Animation Books
Welcome to the Animation Books website, the site for animators, enthusiasts and writers, bringing attention to noteworthy stuff in print. Click on news for weekly updates, and ink for some rare Tex Avery bits. Reviews are in book reviews.
The Golden Age of Animation Books: Is there any doubt what a lucky time this is to be a reader of new animation books? The last month has given us two instant classics, by John Canemaker and Richard Williams.
MasterClass in a Book: A summation of Richard Williams’ brilliant traveling seminar on animation is now widely available as a must-have book, aptly titled The Animator’s Survival Kit. Also, the life and work of Disney’s Nine Old Men, by John Canemaker.
Rig it Right! Maya Animation Rigging Concepts: The entire process of rigging a 3d character can be quite a complex task. Move from a bi-pedal character onto a quad- or poly-pedal and, well, factors has become serious. Exactly where do you really start? As opposed to all the button-pushing guides to choose from, Rig it Right! breaks down rigging to enable you to acquire a fundamental familiarity with the concept, so that you can rig a lot more naturally within your job.
MONSTER INK? Concept Art from Pixar, but Stuff is Left in the Closet:
It’s a terrific movie, but shouldn’t we expect a little more from its book? Quite a bit of good inspirational art was generated for the benefit of the 3D modelers and animators working on this film, and the results are delighting holiday moviegoers. Yet, I scare because I care… Check out this review of The art of monsters inc.
Cartoons and War: In its hundred years as a filmed medium, animation has frequently been involved in wartime sentiment. One WWII anecdote culled from Bill Peet’s autobiography suddenly has a newfound relevancy. It begins like a Raymond Chandler novel: “I bombed New York with great reluctance.”
Robin Allan receives Book Award: Dr. Allan is all over the news, winning a book award, reporting on events in Marceline, and proposing a December toast.
Hand Behind a Mouse, Voice Behind a Boy: One is highly recommended, the other is not. The Ub Iwerks biography, The Hand Behind The Mouse, is an overdue book about one of the great pioneers of animation. The other is the book My Life as a Ten Year-Old Boy. It is Nancy Cartwright’s reflections on voicing Bart Simpson for more years than the character is old.
Gardner’s Books: An interesting find is the Garth Gardner Company, which among other things publishes books on animation. Haven’t had a chance to review any of these titles, as distribution of its books is limited, but the presentation at this publisher’s website is quite nice. Certainly worth an online browse.
Book news: In conjunction with the Annecy Festival, a book on animator Alexandre Alexeieff has been published.
