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More Books
For Animators
Hollywood
Cartoons:
American Animation in its Golden Age
by Michael Barrier
Order
Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in its Golden Age now through Barnes & Noble
This book, almost 30
years in the writing, is an awesome, thoroughly researched
and vastly entertaining history of American animation. The
author, Michael Barrier, former publisher and editor of the
highly-respected periodical "Funnyworld", has a deep understanding
of what makes animation work for the audience. His book is
chock full of intelligent observations about acting in animation,
complete with references to the theories of Constantin Stanislavsky.
For my money, this is maybe the best book of its sort I have
ever read. It's a major achievement, and I recommend it to
anyone who is interested in animation or American entertainment
history.
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Creating
3-D Animation
by Peter Lord and Brian Sibley
Order
Creating 3-D Animation now through Barnes & Noble
Fans of Wallace and
Gromit will love this book, which takes the reader behind
the scenes at the world-famous Aardman Studios in Bristol,
England. Peter Lord, co-founder of Aardman, takes the new
animator by the hand and gently escorts him through the stages
of puppet-making and stop-motion animation. Beginning with
model-making and planning sets, and moving on through the
nuts-and-bolts of editing and the addition of sound, "Creating
3-D Animation" is a must-read for serious animators and would
make an excellent gift. The book is chock full of interesting
illustrations and photographs.
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The
Illusion of Life: Disney Animation
by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
Order
The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation now through Barnes & Noble
The Illusion of Life:
Disney Animation is essential reading for any aspiring
animator. Written by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two
of the famous Nine Old Men, the book is beautiful to look
at and fascinating to explore. Thomas and Johnston, who worked
on such famous movies as "Snow White" and "Pinnochio", provide
not only a guided tour through Disney animation -- which in
many ways, is the history of American animation itself --
they painstakingly explain how animation is done, how
lines on a page are endowed with that magical illusion of
life.
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Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes
by Walter Stanchfield
Order
Drawn to Life now through Barnes & Noble
This is a two-volume compilation of notes from Walt Stanchfield's Gesture Analysis classes at Disney. These lectures are not only entertaining to read, they are important. The books, edited by Don Hahn in association with Walt Stanchfield's widow, Dee, are in the same must-have league as The Illusion of Life (above). See the Acting for Animators newsletters of May and June 2009 for some excerpts from the books and a perspective on how Walt's teachings and my Acting for Animators workshops mesh.
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Hayao
Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation
by Helen McCarthy
Order
Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation now through Barnes & Noble
Hayao Miyazaki: Master
of Japanese Animation presents an excellent overview of
-- and introduction to -- this legendary animator's work.
Miyazaki is the creator of the epic "Princess Mononoke", "My
Neighbor Totoro" and "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds",
among other outstanding works. He is to animation and Manga
what Shakespeare is to drama. Read the book, and then go see
"Princess Mononoke". Prepare to be awe struck.
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