Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the author
OK
The Animator's Survival Kit Paperback – January 7, 2002
Animation is one of the hottest areas of filmmaking today--and the master animator who bridges the old generation and the new is Richard Williams. During his more than forty years in the business, Williams has been one of the true innovators, winning three Academy Awards and serving as the link between Disney's golden age of animation by hand and the new computer animation exemplified by Toy Story.
Perhaps even more important, though, has been his dedication in passing along his knowledge to a new generation of animators so that they in turn could push the medium in new directions. In this book, based on his sold-out master classes in the United States and across Europe, Williams provides the underlying principles of animation that every animator--from beginner to expert, classic animator to computer animation whiz --needs. Urging his readers to "invent but be believable," he illustrates his points with hundreds of drawings, distilling the secrets of the masters into a working system in order to create a book that will become the standard work on all forms of animation for professionals, students, and fans.
- Print length342 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherFaber & Faber
- Publication dateJanuary 7, 2002
- Dimensions9.53 x 0.95 x 11.02 inches
- ISBN-100571202284
- ISBN-13978-0571202287
There is a newer edition of this item:
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
By Richard Williams The Animator's Survival Kit, Expanded Edition: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Clas (Second Edition, Revised Edition)Paperback$21.61 shippingGet it as soon as Thursday, Oct 23Only 14 left in stock - order soon.
[LEZHIN] Point Character Drawing [paperback]Paperback$17.31 shippingGet it as soon as Thursday, Oct 23Only 6 left in stock - order soon.

Editorial Reviews
Review
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Faber & Faber
- Publication date : January 7, 2002
- Edition : 2nd
- Language : English
- Print length : 342 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0571202284
- ISBN-13 : 978-0571202287
- Item Weight : 3.4 pounds
- Dimensions : 9.53 x 0.95 x 11.02 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,210,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Animation Graphic Design (Books)
- #205 in How to Create Anime & Cartoons
- #1,185 in Movie Direction & Production
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Richard Williams is best known as the Director of Animation and designer of the new characters for Who Framed Roger Rabbit, for which he won two Academy Awards including a Special Achievement Award.Canadian-born Williams has won three US Academy Awards, three British Academy Awards, and an Emmy among 246 international awards-- starting with his first film The Little Island in 1958.Williams has also animated title sequences for Return of the Pink Panther, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, What's New Pussycat, Casino Royale and linking sequences for The Charge of the Light Brigade, as well as countless prize-winning commercials.In 1990 he was voted by his peers as "The Animator's Animator," and in 1995 he started giving the Richard Williams Animation Masterclasses for professionals and students worldwide in London, Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, Sydney, Hong Kong, France and Denmark.He lives with his family in Wales and works as an independent film-maker.
Customer reviews
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star5 star88%9%3%0%0%88%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star4 star88%9%3%0%0%9%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star3 star88%9%3%0%0%3%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star2 star88%9%3%0%0%0%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star1 star88%9%3%0%0%0%
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this animation book essential for mastering basic principles and step-by-step drawing techniques, with detailed illustrations and comprehensive information on all necessary topics. The book is praised for being easy to understand, with one customer noting how principles can be translated into 3D CG. Customers appreciate its value and consider it a must-have for artists at any level, with one review highlighting its rich references and diagrams.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers praise this animation book for mastering basic principles and providing a wonderful outline of step-by-step drawing techniques, making it useful in everyday work.
"...Definately a must have for animators...." Read more
"...So much detail put into this book its unbelievable. Best animation book I've ever owned." Read more
"This is a must for animators or anyone interested in learning how to do animation. Very helpful tips and guides." Read more
"This is probably the best book on animation I have come across...." Read more
Customers find the book very helpful, particularly for getting the basics down and providing examples to learn from.
"This is a great resource for anyone who does any kind of animation, whether it's computer animation or a flip-book!..." Read more
"...The book offers many definitions, examples and things to know for all things animation...." Read more
"...of the area, this book has several tricks and data that are very helpful." Read more
"Really good book, Useful." Read more
Customers find the book provides comprehensive coverage of all necessary topics, explaining everything in great detail, making it a definite guide.
"...It has a lot of useful information and references...." Read more
"...i agree with the people that say that this is the animators bible, very informative...." Read more
"Very detailed. Lots of visual examples. So excited to have it my collection." Read more
"...] This book is so incredibly in-depth and thorough, I've been carefully reading through each page and have already learned SO much wisdom and..." Read more
Customers find this book essential for animators, particularly praising its content on drawing and character animation, making it a valuable resource for students and artists at any level.
"The essential book for animators and for those who want a study of motion and techniques to expand you art." Read more
"Fantastic resource for artists, even those not studying animation...." Read more
"A must have on every animators table. Great tool and inspiration!" Read more
"Great book for beginners!..." Read more
Customers find the book worth every penny, with one mentioning that the walk cycle reference is particularly valuable.
"...Nevertheless, it's worth the read in spite of the editorial comments, and sometimes because of them...." Read more
"helped me in my classes & was a great price in the older version of amazon..still use this even now" Read more
"Fast delivery, good quality and excellent prices earn this item an A+!" Read more
"...Glossy and thick pages. For nearly $35 and 380 pages, this is just a great deal...." Read more
Customers find the book insightful, with one describing it as a treasure trove of knowledge.
"This book is jam-packed with information and inspiration...." Read more
"Cool and insightful" Read more
"...It is filled with anecdotal views of what and how one learns to do it all better and more believably...." Read more
"...The author also offers sagely advice from the colleagues he learned from over the years...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to understand, with simple instructions that make it accessible. One customer notes that the principles translate well to 3D CG.
"...It is fun, easy to understand and shows how much work and practice is needed to become really good at animation...." Read more
"I bought this for a class, however I really love the simple instructions and easy to follow guides." Read more
"...appreciate how this is not just a technical book, but it's really easy to read...." Read more
"...The text is very readable and makes you feel like you are moving along, learning the business of animation from the inside out...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's many detailed illustrations and consider it a brilliant guide to drawing.
"...The Animator's Survival Kit contains the basics of animation, illustrated and explained." Read more
"needed for a class, lots of illustrations and examples to follow" Read more
"...The concepts are easy. Lots of illustrations and thought exercises...." Read more
"...I love that it has actual drawn examples on how to maintain continuity in drawings and even has some guides to 3D animation. Awesome book!" Read more
Reviews with images
Surprised that it's really thick
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2025Wow! Got this as a gift for a friend.
First off I was surprised by how thick and heavy this book was. It's definitely a must have for those interested in animation and really any art student that's working on dynamic movement.
We're both artist, but he's much more into animation than I am. After flipping through the pages, I see that this is also just another good art book for anyone interested in dynamic movement and poses. It also has a couple of pages with a small focus on perspective.
Secondly this whole book is just great quality. Glossy and thick pages. For nearly $35 and 380 pages, this is just a great deal. I may look into this for myself if the price were to drop though.
I really appreciate how this is not just a technical book, but it's really easy to read. From what I'm looking at, there's no crazy jargon and or pretentious writing.
5.0 out of 5 starsWow! Got this as a gift for a friend.Surprised that it's really thick
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2025
First off I was surprised by how thick and heavy this book was. It's definitely a must have for those interested in animation and really any art student that's working on dynamic movement.
We're both artist, but he's much more into animation than I am. After flipping through the pages, I see that this is also just another good art book for anyone interested in dynamic movement and poses. It also has a couple of pages with a small focus on perspective.
Secondly this whole book is just great quality. Glossy and thick pages. For nearly $35 and 380 pages, this is just a great deal. I may look into this for myself if the price were to drop though.
I really appreciate how this is not just a technical book, but it's really easy to read. From what I'm looking at, there's no crazy jargon and or pretentious writing.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2025It wasn't too bad and had some really useful advice and imagery.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2025I am mostly a self-taught 2D traditional animator. This book has a fountain of information. Most of the big animation studios have the first and second edition, in their information/reference library. You can learn how to animate, by using this book with the foundations and beyond to begin making your own animation.
I just bought it not too long ago and started reading on day one; and being a 2D Animator for over fifteen years - there is so much more I have yet learned from this book. A definite must have for all old and new animators.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2025Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseBought this book for a college class. 10 years later I am still using this book when it comes to squash and stretch animation. The concepts are easy. Lots of illustrations and thought exercises. I have a few friends that animated for Disney and they keep this book at their desks.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2025Blessed to have this wonderful book.
Extremely well done, precision.
A must for anyone looking to Animate.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2010The best part of this book is its recognition of the PROCESS of learning something as marvelously complex as cartoon animation. It is filled with anecdotal views of what and how one learns to do it all better and more believably. It also captures the skills and determination of many of the great artists from the golden age of animation.
It is also unapologetic about being entirely about cartoon (drawn) animation, even though the author does recognize that most of the principles he discusses have validity to all forms of animation.
As a teacher (and student) of animation, I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover. The first 20 pages are a useful summary of the main historical moments in the development of animation, and the next 15 are all about Life Drawing skills, and the next four talk about basic animation timing. The first real anecdote of many breaks in at this point, and then the author returns to direct information exposition thereafter, but these anecdotes can often make it somewhat distracting to find the useful bits amongst the reminiscences.
Nevertheless, it's worth the read in spite of the editorial comments, and sometimes because of them. The included DVD (I have the expanded edition) is fun to watch, and brings to "life" some of the examples discussed in print.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2024I needed a copy of this book for my computer animation class in college and didn’t think I would enjoy reading a required reading textbook but I sure did! The book offers many definitions, examples and things to know for all things animation. I love that it has actual drawn examples on how to maintain continuity in drawings and even has some guides to 3D animation. Awesome book!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2025Book is worth it if you are starting out. A little cemetery here and there. But you have to follow along with it. The hard back is worth it. Not the paper back.
Top reviews from other countries
-
Utente AReviewed in Italy on April 26, 20195.0 out of 5 stars Tutte le basi che servono!
Molto esaustivo. Costruisce un percorso all'interno del quale si passa dalla storia dell'animazione, ai documenti di preproduzione, allo studio dei principali movimenti. Solo per la camminata vengono dedicate 114 pagine, un quarto del libro; questo per rendere l'idea di come gli argomenti vengono spiegati minuziosamente se ve ne è una necessità.
Ottimo sia per una lettura d'interesse o per chi studia animazione nei campi e con le tecniche più disparate (videogiochi, stop motion, computer animation, ecc.)
Consigliato anche a chi non mastica perfettamente l'inglese.
user-M3ZK6KReviewed in Saudi Arabia on May 7, 20245.0 out of 5 stars The basics of the animation
The book arrived without damage, it is heavy book and so useful for artists who want to begin to learn animation from zero, I saw a video about the book before buy it, I'm so excited to begin learn animation for add new skill on my art career.
CzapensReviewed in Poland on August 4, 20245.0 out of 5 stars All-Time Great Resource for All Animators
The go-to book for learning animation and for animation reference, great print quality, lots of information, and beautiful drawings. Get the Extended Edition, as that one has even more information (about 382 pages), which is fantastic! Highly recommended!
-
GaelReviewed in Mexico on December 13, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Buena y gran calidad
Se promete lo que es e implica este libro y se cumple en su totalidad, una gran guía para comenzar a realizar Animaciónes tanto en formato 2D como 3D
Se promete lo que es e implica este libro y se cumple en su totalidad, una gran guía para comenzar a realizar Animaciónes tanto en formato 2D como 3D5.0 out of 5 stars
GaelBuena y gran calidad
Reviewed in Mexico on December 13, 2024
Images in this review
Chris LincolnReviewed in Australia on August 21, 20255.0 out of 5 stars As described
As discribed
















