Creating 3-D Animation: The Aardman Book of Filmmaking (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Creating 3-D Animation, originally published in 1998 and based on the work of Nick Park and Peter Lord of Aardman Animation, creators of the wildly popular Wallace and Gromit short films, has become required reading for animation courses around the world. In addition to being the most thorough treatment of 3-D puppet animation, also known as stop-action animation, the book was the first complete how-to guide that catered to both novices and experienced animators.

Since the book was published, Aardman released Chicken Run, its first feature film and an enormous box-office success. Also during that time, the studio began to rely more heavily on computer graphics. This revised edition brings Aardman's technology and achievements up to date. With 32 additional pages that include techniques developed during the making of Chicken Run and a further exploration into the use of computer graphics-a necessity now for animators-this edition remains the best book on the art of puppet animation and a must-have for all animators and animation junkies. AUTHOR BIO: Peter Lord, with partner David Sproxton, founded Aardman Animation in 1976. He has received several Academy Award nominations for his work on Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, and Creature Comforts. Brian Sibley is a writer and broadcaster who has written extensively about Aardman, including Abrams' Chicken Run: Hatching the Movie. Nick Park joined Aardman in 1986. His Oscar-nominated A Grand Day Out (1989) introduced the world to Wallace and Gromit.

About the Author

Peter Lord, with partner David Sproxton, founded Aardman Animation in 1976. He has received several Academy Award nominations for his work on Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, and Creature Comforts. Brian Sibley is a writer and broadcaster who has written extensively about Aardman, including Abrams' Chicken Run: Hatching the Movie. Nick Park joined Aardman in 1986. His Oscar-nominated A Grand Day Out (1989) introduced the world to Wallace and Gromit.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; Revised edition (November 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810949717
• ISBN-13: 978-0810949713
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #216,641 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've gotta get this!, July 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Creating 3-D Animation (Hardcover)

This is a great book for anyone interested in 3D animation. There is alot about the history of animation with clay and puppets. Included is info on cameras, lighting, sets, and how to build characters in clay. Learn about movement of characters and see great pictures of Wallace and Gromit being built as well as other short films. Get "Chicken Run Hatching the Movie" book too. You'll love it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but no bible, October 23, 2005

By	Nicholas B. Hilligoss (Oakleigh, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

An excellent book for fans of Aardman and those wanting a basic overview, but only fair for those looking for detailed information on how to create their own stop-motion films. Susanah Shaw's book comes closer to being the "bible" for puppet animators. But there are at least 6 crafts involved in stop motion, each deserving of a book in themselves, so no single volume can cover it all in detail. Worth buying, but don't expect it to be the all-in-one answer.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A great place for beginners, but lacks depth., October 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Creating 3-D Animation (Hardcover)

If you are a first-time animator, or are just starting out, this book is a good place to start. It provides a good overview of the animation process, with plenty of pictures and examples. It covers equipment, lighting, techniques, models, sets, and performance. It also covers the history of animation. In depth. In great depth. In fact, about one-third of the book is dedicated to the history of animation. That's all well and good, but I was really wanting (and expecting) quite a bit more in some of the other areas. For example, the section on models and modelmaking gives several examples of Aardman models, and briefly describes the processes involved in making them. Although there are many helpful hints in these pages, I would have liked an in-depth description for at least one of the models. I want to know what tools I need, what supplies I need, and step-by-step instructions for building a simple model with a wireframe skeleton. Unfortunately, the pages that described that were replaced by 50 pages of history. If you are interested in animation, and need a place to start, 'Creating 3d Animation' is great for beginners. On the other hand, if you are looking for answers to the many problems that face 3d animators, you may be disappointed.