Inspired 3D Character Animation

I'm a bit surprised at the bad rap this book has gotten in earlier user reviews. Suggesting to "just read the manual that came with the software" is preposterous -- these comments are often made by people who think that knowing how to set keyframes in a piece of software makes them GOOD animators, and nothing could be further from the truth. A thorough understanding of how the body moves, how the mind thinks, how external forces affect the body, and other sometimes slippery subjects are critical aspects of the good animator's toolset. While there are no earth-shattering revelations in this book (how many could there be when the animation industry is over 90 years old), the topics discussed in these pages, often illustrated with short exercises, make a good launching pad for people wanting to go from someone who knows how to make a character move, to someone who knows how to make a character come alive. The book does a good job of relating traditional animation concepts to the 3D medium, and several of the interviews are enlightening. As a college animation instructor and professional computer animator, I find satisfaction in opening this book in my classroom to point out that artists from celebrated studios such as Industrial Light & Magic and Sony Pictures Imageworks are saying the same things that I am telling my students. My Advanced 3D Animation students spend several weeks reading chapters from this book and applying the information through mini-assignments, which I hope lead them to realize all that they must consider in bringing a character to life. This book is not designed to teach something new to the computer animation veteran -- instead, it fulfills its purpose of showing intermediate to advanced level students of animation a path that they need to take in becoming successful character animators. While the price of this book is a bit steep, there are several pieces of advice that should be in any character animator's mantra. The information can lead to a big payoff if you really absorb it.

I bought both Inspired 3D Character Setup and 3D Character Animation books 2 years ago now, and I still refer to them on a regular basis - to the point that they are literally falling apart. I am doing post-graduate studies in 3D animation and specifically I am focusing on traditional 2D skills and how they can be utilised and/or adapted in the 3D workspace. For me, this book has been an invaluable source of reference, and it reminds me that I really must keep an open mind about animation production methods and procedures and encourage and accept helpful criticism from my peers - otherwise you get stuck in your ways and don't grow. I especially enjoy the interviews, because I really like to hear first-hand industry experience from experts, but I must say that ALL of the content has been relevant and helpful to me. One criticism that I have read about the inspired series is that the pages are too wide, but I actually like them like this because the book will stay open on the desk so that you don't have to hold the pages down with something. Yes, I think I would prefer that a CD was provided with the book, and yes, I think it was a bit expensive, but I definitely got plenty of practical, helpful advice from it - much more than many other books which are supposedly addressing 3D character animation.

I found that for the first time, a character animation book actually talks about character animation and NOT what is simply in the manuals. It's about time that someone talked about fundamentals AND HOW THEY ARE APPLIED IN 3D COMPUTER ANIMATION. Anyone can read a manual and make objects move but making them live is another thing entirely. Take it from someone who has had to review endless reels filled with junk, no timing, no command of overlap, anticipation or holds. Just by learning AND IMPLEMENTING the information in this book, you can put yourself ahead of 90% of all applicants for character animation jobs. Tips on approach, especially by Sean Mullen and Richie Baneham, are priceless. I recommend reading this title in all rejection letters we send out.

well, i was hesitant to spend [this much] for a book with no cd(there are model files ,mel scripts, and movies on the series website now), but this is the best animation book i have bought yet. trust me, i have them all.....general animation, 2d animation, software specific(even for programs i don't know or use, just hoping to get some useful info), and anything else i can get my hands on. this book has it all! the interviews are great(hear about the techniques used by top animators in top studios) and very inspiring(...hey, they even named the series that). you get info on the most common methods/techniques of animating and how to go about finding what works best for you, and the best part is that it doesn't matter what software you use....the techniques work in them all. there is a chapter on facial animation from keith lango(lead animator at Big Idea...you know Vegietales). I had read the tutorials on lipsynch from his website and figured this would be the same info, but there are some more jewels of info in there! I am clearing out the useless titles on my bookshelf to make room for this entire series!!!!

If you're like me and you've read the countless number of animation books, you know how 90% of the information is useless.This book not only shows you the importance of animation fundamentals but HOW TO ACTUALLY APPLY THEM in your own work. In addition to that it is actually written by someone who has worked in some of the biggest studios in the undustry. This book is alone worth the price for the interviews with industry heavyweights THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORKING IN ANIMATION. If you wanted to get into animation, wouldn't you want advice from some of the most successful supervisors, leads and animators at the same studios you are trying to get a job with? This book has that advice.