Timing for Animation

A classic of animation education since it first published in 1981. For more than 25 years, copies of Timing for Animation have been sitting dog-eared and spine-split on desks and workstations around the world wherever animation is produced. 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 revised and updated, the second edition includes timing for digital production, digital storyboarding in 2D, digital storyboarding in 3D, the use of After Effects and much, much more! Timing shows weight, mood, and power and can make or break an animation - get it right the first time with these tried and tested techniques Get straight to the good stuff with simple, no-nonsense instruction on the key techniques like stretch and squash, animated cycles, overlapping, and anticipation

Table of Contents:
Foreword by John Lasseter Chapter 1 Preface to 1981 edition Chapter 2 What is good timing? Chapter 3 The storyboard Chapter 4 Traditional hand drawn storyboards Chapter 5 Digital storyboarding in 2d Chapter 6 Digital storyboarding in 3d Chapter 7 The use of After-effects Chapter 8 The Responsibility of the director Chapter 9 The basic unit of time in animation Chapter 10 Timing for hand-drawn film Chapter 11 Timing for overseas production Chapter 12 Timing for digital production Chapter 13 Motion or Performance Capture Chapter 14 Animation and properties of matter Chapter 15 Movement and Caricature Chapter 16 Cause and effect Chapter 17 Newton's laws of motion Chapter 18 Object's thrown through the air Chapter 19 Timing of inanimate objects Chapter 20 Force transmitted through a flexible joint Chapter 21 Force transmitted through jointed limbs Chapter 22 Spacing of drawings Chapter 23 Timing a slow action Chapter 24 Timing fast action Chapter 25 getting into and out of holds Chapter 26 Single frames or double frames? Chapter 27 How long to hold? Chapter 28 Anticipation Chapter 29 Follow through Chapter 30 Overlapping action Chapter 31 Timing an oscillating movement Chapter 32 Timing to suggest weight and force Chapter 33 Timing to suggest force: repeat action Chapter 34 Character reaction and takes Chapter 35 Timing to give feeling of size Chapter 36 The effects of friction, air resistance and wind Chapter 37 Timing cycles Chapter 38 Scenes with multiple character Chapter 39 A word about Massive Chapter 40 Effects animation: Chapter 41 2D Hand drawn effects: flames and smoke Chapter 42 Water Chapter 43 Rain Chapter 44 Snow Chapter 45 Explosions Chapter 46 3D Digital Effects Chapter 47 repeat movements of inanimate objects Chapter 48 Timing a walk Chapter 49 Types of walk Chapter 50 Spacing of drawings in perspective animation Chapter 51 Timing animals' movements Chapter 52 Bird flight Chapter 53 Speed lines, and motion blur Chapter 54 Snap Principle: Accentuating movement, Chapter 55 Strobing fast run cycles Chapter 56 Characterization Chapter 57 The use of timing to suggest mood Chapter 58 Synchronizing animation to speech Chapter 59 Lip-sync Chapter 60 Timing and music Chapter 61 Camera movements: Traditional Chapter 62 Camera Movements: Digital Chapter 63 Editing for different animated media Chapter 64 Feature films Chapter 65 Television Chapter 66 Downloads and short form media games Chapter 67 Traditional skills and Future technological development.

About the Author :
Known as the "father of animation" and formerly of Halas and Batchelor Animation unit, John produced over 2000 animations, including the legendary "Animal Farm" and the award winning "Dilemma". He was also the founder and president of the ASIFA and former Chairman of the British Federation of Film Societies. BAFTA-nominated professional animator and educator for 40 years, many of his students number among today's most outstanding animation artists. Tom Sito is an Adjunct Professor of Animation at USC, Woodbury College, and UCLA and has written numerous articles for Animation Magazine and Animation World Network. Tom's screen credits include the Disney classics THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989), BEAUTY & THE BEAST (1991), ALADDIN (1992), THE LION KING (1994), WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBITT (1988), POCAHONTAS (1995), FANTASIA (2000) and SHREK (2001). Tom is President-Emeritus of the Hollywood Animation Guild Local 839 IATSE. He is vice president of the International Animator's Society (ASIFA/Hollywood) He is a member of the Motion Picture Academy, the National Cartoonists Society and Hollywood Heritage. In 1998 he was named in Animation Magazine's list of the 100 Most Important People in Animation.

Review :
"Among my favourite books, Timing for Animation (Focal Press), by Harold Whitaker and John Halas ranks high. Originally written in 1981 (and newly revised in 2009) this slim volume presents a thorough analysis of the many kinds of timing issues one encounters in producing a narrative style animated film. Timing on Bar Sheets, Movement and Caricature, Newton's Laws of Motion, Objects Thrown Through the Air, Timing a Slow Action, Timing a Fast Action, Timing to Suggest Weight and Force... these are only a few of the many chapters included. A thoroughly compiled manual, it's an old and current favourite."--Animation World Network