Animation: From Script to Screen (Paperback)

by Shamus Culhane (Author) "Animating a film is very much like making a flip book, where you flip the pages and the figures on them seem to move..." (more)
Key Phrases: cel levels, fourteen exposures, sixteen exposures, Snow White, Shamus Culhane, National Film Board of Canada (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
This is basically a text for the tyro animator. Culhane, for many years with Walt Disney, discusses the role of each member of an animation team and the uses of computers, storyboarding, and music. Although he writes from his vast experience, the digressive and somewhat lecturing style is an impediment. For libraries having works such as Raul Da Silva's World of Animation (Kodak, 1979), Kit Laybourne's Animation Book (1978. o.p.), Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston's lavish Disney Animation ( LJ 12/15/81), and John Halas and Roger Manvell's older but still useful Technique of Film Animation (1976, 4th ed. o.p.), this is probably not essential. A better book by Culhane is his memoir, Talking Animals and Other People (LJ 3/1/86).
- Roy Liebman, California State Univ. Lib., Los Angeles
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"The book...is amodel of clarity and comprehensiveness. You will be astonished by how much information is to be found in [its] pages." --Robert Edmonds, Professor, Columbia College, Chicago

"If this was Japan...Shamus Culhane would be considered a national treasure...." --Richard Rauh, President, The Optical House & ASIFA/New York

"I highly recommend that anymore who is interested in learning the art of animated cartoon production study this book." --Walter Lantz, creator of "Woody Woodpecker"
-- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (August 15, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312050526
• ISBN-13: 978-0312050528
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #166,350 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The I really want to be in animation book, March 10, 1998

By	Robin McDonald (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Shamus Culhane's book is very good if you are a serious about learning the process of animation. It isn't filled with a lot of pretty pictures but it gives one of the best overviews of the entire animation process. It also encourages you to do drawing excercises which are very necessary to becoming an animator. The one minute sketches in particular are very hard for some people to work on if you like making pretty pictures. They might be a good indicator of whether you are suited to doing animation as a career. I wouldn't classify this book for someone who just enjoys animation and is kind of thinking about what it would be like to be an animator. Chuck Amuck and Illusion of life are better for entertainment and pictures. If you are not willing to participate with the book you will not benefit from it though you may enjoy some of the history and learning what goes into a production. However this book is really for someone who really really wants to be an animator. If that describes you than this is one of the better books out there and certainly one of the books you should peruse on your journey.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to get started, April 15, 2001

By A Customer

This book got me started in animation. Despite of a lot of helpful information, it also offers good excercises and points out other sources of great value. This book is written by the late former Disney artist who has been in the buisness from the first hour of animated cartoons. While all animation studios I've worked at consider Frank Thomas'and Olli Johnston's book "Illusion Of Life" as the animation bible, Culhane's book is a definate book for anyone who is just starting. It is also a great book for fans of the all time classic cartoons.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT book - if you're serious about animation, October 10, 1998

By A Customer

If you want to be an animator, or you're REALLY interrested in the animating process, this book is just what you've been looking for. 'Script to Screen' gives an in-depth look into the workings of an animation studio, along with generous instuctions on bettering your animating techniques. If you want to be an animator - YOU NEED THIS BOOK!