[Tony_Mullen]Introducing Character Animation with Blender(epub){Zzzzz}

Introducing Character Animation with Blender, 2 nd Edition is written in a friendly but professional tone, with clear descriptions and numerous illustrative screenshots. Throughout the book, tutorials focus on how to accomplish actual animation goals, while illustrating the necessary technical methods along the way. These are reinforced by clear descriptions of how each specific aspect of Blender works and fits together with the rest of the package. By following all the tutorials, the reader will gain all the skills necessary to build and animate a well–modeled, fully–rigged character of their own. The character built over the course of the tutorials is included as a .blend file on the companion website, for the reader to experiment with and learn from. Introducing Character Animation with Blender, 2 nd Edition is inspiring as well as educational. A color insert includes sample characters and frames from animations by many of the Blender community′s most talented artists, which help to illustrate the impressive potential of the software.

Product Description

From the Back Cover
FROM CONCEPTS TO FULLY RIGGED CHARACTERS Companion WebSite Find source files for the tutorials in the book, useful Blender links, and much more on the companion website. www.sybex.com/go/introducingblender Tap the power of Blender, blend in your creativity, and build memorable animated characters with this practical guide from Blender guru Tony Mullen. Covering the new Blender 2.5, this book offers clear, step–by–step tutorials, a complete discussion of all tools, and illustrations that will both enlighten and inspire you. Follow all the projects and you′ll soon have the skills you need to build and animate a well–modeled, fully–rigged character of your own. A full–color insert presents dazzling examples from some of the most talented artists in the Blender community. Get up to speed on Blender 2.5′s extensively redesigned user interface Master organic mesh modeling tools and build a complex character mesh Fashion skin, hair, and clothing with material shaders, textures, and slots Use Blender′s new Rigify add–on to create complete, professional–quality character rigs with ease Learn to sync lip movements with a sound file Understand function curves, keyframes, and the basics of animating Learn to link assets and use Armature proxies to organize your productions Analyze the Blender short film, Sintel, and read what its creators have to say Animate a rigged character to get him running Use particles and subsurface scattering to create hair and skin Explore open content from the Blender Foundation Open Movie Projects
About the Author
Tony Mullen, PhD, has a broad background in CG–related work. He teaches at Tsuda College and Musashino Art University, where his courses have included modeling and animation with Blender and programming with Python. Mullen has been a cartoonist and an illustrator; his screen credits include writer, codirector, and lead animator on several short films, including the award–winning, live–action/stop–motion film Gustav Braustache and the Auto–Debilitator. He is the author of Blender Studio Projects: Digital Movie–Making; Mastering Blender; and Bounce, Tumble and Splash!: Simulating the Physical World with Blender 3D, all from Sybex.

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 2nd Edition edition (21 April 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 047042737X
ISBN-13: 978-0470427378

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Pretty Good. Worth the money 23 May 2011
By Sylvanus -
I think by itself it is a little light on information with regards to modeling. But if you want to learn to animate your model then this is the right book. But I do recommend getting more information about modeling and animation from other sources and couple this book with those other sources.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Five-Star Book 11 February 2012
By Opinionated -
A great book for Blender beginners who want to do film animation. I went through most of the exercises in the book until I got sick of using the "Captain Blender" character and created my own character that I used to do my first animated short film. There are easier methods for placing the color on eyeballs - other than that, this book is perfection. The author Tony Mullen uses the "box modeling" method for building a character. Since this book served as my introduction to Blender (and to 3D modeling), I've used the box modeling method ever since for every single model I've built - whether human, building, plant matter, or animal. Use this book as a great basic introduction to Blender, and refer to the many other video tutorials available on the web to develop mastery of the powerful tool known as Blender 3D.

Great Book 23 September 2011
By Treefox -
I'm getting a lot out of this book. It's helped me through a project I'm working on. It covers a lot of ground. It's a good book for someone who is new to Blender and interested in animation. The only thing I wish was different, is the formatting on the book. I wish when they mention a key command they would bold it in the text. They do have call outs but they're small and barely noticeable. I've learned to keep a highlighter handy for referring back to things later.

A great book from beginner through high-end amateur 8 December 2013
By Richard Staats -
This book takes you from the basics of animation starting with character creation, material development, animating, etc. all the way through to production.

Tony Mullen is not just a good, interesting writer, he is one of the principals involved with the Blender independent movie movement.

The book is really a treasure trove of information from someone who has taught Blender to others over the years.

Most of my reviews are longer, but this one does not have to be.

If you are serious about Blender animation and interested in ultimately producing commercial or high-end amateur animations then you should read this book.

In service,

Rich