The art of animation layout takes center stage for the first time in this gorgeous, full-color volume. Animation fans and students can finally take a behind-the-scenes peek at the history of layout, the process by which artists plot scenes and stitch together the many elements of animated works. With in-depth text by veteran animator Fraser MacLean, this extraordinary book features previously unpublished art from major studios archives including Warner Bros., Pixar, Walt Disney, and more as well as interviews with some of the biggest names in animation and a foreword by Academy Award winning director Pete Docter. From the genre's earliest pioneers to the digital world of contemporary cinema, Setting the Scene provides an enchanting journey into the history of animation.
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"It is easily the most attractive animation book to come into my hands in many years." -MichaelBarrier.com
"a beautiful ...stunningly attractive book...wonderful and heavily researched with an enormous number of illustrated examples." - Michael Sporn Animation Splog
"MacLean's insightful volume about the history of layout is one of the must-have animations books...Offering excellent interviews with some of the biggest names in tha business, interspersed with lots of previously unpublished art from the vaults of Disney, Pixar and Warner Bros., the book offers a solid overview of the importance of layout in all types of animation. " -Animation Magazine
"a beautiful ...stunningly attractive book...wonderful and heavily researched with an enormous number of illustrated examples." - Michael Sporn Animation Splog
"MacLean's insightful volume about the history of layout is one of the must-have animations books...Offering excellent interviews with some of the biggest names in tha business, interspersed with lots of previously unpublished art from the vaults of Disney, Pixar and Warner Bros., the book offers a solid overview of the importance of layout in all types of animation. " -Animation Magazine
About the Author
Fraser MacLean has worked for Passion Pictures, Cambridge Animation Systems, Telemagination, and Walt Disney Animation Studios, on such films as Space Jam and Tarzan. He currently runs Penciltown Animation and resides in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Pete Docter is the Oscar-winning director of the celebrated Pixar films, Mosters, Inc. and Up.
Pete Docter is the Oscar-winning director of the celebrated Pixar films, Mosters, Inc. and Up.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By r. kretz
Format:Hardcover
Being an afficionado for all things art books, I ordered the book on impulse. However, with a slightly misleading title, and the short and rather less than more descriptive 'Book Description', look out for what the book is about, lest you end up discontent.
The book seems to be aimed at two target demographics: people interested in animation history and younger folk working in animation with an overly technical focus to their work.
For both of those interest groups, MacLean does a huge job. The Book is a rather complete course through the history of animation, starting with the earliest moving drawings and including very recent productions like Disney's "Princess and the Frog". If you did not know what kind of work was involved in making drawings move, and eventually make them into feature films, MacLean will present you with a very readable and accessible account of all that.
MacLeans ulterior motive with this is to show the reader what the layout departments' job is: to bridge the gap between the rather general script & storyboard on the one hand, and the specific requirements for the finished film, as well as directions for all the departments in charge of producing the actual film: animators, background artists, camera operators etcetera.
For the reader interested in a glimpse into animation history, this is a valuable insight into how an animated movie comes to be. For the young animator, it serves as a reminder of how important the layout phase is. MacLean seems to see a specific danger for overlooking the importance of layout in a 3d pipeline, where the specific planning of a shot is no longer a necessity to produce its assetts.
The problem I had with the book was that its subtitle, "The Art and Evolution of Animation Layout", can be misleading. For a reader not in the know of what animation layout is, the book gives insight into what animation layout does, and how its history unfolded. For the reader who already knows what layout is, though, "The Art and Evolution" evokes insight into what constitutes good (artful) layout, and how layout quality itself evolved to allow more and more successful moviemaking. For the reader in the know of what animation layout is, the subtitle "the Job and History of Animation Layout" would be a much better description of the books content. When I read "Art and Evolution", i expected a more direct look at the nuts and bolts of actual layout work: the cinematographic decisions themselves, instead of merely getting to know that layout makes cinematography for animation.
That said, a few passages allow for that kind of insight, however it is never the focus of the book. In terms of artwork quantity and quality, the Disney Animation Archive tome on Layout and Backgrounds (naturally) is leaps and bounds beyond this book, because MacLeans's book is not focussed on telling you what good layout is & how it can be achieved, but enlightens the reader what layout does.
The book seems to be aimed at two target demographics: people interested in animation history and younger folk working in animation with an overly technical focus to their work.
For both of those interest groups, MacLean does a huge job. The Book is a rather complete course through the history of animation, starting with the earliest moving drawings and including very recent productions like Disney's "Princess and the Frog". If you did not know what kind of work was involved in making drawings move, and eventually make them into feature films, MacLean will present you with a very readable and accessible account of all that.
MacLeans ulterior motive with this is to show the reader what the layout departments' job is: to bridge the gap between the rather general script & storyboard on the one hand, and the specific requirements for the finished film, as well as directions for all the departments in charge of producing the actual film: animators, background artists, camera operators etcetera.
For the reader interested in a glimpse into animation history, this is a valuable insight into how an animated movie comes to be. For the young animator, it serves as a reminder of how important the layout phase is. MacLean seems to see a specific danger for overlooking the importance of layout in a 3d pipeline, where the specific planning of a shot is no longer a necessity to produce its assetts.
The problem I had with the book was that its subtitle, "The Art and Evolution of Animation Layout", can be misleading. For a reader not in the know of what animation layout is, the book gives insight into what animation layout does, and how its history unfolded. For the reader who already knows what layout is, though, "The Art and Evolution" evokes insight into what constitutes good (artful) layout, and how layout quality itself evolved to allow more and more successful moviemaking. For the reader in the know of what animation layout is, the subtitle "the Job and History of Animation Layout" would be a much better description of the books content. When I read "Art and Evolution", i expected a more direct look at the nuts and bolts of actual layout work: the cinematographic decisions themselves, instead of merely getting to know that layout makes cinematography for animation.
That said, a few passages allow for that kind of insight, however it is never the focus of the book. In terms of artwork quantity and quality, the Disney Animation Archive tome on Layout and Backgrounds (naturally) is leaps and bounds beyond this book, because MacLeans's book is not focussed on telling you what good layout is & how it can be achieved, but enlightens the reader what layout does.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Robert
Format:Hardcover
As a collector of animation art, I look for books that can add more perspective to the animation process. MacLean's book is one of the finest books I've read in a long time. The book's outstanding content is matched by the exceptional artwork that is featured to support the text. AND the print quality is amazing...! The attention to detail and color control is exceptional! While reading the book, the reader is immediately struck by the complexity of the animation process and the amazing quality of the artwork that is often overlooked. As an owner of 100+ books on animation, I would rank MacLean's book in my Top 5 -- and it is certainly a bargain at this price!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By LGHM
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a gorgeous book that includes great animation art, not only of Disney films as it would seem by the book cover and page examples, but also for other creators.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome for planning a scene!
If your looking to set up a scene in film or 3D this book will help you understand the basic principles! It's really helpful to showcase a scene the way you want it to be scene!
Published 3 days ago by Cash A. Echevarria
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is a gold mine
Very informative, full of material that probably can't be found anywhere else and to top it off - beautifully designed
Published 5 months ago by gn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing book
Amazing book, pure knowledge ))
Well - if you searhing for training in storybording - this book exactly what you need.
Well - if you searhing for training in storybording - this book exactly what you need.
Published 14 months ago by Alexander Kovyazin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
I loved it. Great animaton. The book was actually a gift to my boyfriend. He is in the animation industry and he totally loves it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Adriana
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth every penny
Being a character designer i bought this book due to my ever growing curiosity of Animation development - this book has been an investment for my knowledge and it is worth every... Read more
Published 17 months ago by ryan
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