Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
very useful and most welcome guide to this discipline. This is a vital topic for the
serious stopframe animator.
Thomas, F., and Johnson, O. (1985) The Illusion of Life , Hyperion. A brilliant topic.
Written by two of the masters of animation from the Disney stable. The topic is in
two distinct parts. The first covers the historic background of the Disney studio
and some of its greatest animators. Though this part is interesting and informa-
tive, it is of little direct use in developing skills. The second, more practical part of
the topic is pure gold. This is also a must-have topic for the serious animator.
Williams, R. (2001) The Animator's Survival Kit , Faber & Faber, New York. Another
brilliant topic. Written by a master animator and director with years of experi-
ence, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit and the ill-fated Cobbler and the
Thief . The topic covers, in plenty of detail, all the principles of animation,
explained clearly with loads of illustrations. Written in a very open and acces-
sible style, it includes anecdotes from Williams's career that are much more
than amusing stories; they are lessons in themselves. Computer animators
should not be put off by the emphasis on drawn animation; the principles
apply to your work, too. A must-have topic for serious animators.
Winder, C., and Dowlata, Z. (2001) Producing Animation , Focal Press, Oxford. A first-rate
topic. A must-have for independent animators and serious animation students
alike. If you buy only one topic on production and production management,
make it this one.
Webster, C (2005) Animation: The Mechanics of Motion , Focal Press, Oxford. Difficult to
say much because it is my own topic. There are some useful things in it, not just
for 2D animators, particularly on timing for animation.
Theory
Furnis, M. (1998) Art in Motion Animation Aesthetics, John Libbey, Sydney. Another
irst-rate topic that deals with a broad range of issues such as representation,
audience, and gender.
Pilling, J., ed. (1997) A Reader in Animation Studies, John Libbey, London. Another
irst-rate topic that deals with a broad range of issues such as representation,
audience, and gender.
Wells, P. (1998) Understanding Animation , Routledge, London. This is a very good
text if you want to get to grips with the contextualization of animation in media
production. Entertaining and well written, with a light touch (a lamentably rare
quality in such topics, unfortunately).
Finally, I will once again urge you to look toward material and disciplines other
than animation for inspiration. Live action, photography, illustration, graphic
design, theater, film, literature, interactive media, painting, and sculpture will
all provide you with a rich source of inspiration and knowledge. Your research
will form the basis of an invaluable source of information, inspiration, and
reference material that will find its way into the remainder of your animation
practice.
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