The following books and Web sites contain in-depth information about the process of animation. You may also wish to look at books that cover animating with the software your class is using (these are not included here because software programs change so frequently).
Books
Blair, P. (1994). Cartoon animation. Irvine, CA: Walter Foster. Camara, S. (2006). All about techniques in drawing for animation production. Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series.
Hooks, E. (2003). Acting for animators (Rev. ed.): A complete guide to performance animation. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Drama.
Romanelli, D. (2005). Draw the Looney Tunes. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. Thomas, F., &
Johnston, O. (1981). The illusion of life. New York: Disney Editions. Whitaker, H., & Halas, J. (2002). Timing for animation. Oxford: Focal Press.
White, T. (2009). How to make animated films. Oxford: Focal Press.
Williams, R. (2009). The animator’s survival kit: Expanded edition. London: Faber and Faber.
Web Sites
Academy of Art Animation Notes [Includes links to sources for hand-drawn animation equipment] hand-drawn-animation.blogspot.com
Animation Mentor www.animationmentor.com
The Eleven Second Club [Hosts of a monthly animation competition] www.11secondclub.com
Idleworm animation tutorials www.idleworm.com/how/index.shtml
Larry’s Toon Instititue tooninstitute.awn.com/main.html
Lynda.com animation software tutorials https://www.lynda.com
Glossaries 3DRender.com. Glossary of 3D Terms. www.3drender.com/glossary/index.htm
Skillset. Animation Glossary. www.skillset.org/animation/careers/article_4487_1.asp
Overview of the Animation Process DreamWorks. Go to “Company,” then click “Production Process.” www.dreamworksanimation.com/ Pixar.
How We Make a Movie: Pixar’s Animation Process. www.pixar.com/howwedoit/index.html#
Skillset. Putting It Together: How Animation Gets Made. www.skillset.org/animation/overview/article_3768_1.asp
Stop-Motion Photography and Slow-Motion Video
The following resources can be used to show students how objects in the real world move, squash, and stretch.
Kayafas, G., & Jussim, E. (2000). Stopping time: The photographs of Harold Edgerton. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Muybridge, E. (1985). Horses and other animals in motion: 45 classic photographic sequences. New York: Dover Publications.
YouTube Searching for “High FPS” brings up video clips shot at a very high frame rate and played in slow motion. www.youtube.com