Product Description

To make great animation, you need to know how to control a whole world: how to make a character, how to make that character live and be happy or sad. You need to create four walls around them, a landscape, the sun and moon - a whole life for them. You have to get inside that puppet and first make it live, then make it perform.

Susannah Shaw provides the first truly practical introduction to the craft skills of model animation. This is a vital book in the development of model animation which, following the success of Aardman's first full-length film, Chicken Run, is now at the forefront of modern animation.

Illustrated in full colour throughout you are shown step by step how to create successful model animation. Starting with some basic exercises, you will learn about developing a story, making models, creating set and props, the mechanics of movement, filming, postproduction and how to set about finding that elusive first job in a modern studio.

Susannah Shaw is Programme Development Manager for the Animated Exeter festival. She was head of the Bristol Animation Course from 1996 to 2000 at the University of the West of England and former camera assistant at Aardman (working on 'A Close Shave' among other films).

* The best-selling full-color practical introduction to the craft skills of model animation
* Benefit from the advice of top international animators such as Nick Park and Tim Hittle
* Discover everything you need to know to be a model animator in a modern studio!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58373 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780240520551
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
'A wonderful introduction to a rather complicated and unique art form.'
Ray Harryhausen director of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, and Jason and the Argonauts

'Don't attempt stop motion before you read this book! Susannah has covered everything in this no-nonsense approach to the industry.'
Richard Goleszowski director of Creature Comforts and Rex the Runt

'contains a huge amount of valuable information for the budding stop-frame film maker. A great addition to the film craft library.'
David Sproxton, co-founder and Managing Director of Aardman Animations
"...a mine of information. This book gives an unrivalled detailed technical overview of the subject."
The Times Higher Education Supplement

"... clear and concise text...This is the perfect book for anyone contemplating getting into model animation."
Dope Sheet

'Practical, informative and full of quotes from key characters in the story of the stop-frame industry. I wish I'd had this book when I was a student.'
Joan Ashworth, Head of Animation, Royal College of Art

Customer Reviews

Too many holes
I knew nothing about stop motion before I read this book so I did learn a lot but there is no way I could make a stop motion film yet. The book leaves too many holes. For example, while the book mentions dope sheets and story boards (and show small, difficult-to-read examples), it doesn't tell how to do them. The book also wastes a lot of time and space with extended quotes from people in the industry. For the most part, they are "funny day at the office" stories and not terribly helpful to a beginner. Overall, I think this book is trying to be everything to everybody so although many, many topics are touched upon, nothing is covered in enough detail. Also note that most everything is British, from prices of equipment to supplier and studio resources. So, if you're curious about the world of stop motion but don't care about doing it, this would be a good book. If you want to actually do stop motion, you'll need something better than this.

detailed manual
This is a very thorough manual for doing stop motion animation...recommended for those who are serious about learning this skill.

Continued education
This book was bought as a gift, but the recipient was very pleased with it and excited to start using it.