Animation: The Mechanics of Motion

by Chris Webster

Learn the key skills you need with this practical and inspirational guide to all the fundamental principles of animation. With extended pieces on timing, acting and technical aspects, Chris Webster has created the vital learning tool to help you get the most out of your animation and develop the practical skills needed by both professionals and serious students alike.

The free CD-ROM includes more than 30 animations illustrating the techniques described throughout the book as well as examples of a professional Production Schedule, Budget and Production Chart - everything you need to get started!

With a Foreword by Peter Lord, Creative Director and Co-Owner of Aardman Animations and an Introduction by Mike Milne, Director of the award-winning animation house Computer Animation, Framestore CFC.

Genres: Art

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Chris Webster read English at St David's, Lampeter, and took a Master's degree in Education at Sheffield University. He is now a teacher and writer. His first educational publication was Poetry Through Humour and Horror (Cassell, 1987). This was followed by many more educational publications including books for KS3 and GCSE English Language and Literature, published by Hodder, and the best-selling 100 Literacy Hours (Scholastic, 1997/2005). More recently he has published study notes on the poetry of Christina Rossetti and Ezra Pound. He has also published some volumes of poetry and several novels, the most recent of which is entitled Murder at St Cuthbert's: A Commodore 64 Mystery. He uses his full name, Christopher Webster, for his novels and short stories on Dark Age and Medieval history.

Reviews

[Alec Longstreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, an animation textbook! Instead of just tips and tricks from a master animator, this is an actual animation course with assignments at the end of each chapter, which logically build upon each other. I’m looking forward to doing all of the assignments which are very clearly articulated.

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este es básicamente un libro de texto para aprender los fundamentos de la animación tradicional, es decir, los dibujos animados de toda la vida... aunque casi todos los principios que se explican se pueden utilizar para otros tipos de animación como el stop motion o los gráficos creados por ordenador, el texto está orientado principalmente a la animación de lápiz y papel en todas sus dimensiones.

Se explican desde los principios básicos hasta la organización y presupuestos de un proyecto, pasando por temas como el movimiento de personajes humanos y animales, el acting, el diseño, la sincronización con la banda sonora...

Muy completo y detallado, con un montón de ejemplos visuales y ejercicios para que nos introduzcamos en el mundo de la animación.

[Angelia Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of technical stuff here, but he has a good notes on acting and performance. Although it’s a bit too condensed, wish it was more elaborated.