Customer Reviews

Cartooning With the Simpsons

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am an illustrator, animator, AND I work at Fox. My copy of this book has gotten so much use over the 7-odd years I've had this, it should be falling apart. This is why this is such a great book:

1) IT'EASY AND IT'S FUN. Many "how-to" aniimation and cartooning books purportedly cater to children, yet the drawing level is way beyond most entry-level artists; the Simpsons, by Groening's own admission started out as lame doodles. Everything is made up of circles and squiggles - perfect!

2) IT'S WELL ORGANIZED AND VERSATILE. There are many poses and expressions to try drawing, which set you into the whole "vocabulary" of the Simpsons.

3) IT'S FUNNY, AND REALLY EDUCATIONAL. Tips like "Bend those elbows!" and "Marge's hair hides two bowling balls," not only get a laugh, but really give you an insight on how to contruct a solid animated figure.

I refer to this book all the time, even for my own drawings. For the money, this has been one of the most useful pieces of reference I have. Get it for your favorite starving artist, or doodling kid.

I am a professional illustrator and am very impressed with Mr. Groening. Of course, it doesn't hurt I'm a huge fan of the show but this book is for everyone. The problem with most cartooning books is they create characters simply for the book so they always end up looking stupid. This book came after the characters were refined and it shows people of all ages how to approach cartooning. I'm adding it to my reference collection of illlstrating techniques.

This is just great! I'm sure every Simpsons fan has wondered if they could draw America's favorite family, and I'm sure plenty of you have got it down-packed. But if you just can't draw Bart's head, or Marge's body, I strongly suggest you buy this book (and afterwords, if you STILL can't draw them right, trace, hee hee). The book teaches you how to draw Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie's anatomy, and the best thing about the book is if you look at a picture of another character (for example, Apu), you can use Homer's anatomy (not making him so fat, mind you) and draw Apu from there. It's a great guide, so if you're a Simpsons fan and love to draw...buy it. Buy it now!

Some may be disappointed that there aren't any great secrets revealed in this book, but I like it because it goes through each Simpsons character and breaks them down so you can easily learn to draw them. Fun book!

Quick, simple, zesty, and absoloutely to the point, this handsome shiny-covered tome lays out the exact understructure and detailing techniques used by professional animators to bring the USA's fave cartoon family to life. Read this, study it, work through it, internalize the time-honoured principles it espouses, and you'll be well on your beady-eyed little way to becoming the next multi-mega-millionaire creator of a smash-hit globally syndicated classic-n-beloved tv-toon franchise.

Okay, what is the deal with these silly complaints that this book doesn't reveal any "secrets." What secrets? If anyone believes he or she will be able to instantly draw cartoons well after simply reading this or any other book, they need to get in touch with reality. The bottom line is: the secret of doing ANYTHING well -- and that includes cartooning -- is to PRACTICE. A LOT. That said, this is a great little book. It's written with a generous dose of humor, and it tells you exactly how to draw the Simpsons in certain poses. In other words, it's a good basic cartooning book if you are interested in drawing these specific characters and are willing to do the practice necessary to learn to draw them well. Once you're familiar with the construction of those little yellow bodies, then you can start making them do what you want them to do. (PRACTICE, remember?) If you have talent and imagination, it may also help get you started on drawing your own characters. No magic, no secrets, just a good book on how to draw the Simpsons.

Let's start this review with some reality. If you read the buying info carefully you will note the book is only 36 pages! So you are not going to get a college course in all of the Simpsons methods!...This book only gives you info on the Simpsons core family...Bart,Lisa,Maggie,Marge and (My Fav) Homer! Just learning to draw his stubby fat fingers is a riot! And yes,....you do learn secrets! You learn the secrets to the scale and balance of these characters....that Marge's hair is about 2 bowling balls high, bart's hair has 9 points, Lisa's hair has 8 points, you learn how many eyelashes each character has and how to place them, how the eyeballs should be placed on the head in comparison to the nose, how each characters hands and feet details should be drawn..... True, it is only 36 pages but it does give you all you need to start drawing the Simpsons family. What did I not like about this book? I really wanted tips on Mr. Burns, Moe, Smithers, Krusty.. Who is this book for? This book might be for a beginner but I doubt it. Want to learn how to draw? Look elsewhere. Someone with some skill or ability who wants to learn how to draw the Simpsons? Yes! On the side for extra cash do you street sketch, air brush at the local mall, do cartoons, do charicatures? Well, then get this book and use it to expand your portfolio. Are you just a kid (8 yrs to 88yrs old) who loves the Simpsons and wants to be able to look cool with your friends by drawing them?Get this book, live your life, be happy and have fun!

OK. I do not understand what some of the people hear have posted. They say they were lied to and it was supposed to unlock the secrets of how to draw The Simpsons?

All it says on the book is "Study basic construction methods!", "Discover the techniques of bulgy-eyed characterization!", "Uncover the mysteries of Simpsonian anatomy!" and "Learn the secrets of the overbite!".

Could someone please tell me where it says it unlocks the secrets of the Simpsons? No you can not. What is to know? They are just circles and squares that have been down sized.

I people get so worked up over a drawing book, what is next?

The book is a good tool for kids and adults alike. It shows many different facial features and different scenes so you would be emersed for hours.

A Good Choice.

Have A NiCE LiFE!

Ryan

When you want to draw The Simpsons, but don't know how to, this is a good book. But it doesn't teaches you how to start, or tips if things are wrong.

When I bought this book, I was falsely led to believe that it would unlock all the secrets to drawing "The Simpsons" characters. In truth, if you aren't already an expert cartoonist and you don't have oodles of time to spend studying these instructions, this book is a total waste. So, unless you are the hardest of the hard core fans, don't bother with this book!