Our list of some of the best Animation books & series in recent years. Get inspired by one or more of the following books.
1. The Animator’s Survival Kit: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators (2012)
The definitive book on animation, from the Academy Award-winning animator behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit?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 fifty 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…
2. I Moved to Los Angeles to Work in Animation (2019)
The story of one woman’s quest to move to Los Angeles and got a job in animation…and how you can too. When artist Tally Nourigat left her life in Portland to move to Los Angeles and pursue a job in animation, she realized that despite her research, nothing truly prepared her for the wild world that awaited in the studios of Southern California. From grinding on storyboard test after storyboard test to getting a job at a major studio to searching for an apartment in…the Valley…this autobiographical how-to graphic novel explores the highest highs…
3. Character Animation Crash Course!( DVD not included) (2008)
Character Animation Crash Course! is a veritable Genie’s lamp stuffed with everything the aspiring animator could wish for! Renowned animator Eric Goldberg’s detailed text and drawings illuminate how to conceive characters "from the inside out" to create strong personalities. Classic animation techniques are analyzed and brought to life through this unique book that offers readers animated movie examples that show, in real time or frame-by-frame, the author’s principles at work. Add to this Goldberg’s discussions of classic cartoons and his witty, informative observations based on…
4. Sketching for Animation: Developing Ideas, Characters and Layouts in Your Sketchbook (Required Reading Range) (2018)
Drawing and sketching are central to the art of animation and can be crucial tools in designing and developing original stories, characters and layouts. Sketching for Animation offers a wealth of examples, exercises and tips from an army of professional animators to help you develop essential sketching, technical drawing and ideation techniques.With interviews and in-depth case studies from some of today’s leading animators, including Bill Plympton, Glen Keane, Tori Davis and John Canemaker, this is a unique guide to turning your sketchbook – the world’s cheapest, most portable pre-visualisation tool – into your own…
5. A New History of Animation (2016)
A New History of Animation guides readers through the history animation from around the world. Topics covered include: optical toys and magic lanterns; early cinema, magic, and the foundations of the animation industry; the relationship of comics to early animation; animation as a modern art in 1920s Europe; the emergence of the major US studios; animation style at Disney, Fleischer, and Warner Bros., types of comedy; animation during wartime; stop-motion; working directly on film; youth audiences and animation in the 1960s; early television animation; advertising; games; animation from Eastern Europe; the Disney renaissance;…
6. Cartoon Animation (Collector’s Series) (1994)
is the process of drawing and photographing a character in successive positions to create lifelike movement. to their drawings, making the viewer believe that the drawings actually think and have feelings. Cartoon Animation was to help you learn how to animate. The pioneers of the art of animation learned many lessons, most through trial and error, and it is this body of knowledge that has established the This book will teach you these fundamentals. Animators must first know how to draw; good drawing is the cornerstone of their success. The animation process, however, involves much more than just good drawing….
7. Directing the Story: Professional Storytelling and Storyboarding Techniques for Live Action and Animation (2008)
Francis Glebas, a top Disney storyboard artist, teaches artists a structural approach to clearly and dramatically presenting visual stories. They will learn classic visual storytelling techniques such as conveying meaning with images and directing the viewer’s eye. Glebas also teaches how to spot potential problems before they cost time and money, and he offers creative solutions on how to solve them. * Uses the classic story of ‘1001 Arabian Nights’ to show how to storyboard stories that will engage an audience’s attention and emotions.* With 1001 drawings in graphic novel format plus teaching concepts and commentary.* All of the…
8. Timing for Animation, Second Edition (2009)
A classic of animation education since it first published in 1981. Copies of Timing for Animation have been sitting dog-eared and spine-split on desks and workstations around the world, wherever animation is produced for more than 25 years. All you need to breathe life into your animation is at your fingertips. All the vital techniques employed by animators worldwide are explained using dozens of clear illustrations and simple, straightforward directions. Learn how animations should be arranged in relation to each other, how much space should be used and how long each drawing should be shown for maximum dramatic effect. Fully…
9. Animation 1: Learn to Animate Cartoons Step by Step (Cartooning, Book 1) (2003)
“Let world-renowned animator Preston Blair introduce you to the magical world of cartooning and animation! Whether youÆre creating traditional or computer art, you’ll find valuable information in this book, which covers the most important aspects of cartooning, such as working out layouts, planning scenes, and synchronizing mouth action. It also provides instruction on drawing a variety of believable animated characters, with tips on using lines of action to create realistic motion. Widely considered one of the best cartooning references available, this book is an essential library addition for every aspiring animator.”…
10. Simplified Drawing for Planning Animation (2014)
Simplified Drawing for Planning Animation is packed with information about drawing the human form in a simplified way, for animators, illustrators, character designers and comic artists. It emphasizes simplified structure, balance and posing with sequential images. This book is used by animators at ILM, Walt Disney, Blue Sky, EA and many more. It has been required text at animation schools since 1999. This is an updated version with more character design information and animated examples from planning notes. It is a must-have book for animators and artists…
11. How to Write for Animation (2003)
In recent years, the world of animation has expanded far beyond the Saturday morning cartoons that generations of Americans grew up watching. Recent years have seen a boom in animation―hit prime-time television series, blockbuster cutting-edge digitally animated features, conventional animation. The expanding market is luring writers who have an eye toward the future and an eagerness to work in a medium where the only limit is the depth on one’s imagination. With step-by-step instructions and the insights of a seasoned veteran, award-winning animation writer Jeffrey Scott details the process of developing even the vaguest of ideas into…
Best Animation Books to Read
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Genesis and download some animation books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
Puppetry, puppet animation and the digital age
Author(s): Bendazzi, Giannalberto; Giesen, Rolf
Publisher: CRC Press, Year: 2019, Size: 8 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2351327
Redesigning animation : United Productions of America
Author(s): Cinzia Bottini
Publisher: CRC Press, Focal press, Year: 2019, Size: 27 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2355941
Game Anim: Video Game Animation Explained
Author(s): Jonathan Cooper
Publisher: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, Year: 2019, Size: 10 Mb, Download: epub
ID: 2368759
3d animation for the raw beginner using autodesk maya 2e.
Author(s): KING, ROGER
Publisher: CRC Press, Year: 2019, Size: 21 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2369241
Game anim : video game animation explained?
Author(s): Cooper, Jonathan
Publisher: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, Year: 2019, Size: 6 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2372526
The Crafty Animator: Handmade, Craft-based Animation and Cultural Value
Author(s): Caroline Ruddell, Paul Ward
Publisher: Springer International Publishing; Palgrave Macmillan, Year: 2019, Size: 5 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2407519
3D animation for the raw beginner using Autodesk Maya
Author(s): King, Roger Alan
Publisher: Chapman & Hall/CRC, Year: 2019, Size: 21 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2414136
Digital creature rigging: wings, tails & tentacles for animation & VFX
Author(s): Jones, Stewart
Publisher: Taylor & Francis;CRC, Year: 2019, Size: 5 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2415050
Infinite animation: the life and work of Adam Beckett
Author(s): Beckett, Adam; Turner, Pamela Taylor
Publisher: Routledge;CRC, Year: 2019, Size: 10 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 2415678
Please note that this booklist is not definite. Some books are absolutely record-breakers according to The New York Times, others are composed by unknown authors. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant books you could recommend? Leave a comment if you have any feedback on the list.