ABSTRACT

To make great animation, you need to know how to control a whole world: how to make a character, how to make that character live and be happy or sad. You need to create four walls around them, a landscape, the sun and moon - a whole life for them. You have to get inside that puppet and first make it live, then make it perform.

Susannah Shaw provides the first truly practical introduction to the craft skills of model animation. This is a vital book in the development of model animation which, following the success of Aardman's first full-length film 'Chicken Run',is now at the forefront of modern animation.

Illustrated in full colour throughout you are shown step by step how to create successful model animation. Starting with some basic exercises, readers will learn about developing a story, making models, creating sets and props, the mechanics of movement, filming, post production and how to set about finding that elusive first job in a modern studio.

chapter 1|7 pages

Introduction – Playing God

chapter 2|13 pages

Getting Equipped

chapter 3|11 pages

Getting Animated

chapter 4|14 pages

Keep it Simple – Developing Your Story

chapter 6|21 pages

Model Makers – the Professionals

chapter 7|13 pages

Four Walls and a Sky – Sets and Props

chapter 8|11 pages

Sound Advice

chapter 9|20 pages

The Mechanics of Movement

chapter 10|9 pages

the Performance

chapter 11|15 pages

Filming

chapter 12|4 pages

Post Production