Moho Forum

I just got the Animation Surrvial kit and it is awsome. There are alot of things in there that any animator should know. Does anyone else have info on "how-to-do" animation books

Other good ones are "Timing for Animation" (Whittaker/Halas), "Animation: The Mechanics of Motion" (Webster), and "Storytelling through Animation" (Wellins).

Probably the most comprehensive is 'Illusion of Life' by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson. -Two of Disney's 'nine old men' spill their guts on all (and I do mean all) of their tricks. Nice read, too.

Uhm, although all those books mentioned are fine, I'd think a more updated view on existing techniques is more helpful, especially for an AS user.

I've heard good things about the last book from Tony White, but there are others out there. Michael Sporn recently gave some recommendations on his site http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/.

slowtiger wrote:...although all those books mentioned are fine, I'd think a more updated view on existing techniques is more helpful...

Hey, don't start dissing other peoples' contributions! These were offered in good faith, not for someone with an axe to grind to make a cheap point. If you don't like them, that's too bad -- but they weren't intended for YOU...

Recommending something more suitable for AS users, or just additional information, is not "dissing" in my book.

...you're reading the wrong books then...

slowtiger wrote:Uhm, although all those books mentioned are fine, I'd think a more updated view on existing techniques is more helpful, especially for an AS user.

I've heard good things about the last book from Tony White, but there are others out there. Michael Sporn recently gave some recommendations on his site http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/.

I have to agree, I find this reply to be a bit 'dis-sy'.

Just because a book is older doesn't mean that the information and techniques are invalid or obsolete. The animation principles written about in these books are universal. If you watch any Disney film they're present, any Pixar film they're present, even the independent animations from Canada utilize these principles. If you learn them, and then learn to practice them every time you animate, it won't matter what software you use (or even if you don't use a computer) you will always create quality animation.

I believe it would be foolish to limit yourself only to animation books that address the digital realm. Animation's been going on for a lot longer than there's been computers!

Speaking of Tony White, if anyone wants to take off my hands an excellent condition copy of his The Animator's Workbook, I'll sell it for half the cover price and shipping.