[Mark_Simon]Producing Independent 2D Character Animation Making & Selling A Short Film (Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation)(pdf){Zzzzz}

PRODUCING INDEPENDENT 2D CHARACTER ANIMATION takes an in-depth look at the artistry and production process of cel animation in a friendly, how-to manner that makes the sometimes tedious process of animation enjoyable and easy to understand. This book guides animators through every step of planning and production; includes examples of actual production forms, organization tips, screen shots, and sketches from the pre- to post-production processes; and contains detailed information on the hardware and software used to complete each step.

By mapping out the course of how his small studio brainstormed, created, then produced its award-winning animation, TIMMY'S LESSONS IN NATURE, Mark Simon explains to animators what it takes-both creatively and resource-wise-to get their animations to market.

Includes exclusive interviews with Oscar-nominated independent animator Bill Plimpton, Craig McCracken, creator of the POWER PUFF GIRLS, Craig "Spike" Decker of SPIKE & MIKE'S SICK AND TWISTED FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION, David Fine & Alison Snowden who are the Academy Award-Winning producers of BOB AND MARGARET, Cartoon Network's Senior Vice President of Original Animation, Linda Simensky, and Tom Sito, Co-Director of OSMOSIS JONES...as well as others.

Product Description
Review
"While we are on the subject of how-to books, you really can't afford to miss Mark Simon's brilliant new title, Producing Independent 2D Character Animation." - Animation Magazine
About the Author
Mark Simon founded and owns A&S Animation, Inc., an award-winning cel animation house in Florida and Animatics & Storyboards, Inc., the largest storyboard house in the southern United States, which has provided work on over 1,200 productions. Mark's accomplishments range from being the owner of an award-winning advertising firm, to a syndicated cartoonist, production designer of film, TV, and animations and writing entertainment industry books and lecturing. Having won over 30 animation awards for his efforts, Mark has directed TIMMY'S LESSONS IN NATURE, MY WIFE IS PREGNANT, A MESSAGE FROM GOD, and SUBURBAN CINDERELLA, numerous commercials, training videos and television series special effects. Mark also teaches at the DAVE School (Digital Animation and Visual Effects) located at Universal Studios Orlando. A&S Animation develops and produces animation for commercials, TV, training videos and the web. The A&S team has produced award-winning shorts and commercials, shows for Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, and designed sets and special effects on live-action feature films. Prior to its release, A&S has participated in the development of DigiCel Flipbook Pro, the fastest growing digital ink & paint software in the industry. Mark's animation and storyboarding articles have appeared in various industry magazines and he's the author of STORYBOARDS: MOTION IN ART, 2nd Edition, published by Focal Press. Visit the authors website at www.FunnyToons.tv

Publisher: Focal Press; Pap/Cdr edition (25 March 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0240805135
ISBN-13: 978-0240805139

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Highly Recommended! 12 July 2003
By Robert Myers -
This book is the most concise, and comprehensive book I've seen on the subject of producing a 2D animated cartoon. While several other books focus on the art of animation, Mark Simon focuses on the nuts and bolts of "getting it done". Topics flow from planning, visualization, character design to storyboarding, audio recording and animatics, through editing, rendering and even distribution options. The sample CD-ROM has a huge assortment of demo programs to help you "work along" with the book. It is by no means the ONLY book you need to embark on animating a cartoon, but it is an essential one for any prospective cartoon filmmaker's library. Interviews with several industry professionals are included and add a perspective from the talent buyer's view. All in all a very handy resource for someone who knows what they want to do, but need guidance to realize their vision.

this book officially kicks ass 13 July 2004
By A Customer -
First of all, I just wanted you to know - this book officially kicks ass.

I have been messing around with Flash animation on and off for the past 4 years. Some of my stuff appeared on Howard Stern's syndicated TV show, and I even won a prize in an animated joke competition.

But I have been in a total slump lately - no motivation or understanding of how to improve my skills and not a decent idea to speak of. I haven't posted a new animation on my website in well over a year.

Then I received the book (Producing Independent 2D Character Animation) as a gift. It has been the jump start I needed, like shock treatment for my creativity. I've written some scripts and started storyboarding. I also did an animatic in Flash to check the timing/jokes. With the procedures outlined in the book as my guide, I intend to begin animating again shortly.
Thanks to the author for sharing his knowledge.

This is an information Goldmine - and in Full COLOR 14 April 2003
By A Customer -
I can't say enough good things about this book.. It covers, step by step, the process used to create 'Timmy's Lessons in Nature - Lesson 3'. In case you don't know what 'Lesson's in Nature' are, they were featured in the '2002 Spike & Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation'.
Mark takes you through all aspects of the process.. Budgeting, Timing, Equipment, X-Sheets, Lip Sync, etc... He also provides many demos of the software that they used to make 'Lessons in Nature', as well as some online versions of forms used by the studio, etc..
This Full COLOR book also contains TONS of the preproduction and production artwork for the 'Lessons in Nature' series. The artwork alone makes the book great reference material.
It also has interviews with the people that are the "movers and the shakers" of the Animation Industry both in the US and the UK.. These are people in each facet of the industry - recruiters, producers, animators, etc..
Like I said in the title, this book is a goldmine of information and reference. It is definitely worth the price and is something that you can refer back to time and time again...
Oh, and the ultimate "geek perk" of this book - the really cool flip animations that are on each page..
It really is an awesome addition to my library of animation books and will be one of the most worn out in pretty short order..

Informative; Possibly Suffers from a Misnomer 9 July 2004
By A Customer -
There is some good information in this book. If you have at least a modicum of familiarity with animation though, there's very little new about art or theory or instruction in here. The title and subtitle should be reversed in terms of importance to
Making and Selling a Short Film: Producing 2D Independent Character Animation.
Granted, this is not a flaw with the book, but I am writing this review as a caution to those who might think of it as one thing, when it is in fact another. They don't mean "I produced animation for Mary." They mean "For Mary I was involved in an animation production."
Difference being, aside from a section on tips, there is -no- mention of the process of animating, but rather name-dropping of software/hardware you'll need to run a digital version of the conventional studio, presented vicariously through the author recounting his experiences in making his short film.
All that being said, though, the tips are pretty good and the single most informative part of this entire book are the exclusive interviews with artists and suits from around the industry. These are so insightful (on the respondent's part) and so chock full of good things to know that it might have been more beneficial to chop the price in half and have the whole book just be about the interviews. Still, keeping the price the same, it's almost still worth it.
This is not a bad book by any means; on the contrary, it is one of the better, more clearly written books out there, and though there are too many purposeless illustrations, the ones with purpose are great and it's wonderful eye candy to have them in full color. I never got a chance to see it before I bought it, and ordered it into Barnes and Noble by my house...Now I'll likely be contributing it back into the world via the Marketplace as an interesting one night stand...