Basics Animation 04: Stop-motion - Softcover

Purves, Barry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 2940373736 ISBN 13: 9782940373734

Publisher: Fairchild Books AVA, 2010

Synopsis

Basics Animation: Stop-motion Animation teaches the skills required to develop as a creative stop-motion animator or articulated puppet maker. It explores how all the elements of film-making – camera work, design, colour, lighting, editing, music and storytelling – come together in this unique art form. Students will learn to use and exploit the particular types of movement, characters and stories that characterise stop-motion. The book is packed with tips and suggestions to help you get the most out of your own stop-motion films, accompanied by full-colour illustrations and case studies demonstrating how film-making masters through the years have used it in feature films, short films and TV series. Basics Animation: Stop-motion Animation also examines the evolution of stop-motion, from its almost accidental beginnings to a much-loved form of storytelling in its own right – one that continues to push boundaries after 110 years.

About this title

About the Author

Barry Purves is a stop-motion animator and director with more than thirty years’ experience. His films have won more than 60 major international awards, including Grand Prix's, Best Director, Best Film, and Oscar nominations.

Review

'Defined as a book for beginners, its 200 pages offer a lot more – insights, a wide variety of worthy films, cultural references, creative stimuli, love and passion for animation. All these make the book a pleasure for anyone involved with animation. Six chapters lead the reader through all components of creating an animated film:

1. What is Stop-motion? 2. Focusing the idea. 3. The Puppets. 4. Preparations. 5. Tools and techniques. 6. Movement and performance. In these Purves relates to historical developments, to details such as light, color, editing and texture and to the 'thinking' and 'doing' involved in the creative process.

The book’s clever design takes advantage of habits developed by TV and internet conventions. Its pages have several ‘windows’ of concise text, color pictures, informative captions for pictures, glossary with explanations for key terms, quotes of mentioned animators and “thinking points” – recommended viewing, suggested exercises and creative tips. All relating to the essence of the medium.'

Tsvika Oren, www.asifa.net (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation / International Animated Film Association)

‘This is the must-have book for the stop-motion animator who wants to learn what it is to be a professional.’
Pike Baker, www.stopmotionmagazine.com

‘I wish I had a book like this when I was starting out, because what Mr. Purves writes about is not only a fine introduction to the craft, but also a compilation of the kind of wisdom and insight that one can usually only gain over a very long period of time making films. And Mr. Purves' ability to boil things down to a few essential sentences on such matters as: Point of View, The Illusion of Movement and Making It 'Read,' is why this book is an interesting read as well enlightening. To say this book is a perfect companion for anyone interested in stop-motion at any level is a tremendous understatement.’
Mark Osborne, co-director of DreamWorks Animation’s Oscar-nominated Kung Fu Panda (www.awn.com)

‘If you are interested in stop-motion character animation - past, present or future - then Barry Purves’ Basics Animation: Stop Motion is for you. Who better to guide us through the history of the medium, the techniques and the process of filmmaking than master animator Purves (Screen Play) himself... A good basic text book for any student of the art form, and a great read for those of us who simply enjoy watching it.’
www.cartoonbrew.com

'Although focused on stop motion animation, this is an essential read for animators from all walks of life... offering advice and tips from writing to filming and from designing to modelling, there is always something more you can learn page by page. Broken up into sections for quick reference, you will not only develop your skills as an animator but also learn the history of the trade as well as being given practical and imaginative exercises to try out in your own time.

It is illustrated with screens and artwork from the most famous to the most obscure. If you are interested in stop-motion animation, this is where you want to begin, even by the end of the first chapter you will find yourself wanting to start experimenting with different ideas. This is not simply a book you will read once. As you grow as a film maker you will come back again and again, always finding something new to try, and always be left wanting to try more.'
www.animatormag.com

Edition details

• Publisher: Fairchild Books AVA
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 2940373736
• ISBN 13: 9782940373734
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 200