Layout and Composition for Animation

by Ed Ghertner

This essential, hands-on guide is filled with examples of what a composition should look like and example of poorly designed layouts. Spot potential problems before they cost time and money, and adapt creative solutions for your own projects with this invaluable resource for beginner and intermediate artists. With Beauty and the Beast examples and Simpson character layouts, readers will learn how to develop character layout and background layout as well as strengthen composition styles with a creative toolset of trick shot examples and inspirational case studies. A companion website will include further technique based tools, finalized layout and composition examples and tutorials for further artistic skill development.

Genres: Art

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2010

Reviews

[J.K. Riki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great starter book, but just lacked depth. I would love to see what an "advanced" version might be like. As it is, it's just too simple to be exceptionally useful.

[Anik · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hoped to learn more about composition for animation, considering it's in the title. However, the way the author covered this complex topic can be summarized as: place character slightly off center, leave space around character and clear the path of action. And what are the emotional effects of up-shot and down-shot.

The rest of the book talks about layout and describes the traditional multi-departmental feature animation workflow. Possibly has some useful information for animation students and beginner layout artists.

[Arturo Navarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take from profesionals in animation business. Easy to follow

[Kirsteen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this mainly because I wanted to read something more in depth about composition in artworks. I found this book very interesting and I loved all the artwork. If someone is considering animation as a career I think this might be a good introductory-level book to read but I think it might be a little too simplistic if one is a professional in that field. I did notice a few spelling mistakes, and there were a few pages near the end of the book that seemed like the writer was just trying to make the book appear longer.

From what the author says though, I think the book is mainly to help those who don't have a mentor in the field, try to get a solid breakdown of the basics in order to create layouts for animated films.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview on how to arrange your animation workflow from beginning to end. Also it breaks down editing frames together and parallax scrolling motion. Hope it all will come in handy with doing my character storyboards and scene layout arrangements for classes.

[Kori Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for amateurs and beginners alike

This book contains enough information to get anyone started with layouts for animation. It contains lots of visual references and the information is pretty concise, but to the more experienced artist, said information is basic and in some instances, vague or not properly explained.

Overall, it was an okay read, but it felt rushed and not fully thought out.

[Nadja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good introduction, the tricks in it are extremely useful.
Not too artsy nor too technical.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of basic stuff mixed in with a lot of stuff someone who didn't get the chance to be in a good animation program at school might not know. Concise and with good examples.