Cartoon Cool: How to Draw New Retro-Style Characters [Paperback]

Christopher Hart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

Love that Sponge Bob? Always lurking in Dexter's lab? Wishing for Fairly Odd Parents? Millions of fans watch these shows avidly, often solely for their zingy, stylized look and hip visual jokes. Now there's a drawing book just right for everyone who admires that quirky style: Cartoon Cool. Top-selling author Christopher Hart shows beginning cartoonists, retro fans, and all other hipsters how to get that almost-1950s look in their drawings. His trademark step-by-step drawings and crystal-clear text are sure to make Saturday mornings more creative!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christopher Hart is the world's best-selling author of cartoon and drawing titles, with more than two million books sold. He lives in Connecticut with his family.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823005879
• ISBN-13: 978-0823005871
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.4 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Cartooning
  • #64 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Figure Drawing

More About the Author

Thanks for taking a look at my books, and this "Author Bio." I'm a competent tennis player, who also enjoys playing computer chess while I'm watching TV at night (Hey, it prevents me from channel-surfing). I'm keenly interested in M-theory, although i have become skeptical of it of late, despite Brian's Green's full-body gushing... I love being with my family, and even my extremely evil dog, a Welsh Springer Spaniel named "Rusty." Oh, yes, he truly is that evil.

As for my work, I'm the author of many How-To-Draw books, published by Watson-Guptill,the art imprint of Random House. Thanks to a lot of the wonderful readers (and you know who you are!), I have sold over 3 million copies domestically, which have been translated into 20 languages worldwide.

I'm fortunate to also have had 26 of the Best-Selling art books in the country, according to Bookscan.(Bookscan is the publishing industry's rating system for books, which is owned by same company that does the Neislen TV ratings.)

I also have my own drawing show on the Comcast Network, called, "How To Draw Action Heroes With Chris Hart." It's on Comcast's "Activity TV." I hope you like my books, and find them a valuable adjunct to your own imagination.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great guide for students and working animators, December 31, 2006

By 

R. Gorey "Behemoth" (New York) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cartoon Cool: How to Draw New Retro-Style Characters (Paperback)

Hart breaks down the basics of modern character design in ways anyone could easily assimilate and recreate. This book came in handy when I taught animation to college students: being able to draw is only the first step to creating characters one can move about with ease and appeal. Hart's approach, and the examples he uses, are perfectly suited to the more modern techniques of Flash, but are also adaptable to classical animation. This book is a great find, offering practical, useful advice to those who intend to take animation seriously. I'd advise serious animation students to have it as part of their library, along with "The Illusion of Life", "Your career in Animation" by David Levy, and "The animator's Survival Kit" by Richard Williams.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, I found my style!, June 20, 2006

By 

Keyz Karanza "Writer/Cartoonist" (WV Panhandle) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cartoon Cool: How to Draw New Retro-Style Characters (Paperback)

I have purchase a good number of Chris Hart books. I have been through regular style, happy-go-lucky cartooning to comic book style to manga. I just wasn't getting the hang of them. Then I saw this book. I figured since I was a Dexter's Lab fan, I would give it a try. It was so easy for me to do! It just clicked with me.

I had found Christopher Hart books to range from well-explained to poorly-explained. This one falls deeply into the well-explained category! It explains differences in representing genders, how different types of eyes and other features can change a school girl into a sexy seductress. There are just so many tips that take the regular lessons and sort of glue them together or reinforce them.

It goes without saying that everyone is going to have one style they can do better than any other. If you have tried the others like I had, give this one a shot and don't be suprised if it is the one for you.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My students' favorite book!, February 19, 2006

By 

P. Willoughby "WillowDesign" (Tampa Bay, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cartoon Cool: How to Draw New Retro-Style Characters (Paperback)

I had to order an extra copy of "Cartoon Cool" so the students in my elementary school art class could share Chris' amazing book!

While all my K-5 students enjoy "Cartoon Cool", I find that my 3rd thru 5th grade kids learn the most about drawing based on Chris' style and instructions. Simple lines and curves, uncomplicated anatomy and basic shapes for hair and faces, all contribute to successful creations from my budding artists. The retro style is so popular now, and is a refreshing change from all the manga characters of recent years.

Thanks for another great book, Chris!