Tezuka School of Animation, 1: Learning the Basics [Paperback]

Tezuka Productions (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003 | Series: Tezuka School

The work of artist Osamu Tezuka has been as influential in Japan as that of Walt Disney in the US. His most famous character, Astro Boy, guides the reader through this book on the fundamentals of animation. The focus is on mastering movement, timing, and expression-the keys to bringing anime characters to life. This book is filled with step-by-step instructions on how to depict weight, walking speed, dynamic action, and effects like fire and water. The concepts are all taken from Tezuka's works and have his particular stylistic mark. Become a master by mastering the basics!

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569709955
• ISBN-13: 978-1569709955
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Astro Boy's a cute 'lil guide..., January 9, 2007

By 

S. Thompson "scarab dynasty" (united kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tezuka School of Animation, 1: Learning the Basics (Paperback)

Anime fans doing animation courses can get it a little tough here in the UK. The style just isn't popular enough and as much as I admire walt disney, it's a shame he stereotyped the genre as a kids-only zone. Interesting I should say that, as Tezuka is often hailed as the Japanese walk Disney (up there with such greats as Mamoru Osamu and Hayao Miyazaki.)

Even for non anime fans, the walk cycles remain basically the same and this was a simple and understandable guide that gave you all the basics nessecary for various cycles, whether you use anime as a style or not. I mean, heck, I just made an entire SKIP CYCLE! SKIPPING!

Not a great deal of information, but ideal for anyone just starting out with basic walk cycles and animation terchniques. Not a bad job, though it could've had a little more info. The book is probably better suited for younger people with an interest in the genre but hey, this nineteen year old ain't complaining.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A much better How to book on Japanese Animation, December 4, 2007

By 

Harmonybee (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tezuka School of Animation, 1: Learning the Basics (Paperback)

This book has very good references on figures in motion though the Cutesy Character Astroboy may throw people off.
I have to admit this book beats that mediocre "How to Draw Manga Making Anime" book on any given day!
Yes I still have that book(though worn from use and abuse) I like flipping through it whenever I am bored and it helped me identify common techniques used in Japanese animation and the book mentions the tools used in cel animation however cel animation is practically obsolete but the techniques haven't changed only the tools.
This book covers what is most important to animation and that is the techniques of bringing your characters to life but nowhere near as good as Tony White's Animator's Workbook or Preston Blair Cartoon Animation this book is a very nice supplement to those tomes.

Don't dismiss books on traditional animation because they do not mention Flash and other well-known Animation software it is not the software that creates the animation but the animator.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most useful animation books, February 28, 2006

By 

M. Tonatiuh Moreno Ramos "Tonatiuh" (Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tezuka School of Animation, 1: Learning the Basics (Paperback)

This book is one of the most useful tools for the animator I have purchased. It is very complete, covering from simple animation techniques to complex movements and effects. It lacks the part about equipment and tools, but is a great reference for animating. American readers may find strange the order some sequences are to be seen and the way the authors name the principles of animation, but if you skip these difficulties, you have one of the two mos useful books to become an animator (the other is Preston Blair's).