Product Description
The Alchemy of Animation: Making an Animated Film in the Modern Age is a step-by-step introduction to animated filmmaking from one of the foremost producers of animated features. By drawing (sorry!) upon more than seven decades of Disney’s classic and beloved animated films, this stunning book explores the role of the directors, story artists, songwriters, and animators who each play an integral role in the creation of an animated feature.

This book includes a special focus on the digital techniques of filmmaking and fresh, behind-the-scenes work from the most current Disney films, including Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, and Bolt, as well as showing other forms of animation such as the stop-motion of Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Is it the alchemy!
I'm in Brazil and had no problem. The service is very good and I recommend to everyone. This book is amazing!

The Alchemy of Animation:this
this is good, but really not what I wanted to help with my drawing....I wish I had known that when I bought it...karen

Just like going on an animation studio tour
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2UH5J70FZ5206 This book is like a pass that will give you access to a tour in an animation studio. The tour guide here is Don Hahn, who has been in the animation industry for years, directing some popular movies like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, etc.

Don Hahn brings us down to the production floor, visiting every department, talking about the people and their role in movie production. You may have seen many making-of videos from DVDs but this book is the one stop source to the introduction to animation.

The book introduces the process of animation from idea creation to the ending post production work. It looks at three forms of animation that exist today and talks about how they are created. They are the computer-generated, 2D hand-drawn and stop-motion production.

Included concept art, sketches, set photos, sculptures, storyboards, 3D renders and some discarded ideas are included. This is like walking along studio corridors looking at all the art pinned on the boards.

The roles and responsibilities of every crew working on the film is explained. In a sort of way, it's also a guide to finding what kind of jobs are available in the animation industry. For the longest time, I've been trying to find out what a clean-up artist does and now I know, which is to "clean up" characters making sure they are consistent in style.

For people interested in the animation industry or how animated movies are made, this book provides a very good introductory background.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

Animation
An animator friend wanted this book for his birthday. I figure it has to be good if he wants it. He's very picky!

A well-illustrated overview of the process of creating an animated movie
Legendary animator Don Hahm provides a well-illustrated overview of the process of creating an animated movie. Less a textbook and more an illustrated guide, "The Alchemy of Animation" won't make you an animator, but will give an interested reader an insider perspective of the work flow, as well as the techniques and work that goes into each step of the process. Hahm covers the three major types of animation, illustrating each with many pictures from Disney and Pixar movie. The computer animation section is heavy on recent movies and provides some preview art of the upcoming Bolt! movie. The 2D (or hand-drawn) animation section is fairly light, particularly considering the amount of art history that Disney could draw from. The stop motion section is almost entirely Tim Burton land--Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach- -but both are amazingly well done and classics in the field. ... Read more

Product Description
"Do I have to be good at drawing to become an animator?" Walter Santucci declares that question to be the most pervasive during his 15 plus years in the business. His unequivocal reply? "No, but it helps to get good at it!" He likes to think, based on both his achievements and failures, that being funny, rather than having artistic abilities, is the real key to animation success. Hey, look at South Park!

The Guerrilla Guide to Animation: Making Animated Films Outside the Mainstream seeks to teach those not able to afford animation training or who seek to find an alternate path. It's meant to provide the outsider, the anarchist, the rebel, guidance into the world of 2D animation. While there are many texts available on animation, the shortcuts, rule breaking and cheating are some of the elements that set The Guerrilla Guide to Animation apart from the others. By including an instructional section, as well as an anecdotal section, Santucci gives the reader a `do-it-yourself' guide from the correct animation terms to setting up your own studio - even building equipment yourself - and a chance to walk in the shoes of someone who's been there and done that. He also includes a motivational/inspirational chapter on `why do this if only your family will see it!', which will keep the reader grounded and focused on their original goal.

Provocatively written, the author's experience in directing and teaching makes him the perfect source for all of those would-be animators out there. A great combination of in-depth knowledge and years of personal success and failure, The Guerrilla Guide to Animation is a unique resource for those who want to do animation their own way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Everyone should have this book
This book is a lesson plan not only for a career in animation, but for life. It shows that you can pursue your goals no matter what obstacle is in the road. You just might have to walk in the ditch, but you can get there.
Walter is talented yes, but he worked hard to find the alternative path. Learn from him Grasshopper. ... Read more

Product Description
PRODUCING INDEPENDENT 2D CHARACTER ANIMATION takes an in-depth look at the artistry and production process of cel animation in a friendly, how-to manner that makes thesometimes tedious process of animation enjoyable and easy to understand. This book guides animators through every step of planning and production; includes examples of actual production forms, organization tips, screen shots, and sketches from the pre- to post-production processes; and contains detailed information on the hardware and software used to complete each step.

By mapping out the course of how his small studio brainstormed, created, then produced its award-winning animation, TIMMY'S LESSONS IN NATURE, Mark Simon explains to animators what it takes-both creatively and resource-wise-to get their animations to market.

Includes exclusive interviews with Oscar-nominated independent animator Bill Plimpton, Craig McCracken, creator of the POWER PUFF GIRLS, Craig "Spike" Decker of SPIKE & MIKE'S SICK AND TWISTED FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION, David Fine & Alison Snowden who are the Academy Award-Winning producers of BOB AND MARGARET, Cartoon Network's Senior Vice President of Original Animation, Linda Simensky, and Tom Sito, Co-Director of OSMOSIS JONES...as well as others.

* Take your project from concept to creation, then take it to market

* Learn story development, character design, audio recording, editing, ink and paint, compositing, and the software available to enhance your animated films

* Complete with project organization guidelines, production forms, as well as work samples, trial software, and eight animations on CD-ROM! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

this book officially kicks ass
First of all, I just wanted you to know - this book officially kicks ass.

I have been messing around with Flash animation on and off for the past 4 years. Some of my stuff appeared on Howard Stern's syndicated TV show, and I even won a prize in an animated joke competition.

But I have been in a total slump lately - no motivation or understanding of how to improve my skills and not a decent idea to speak of.I haven't posted a new animation on my website in well over a year.

Then I received the book (Producing Independent 2D Character Animation) as a gift.It has been the jump start I needed, like shock treatment for my creativity.I've written some scripts and started storyboarding. I also did an animatic in Flash to check the timing/jokes. With the procedures outlined in the book as my guide, I intend to begin animating again shortly.

Thanks to the author for sharing his knowledge.

Informative; Possibly Suffers from a Misnomer
There is some good information in this book. If you have at least a modicum of familiarity with animation though, there's very little new about art or theory or instruction in here. The title and subtitle should be reversed in terms of importance to

Making and Selling a Short Film: Producing 2D Independent Character Animation.

Granted, this is not a flaw with the book, but I am writing this review as a caution to those who might think of it as one thing, when it is in fact another. They don't mean "I produced animation for Mary." They mean "For Mary I was involved in an animation production."

Difference being, aside from a section on tips, there is -no- mention of the process of animating, but rather name-dropping of software/hardware you'll need to run a digital version of the conventional studio, presented vicariously through the author recounting his experiences in making his short film.

All that being said, though, the tips are pretty good and the single most informative part of this entire book are the exclusive interviews with artists and suits from around the industry. These are so insightful (on the respondent's part) and so chock full of good things to know that it might have been more beneficial to chop the price in half and have the whole book just be about the interviews. Still, keeping the price the same, it's almost still worth it.

This is not a bad book by any means; on the contrary, it is one of the better, more clearly written books out there, and though there are too many purposeless illustrations, the ones with purpose are great and it's wonderful eye candy to have them in full color. I never got a chance to see it before I bought it, and ordered it into Barnes and Noble by my house...Now I'll likely be contributing it back into the world via the Marketplace as an interesting one night stand...

best buyfor beginning animators
explains all resources all indumentary needed and best of all almost everything has high budget and low budget examples.

Why is this so expensive?
This book is selling for $27.99 at Barnes and Noble as of 2/24/04 - that's over $20 less than here!

Highly Recommended!
This book is the most concise, and comprehensive book I've seen on the subject of producing a 2D animated cartoon. While several other books focus on the art of animation, Mark Simon focuses on the nuts and bolts of "getting it done". Topics flow from planning, visualization, character design to storyboarding, audio recording and animatics, through editing, rendering and even distribution options. The sample CD-ROM has a huge assortment of demo programs to help you "work along" with the book. It is by no means the ONLY book you need to embark on animating a cartoon, but it is an essential one for any prospective cartoon filmmaker's library. Interviews with several industry professionals are included and add a perspective from the talent buyer's view. All in all a very handy resource for someone who knows what they want to do, but need guidance to realize their vision. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Must have for any Disney collector
"Disney's Aladdin: The Making of an Animated Film" consists of 7 chapters each features a main character from the film and each chapter handles a part of the production of the film. Through out the book you find sketches, frames, photos of the crew, storyboards etc, etc. Until and after the dvd is out in 2004 this book is the best source for detailed information on the production of this Disney masterpiece.

Awesome content and layout!
The book is light and easy to carry!That's what I love about it first.But then this is more of a book explaining the progress and experiences of the film production team.It has good interviews on great animators like Andreas Deja, Glen Keane, and many more.It goes in detail of how animators cooperate with their actress/actors, designers, and even business folks (yes, those whom actually owns Disney, ahem.... Peter Schneider).What really bugs me is the absence of concept art and development sketches.It appears on several pages of the book, but not enough compare to "The Art of..." books.This is a great book to get for any Disney or animation fan, but if you want reference and simply....to get inspired by awesome Disney art--you may think otherwise.Do check it out before you purchase it, but it is a decent book!

A well thought out, well-written, well-concieved work
This book is not only excellent for any rabid Aladdin fan, any Disney-enthusiast will appriciate the colorful, yet simple, layouts, and the organization of the book itself. Each chapter centera around one particular aspect of animated feature-making (such as pre-production, character design, color scheeming, etc.) and uses a main character as an example for each process. A truly excellent find.

--a bit of trivia: At the time "Aladdin" was being promoted, Robin Williams was working on another movie called "Toys," and didn't want to be promoting "Aladdin" as a priority over his other movie--since he had commited to the Disney project second. As a result, Robin Williams is not named once in the entire book! Instead, it used the phrases, "The Genie voice."

Lack of respect for the actor who carried such a good movie
I collect the hyperion 'the art of' series conceirning the disney movies (and dreamworks)and found it terribly annoying tha author never mentions Robin Williams throughout the whole book. Unbelievable when you consider the impact his voice and humor has on the film. I really expected more info on his involvement. Compared to other making-of-books this has the least attractive lay-out and too much info on the historie of the artists. (it is also one of the smallest). Maybe my hopes were just a bit too high.

Very poorly structured book
I enjoyed the film very much, and the images in the book are beautifully reproduced.It's a shame there seems to be no coherant structure to the book.The writing is extremely poor, and not once do the images and textrefer to each other in any semblence of organization. ... Read more

Product Description
Commemorating the video release of a classic animated film, a colorfully illustrated celebration of Walt Disney's masterpiece features preliminary paintings, background sketches, vintage posters, and studio art, all accompanied by a text examining the film's historic success. ... Read more

Product Description
Have you ever wanted to make your own film? Is there a story you want to tell? You might even think that this is impossible. “Studios make films, not the little guy”. This is probably what you tell yourself.

Do you watch films with more than a casual eye? You probably want to know how they were able to get perfect lighting in your favorite scene, or how to write a professional screenplay. Do you watch the Actor’s Studio and hang on every word they say? My last question is, do sit in your seat at the movie when it’s over watching the credits as everyone else files out the door .

Why Don’t You Make Your Own Movie?

I know you have dreamed about it, but have you ever seriously contemplated making your own film? Yes Virginia, you too can make your own film, all on your own. If you have played with the idea of what it would be like to direct a film then you have already made an imaginary plan. Why not make it a reality. What else are you doing with your time, going to work at the factory everyday?

Are you thinking that Filmmaking is only for studios and professionals? I believe that Independent film has changed all the rules. Doors are opening all over for aspiring filmmakers. Why not give it a try, what do you have to lose? With a little imagination and a lot of hard work you can do this, but you need the basics to get your started. If you feel like you don’t know where to start the process, I will show you.

Filmmaking Insider Tips!

This E-book will give you the necessary information in filmmaking that it would take a couple years in college to get. Not to mention hefty tuition fees. Everything you will need to know to get started is in this publication. I give you the benefit of what I have learned over the years. With this information you should be able to get started with a professional looking film. Who needs the studio to make a film when you can do it yourself. ... Read more

Product Description
Indy Filmmaking Insider Tips

This E-book will give you the necessary information in filmmaking that it would take a couple years in college to get.Not to mention hefty tuition fees.Everything you will need to know to get started is in this publication.I give you the benefit of what I have learned over the years.With this information you should be able to get started with a professional looking film.Who needs the studio to make a film when you can do it yourself.

With Indy insider tips you will benefit by...



Benefits of Indy Insider Tips


1) You will be able to go from Pre-production to Post once you read Indy Insider Tips.

You will have the information you need to go from concept to screenplay and from the shoot to Post-production.You will discover how easy it is to make your own film with info on how to make your film look as professional as possible.

2) Promotion, Film Festivals and Distribution.

Once your film is finished you will get the tips on how to promote it.You will learn the value of film festivals in the filmmaking process.All the info written in this E-book will assist you in getting to distribution.
Here is what you will learn inside this guide....

·How to develop a concept



·How to write a professional screenplay.



·How to purchase and operate the camera.



·How to light your scenes professionally.



·Audio for your film.



·Finding a location.



·How to make a production schedule.



·A list of equipment you will need.



·How to promote your film.


·And a lot more! ... Read more

Product Description
Britain's Greatest Exploitation Film Director!

"I deliberately rub people up the wrong way", Pete Walker onceremarked, "I want them to come into the cinema and be shocked." Andshock them he did. No other British film-maker achieved the level oftransgression that Walker regularly delivered to cinema-goers in the1970s.

Beginning his career by making 'skinflicks', Walker went on to directa trio of bona fide horror film classics. House of Whipcord,Frightmare and House of Mortal Sin probe beneath the glossy surface ofthe permissive society to expose a malevolent underworld of madness,obsession and vindictive violence.

Making Mischief is the first major critical study of the controversialdirector, and it has received the full cooperation of Pete Walker andhis screenwriters. Extracts from a five hour interview with Walkerappear throughout the book which also contains a wealth of previouslyunpublished photographs and, for the first time, reveals details ofthe Sex Pistols movie A Star Is Dead, which Walker was about to directwhen the Pistols split. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Accessbile Study of Underrated Director
The much need regeneration of British horror continues with this well timed and needed study of a figure who looms large in British horror history. Largely overlooked and in some cases forgotten Pete Walker made an excellent trilogy of contemporary socially orientated horror films in the early 1970's. The films were his masterpiece "Frightmare", "House of Whipcord" and "House of Mortal Sin". Each film allegorised aspects of society, which in Walker's bleak world view are inherently corrupt, suppurating with violence, perversity and insanity. The family, psychology, the judicial system and religion respectively crumble under Walker's imperious and apocalyptic gaze. Walker articulated most effectively a Britain on the verge of implosion and self destruction, a dark, grimy and morally irredeemable world. What is notable in this trilogy is the maintenance of a gritty, naturalistic visual style which combines effectively with Walker's social critique. As a result academic Steve Chibnall argues in this text for Walker's status as an auteur. Walker, however was very concerned with the commercial properties of his films and would probably be quietly amused by the cultural ascension Chibnall proposes. Sadly outside of Walker's key trilogy, there is little to support the claims for authorship. Chibnall is always up against it in his argument because of Walker's close ties to exploitation cinema. Simply put outside of his excellent trilogy Walker made fairly lacklustre and ultimately forgettable films, examples include "The Comeback", "Man of Violence" and "House of the Long Shadows", perhaps only "The Flesh and Blood Show" is worthy of reappraisal and further study. Nevertheless Chibnall must be commended for taking this difficult task on, and he should be further commended for an entertaining prose style, that doesn't take the book beyond fans and into the stuffy netherworld of academia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A breeze of fresh air...
The movie Princess Mononoke has impressed me a lot, I have had the opportunity to see the version original subtitled to the Spanish one and from then on, as animator, I have a concept very different from theanimation. The characters capture to the audience for their personalities,only and completely believable, far from hero's / villainous typicalstereotypes, in this film, it lines her that they separates it is narroweduntil disappearing, giving place to an unique and personal experience. Theanimation of the film is simply delicious, and Hayao Miyazaki's master likestoryteller are clearly patent. I have the Japanese Artbook of this movieand it is simply wonderful, and I wait my copy of this fantastic edition ofHyperion impatiently.

Mononoke Hime
I have viewed the subtitled edition of the animated film Mononoke Hime and I must say it is absolutly magnificent!! ^_^ I was totaly absobed by it's great storyline. The storyline of this film is indeed very deep and carries with it many messages and thoughts on society and the nature of man as wellas his relationship with Mother nature . Mononoke Hime, though it doescontain violent scenes and much of it's plot involves battle, too portraysa beautiful love story. With this film scheduled to be released in the U Sin October, I encourage all able to gosee it. I belive that those whoview Mononoke Hime in the theaters this fall will be just as impressed andtouched as I was after viewing it. Those who view Mononoke Hime in theatersthis October will also be able to view animation in a whole newprespective. Hopefully it will make some realize that though they are only"cartoons", animated pieces are very capable of portraying humanideas, thoughts and emotions in a very mature, adult fashion. So well arethese emotions portrayed that they are made tangible. It is for this veryreason that I have become a fan of japanese aniamted works (anime), for inthe US, many people including animators, are under the impression thatanimation is truthfully only a field built for the amusement of children. I must thank Hayao Miyazaki, the creator of Mononoke Hime, for producingsuch a wonderful animated film which I am lucky to have been able to see.This film will always have a place in my heart.

Havent read the book, but seen the movie
I saw the movie "Princess Mononoke" subtitled and I must say it is fantastic! Not the best of Miyazaki's works (Nausicaa is my favorite) but still a good movie! Cant wait for it to come out! ... Read more

Product Description
Charts the development and production of the Disney animated motion picture, to be released during the holiday season, showing the art, layout, and mechanical aspects of the first completely computer-animated film, starring Tom Hanks. Movie tie-in. 40,000 first printing.Amazon.com Review
Daly, an animation writer for Entertainment Weekly, andLasseter, the director of Toy Story, have written a richlyillustrated review of the technology, creativity, and artistry thatwent into this first-ever completely computer generated movie. Amust-have book for any animation buff or multimedia developer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

GREAT!
I Loooooooooove this book! So many stunning pictures & info!

However, be warned, this book is HUGE. Not the size of your average book.

Favorite "Art of" book
I was really excited to learn that this book was finally being re-released. I have just about all of the "Art of" books of Pixar's films, and I must say that this one is my favorite. What sets this one apart from the rest is how much more in depth the contributors go into the making and behind the scenes processes of Toy Story. I feel like some of the newer books are more focused on displaying the beautiful developmental artwork, but this one really dives into explaining the production process. I think this can be contributed to the fact that Toy Story was the breakthrough movie computer animation - there's no doubt that there would be a wealth of information to offer. The only minor downside to this book is the actual size; it doesn't fit standing up on my bookshelf. I wish it were the same dimensions as the other "Art of" books, but it's definitely not a big issue.

Go behind the scenes and learn how they did it
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R24WOKZR7V91B6 The first edition of this art book was published in 1995. After being out of print for more than a decade, Disney has finally decided to reprint it. I guess that's because of the Toy Story 3 which is coming out in 2010.

This book is only on the first Toy Story movie. To better relate to the book, it's recommended to watch the movie again since it was released so long ago.

The book measures about 18 inches diagonally, which is really big. On the hardcover is a hologram with the Toy Story gang in it. The message is clear -- Toy Story's the world's first 3D movie. The huge canvas is laid out with storyboards, character designs and movie renders display. It's inspiring to see how they turn concept art into reality.

Text is written by John Lasseter, the director, and Steve Daly. Their commentary bring us behind the scenes into the production for the world's first 3d animated movie. You'll read about storytelling, challenges on overcoming computer limitations, creating the characters and other interesting stuff. I'm pretty amazed that Toy Story was made from around 2000 models!

Profiles for individual characters are included, namely for Woody, Buzz, Andy and other toys. Detailed explanation are given character development but the focus of the book is really on the storytelling. It's about how the form follows the function. For example, you'll get to understand how Rex's small forearms created his "cream puff" character, why Woody is a soft puppet and Buzz the cool spaceman. You'll understand why characters behave the way they do, and the impression they are trying to create in the audience. In essence, you'll see how Pixar breath life into these otherwise inanimate objects.

There are plenty of interesting quotes from the staff in the empty pockets of the pages. They provide tremendous depth and insight to the film's production. The concept behind everything used in the movie are explained, from the dialogue, characters, design to music. It's like working beside the animators in the studio.

If there's a message the book wants to bring across, it can probably be summed up by this quote from Joe Ranft:

"If the story isn't there, all the breakthrough computer graphics in the world piled onto it won't matter. You'll have made a piece of passing fashion."

That is so true when you separate the CG movies that you enjoy from those that are just eye candy.

There's absolutely no different between this book and the 1st edition. So grab yours now before it goes out of print, again.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

art of toy story dissapointing
The seller of the book was great in getting the book to us quickly. I was just disappointed because I did not realize it was a miniature book. Then I was unable to return it. It was suppose to be a gift. I've bought many of the other Pixar, art of... books. They were all cheaper and the big, full size version of them.

A Perfect Guide to How the Pro's Do It

After seeing the film, the book was a natural progression.As a teacher of computer animation, Toy Story has enabled my students and I to study a piece of work which has very few flaws, other thanthe one's talked about by the animators and directors themselves.

For a student of the art of animation, the book gives a superb insight into how an idea is developed from conception right through to production.Explanations are concise and clear and illustrations are comprehensive and in most cases beautiful.

If you are embarking on a career in computer animation, buy this book! ... Read more

Product Description
Two filmmakers who've beaten the system give the real dope on what it takes to get your movie made

Do you have to go to film school to get your movies made? No, say two young entrepreneurs who survived the grind. Here they offer 140 strategies for making movies no matter what. Amateurs as well as seasoned veterans can pick up this entertaining and incredibly useful guide in any place--at any point of crisis--and find tactics that work. Whether it's raising money or cutting your budget; dealing with angry landlords or angry cops; or jump-starting the production or stalling it while you finish the script, these strategies are delivered with funny, illustrative anecdotes from the authors' experiences and from veteran filmmakers eager to share their stories. Irreverent, invaluable, and a lot cheaper than a year's tuition, this friendly guide is the smartest investment any future filmmaker could make.

Strategies from the book include:Love your friends for criticizing your work--especially at the script stageShyness won't get you the donutsDuct tape miraclesDon't fall in love with cast or crew (but if you do...) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

Totally useless
Thanks God, they don't teach you THAT in film school! Endless, girlish blah-blah-blah... It's a shame, especially when authors, according to a photo at the end of the book, passed the teenage stage a long time ago! I don't even want to be more specific! It's already way too much time I spent on this garbage... The only reason I am writing it is to warn you, Filmmaker - it has no information you are looking for.

All filler very little killer
An entire page was dedicated in given you the recipe on how to bake cookies...I'm not kidding, it's there!

Apart from atrociously redundant information littered through this book that has little to do with actual film making. There are still a few gems dispersed in it. If you're masochistic enough to read the entire thing then it might be worth it.

If you're really really into making movies then don't waste your time and money (I wasted the former cause I'm sick like that) buying this book. Buy a book you can actually learn something from.

Great book so far!!!....still reading it though
I bought this book for the soul purpose to learn what it takes to make films and what not. I'm an aspiring actor and I just started in films last May 2007 and up to Dec. 2007 I've done 11 films as an extra or an actor with speaking lines. I'm also reading Screenwriting for Dummies which is also very helpful.Someday I'll take this knowledge from these two books and more to come and make a film.

This book is easy reading and enjoyable. So far I have no negative comments about it.

Fun but Useless
If you want something that might motivate you to make a film..-_-then go ahead and buy it... but dont expect to learn anything useful.

Enjoyable read, but limited in focus
I just finished this book and thought I would share a few things, good and the not so good.

First the good:
The authors do a really nice job explaining a lot things first time filmmakers might have trouble with, in other words, the 'gotchas'.Things as blaringly obvious as backup batteries and duct tape are included.They touch on a lot of things one should consider when making films.

The book is well laid out and lead one from beginning to end, like a good story.It was a very easy read and sometimes out-loud funny.They talk a lot about dealing with personalities, which is both good and bad.

Which leads me to the not so good:
As encouraging as they are, at times they bring up so many difficulties that one wonders why anyone would bother to make a film at all.The book is alternately encouraging and discouraging.

Given that they are both former film students, this book relies heavily on their film school background, which is an advantage for film school students, but not as useful for non-traditional film students (like Jeunet and myself).They reference the Hollywood film industry/culture almost exclusively, which again does not help those who are based elsewhere.

Bottom line:
I found this book useful, but not as much as I had hoped.This book is ideal for anyone who went to film school, but is only half helpful for the rest of us.The cover is a little deceiving (blame marketing) in that the publisher makes the book sound ideal for any filmmaker.Despite the flaws, I find it to be a useful reference for my filmmaking endeavors.I give this four stars, one extra star than I normally would have, just for sheer entertainment and readability value. ... Read more

Product Description
Film-making history was made when, in The Two Towers, an actor's performance and digital animation were seamlessly integrated to create the world's first totally lifelike computer-generated character. Now Andy Serkis tells his own story about how a three-week commission to provide a voiceover for Gollum grew into a five-year commitment to breathe life and soul into The Lord of the Rings' most challenging creation.

- Did the voice of Gollum really start with a cat being sick?
- What was it like acting in a bodysuit covered in dots?
- How much was Gollum modeled to look like Andy?
- What surprises does The Return of the King hold in store?

Fully illustrated with more than one hundred exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and drawings, and with contributions from the many designers and animators who brought Gollum to life, this book examines the transition to the big screen of one of literature's most unforgettable creatures. As the filming takes him from London to Wellington, and from the MIsty Mountains to Mount Doom, Andy Serkis explains the methods - and the madness - behind the most amazing five years in this actor's life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Other reviewers have said it all...
Just wanted to give five stars.
Oh, yes, and I thought I was the only person to camp with no supplies save a copy of LOTR! You know what they say: great minds think alike.

I LOVE ANDY
I love Andy Serkis. I love his book. Go buy it. Love him too. Enough said.

Brief, informative and loaded with incredible images. . .
Andy Serkis, the actor behind the character of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, takes us deep into the terrain behind this great epic of our time.Through his experience in creating a close reflection to Tolkien's Gollum, he comes forward in what seems to be a blunt honest story of his time on the set and creates a brief, enjoyable actor's account.
Beginning with a phone call and winding his way through the streets of New Zealand, the highways of character development and the psychological paths of his acting and character experience, we get a great bit of knowledge of what it really feels like to transform yourself into another person for the sake of showing the world a tale - or even a message.You could call it a diary, completely packed with bits and pieces that are extremely informative, but brief.Learn what it takes to be an actor or a psychiatrist, to completely envelope yourself into character and to be immersed in a wonderfully diverse land.With contributions from Gary Russell and others on set, this book has incredible illustrations, sculptures, design plans, photographs and passages from the crew.Hilarious Gollum faces are located on the top outer corner of each page as you read along, making a fun time in itself.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the movie trilogy, those who want a better glimpse behind the making of a soon-to-be classic, movie enthusiasts/aspirers, or anyone else if they just want a fun read.This is definitely a kid-friendly book (though some kids may get disgusted or confused at some of the sculptures of Gollum without his little rag around his waist.Ahem. . . :D), though I think it may tend to be slightly boring for younger kids.Definitely PG.
So I will leave you to your browsing and shopping with a song from Gollum,

"Rock and pool
is sweet and cool
so nice for feet,
we only wish
to catch a fish
so juicy sweeeeet!"

Happy Reading!

Gollum and Smeagol and Andy......
This is a fascinating account of Andy Serkis's experience in creating the CG character, Gollum, as well as his actual "on screen" time as the ring-beguiled Smeagol in the opening scene of The Return of The King.

Andy's tale is engaging and honest, relating the hardships he endured in bringing the character to life and only increases my respect for him as a performer and a human being.It must have been a long, sometimes difficult job for every actor in the films, but Andy put in more hours than any other actor involved, many of them in isolation from the "moral support" of comrades.

Perhaps the most touching part of this book is Andy'sdedication, which is to his own children, the Jackson children, the Astin children, and all the other "children of the ring" who were forced to sacrifice so much time with their parents during the making of these epic pictures.

A GREAT bet for some wonderful inside info and some pretty neato pictures!

A precioussss behind the scenes look at the making of Gollum
Even casual film fans are now familiar with the character of Gollum and the groundbreaking special effects that turned him into one of the screen's most memorable characters. Now, we get to see Gollum from a different perspective: through the eyes of the man who brought him to life, Andy Serkis. This memoir, written by Serkis (w/help from Gary Russell) is an entertaining and eye-opening look at the production of both the character in general and the films as a whole. Andy had done mostly small roles in films and plays when he received an intriguing casting tip from his agent: Apparently, New Line was making a trilogy of films based on the "Lord of the Rings" series, and needed someone to voice the character of Gollum. Serkis, unfamiliar with the trilogy (though he had read "The Hobbit" in school) initially balked, until his partner (later, wife) Lorraine--who HAD read the books--urged him to try out. Andy agreed, and began to try different voices that might fit the character. He was stuck, having tried many different voices, until inspiration hit in the form of his cat. (His gagging, hairball-infested cat.) Serkis, who had decided to approach Gollum as a character so full of guilt and obsession (he also compares Gollum to a hardcore junkie) that he was literally choking on it, imitated his poor gagging cat in front of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh...and the rest, as they say, is history.

Andy journeyed to New Zealand for what he though might be a bit of voice work. Instead, the role of Gollum turned into one of the most challenging undertaken to date: Serkis not only supplied the voice of Gollum, but also his movements as well (thanks to innovative motion-capture technology). Serkis would end up filming scenes multiple times: once in a blue suit, accompanied by Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, then again without them, and often again in a suit studded with dots (reference points for computer animators). Though tedious, this process allowed the animators to bring Gollum to living, breathing life, a genuine example of movie magic. (How detailed is the character of Gollum? A deaf man who saw "The Two Towers" was able to read his lips.) Andy studied the character, often referencing the books for little insights into the character and his psychological makeup in order to bring greater depth to Gollum. And perhaps a little bit of Gollum worked its way into Andy...because vegetarian Serkis suddenly found himself enjoying fish again.

Despite the frequent hardships of filming, Andy was able to keep a sense of humor and professionalism about him, and is able to look back at many of the more difficult moments and laugh. Indeed, his sense of humor sustains the book when it bogs down or becomes repetitive; Serkis felt the need to relate the details of motion-capture technology a few too many times, as if he were telling a multi-part story and needed to bring new readers up to date. He grouses a bit about his initial lack of recognition and appreciation, especially when he had to repeat long scenes in the blue suit while the other actors could relax. (The worst one: Repeating a scene that involved splashing in frigid water...and that blue suit was NOT insulated). But he chides himself for those feelings, and finds a great deal of humor in those difficulties now.

Serkis, who claims little knowledge of classical literature, belies it with frequent references to and quotes from Nordic literature, the Bible (Smeagol's murder of Deagol draws comparisons to Cain and Abel), Shakespeare's "The Tempest" (comparing Gollum to Caliban), Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein's monster, and more. His writing style is smooth, full of humor and frequent good-natured self-deprecation, especially when relating how he foolishly ventured onto a rapids-filled river with minimal supplies, only to be rescued by four Wellington city councilors. His feelings of unappreciation were greatly assuaged when he learned that he would actually be on-screen, playing the role of young Smeagol in a flashback, as we see how Gollum came into possession of the Ring. Though he would still find himself largely unrecognized: A flight attendant saw him reading the books and innocently asked him if he knew about the films, sighing all the while because Orlando Bloom had been on the plane just a few days before. Serkis resisted a strong urge to crawl on all fours and hiss in his Gollum voice. (I don't know if I could have).

This little book (119 pgs) contains all one would want to know about the creation and evolution of one of modern cinema's most unique characters, and is highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Surf's Up , the latest CG-animated feature film from Sony Pictures Animation, is based on the "true story" of up-and-coming surfer Cody Maverick.  The film follows Cody as he enters his first professional surf competition.  Inspired by the legendary wave rider Big Z, Cody leaves his family and hometown of Shiverpool, Antarctica to travel to Pen Gu Island for the Big Z Memorial Surf Contest.  Cody believes that fame and fortune will bring him the admiration and respect he craves, but when he meets a washed-up old surfer named Geek, Cody begins to understand that the greatest champion isn't always the one who comes in first.

Get an inside look at the making of this incredible film in Surf's Up: The Art and Making of a True Story, which is packed with a wealth of extras, including a DVD that details the digital image-making process, a teaser movie poster, a booklet on "Building a Digital Wave," vintage surfer postcards, a surfbook bookmark, and a commemorative Pen Gu Times newspaper.
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, Jon Heder, James Woods, Mario Cantone, Deidrich Bader, Jane Krakowski, and Mindy Sterling, Surf's Up is directed by Ash Brannon ( Toy Story 2 ) and Chris Buck ( Tarzan ).

Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Insight Editions have partnered to create two incredible previous books, The Art of Open Season andThe Art & Making of Monster House . Animation Magazine's rave review observed that Insight Editions and Sony "have raised the bar for movie tie-ins!" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

An absolutely gorgeous book
This is a spectacular book and one that other authors and publishers of 'art of' books ought to take a close look at.The artwork included is in a variety of formats from basic sketches to full digital renderings and includes a number or extras such as a DVD and poster that really make this book something extra special.All of the characters and even backgrounds are well featured.The book itself even comes in a plastic slipcase that compliments the design asthetic of the interior pages.Just like the film, one can tell that a lot of effort and love for the story and characters went into the creation of the book.

the best art book for a movie i've ever found
i would say, above and beyond, this has to be one of the most stylistic and visually thought-out artbooks i have ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on.To this day, i have not found one for any other movie that was in so many ways rewarding.From conceptual drawings to added removable material, paintings and sketches, this book leaves you without much more to want.I am a huge fan of the movie, and appreciated all the detail work that went into every facet of the film, and most of these are laid out in the book!- more than just character designs, pages on the surfboard designs, logos, "old" photos of surfers and younger geek, all topped off with a beautiful hardbound cover (with plastic, image-overlaying slipcover to protect the book) for a very reasonable price.
if you are obsessed with the movie, there is no choice- get it.

Another great book
Following on from the previous Open Season art of, Surfs Up is another great look at the development years. The environment drawings and paintings are wonderful to look at and the characters a fun to look at. Again the book delivers some extra inserts throughout the book like stickers and such...but i feel this didnt have as much put into it as Open Season. Still it is a great book to have on the shelf for inspiration.

Great development book
I collect and study a lot of "art of" books. This is one of the best I've ever seen, much better than the Disney "art of" books. It gives you a great breadth of development: color, sketches, layout, backstory, etc.

The sketches are amazing, and the renderings and color treatments are beautiful, lush, and eye candy. I read this book before seeing the movie and it was wonderful to see how everything came together in the film. If you like "art of" books - this one should be in your library.

Just plane fun
originally i really didn't have any intentions of seeing "surf's up" in theaters, i was just going to wait it out and rent it. then i stumbled upon the making of art book and changed my mind. what i really love about the book is the playful attitude it takes to the whole "art of/ making of" genre. it goes beyond showing you concept sketches and the likes and shows how they constructed scenes, gives extra little insights on character's personalities, and through in some behind the scenes jokes that didn't make it into the movie. all in all just a really enjoyable read. ... Read more

Product Description
Successful animators- the ones who land the exciting jobs and who win the industry awards- must be more than simply a talented artist, a great filmmaker, or a skilled technologist.They need to be all three!For the first time, aspiring animators and those in the field looking to move up have a resource to help them develop this entire skill set with Exploring Digital Cinematography.Award-winning animator Jason Donati examines such key concepts as CG directing, lighting, and texturing from the three different perspectives of art, film, and technology. Beginning with a solid foundation of art and filmmaking knowledge, this groundbreaking book then translates key production techniques- including depth of field, camera blocking, and three-point lighting- into the 3D world. This unique approach bridges the gap between traditional live-action cinematography and cutting-edge 3D animation, giving readers all the skills they need to realize their full 3D animation potential. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Donati VS Birn
I admit that Donati made a good point in his book, nevertheless the book has very poor information compared to 'Digital Lighting and Rendering' by Jeremy Birn, both books are almost identical in the topics.

Donati presents very basic material in lighting and rendering, also so much pointless text that is not needed, on the other hand Birn elaborates on these topics taking the digital cinematographer to a totally new level.

Be confident that both books present almost same topics, and you'd definitely be better off with Birn's, am not promoting it but it's the truth.

I admit that I have learned alot from Donati's and it's worth reading, but this book alone is not enough, if you can afford enough time for reading another.

I was disappointed when I found another author presenting same topics and elaborating on them more than Donati's, explaining all about video formats from PAL all the way to HDV, which Donati failed to cover or even bring to readers attention.

Also worth noticing that the book contains so many printing errors, and very poorly edited for someone who's supposed to be in the animation/graphics/3D industry, e.g compare to sybex or focal press books, and the book is not really cheap to lack good editing.

A really good book to own
This book is pretty thorough in covering all the aspects of digital cinematography, such as what the production process looks like, how to construct a compelling story, camera direction, lighting.....The sections on Lighting are especially thorough and very much tailored for the "Digital" part of Digital Cinematography, with easy to follow examples of how to create different lighting schemes in a 3D environment.Also, the artist spotlights on professionals working in the animation industry are very good to read as they add other insights and help you understand how they think and use this information.With most of the educational art books that I look for, good visuals are very important, and this book doesn't dissappoint.Great examples of 3D animation to illustrate the points of the book.

A great source for the aspiring film maker.
Exploring Digital Cinematography is the perfect source to inspire or inform those looking to leap into the fields of animation and film.From those with little to no experience to those with countless numbers of years in the field, this book provides detailed knowledge about topics such as color theory, cameras, and lighting that will help pave the way to create a visual masterpiece.Mr. Donati provides plenty of pictorial guidance to help ease students into learning the subject material.He also provides some hard truths that few beginners to the field realize before making the decision to enter animation.One specific overtone to this book that makes it a great reference is that animators are film makers and artists first.There is no way around that.Make great films, animation, and art with the help of this book.Highly recommended.

Essential textbook for animators!
This book is a great resource for animation instructors or anyone looking to improve their skills as an animator.As the title indicates, it is built around the premise that good animators are first and foremost filmmakers--a fact that few budding animators consider.Donati walks readers through the entire animation process, and I've used several of the sections in both intro and upper-level classes.It conversational tone makes the text fun to read and there are plenty of graphics to reinforce the lessons.His thorough explanations of color theory, storyboarding and camera work make my lessons in these areas more effective.The accompanying CD-rom is full of helpful material as well, including a fantastic tutorial on 3-point lighting.If every 3D student followed this, there would be no more floating figures hovering above the ground when they should be running on it!Finally there's a book that covers the essential cinematographer's skills as they apply to animators.Strongly recommended.

A must have!
This book is perfect for anyone hoping to gain a greater understanding of all facets of digital cinematography and producing films/animations.

Super for use in the classroom and personal projects. The thing I like most is that the chapters give a nice basic overview then go into great detail for those that want a lot more.

-Michael ... Read more

Product Description
Demonstrates how to create animation without a camera and provides instructions for making flip books and other animation devices. ... Read more

Product Description
As much a testament to the art of the book as the art of animation, The Art and Making of Monster House is presented in lavish four-color throughout, with highlights of some of the film’s most astonishing features including 3-D art, gatefolds and die-cut overlays of the five stages of computer generated “motion capture” technology. It also includes envelopes, cards, and a movie poster.
Monster House is the first film from director Gil Kenan, who is living every young director’s dream, hand-picked by the film’s executive producer, Steven Spielberg, to create this groundbreaking film. This latest release from Sony Pictures Imageworks and ImageMovers, features the innovative, cutting-edge technology of " performance capture” animation, first introduced in The Polar Express.
Monster House tells the story of a trio of friends who discover the secret that a scary, creepy house in their neighborhood is actually a living, breathing monster and it’s up to the kids to stop the evil house before it’s too late. Standouts in the cast include animation veterans Steve Buscemi, Kathleen Turner, Catherine O’Hara and Jason Lee, as well as Fred Willard, Kevin James, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Jon Heder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Best Book Ever...
or close to it. WOW is this book just made of awesome or what!? Tons of pictures - lots of color.Real post-it notes are glued onto the pages with the kids comments and "plans".I lIKED this movie but LOVED this book if that makes sense.

Scrapbook Goodness
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R34EIRLJN7FVBJ This was the artbook that started all the scrapbook-styled artbooks. It's easily the best and it still is. Inside the book's cardboard cover was some really top quality dust jacket. It's comparable to movie posters and its glossy.

This book had 160 pages and was literally filled to the brim with tons of stuff. Inside were "collectible" cards, storyboards, small booklets, post-it notes and amazing beat boards. Numerous 2-page spread of the beat boards were breathtaking to look at.

Stocks do run out for artbooks, as I've realized, looking at older artbooks from amazon.com. If you're into buying artbooks, you really don't want to miss this.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

The Art of Monster House
This book is in good shape. For some reason I think that a page was missing, but I think I can do without the page. I like this book very much.

Awsome book
This book is like the awsome movie itself.
It has certain features you do not expect. Sometimes I could not determine at first sight if pictures were 2d or just real materials. Like the enveloppe,the playingcard holders and other "fearsome commodities". Wonderfull picturebook with well made drawings and photographs. Outstanding quality. It might have been found in the monsterhouse!
Brecht Gerritse, The Netherlands

An amazing book!
This is how "art of" books really should be made. Lots of inserts, post-it notes and fun details. It looks almost like a scrapbook and is filled to the rim with drawings, renders, concept art and fun stuff. Very inspirational. It is just as great as the "Open Season" book which is also a must-have for all fans of animation. ... Read more