney-style character animation and Japanese animation coloring. I gotta expand my skills!!

Thanks guys!



------------------
-g:tech

[synj]

If you find a good one, let me know. I need to read up on a couple things myself.

-synj www.synj.net

[samdragon]

Cartoon Animation by Preston Blair is pretty good, they have it on amazon. It has alot of the basics and gives some great examples. It has all of the things you mentioned and explains them.
good luck.

[AliasMoze]

G:tech,
The primary skill for character animation is drawing. If you want to do Disney quality animation, you simply need how to draw figures extrememly well. Technique all comes later.

"Illusion of Life" is a classic. It's written by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two of the greatest animators ever.

"The Animator's Workbook" is another really good book, if you're interested in learning the process.

I wouldn't stress anything more than drawing skills. If you're not there yet, then go out to public places and draw from life. Get involved with Mozeman's "classes" in the forum; you'll learn allot.

[Mozeman]

The Animator's Workbook is by Tony White and is very good. As far as a basic instruction manual for making animated cartoons, it can't be beat. It includes technical information such as paper, registration, timing charts, x-sheets, etc, as well as animation techniques like squash and stretch and timing.

------------------
Mozeman
************************
[email protected]
************************
"I like it rough..."

[anticz]

I'd recommend picking up the following books, if you can find them.

The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson

The Animators Workbook by Tony White

Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist by Stephen Rogers Peck

The Way Things Work by David Macaulay

Creating 3-D Animation (also know as The Aardman Book of Filmmaking and Crakin Animation in the UK) By Peter Lord & Brian Sibley

Digital Character Animation by George Maestri

Muybridge Animals in Motion

Muybridge Humans in Motion

[synj]

Yuck! I was much less than pleased with Digital Character Animation by George Maestri! I recommend NOT getting it. It made a nice coaster for my coffee table. hehe i'm not kidding either

-synj www.synj.net

[g:tech]

AliasMoze:

I've pretty much got the basic drawing ability down (at least I like to think so). I can draw a cartoon character prety much the way I want, but I know my skill could use some technical refinement.

I'm interested in learning specifics like how to make a character look like ______ . For example, how to draw them when falling, jumping, running, facial expressions, etc. I can do all that already, BUT I know there are some things that I don't think about as I draw them and I just usually eyeball it until it looks right. Having specific tips that are pointed out and having the visual references at hand would be a big help to me, hence the book!

I've just purchased The Animator's Workbook by Tony White. Seems like most people really like that one. It should be here in a few days!

If that one doesn't cover what I'm looking for, then I'll get another one. Thanks for the input, guys!!



------------------
-g:tech

[synj]

i dunno. usually when i want to try out a really exagurated pose I'll draw the spine bent, straight, whatever, and then either the legs or shoulders. this is 2D i am talking about here. it seems to work pretty well. thats how i did this one



-synj www.synj.net

[Joachim]

If you're even just a bit interessted in animation you must own a copy of The Illusion of Life, it's all you'll ever need
If it would have excisted the same time as the bible, it would have replaced it, believe me


------------------
Joachim
web: http://home.sol.no/~jbarrum/

[g:tech]

Oddly enough, one of my non-art friends thinks his parents have a copy of Illusion of Life! He's going to ask them to ship it out to Oregon (they're in Indiana).

That would be awesome!! It's like it's meant to be!!



------------------
-g:tech

[Zephyros]

Hey g:tech where you at in Oregon?

[Fred Flick Stone]

There seems to be alot of people looking for this book, but not able to find it. Here is where everyone can get it.



[This message has been edited by Fred Flick Stone (edited May 24, 2000).]

[Fred Flick Stone]

[IMG]http://www.geocities.com/lemenayd/iolbp.JPG[IMG]

I think this is right now...oh hell, go to my website www.geocities.com/lemenayd/index.html

and go to the sketchpage link.Unless someone else can post this...it is the code numvber for the book and the 800 number to call to order it...

[This message has been edited by Fred Flick Stone (edited May 24, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Fred Flick Stone (edited May 24, 2000).]

[Francis]

------------------
TeamGT Studios

[Fred Flick Stone]

thank you francis. I still can't figure out what happened...

[g:tech]

Zephyros:

Beaverton, Oregon! Right outside of Portland! You ever in Beaverton?

Fred and Francis: Thanks for the info!!!! I'm going to call as soon as it's morning and order it (hopefully they still have some!)



------------------
-g:tech

[g:tech]

A quick follow-up:

To anyone looking for that Illusion of Life book, the number listed above doesn't carry it anymore, as it is out of print. I called and ended up being SOL. Sorry!



------------------
-g:tech