Character Animation: 2D Skills for Better 3D

Improve your character animation with a mastery of traditional principles and processes including weight and balance, timing, walks, birds, fish, snakes, four legged animals, acting and lip-synch. Traditional animation skills and techniques are presented in both 2D and 3D space. The companion CD features demonstration animations and exercises conducted in each of the major animation packages including 3ds Max, LightWave, Maya, and XSI Softimage.

Table of Contents:
introduction to 2D-animation working practice, matter and the animation of inanimate objects, the construction of a simple character, its articulation , and balance, timing, anticipation, overshoot, follow-through and overlapping action with an animated character, human walks and runs, animal walks and runs, animation of fish and snakes, animation of birds, animation of acting -- body language, animation of acting -- facial expressions, animation of acting -- two or more characters, lip-sync. The CD ROM includes 20 fully built and rigged models to animate with; over 50 tutorials on how to build and animate these models; 140 2D and 3D animated movies as examples; 22 live action movies as guidance and a free demo copy of DigiCel FlipBook line test software.

About the Author :
has animated and directed movies for over 50 clients in his 25+ year career. Clients include the BBC, Channel 4, Tesco, Marks and Spencer, BT and Electrolux. His movie "Electrolux Home products - Why?” has won two IVCA awards and a New York Film and Television award. Steve has taught animation for 12 years among some of the UK's leading Universities. He is currently Senior lecturer in Character Animation at Central St Martins College of Art and Design.

Review :
What people have said about 'Character Animation' by Steve Roberts. "Animators are fortunate, not for them the limitations of the theatrical stage or the many hazards of a live action film location shoot! Their only limitations are their imaginations and the size of their chequebooks. With the cosmos at their disposal plus all the colours and sounds in the universe - animation can be a daunting prospect! Small wonder some take up gardening or D.I.Y. Steve Roberts (the first time I saw him was at Farnham's Animation course - he was remaking Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as a satire) is not easily daunted. He has written and illustrated a remarkable book that actually makes animation easy to understand. Using simple illustrations, he takes the reader through every situation they are likely to come across in their progress towards believable animation. The key to this book is SIMPLICITY. Keep it simple! Keep it simple -parting the red sea is for Cecil. B. De. Mille." Oscar winning animation director Bob Godfrey. "It was surely a matter of time before a publication like this emerged. An understanding of basic animation principles is often overlooked in 3D computer animation. This book will do much to put that right; it is an essential source of knowledge, which will enable 2D and 3D animators to understand each other's purpose". Oscar winning animation director Daniel Greaves of Tandem Films. "Finally! A forthright approach to a complex art form. An inspired text that fuses an essential understanding of fundamental traditional methods and technology". Rita Osei, Animation & Graphics Producer, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Toonami. "A fantastic, comprehensive, but above all practical guide to character animation. The well-pitched progressive exercises at the core of this book make it a must have for all serious animation wannabes." Andrew Lindsay, Senior Animator, Lionhead Studios. "At last! A definitive work on the principles of 3D animation, from a highly experienced traditional animator. Steve Roberts brings his substantial knowledge of teaching the fundamental techniques of animation to this essential reference work - anyone who wants to make a career in CG animation needs this book!" Dr Mike Milne, Director of Computer Animation, Framestore CFC 'This well-written, easy-to-follow book is a fascinating and comprehensive read, and guide into, the world of animation. 'Character animation in 3D is jam packed full with superb illustrations and the animation exercises in this book are as simple as possible so that you are able to build a firm foundation of skills upon which to develop your own ideas. From traditional 2D animation techniques and stills through to learning and improving your 3d animation, the book guides and inspires even the most inexperienced animators to produce eye catching, original and professional looking animations.' David Smith. www.skwigly.co.uk 'Very nice! It's a great resource that I'd gladly recommend to any CG animator. We always grow by learning our animation roots that came before the world of pixels and polygons. Great job!' Award winning animator Keith Lango. www.keithlango.com/ 'COOL NEW BOOK BY STEVE ROBERTS "Character Animation in 3D" (Focal Press, 2004) is an excellent primer as well as a refresher, clearly and effectively presented by a respected teacher. Steve Roberts' love for animation is abundantly clear on every page. The book is chock full of both 2d and 3d exercises and comes with a full CD-ROM and even further info in this website: http://www.characteranimationin3d.com/. "Character Animation in 3D" is picking up some hefty endorsements by animators that are good judges of such things. Check it out! Animation acting (and all other forms of acting) teacher.' Ed Hooks. www.edhooks.com/ 'Character Animation in 3D' by Steve Roberts, the book has been a great read, and will be an invaluable reference for the students. I've requested the Library to order 3 copies for the upcoming year, and also asked for it to be included on the recommended reading list for next. Hope the book does really well. Saf Efstathiou. NCCA Demonstrator. Bournemouth University. ncca.bournemouth.ac.uk/ www.onionboy.co.uk