Acting for Animators [Paperback]

Ed Hooks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2001

Acting for Animators is the first book about acting theory written specifically for the animator.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Hooks has made a valuable contribution toward deepening our understanding of [animation]. -- Brad Bird

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann; Bk&CD-Rom edition (January 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325002290
• ISBN-13: 978-0325002293
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After working as a professional actor for 27 years and teaching professional-level acting for 15 or so years, I was invited in 1996 to teach an acting class for the animators at DreamWorks/PDI in Palo Alto, California. They were working on a movie entitled "Antz", which would turn out to be only the second CG movie ever made. The first was "Toy Story" I had landed at a transitional point for the animation industry, and what happened there literally changed my life. It was at DreamWorks/PDI that I learned how animators perceive and apply acting theory, which is markedly different from the way that stage and movie actors do it. Given a green light by studio executives, I experimented with ways to teach acting theory specifically to animators, and the result was what today is explained in my book "Acting for Animators, revised 3rd edition" published 2011 by Routledge.

Even I am amazed by the journey I have taken with animators. There have been many thousands of students, the majority of them working pros, in studios and schools from L.A. to Sydney to Beijing, Singapore, Germany and India -- and many more cities. My Acting for Animators master class is now a respected and popular part of the animation industry.

This is an incredibly exciting time for the animation industry. It has been less than 20 years since "Toy Story" was released. Look at how far animation has advanced. Now try to imagine where it might be 20 years from now. Amazing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars can I return it?, May 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Acting for Animators (Paperback)

I have read about 40 pages and am considering stopping there. This book could be helpful for beginners... but there are definitely better wasy to start. I have been animating characters professionally for a number of years and from what I have read, can't see much in it that could be of use. Ed Hooks takes a long time to get to the point, and obvious points they are, followed by about 20 examples, then says "get it?" At one point he takes about half a page explaining whay he likes to use the word "negotion" rather than "conflict". And as for his opinions, eg all womens motivation being to find a man to support them and for breeding.... oh man, just don't go there!!!! The CD that comes with the book is just plain terrible. I don't even know where to start... little movies of people flopping about.. and acting badly...

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing, May 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Acting for Animators (Paperback)

I was very disappointed after reading this book as somehow Ed manages to be vague about making mostly irrelevant points and he writes with a particularly narrowminded, old-fashioned attitude (particularly when it comes to women). I have been a professional character animator for a couple of years now and I found that the book contained very little of any interest or help, Ed Hooks doesn't even begin to give the topic any justice. It may contain a few points that could be helpful to animation students just starting out but then I would strongly recommend that they take some acting classes instead to get some practical experience or spend their hard-earned money on the "Illusion of Life" (if they can find it)or for that matter just about any other book on this subject.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Title is too limiting; non-animators should also read, March 6, 2001

By 

Doug Kelly, author - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acting for Animators (Paperback)

This is a dense, thoughtful work, of lasting value, which will reward careful study. Hooks writes in an easily readable style, concisely and directly, about the most difficult and elusive portion of the art of character animation. Buy this book before you buy any other character animation title, or for that matter, before you choose software or other animation tools. You will find that Hooks' advice will also improve your script and storyboard development. One of the problems with books about computer-based character animation, such as my own "Character Animation In Depth", is that they lose value as the software they are written for becomes obsolete. Hooks' work will retain its value for a long time. Buy a copy, keep it handy, reread it frequently, and don't loan it to friends; you won't get it back. Give them a copy, instead. Highly recommended.