If you need a fun, hands-on introduction to core animation techniques - then look no further! Heather Freeman guides you through a wide range of practical projects, helping you establish and build skills in narrative animation, motion graphics and visual effects.
Each chapter begins by summarizing historical and theoretical concerns and connecting them with current practice and applications - all beautifully illustrated with stills from classic commercial and independent films, as well as contemporary examples from student work. Having established this context, the remainder of the chapter focuses on creative and technical exercises and more in-depth project assignments.
These exercises and assignments challenge you to apply the specific concerns of each chapter to a practical application, helping your to produce your own creative work. Topics covered include early animation technologies and techniques, scenes and staging, character animation, animated type, visual effects and motion graphics, pre- through post-production and experimental approaches to motion graphics.
Dozens of sample files are available online, for experimentation and to get you started on each exercise - the files are created using Adobe After Effects and Blender 3D, but have been designed to also be imported into Flash, Maya or other software, when possible. The companion website also includes example animations as well as links to recommended software tutorials, recommended artist websites, blogs and animation channels.
Industry Reviews
The Moving Image Workshop offers a concise, thorough and realistic approach to creating well thought out and engaging animations. The exercises are invaluable and easily adaptable to the classroom and obviously come from the author's careful study and understanding of prior works in the field as well as her own practice. The chapter on character development and character appeal is inspired and further refines the definition of what is successful in animation. Highly recommended! -- Doreen Maloney, Associate Professor of New Media, Founder, New Media Caucus, School of Art and Visual Studies, University of Kentucky, USA
This is a very useful and current work. Its application of various projects create a useful bridge between technical practice and creative application. The Moving Image Workshop has been well designed and mapped out, enabling each chapter to be broken down into understandable and relatable sections, and thus supporting the learner, without ever over-burdening them with superfluous detail. Overall an excellent reference book, especially for students about to embark on any moving image based course. * Stephen Hibbert, University of Huddersfield, UK *
An extensively researched and beautifully illustrated book, which helps to explore the expansive range and various applications of animation while giving a good background into the basic principles as well. The wide variety of exercises as well offers an extended value to this book and would benefit anyone suffering from a creative 'block'! * Ros Allen, University of Sunderland, UK *
The Moving Image Workshop is beautifully illustrated and structured thematically with loads of project ideas and animation principles to inspire students and teachers of animation. * John Morrison, Edinburgh Napier University, UK *
