Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, the Web, and Short Film [Paperback]

Joe Murray (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 24, 2010

From the Emmy Award-winning creator of Rocko's Modern Life and Camp Lazlo comes Creating Animated Cartoons with Character, a comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to creating and producing a successful animated series for television, short film, and the Web.  Joe Murray offers his substantial wisdom and expertise – honed from more than twenty years in the business – in creating and producing characters adn stories in an authoritative yet conversational narrative that answers such questions as: How do you create good characters?  How do you conceive the world they inhabit and tell their stories?  And once you've breathed life into your ideas, how do you successfully pitch your series to a network?
This book won't tell you what characters to create or how to draw them. What it will do is guide you in discovering and exploring your own creative sweet spots and help you to navigate the process that links your unique artistic vision with the realities of producing a commerical cartoon.  Packed with art and photos from Murray's many film and television projects, as well as behind-the-scenes anecdotes and insider advice from such highly successful contemporaries as Steve Hillenburg (SpongeBob Squarepants), Everett Peck (Duckman), and Craig McCracken (The Powerpuff Girls and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends), this book explores in detail the importance of character and story hooks; how to put together pitch materials; what goes into producing a series pilot; and how to build the best creative team to produce your show.  Whether you’re an aspiring cartoonist, experienced animator, hardcore fan, or you simply like to draw and tell stories, Creating Animated Cartoons with Character is the ultimate entrée into the world of animated cartooning from a master of the craft.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOE MURRAY is an author, illustrator, animator, and filmmaker most widely known for his two hit animated shows, Rocko’s Modern Life and Camp Lazlo, both Emmy winners and with global fan bases in the millions of viewers. He has written and illustrated three children’s books, including Who Asked the Moon to Dinner? His production studio in Southern California has been in business for over 25 years. Visit Joe online at www.joemurraystudio.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (August 24, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823033074
• ISBN-13: 978-0823033072
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.6 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope You Have Room on Your Bookshelf August 24, 2010

By Michael Lachman

Format:Paperback

Of course most of you reading this are interested in animation, and some of you may even dream of making your own animated television show someday. I know I do. I've had that dream since I was seven, and I've been working toward my goal by animating since I was ten. Unfortunately, even if you think you have a good concept for a show, you have no idea how to get it made, so your idea will probably just sit in your brain and you'll eventually take it with you to the grave.

Or at least, that's how it used to be. Luckily, the creator of Rocko's Modern Life and Camp Lazlo wrote a book that can help. Now you can know everything you ever wanted to, thanks to Joe Murray's Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, the Web and Short Film. (Goodness me, that's a long name for a book).

Creating Animated Cartoons with Character give readers the insight into what goes into creating an animated series from concept to bible to pitch to production, all using examples from Murray's own career as well as those of his friends, such as Stephen Hillenberg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants. Will you need an agent? Will they steal your ideas? The answers to questions every aspiring creator has are answered here. This book will force the reader to examine his or her motivation for attempting to make an animated series, as well as giving the reader a realistic idea of what to expect, or rather, what not to expect. Murray brilliantly explains how to create likeable characters and how to prepare a pitch. He also offers practical advice that can be used in just about any job, like not being a jerk and keeping your ego in check.

Murray packs Creating Animated Cartoons with Character full of fun and interesting anecdotes as well as old artwork and notebook sketches. There's also a chapter about other means of creating your series without pitching to a network or studio and using the web instead. It was researching for this very chapter that led Murray to create Frog in a Suit and KaboingTV. With cheap animation programs available to the public, anyone can theoretically create their own webtoon without selling the rights to some huge company.

It's impossible to read this book and not compare it to David B. Levy's Animation Development: From Pitch to Production. Both books cover similar ground, though Levy's book focuses more on pitching while Murray's book focuses more on creating the show and characters as well as working on the show assuming you're lucky enough to get a deal. The real difference though is the attitudes of the books. While Murray's book is very optimistic, David Levy's book makes you wonder whether or not you should even bother to attempt to create an animated series. Both of those attitudes are understandable, considering Murray was successful twice and Levy has yet to succeed after ten years of trying. I believe it's important to read both books, especially since Murray's book can give you the optimism you need to actually believe you have a chance. As Joseph A. Holmes said, "Never tell a young person that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that thing."

Joe Murray's Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, the Web and Short Film is a book that has been long overdue. If you've ever been interested in creating your own show, or just want to know what goes into creating one, you should check this book out. It's occasionally funny, but most importantly of all its informative and encouraging. Creating Animated Cartoons with Character is a must-have, and belongs on the shelf of anyone who considers him or her self an animation enthusiast or a dreamer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, visual, and stylish read from the ground up. September 16, 2010

By kjohnson1585

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Animation is a woefully little-examined field, and while nowadays several animators often write or blog about their experiences and techniques, it's much more difficult to find a streamlined, straight-forward examination of the entire process. Joe Murray, creator of hit shows Rocko's Modern Life and Camp Lazlo, does exactly that.

With a clear, comprehensive style, visual record, and insightful Q&As with other big-name animation experts, Murray pretty much answers every possible question one may have along the lines of developing a cartoon from the ground up. Pitching, design, character, scheduling, working with networks - everything is explained in as much detail as possible. There are some moments early on where the details are skipped, like how he moved on from local comic-newspaper artist to a full-fledged studio, but the details are about the network cartoon business, not so much his life before then.

I would say that the only issue I have is that there's a heavy use of metaphors, and while I understand it has such a writing trope to help the younger or the unfamiliar understand the business better, Murray is clear and concise enough with his initial explanations of events that it makes such analogies moot.

If you are curious about the business, eager to pitch your own cartoon, or looking to work in animation in any format, I would highly recommend this. Very down-to-earth and approachable, informative without being condescending, and - well, let's be frank: it's the entire approach by the guy who created one of the best animated shows in mid-90s. That alone makes it a must read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for cartoon lovers, or fans of Joe Murray! September 12, 2010

By Traci Baldwin

Format:Paperback

I LOVE this book! Almost every page is filled with illustrations and original artwork by Joe Murray. I am interested in animation myself, but I would highly recommend Creating Animated Cartoons with Character to anyone that is interested in cartoons or art in general. Fans of Rocko's Modern Life and Camp Lazlo will greatly enjoy this book because it includes neat things about the making of those shows. If you're interested in Joe himself, this is a great read as well. He does a wonderful job of making the book easy to follow while keeping it interesting. You can tell that Joe really put his whole heart into this book. The book even includes an interview with Stephen Hillenburg- the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants. I received this book as a gift, and I am very happy with it. It's definitely worth the price. The detail put into the book alone is worth the price. You will not be disappointed!