Customer Reviews

The Simpsons Handbook: Secret Tips from the Pros

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is something I've always wanted: a definitive, professional guide for drawing the Simpsons. It's amazing how complicated drawing these deceptively simplistic characters can be.

The book starts out with detailed guides for the five main characters, the Simpsons family. At the end of each main character's section is a page full of notes and sketches with a transparent sheet that overlaps with an "inked" version of the main character.

The book also has basic guidelines for many other characters, but not nearly as in-depth as the main cast. These secondary characters sometimes have pages that fold out and have additional tips by Simpsons artists. I would have liked more characters and more in-depth information for these secondary characters, but most of the more popular characters are there, and the book would have to be massive to go more in depth and/or add more characters. It's already considerably huge as it is.

The main characters are addressed once again with various outfits, though only single images are shown and not detailed alternate angles and such.

Select environments from the show are also shown, with notes given to perspective. This book won't really teach you drawing with perspective, but it will give some insights into both it and the terminology for it.

All in all, if you've ever wanted to draw The Simpsons "correctly" or simply love behind the scenes stuff, I highly recommend this book for you. I myself am a cartoonist and an art student, and I believe it was worth every penny (though I did order it from here for the discounted price).

I am very pleased with this book. It outlines all the same "rules" (and there a lot of them!) for drawing the Simpsons' characters that all the Simpsons' animators and comic illustrators have to use to keep the look consistent. There are step by step instructions on how to draw practically every character in the show (32 of them anyway), including some cool transparency overlays of the main characters. Expressions, hands, body positions, props and backgrounds are also covered.

The book itself is a very nice bound hard cover book and every page will stay open on its own, which is a real plus when you want your hands free for drawing!

As simple as the characters may look on the show, it definitely takes skill to get them to look that way, and it turns out they are more complicated than you may think. This book, by the makers of the Simpsons, demonstrates how to do that perfectly.

Now if they would just put out a similar book for the very underrated Futurama, I could die happy!

The book cover and paper is of good quality - looks and feels fine.
The content is mainly step by step drawing guides for every (?) person in the Simpsons universe and lots of examples of different moods and situations. Also includes "backgrounds" from many houses and places in Springfield.

This is the best quality handbook on any subject I have ever seen. It is a must for any aspiring artist. The professionals at the studio which produces The Simpsons have devulged their secrets learned over many years. (Purchased through Amazon.com)

Definitely a must have artbook,sketches, art, tips, everything to know about for drawing this characters

I bought this for my 9-year old and he absolutely loves it. He has been drawing pictures every day (using it) and I'm very impressed with how good the pictures look. He actually brings it with us in whenever we have to go out - even though the book is quite large. I'm hoping to find other books similar to this one (with different characters/comics)

This book offers a good into drawing many of the Simpsons characters: all the family, plus many of the most seen extras. It has a lot of drawings that can be copied, and is a durable hardback. There are suggestions about how to draw each character consistently that many people would not notice. A great gift for any kid or adult who likes to doodle or draw cartoons.

Love the Simpsons? Love to draw? Take these two interests and you've got heavenly bliss. If you like only the Simpsons and only drawing, you'd still love this book.

As a how-to-draw book, this books is amazing. The authors provide their thought processes when they draw. For example, Homer's body is like a big light bulb and his feet are in the shape of an iron. These insights are a huge benefit. Even the sections about props and sets are amazing. The book features transparent pages, which aids how layers are used in the drawing process.

I own Jack Hamm, how-to-draw manga and Byrne Hogarth books. And this books is a vital component to any book collection. The reason is that the Simpson characters are based on simple shapes: sausages, cylinders, balls, etc. Once you are able to draw Simpson characters, you can draw other objects with a better grasp of how basic shapes make up a lot of real world objects.

If you are a Simpsons fan and not a drawer, this book is still amazing. You will appreciate the myriad of dynamic poses included in the book. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be motivated to trying drawing--and this book is a good one to start with.

This is one of the best put together drawing books from a television series I have ever seen. I am an artist and I love the Simpsons. What more could I ask for?!

My husband and I grew up watching the Simpsons, so when this book came out my husband was very interested in it. I got it for Christmas for him. He was very happy to see how many characters they show you how to draw, and how detailed the pictures are.
This is very good buy for a Simpsons fan, or someone interested in learning to draw.