The Complete Animation Course: The Principles, Practice and Techniques of Successful Animation [Paperback]

Chris Patmore (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764123998 | ISBN-13: 978-0764123993 | Publication Date: August 1, 2003

Desktop computer artists will find a wealth of information in this heavily illustrated book. It instructs in the principles, practice, and techniques of successful animation. The author covers all forms of animation, starting with the basics of making sketches in flip books, and concluding with the latest developments in computer-generated imagery. He demonstrates with practical examples that utilize key areas of modern animation--cell art, stop-action with clay or plastic models, and 3D computer-generated and web-based animations. This volume's six chapters cover the following topics: The art of story telling and storyboarding . . . How to create stop-action animation . . . Simple cell animation, the technique for simple movie cartoon sequences . . . Full cell animation, as used by Disney, Warner Brothers, and similar studios . . . Web animation for showcasing your skill over the Internet . . . and Computer modeling and animation, including 3D modeling. The book's concluding sections discuss modern hardware and software, with emphasis on affordable beginners' equipment. Also provided is an overview of the animation industry and its applications to movies, TV, and computer games. More than 250 instructive illustrations enhance this fascinating how-to volume.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Animation is one of the most creative and exciting areas of film making today but if you?re new to the subject, where do you start? The Complete Animation Course shows you how and more, covering everything from the art of storytelling?the secret of all great animation?to cel, stop action, and 3D computer-generated animations. Richly illustrated with animation stills, frame-grabs and artworks, this book will be an invaluable resource for beginner and advanced animators as well as a source of inspiration and understanding for those who commission animated films.

From flip books to 3D computer animation on your desktop, this book gives you all you need to know to start making your own animated movies.

The clearly structured coursebook format makes learning about animation simple and fun.

Comprehensive coverage of the latest computer animation software means you?ll find out how to create stunning animated sequences for film or for the Web.

Case studies at the end of each chapter demonstrate the core techniques in action



Chris Patmore is a journalist specializing in creative technology. He is a contributing editor and writer for 1984-online.com, a website dedicated to technology and culture for Macintosh users. He has worked internationally as a photographer and graphic designer, and is currently developing a website for animators and comics artists. He lives in London.

About the Author

Chris Patmore is an English journalist, as well as editor and writer for a website dedicated to technology and culture for Macintosh users.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764123998
• ISBN-13: 978-0764123993
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #562,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great High Level Fly By, November 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Animation Course: The Principles, Practice and Techniques of Successful Animation (Paperback)

The title of this book is some what misleading as to its scope. It looks like a Preston Blair or Richard Williams calibre teaching book based on the title. It presents itself as a "complete" course on animation technique. It isn't. This is a very good "high level" fly by. It is a survey of some of everything in current animation from classical to computer. A lot of breath and very little depth. It's Intro to Modern Animation 101. If you are just starting out and you want to get a useful 20,000 feet off of the ground introduction to what's available out there then this is a great overview book. Easy on the eyes and easy to read. But, if you are trying to actually become a successful animator and you want specific technical instruction this is not that kind of book. If you are a complete novice and have little or no idea about modern animation and don't know where to begin, then I recommend this book as a great starting reference.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Are New to Animation, Get This Book!, April 18, 2004

By 

Elwood H. Smith (Rhinebeck,, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Animation Course: The Principles, Practice and Techniques of Successful Animation (Paperback)

Chris has created an invaluable resource for anyone interested in creating animation. I have recently created 2 animated shorts and am well into my third. My first effort was created using Toon Boom Studio's 2D software and for the second, I used Macromedia Flash. I then embarked upon an old-fashioned hand drawn animation with plans to scan the art, assemble it and then edit it. How to do it? My How to Draw animation books barely touched upon the tools needed and none of them covered modern technology, especially the all important modern tool, the computer.

Lady Luck was smiling the day I discovered Chris Patmore's "The Complete Animation Course". The book is NOT a how to draw animated figures kind of book. However, it is a valuable resource filled with ways to produce an animation. The book is handsomely designed and easy to navigate. If you want to know how to find software to create "Pencil Tests" of your drawings to see how you animated action is unfolding, Chris lists several inexpensive programs (and some very expensive ones, too!) and tells the reader which ones are for Macintosh and which ones are for PC. You want to know about setting up a Rostrum Camera? It's in there. How about simple cutout animation or stop-motion animation (also know as claymation and stop-action)--it's also covered. Chris offers many options for the fledgling animator to choose from.

He gives inside animator tips on equipment and procedures. I found myself regularly referring to his book as I moved through the various stages of drawing, shooting pencil tests and scanning the final art.

I'm a long time illustrator but I'm new to animation. The Complete Animation Course has helped me immensely.

5 Stars & HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretty much crap, December 15, 2005

By 

Wesley Baker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Animation Course: The Principles, Practice and Techniques of Successful Animation (Paperback)

I got this book thinking it would help with animation principles and some technical aspects, but it gleans over everything so quickly that the whole thing is useless. For example the chapter on Web Animation is about 4 pages long and covers Animated Gifs- Yeah, because what I really wanted to learn was how to make a looping picture of a clown on a ball. It also touches upon Flash, but its only given a 2 page spread and the only info it gives is "Flash is good for web animation!" This book has nice coulor photographs, but the only information it gives is stuff you probably already know like you need a camera for stop motion and that you should figure out what your cartoon will be about before making it. Oh, and apparently Angelina Anaconda is the end-all be-all of animation.