3ds Max Bundle: Animation: The Mechanics of Motion [Paperback]

Chris Webster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 18, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0240516664 | ISBN-13: 978-0240516660

Learn the key skills you need with this practical and inspirational guide to all the fundamental principles of animation. With extended pieces on timing, acting and technical aspects, Chris Webster has created the vital learning tool to help you get the most out of your animation and develop the practical skills needed by both professionals and serious students alike.

The free CD-ROM includes more than 30 animations illustrating the techniques described throughout the book as well as examples of a professional Production Schedule, Budget and Production Chart - everything you need to get started!

With a Foreword by Peter Lord, Creative Director and Co-Owner of Aardman Animations and an Introduction by Mike Milne, Director of the award-winning animation house Computer Animation, Framestore CFC.

* Improve your timing, performance and animation production skills with this practical guide to animation skills suitable for all disciplines.
* Benefit from the skill and experience of a leading professional and educator with more than 20 years industry experience
* Understand and master action analysis, movement and timing with this beautifully illustrated guide

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Covering everything from familiar walk cycle techniques to character design, animal motion to sound synchronisation, each section is succinct and easy to follow...A well-researched guide that should be of use to animators of all skills and abilities." - 3D World

"The book is written in a very easy and understandable way and never gets too technical." - Animatoon

"He makes a complicated subject understandable and he makes it sound fun to do. Webster's book will give you an understanding of how the various parts of animation are done and the book is put together in a way that smoothly leads you from simple to complex."
- Libby Reed, review from Animation World Magazine

"In a section that is extremely useful and all too rare, the book gives you a list of the things you will need before you begin." - Libby Reed, review from Aninmation World Magazine

"Animation: the Mechanic of Motion is an impressive textbook that should be a big help to animation students." - Libby Reed, review from Aninmation World Magazine

"Animation: the Mechanics of Motion is a long-awaited comprehensive introduction to the key skills every animator needs..." - Animated News, Oct. 2, 2006

Book Description

Complete coverage of vital animation techniques, whatever area you work in!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (August 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240516664
• ISBN-13: 978-0240516660
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #790,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best animation book I have seen!, May 23, 2006

By 

Albert B. Crochet "Force of Chaos" (Baton Rouge, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 3ds Max Bundle: Animation: The Mechanics of Motion (Paperback)

Over the years I have read and browsed many books on animation. Not only does this book cover the basics it explains them. The figures are easy to follow and convey complex concepts well. A lot of other animation books will cover a basic walk cycle from just the side view. Webster's book covers it from the side and front. I have had this book for a year and it has not made it to my bookshelf yet. I use it constantly for reference.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could've been a lot better, June 2, 2007

By 

Grant Beaudette (Missoula, MT United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 3ds Max Bundle: Animation: The Mechanics of Motion (Paperback)

Ideally "Mechanics of Motion" would be a successor to Animator's Survival Kit, building on basic animation principles while going in-depth and breaking down different forms of movement. And while this book covers a lot of ground, it could've gone a lot farther.

The animation process has been broken down into so many steps over the years it'd take tons of pages to cover them all. "Mechanics of Motion" feels compelled to mention things like storyboard, layout, character design etc... when it should just focus its pages on movement and leave the other aspects to books like Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animation Features and Shorts that are dedicated to the subject.

Another good but could be better area is the animal motion chapter. This book covers the subject far better than most, (Even Animator's Survival Kit barely covers such a complex subject) but it only focuses on horses and birds. This is where the pages on layouts and bar sheets should've been used.

The best part of this book is the first part of the "technical" chapter at the end. It covers exposure sheets (aka X-sheets or dope sheets) and things like holds and staggers, types of animation movement that are more about timing than the drawings. It's mastering movement through both timing & drawing that makes for the best animation.

All in all, there's plenty to learn from "Mechanics of Motion" but it still could have done more.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Animation The Mechanics of Motion, November 6, 2006

By 

Jose Parrot (Rio de Janeiro Wonderful City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3ds Max Bundle: Animation: The Mechanics of Motion (Paperback)

This is a good book for drawers. It is a book devoted to people with good drawing skills who want to learn 2D animation, in the "old" style, that is, by drawing with pencil. The book is focused on hand drawing, not directed to computer animation with 2D or 3D tools, although its teaching is applicable for any process.

"Animation" is clearly writen by an animator to beginers animators. The book is a well organized mini course on animation. The final art is superb, the sketches are very good. The author is also a good teacher. Most of the Principles of Animation are covered, and it has the right tutorials on momentum, acceleration, walking and run cycles. It has a chapter with great directions on production, work organization, scheduling, budgeting, which are aspects sometimes neglected but of importance for a successful work.