Acting for Animators [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Ed Hooks (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Hooks has made a valuable contribution toward deepening our understanding of [animation]. -- Brad Bird

Product Description
Acting for Animators, is the first book about acting theory and technique written specifically for the animator.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann Publishing; Bk&CD-Rom edition (January 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325002290
• ISBN-13: 978-0325002293
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 7.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #673,246 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars can I return it?, May 10, 2001

By A Customer

I have read about 40 pages and am considering stopping there. This book could be helpful for beginners... but there are definitely better wasy to start. I have been animating characters professionally for a number of years and from what I have read, can't see much in it that could be of use. Ed Hooks takes a long time to get to the point, and obvious points they are, followed by about 20 examples, then says "get it?" At one point he takes about half a page explaining whay he likes to use the word "negotion" rather than "conflict". And as for his opinions, eg all womens motivation being to find a man to support them and for breeding.... oh man, just don't go there!!!! The CD that comes with the book is just plain terrible. I don't even know where to start... little movies of people flopping about.. and acting badly...

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing, May 21, 2001

By A Customer

I was very disappointed after reading this book as somehow Ed manages to be vague about making mostly irrelevant points and he writes with a particularly narrowminded, old-fashioned attitude (particularly when it comes to women). I have been a professional character animator for a couple of years now and I found that the book contained very little of any interest or help, Ed Hooks doesn't even begin to give the topic any justice. It may contain a few points that could be helpful to animation students just starting out but then I would strongly recommend that they take some acting classes instead to get some practical experience or spend their hard-earned money on the "Illusion of Life" (if they can find it)or for that matter just about any other book on this subject.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Title is too limiting; non-animators should also read, March 6, 2001

By	Doug Kelly, author - See all my reviews

This is a dense, thoughtful work, of lasting value, which will reward careful study. Hooks writes in an easily readable style, concisely and directly, about the most difficult and elusive portion of the art of character animation. Buy this book before you buy any other character animation title, or for that matter, before you choose software or other animation tools. You will find that Hooks' advice will also improve your script and storyboard development. One of the problems with books about computer-based character animation, such as my own "Character Animation In Depth", is that they lose value as the software they are written for becomes obsolete. Hooks' work will retain its value for a long time. Buy a copy, keep it handy, reread it frequently, and don't loan it to friends; you won't get it back. Give them a copy, instead. Highly recommended.