Timing for Animation: Amazon.co.uk: Harold Whitaker, John Halas: Books

Review

"Halas and Whitaker's 'Timing for Animation' was, and still is, without a doubt, the best book for students of the art of animation. I can't recommend it highly enough."
Bob Godfrey, Oscar winning leading animated filmmaker and author.

"Secrets of 'action timing' lucidly explained and demonstrated by two of Britain's most highly respected and adept practitioners. An essential primer for both traditional and C.G. animators."
Ken Clark, animation historian and writer

"...this is the only publication devoted wholly to one of the most vital concepts in the art of animated film... The book is a vital source of reference for students as well as every studio and every animator... Buy it! You won't be sorry!"
Pat Raine Webb, The Dope Sheet, ASIFA (www.asifa.net)

"The principles of timing laid out in this book are more applicable (now) than ever before."
John Lasseter, Academy Award-winning director and animator, Pixar Animation Studios.

"Timing for Animation is a great book - it's saved me many times. It's also easy to keep around for reference, it's not a huge coffee-table bible sized book made to impress. It just gives the facts, numbers and formulas and a few drawings to illustrate. Made by animators for animators."
Webster Colcord, www.webstercolcord.com

"...anyone already studying or working in animation (as well as self taught computer animators) will find this book indispensable both to study and for reference."
MC Rebbe, www.thetechnofile.com

"A must-have for an animator's reference library"
Amazon.com review

"This is a must buy for future animators!"
Amazon.com review

"This is the bible for any serious animator. Although it was principally written for 2D animation, this book has crucial information for any animator (2D, CGI or model animation). It explains simply and clearly how to time a walk or a run; how to give your character a sense of weight; how force is transmitted; the effects of friction; spacing -and much more. The new foreword by John Lasseter puts these traditional skills in today's context, and gives praise where it is due. Every animator, would-be animator, animation studio and animation course should have this book."
Amazon.co.uk review

"If you only ever buy one animation book in your life - get this one. Timing for Animation gets down to the nuts and bolts of what animations about, and that's timing. Buy it!"
Amazon.co.uk review

Product Description

Written by two internationally acclaimed animators, this classic text teaches you all you need to know about the art of timing and its importance in the animated film. This reissue includes a new foreword by John Lasseter, executive vice president of Pixar Animation Studios and director of 'Toy Story', 'Toy Story 2', 'A Bug's Life' and 'Monsters Inc.' He sets the wealth of information in this classic text in context with today's world of computer animation, showing how this is a must-have text if you want to succeed as a traditional drawn, or computer animator.

Learn all the tips and tricks of the trade from the professionals. How should the drawings be arranged in relation to each other? How many are needed? How much space should be left between one group of drawings and the next? How long should each drawing, or group of drawings, remain on the screen to give the maximum dramatic effect? The art of timing is vital.

Highly illustrated throughout, points made in the text are demonstrated with the help of numerous superb drawn examples. 'Timing for Animation' not only offers invaluable help to those who are learning the basis of animation techniques, but is also of great interest to anyone currently working in the field and is a vital source of reference for every animation studio.

John Halas, known as the 'father of animation' and formerly of Halas and Batchelor Animation unit, 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.

Harold Whitaker is a professional animator and teacher. Many of his former students are now among some of the most outstanding animation artists of today.

* New foreword by John Lasseter of Pixar and 'Toy Story' fame
* Benefit from the expertise of two internationally acclaimed animators
* All you need to breathe life into your animation at your fingertips

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

This is the bible for any serious animator. 25 Mar 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Although it was principally written for 2D animation, this book has crucial information for any animator(2D, CGI or model animation).
Timing for Animation explains simply and clearly how to time a walk or a run; how to give your character a sense of weight; how force is transmitted;the effects of friction; spacing -and much more.
The new forward by John Lasseter puts these traditional skills in today's context, and gives praise where it is due.
Every animator, would-be animator, animation studio and animation course should have this book .

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

A must for animators. 16 Feb 2001

I am studying animation and this book is an essential piece of kit. It tells you everything you need to know about the process of animation from filling out dope sheets to walk cycles and other animation techniques. A must buy for any would be animator!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

The definitive animation book 23 Feb 2001

By robertwillie@postmaster.co.uk

I'm an animation student, studying in North Wales. This book went out of print in the 80's, so I had to photocopy the whole thing off a friend! At last I can own my own copy. If you only ever buy one animation book in your life - get this one.

Most animation books, ie: The Illusion of Life, are good, and tell you stuff, but are basically designed for the Coffee Table. Timing for Animation gets down to the nuts and bolts of what animations about, and thats Timing. Buy it!