Recommended Books and Software

When you take our Animation Workshops, all you need is your imagination and a good attitude! But if you’d like to continue learning at home, here are some links to help out.

Books

Cartoon Animation (Collector’s Series) Preston Blair explains animation through the use of cycles and examples from his days at MGM and other studios.  A great beginner’s book — we still refer to it constantly!

The Animator’s Workbook: Step-By-Step Techniques of Drawn Animation A beginner’s book, on par with Preston Blair’s.

How to Draw Animation: Learn the Art of Animation from Character Design to Storyboards and Layouts A  good overview of the animated cartoon process for beginners.

Animation: The Mechanics of Motion Full of easy to understand, yet smart tutorials.  Recommended for beginners to intermediates. From Focal Press.

Character Animation Crash Course! A good intermediate reference from Disney animator Eric Goldberg.  Covers many concepts, including creating thoughtful characters, using exposure sheets, and adding sound.  Comes with a disc with many video examples.

The Animator’s Survival Kit, Expanded Edition: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical, Computer, Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators Iconoclast Richard Williams (Roger Rabbit, Raggedy Ann & Andy) lays down the rules in this latest “bible” for animators.  Truly amazing.  Recommended for advanced students.

Animation from Pencils to Pixels: Classical Techniques for the Digital Animator An overview of all aspects of animated filmmaking, for intermediate to advanced students or just plain cartoon enthusiasts.

The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation Frank & Ollie’s definitive book on Disney animation techniques.  A huge book, full of original artwork samples.

The Animation Book: A Complete Guide to Animated Filmmaking–From Flip-Books to Sound Cartoons to 3- D Animation For intermediate to advanced students.  An overview of the history and technology of all forms of animation.

Animals in Motion (Dover Anatomy for Artists) Reference photos by Muybridge, these of animals in motion.

How to Draw Animals (Perigee) Not an animation book, but an excellent reference for animal forms and construction.

Cartooning the Head and Figure Hamm’s book may seem dated at first glance (it was first published in the 1940s) but the information is still valid today.  Hamm shows many approaches to drawing in realistic and cartoon styles.

Creating 3-D Animation: The Aardman Book of Filmmaking From Aardman Animation, the creators of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run.  In-depth info on stop-motion animation, with great photos.

Stop Motion: Craft Skills for Model Animation (Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation) Another great book from Focal Press.

Videos

It Came From Animatus This compilation DVD contains work by many students who’ve interned with Animatus Studio.

Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens – A Life in Animation This documentary originally aired on PBS and contains interviews with top animators, directors, and actors.  Find out what made Jones one of the great cartoon directors.

Frank and Ollie (Special Edition) A fascinating look at two of Disney’s “nine old men” who helped to define the Disney style of animation.

Software – drawing

Adobe Photoshop – $10 monthly
Clip Studio Paint / Manga Studio / $50
FireAlpaca – used to be better, but now has limited animation
GIMP – GNU Image Manipulation Program
Inkscape drawing software
Magma – Browser based collaborative drawing tool – Free!
PaintTool SAI – $60 – used to be better, now might have saving issues

Software – 2D animation

Adobe Animate (Flash) – Student subscription $20 per month
Adobe Character Animator – Student subscription $20 per month
Animaker – corporate videos from templates – Free limited – or $12 monthly
Blender.org – Free – Now has 2D animation support
Crazytalk animator – Free trial – $69 standard
FlipaClip – IOS iphone ipad
Flipnote Studio for Nintendo DS
Moho (Anime Studio) Debut 12 – $69
Pencil2D – open source – Free
Piskel – Free online sprite editor
OpenToonz – Free but hard to use
ScenalyzerLive – Free – capture pencil tests
Synfig Studio – open source – Free – looks good! with bones
Toon Boom Harmony Essentials – subscription or $442 perpetual
TVPaint – $292 USD student price

Software – gaming

RPG Maker MV  | Make Your Own Video Games!
Scratch Animation from MIT

Software – stop motion

Animate It! full
Animate It! express, comes with Ogobild
Dragonframe – Pro Stop Motion – $295
ScenalyzerLive – Free – use with DV camera
Stop Motion Studio – for iphone, android, Mac, Windows

Software – 3D

Blender.org – Free – 3D Creation Software
Daz 3D – Free, with in-app purchases
HELIOS by Duo Cartoonist – 3d character plugin for TB Harmony
MMD (MikuMikuDance) – Free
NUKE Non-commercial – Free
SketchUp – draw in 3D – Free
ZBrush Core by Pixologic
Unity – Free for students

Software – editing and sound

Adobe Premiere Elements $99
Audacity® | Free, multi-track recording and editing.
DaVinci Resolve | Free, also a paid version at $295
Lightworks Pro $438 – or $25 monthly
Shotcut -Free Editing

Youtube

The Animation Workshop
Alan Becker Tutorials
Animation Mentor
Draw With Jazza Animation Playlist
RubberOnion
Skwigly Online Animation Magazine

Brainstorming

(Story) concept idea generator

Instruction

Kids Guide to Making Movies

DIY animation stands

DIY copy stand
Amazon.com : NEWCITY LED Lighting