preston blair: how to animate
Posted by dermot on February 4, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Every animation student should have a copy of “How to Animate” by Preston Blair - a book that’s trained countless animators over the decades. Here’s a sample page to give you a taste:
Go to the ASIFA website to download both volumes, for free:
Click on the different images at the linked site for larger versions!
2 Responses to “preston blair: how to animate”
Hi Dermot,
I recommend Eric Goldberg’s ANIMATION CRASH COURSE! instead. Goldberg has actually replaced Blair as the standard text on beginning animation.
Blair’s book still has wonderful things in it that Dick Williams doesn’t cover at all but his dated style and (most infamously) poor handling of dialogue mouths have become cliches.
Eric has done what I thought would never be done…improved on the original. Try the book on for size and see.
My tastes in dialog are for something much more subtle than most of the industry’s - there’s way too much articulation in the Disney/Bluth style.
Hell, most of the audience is going to see dialog dubbed into a different language - making the effort to synch dialog perfectly silly in an international market.
I read an interview with John Ford, where he was asked about how he made his films. “I shoot the eyes”, was the response. Animators should worry more about the eyes/eyebrows than the mouth.
I’ve got an old copy of Goldberg’s animation notes - the A4 xerox that went the rounds in the early 90s. That was impressive even in that state…so I’m not surprised that the book is as good as you say.
Well, I finally got through the Dick Williams book, “The Animator’s Survival Kit”. Way too much emphasis on walk cycles, and almost NO coverage on acting - not surprising, given Dick’s track record, and from what I’ve heard about the man. It’s a shame, as he is brillian - but as a technician, not an actor.
I’d still recommend his book, regardless. I’ll keep an eye out for the Goldberg volume.
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