Digital Character Animation 2, Volume I: Essential Techniques [Paperback]

George Maestri (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1562059300 | ISBN-13: 978-1562059309 | Publication Date: August 26, 1999

Grounded in the basics of traditional cell animation, Digital Character Animation 2, Volume I: Essential Techniques provides the necessary information to create convincing computer-generated characters in 3D. This step-by-step, full color guide applies conventional character animation techniques such as walk cycles and lip sync to computer animation, along with tips for giving your characters the illusion of life. Volume I is the first of two volumes and is geared to more entry level animators, teaching the basics. Volume II, soon to be announced, will build on Volume I, covering more advanced concepts and techniques. The cross-platform CD-ROM includes: multiple walk cycles on various 3D programs; lip sync examples; texture maps; and 3D models from REM Infografica.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In 1996, George Maestri wrote what is now the benchmark for computer character animation books, Digital Character Animation. It quickly became a bestseller, because it addressed many important issues for people using computers for character animation.

But like many books of its type, it covered an enormous amount of territory without going into the depth that some sections deserved. With the publication of Digital Character Animation 2 Volume 1 - Essential Techniques, Maestri has been able to restructure much of the original content, while going into more detail than the first edition. For example, building skeletons has been broken out into a whole separate chapter, and the chapter on posing characters has almost doubled in length.

The new edition covers modeling, skeletal deformation techniques, and animation timing and lip sync. Luckily, it doesn't neglect the fundamental building blocks of good, basic character animation techniques, to which the book devotes an entire chapter.

Why is something so important not covered until more than halfway through the book? Because the preceding chapters go into detail on building characters (there are whole chapters devoted to building the meshes for bodies, hands, and heads) and constructing the internal skeletons used for deformations. Appropriately, after you've built a character that is ready to be animated, you can then begin practicing the important basics of character animation, as well as walking and locomotion fundamentals (chapter 9) and lip-sync and facial animation (chapter 10).

Because this is Volume I, we can assume that the issues not covered in this edition will be explored in subsequent volumes. Topics like anthropomorphic animation, creating digital sets for your characters, and the basics of making a film--sound design, editing, effects--deserve much more attention than they were given in the first edition.

This book does not get caught up in photo-realistic textures, rendering issues, or software-specific tips and tricks. It is ideally suited for someone striving to learn the craft of character animation using 3D tools, who wants to breathe life into each frame of animation. Digital Character Animation 2 is a promising first volume to what hopefully will be a defining series. --Mike Caputo

From Library Journal

This "art" book on digital animation with 3D tools will have a long shelf life as it focuses on concepts and techniques rather than specific tools. Using terrific examples, Maestri covers animating bodies, hands, faces, and heads; posing; and walking. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: New Riders Press (August 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562059300
• ISBN-13: 978-1562059309
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,080,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for "BEGINNERS", January 10, 2000

By 

John (Philadelphia, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digital Character Animation 2, Volume I: Essential Techniques (Paperback)

This is an EXCELLENT book for the beginner animator. In this respect, i give it 5 of 5 stars. For an already highly experienced animator, it is 1 of 5 stars. The concepts in this book assume you know little about modeling characters and animation. It is very well explained in clear english, with lots of excellent pictures to help explain it. However, each section doesn't go very deep into details, so it would be difficult to go on your own after reading this book. It does, however, give you a better understanding of all the things that need to come together in order to make a good animation. You also have to know your preferred animation package thoroughly in order to do the lessons in this book. The book shows no "steps" involved in any specific program, so you'd better know the program well! This book is better than the original Digital Character Animation book. It goes into more detail on complicated subjects, like different methods (pole orientations) of creating a NURBS head. There was valuable information in this book that i found nowhere else! I think the whole intention of the author was to write a "beginner" book. I read somewhere than Vol II (the current book is Vol I) will go into much greater detail, so this book may be good for advanced users. I can't wait for Vol II!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very good book for beginners, April 27, 2000

By 

J. D. Shaffer (Shimane, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Digital Character Animation 2, Volume I: Essential Techniques (Paperback)

I just got this book in the mail about 2 weeks ago. I've already read all of it and am trying out the ideas and techniques. It's an excellent book if you're looking to learn how to create characters with either Polygons, Splines, or Nurbs. It has many tips and suggestions which makes modeling easier. This book also does a good job explaining how to animate complex motions like walking or running, paying attention to layout and the character's "feeling" -- IE, body language. In short, it's a darn good book if you're looking to get your feet wet in Character Animation.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book!, September 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Digital Character Animation 2, Volume I: Essential Techniques (Paperback)

The author does a great job of explaining the techniques involved in creating 3D character animation that can be applied in most software packages. I especially enjoyed his step-by-step techniques presented in an application-independant way--very clever! Buy this book.