3D Toons: Creative 3D Design for Cartoonists and Animators [Paperback]

Steve Anzovin (Author), Raf Anzovin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764129511 | ISBN-13: 978-0764129513 | Publication Date: May 1, 2005 | Edition: First Edition

3D animation is today's hottest art form, and here's the perfect training manual to get 3D artists started! Both experienced artists and newcomers to 3D can discover the secrets behind creating fully dimensional characters for comics, web toons, graphic novels, and computer-animated short films. This book will also appeal to collectors, comics enthusiasts, and others who simply appreciate great cartoon art and want to know more about how it is created. The authors show how claymation and other traditional animation media can be given fresh life by using digital techniques. They also instruct with clear, non-technical explanations focusing on body and facial design, texturing, rigging, lighting, posing, and other aspects of building digital characters in 3D. Illustrated spreads graphically demonstrate how to conceive characters and scenes, then develop them into a finished narrative work. A gallery section showcases recent creations of some of today's leading 3D artists. Approximately 400 illustrations in full color.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

[back cover]


3D Toons shows you how to master cartoon 3D graphics and animation

Read the history of traditional and 3D cartoons.

Discover how 3D Toons are put together.

Learn the conventions, styles, and characters that populate the 3D cartoon world.

Develop your own cartoons and characters, from original concept to a basic working model.

Understand the secrets of modeling, texturing and rigging cartoon characters.

Learn how to breathe life into your 3D Toons by creating characters that walk, talk, and move in ways that convey mood and emotion.

Shoot your 3D Toons, using lighting, composition, and the secrets of the cinema to create professional quality stills and shorts.

Explore different 3D Toon styles and see how traditional animation techniques still have a place in the digital world.

Browse the 3D Toon Gallery, a showcase of the best in 3D toons, with thoughts and advice from the artists who created them.



[flap copy]


A new breed of animation is grabbing headlines. From Toy Story through Shrek to The Incredibles, 3D cartoons are becoming the hottest thing in Hollywood, and they’re also taking over TV. While big-name feature films take years and cost millions to make, amateurs with talent and imagination can take part in this exciting new art form. Using a standard PC and the right 3D software, small studios and independent artists are making their own 3D toons—and here’s the book that shows how you too can join them.





Its authors—successful professionals with over a decade of experience in the field—reveal the secrets of how 3D characters and sets are brought to life in cartoons, graphic novels, and computer-animated short films. Even if you’re a newcomer, you’ll benefit from their clear, non-technical discussions of body and facial design, texturing, rigging, lighting, and posing. Beautifully illustrated spreads take you from the first steps to the final work. A gallery section showcases new and innovative work from leaders on the independent animation scene, making 3D Toons an eye-opening read for any artist on the cutting edge.

Go behind the secrets of today’s hottest digital art form

Understand the techniques underlying 3D cartoons and animation

Design, build, and animate 3D cartoons and comics by following the authors’ practical guidelines

Learn as you analyze this book’s high-quality reproductions of the best in 3D cartoon art



[back flap]


About the authors:


Steve Anzovin is the CEO of Anzovin Studio, a computer-generated character animation services company he cofounded in 2000 with his son, Raf Anzovin. Steve also founded and manages Anzovin Studio’s publishing arm, which develops commercial software tools and CD-ROM-based training materials for animators. Raf Anzovin is the cofounder and creative director of Anzovin Studio.

About the Author

Steve Anzovin is cofounder of Anzovin Studio, a character animation services company, which also develops commerical software tools and CD-ROM-based training materials for animators.

Raf Anzovin, with his brother Steve, is cofounder of Anzovin Studios.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; First Edition edition (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764129511
• ISBN-13: 978-0764129513
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #701,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steve and Raf did it again!, September 29, 2005

By 

L. A. Clark - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 3D Toons: Creative 3D Design for Cartoonists and Animators (Paperback)

I found this book about a month ago while browsing the animation titles at my local bookstore. What initially drew my attention to it was the extremely familiar dog character on its cover (I believe it's name is Dennis, but don't quote me); I was especially pleased to see that Steve and Raf Anzovin, its creators, listed as the book's authors. Steve, the founder of Anzovin Studios, his son Raf, and the team at Anzovin Studios are extraordinarily talented artists, animators, and programmers, with extensive knowledge in all aspects of commercial 3D animation production. Based on my experience with several of their products (use their last name dot com to find their website), I took it straight to the cashier and purchased it without bothering to look through it first. I don't often get excited about a book, but this one lived up to my expectations, it's excellent. Steve and Raf have done it again! Their writing is accessible, clear, and direct; and the visual examples used in each section are contextually appropriate throughout the book.

NB My personal peeve with far too many writers and publishers of technical manuals and textbooks, where specific tables, figures, or photos referenced within a text don't enhance the reader's understanding of the material (add to, support, or clarify its meaning), and their locations are not immediately apparent (whereby its location is logically correlated both visually and contextually, or hopefully more simply stated, referenced visuals are on or near the same page[s] as, the text that references them!).