Customer Reviews

How to Draw and Paint Crazy Cartoon Characters: Create Original Characters with Lots of Personality (Quarto Book)

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

 

 

An excellent book that fills a gaping hole in the cartooning field. A better title would've been Cartoon Character Design. The book accomplishes everything a How-To book accomplishes while focusing on helping budding cartoons work towards personal style. Each section contains tip lists, excellent shortcuts and insider notes you won't find in other books. I've collected cartooning books for over 30 years. This one is at the top of my list along with Cartooning the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm and Ben Caldwell's Cartooning series.

This book has more than how to draw tough horoes and heroines, evil-looking villans and goofy anti-heroes. It goes into how to properly give color to your charactors and some information on scripting.

There's something for everyone in Vincent Woodcock's "How to Draw..." book, whether you're new to cartooning, or a seasoned vet. This well-written and well-illustrated book focuses foremost on the techniques and approaches used in character design. It succeeds at its mission and then some, with sections on the fundamentals of drawing (hands, anatomy, and the importance of clear silhouettes), characterization (caricatures, action poses, acting) and professional practices (model sheets, presenting your work).

Not a single page in this 128 page book is wasted. It's filled to the brim with very useful information that any cartoonist would appreciate. A wide variety of character styles are also represented, providing a more complete picture (pardon the pun) on the diversity of character design. Highly recommended.

I was very excited when I got this book . Only to disappointed very quickly and I mean quickly. I wasted my freaking money big time on this even if it's just 21 bucks ! Basically what this is a crappy book that skims on every damn subject in it. Just dedicate one or two pages to each subject which it doesn't go in depth on explaining. Few page on anatomy,construction, color theory, cartooning and so on . Also it's nothing new if your very knowledgeable in cartooning art form to begin with. Most of stuff in here have you can learn from far better books. This book isn't even good enough for beginners or kids getting started . Beginners need a more in depth book on the subjects when learning how to draw not a cheap book that skims on everything. Don't be fooled by the pretty cover or artwork inside like I was. Also don't buy it because it's cheap instead look for a useful book regardless of price. I guess that what I get looking for a cheap drawing book instead of useful one.

Books better than one reviewed Cartoon Animation (The Collector's Series by Preston Blair,The Art of Animal Character Design by David Colman, Artist's Color Manual: The Complete Guide to Working with Color Simon Jennings, Perspective Made Easy Ernest R. Norling , Sketching People Life Drawing Basics by Jeff Mellem and Cartooning the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm .

Along with Mr. Bancroft's book "Creating Characters With Personality" Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels this book also shares ideas for Character Designing. Like I said the before it's fun and easy to read which gets the creativity going. One of my top "Art Bibles" this book includes helpful words of advice which are highlighted at the lower corners of the pages.

If you're a fellow cartoonist like myself in search of pointers in Character Designing then look no further!!!

This book demonstrates a strong understanding of design, gesture, facial expression and texture. Vincent Woodcock's book should be a staple to any and all aspiring artists looking to get into animation or character design. His techniques are complete in explanation and he walks you through the mechanics of the body and how to push the stylization. He covers silhouette importance, body types, styles types, and tools.

The only reason I did not give a full 5 star rating is because there is no technical updating in it. Digital coloring is not covered, and I recommend its importance since the animation biz is mostly digital now. Aside from that, you will find it difficult to put the book down or not be inspired to create your own characters. Every page is filled with characters and styles. I highly recommend this book!

The other reviews say it all. Great book with lots of tips and very diverse examples!