Customer Reviews

Stop Motion: Passion, Process and Performance

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This may not be exactly a "Stop-Motion for Dummies" book. And it most definately isn't an introduction to the world of stop-motion either. It's much more of an "insider" book, from the hands of one of the greater stop-motion artists of our time. It shares experiences, holds more information about the medium than any book i've encountered so far, and all it really does is make me a better animator. I'm a happy camper!

barry Purves is one of the best stop-motion animators there is right now, and even when the book is not a How-to of the stop-motion process is very onteresting and rewarding having barry's opinion and experiences in the craft. Thanks. Liked it very much.

"Stop Motion: Passion, Process and Performance" is a book that I read just before I started filming my second stop-motion film. It gave me many good tips and pointers regarding all aspects of the process of how to make a stop motion film. It is a very inspirational book.
One of the best stop-motion animation books out there. I highly recommend it.
I look forward to reading it again when I need inspiration for my next film to come to life.

I've got pretty much all the stopmotion books in print, and this one is really something else entirely. It's not a text, not a beginner's lesson book and not just an appreciation for the art form (and, as Mr. Purves proves, it really IS an artform). Rather it's a very passionate reflection on the creative process of making stopmotion, and on the larger aspects of creativity in general. Barry is one of the best among animators.... and has frequently been writer and director of his own films, resulting in some of the most startling and original animation to date (such as his brilliant Achilles or my favorite Rigoletto). He expounds with great articulateness and intelligence on the strengths and weaknesses of the various forms of animation, revealing his obvious love for stopmotion above all the rest. And as he does, he reveals truths about animation that you had always felt but couldn't quite put into words.

He also shares a wealth of his own hard-earned tips and techniques, some about animating, but more on the art of storytelling and on how best to utilize the special properties that stopmotion alone has. It's not a book about "how to animate" but rather Why.... and he stresses the importance of playing to the particular strengths of our quirky art. If it can be done in live action or CGI or drawn animation, then why use stopmo? As many, he feels the sheer potential of stopmotion has only begun to be tapped, and he expounds at great length on how that might be done. And reading his words, it's difficult not to feel the same inspiration he obviously does.

Every animator should read this book.... even if you're just scooting Lego figures across the bedroom floor in front of your webcam (unless that's the extent of your ambition). He really illuminates the magic of stopmotion, what it does best and what it shouldn't be made to do. I just finished reading it for the first time, and I'm about to begin again.....

More about "Passion" rather than "Process" with a lot of pictures of Achilles in the buff. I expected a book that featured a bit more of the process of stop motion but found very little. The writer rambles on and on about his own projects that most people have probably never seen or heard of without really telling us anything of value. The book has no logic to its structure and is more of a novelty coffee table book.

I purchased this book with the hopes that I could gain some knowledge on the making of Stop Motion Video. I was sorely disappointed. It's just the ramblings of someone who's done some Stop Motion. It really never delves into the process.
If you're looking for an education look somewhere else.