Animation Books

New and Published Books

1. Animated Life

   A Lifetime of tips, tricks, techniques and stories from an animation Legend

   By Floyd Norman

   Since Steamboat Mickey, animators have been creating characters and films that are charming, warm and humorous, allowing people to connect with the animated medium. Animation fans love the characters for a lifetime. This is the legacy of the countless animators and artists who created the classic...

   Published April 10th 2013 by Focal Press
2. Acting and Performance for Animation

   By Derek Hayes, Chris Webster

   Unique, believable characters that think, feel, and captivate your audience are ones that involve emotion, personality, and story. Successful animators balance all of these elements within a single character and narrative. With Acting and Performance for Animation, discover how to create dynamic,...

   Published February 19th 2013 by Focal Press
3. Professional Storyboarding

   Rules of Thumb

   By Sergio Paez, Anson Jew

   Storyboarding is a very tough business, and a new storyboarder really needs to have their wits about them and have professional savvy to survive in this competitive field. Storyboarding: Rules of Thumb offers highly illustrative examples of basic storyboarding concepts, as well as sound,...

   Published December 20th 2012 by Focal Press
4. Comics for Film, Games, and Animation

   Using Comics to Construct Your Transmedia Storyworld

   By Tyler Weaver

   Writers, directors, and producers— reach a wider audience by embracing comics to supplement your own ideas, and offer more options for audience engagement. Comics are a key element in today’s convergence culture. From their use in video games, like Batman: Arkham City and the Halo series to their...

   Published October 14th 2012 by Focal Press
5. Prepare to Board! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features and Shorts

   2nd Edition

   By Nancy Beiman

   Successful storyboards and poignant characters have the power to make elusive thoughts and emotions tangible for audiences. Packed with illustrations that illuminate and a text that entertains and informs, Prepare to Board , 2nd edition presents the methods and techniques of animation master, Nancy...

   Published October 7th 2012 by Focal Press
6. The Animator's Eye

   Adding Life to Animation with Timing, Layout, Design, Color and Sound

   By Francis Glebas

   Enhance your animated features and shorts with this polished guide to channeling your vision and imagination from a former Disney animator and director. Learn how to become a strong visual storyteller through better use of color, volume, shape, shadow, and light - as well as discover how to tap...

   Published September 23rd 2012 by Focal Press
7. The Immersive Worlds Handbook

   Designing Theme Parks and Consumer Spaces

   By Scott Lukas

   Scott Lukas, famed industry expert on designing themed spaces, brings you a book that focuses on the imaginative world of themed, immersive and consumer spaces. Whether or not you are involved in designing a theme park, cultural museum, shop, or other entertainment space, you will benefit from the...

   Published September 6th 2012 by Focal Press
8. Rowland B. Wilson’s Trade Secrets

   Notes on Cartooning and Animation

   By Rowland Wilson, Suzanne Lemieux Wilson

   Animation doesn't come with instructions; Rowland B. Wilson demanded guidelines. Trade Secrets offers a never before published peek into the personal journals of Rowland B. Wilson (1930-2005), a legend in the world of Cartooning, Advertising, Illustration and Animation. Trade Secrets is a...

   Published July 29th 2012 by Focal Press
9. Set the Action! Creating Backgrounds for Compelling Storytelling in Animation, Comics, and Games

   By Elvin Hernandez

   Create the Gotham for your Batman, the African savannah for your Simba, or the bustling newsroom for your Clark Kent. Background, setting, environment.whatever you call it, it is the silent character in the visual story, and a dynamic and compelling setting can define and hone the action and drama...

   Published July 18th 2012 by Focal Press
10. Action Analysis for Animators

    By Chris Webster

    Action Analysis is one of the fundamental princples of animation that underpins all types of animation: 2d, 3d, computer animation, stop motion, etc. This is a fundamental skill that all animators need to create polished, believable animation. An example of Action Analysis would be Shrek's swagger...

    Published June 4th 2012 by Focal Press