Animated Performance

Animated Performance provides instruction in the art of character animation through demonstrations, exercises, and professional examples. The book covers fundamental animation principles while focusing on performance, acting, and bringing characters to life. The text progresses from basic movement analysis to advanced concepts like acting choices, character development, and storytelling through animation. Professional animator and instructor Nancy Beiman draws from decades of industry experience to present techniques used in major animation studios. Examples from animated films and detailed breakdowns of motion sequences illustrate key concepts throughout the book. Technical instruction is balanced with creative approaches to help animators develop their own style and artistic voice. The book's emphasis on performance over pure mechanics reflects animation's evolution from simple movement to nuanced character acting. This approach connects animation fundamentals to deeper artistic goals in storytelling and emotional expression.

Based on reader reviews online, this animation textbook delivers focused instruction on character development and performance in 2D animation. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of movement and expression - Examples from industry professionals - Step-by-step demonstrations using diverse characters - Strong emphasis on storytelling over technical aspects - Practical exercises at the end of chapters Common criticisms: - Layout and organization feels scattered at times - Some find the black & white illustrations limiting - Content overlaps with other animation books - Price point is high for students Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (23 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (31 ratings) One animation student noted: "The examples of expressions and poses are worth the price alone." A professional animator mentioned: "Good reference but Williams' Animator's Survival Kit covers similar ground more thoroughly." Most reviews recommend it as a supplementary text rather than a primary resource for learning animation fundamentals.

The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston The core principles of Disney animation are explained through detailed breakdowns from two of the studio's original animators.

The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams Frame-by-frame techniques for animating human and animal movement are demonstrated through step-by-step illustrations and examples.

Character Animation Crash Course by Eric Goldberg Hand-drawn animation methods focus on creating personality and emotion through movement and expression.

Acting for Animators by Ed Hooks The connections between stage performance and animation are explored through acting theory and movement analysis.

Cartoon Animation by Preston Blair Foundational concepts of character animation are presented through technical drawings and movement breakdowns.

🎬 Nancy Beiman worked as an animator at Disney Feature Animation and was one of the first women hired as a feature film animator by Walt Disney Studios 🎨 The book includes insights from legendary animators like Chuck Jones, Art Babbitt, and Ken Harris, who personally mentored the author 📚 Unlike many animation books that focus on technical aspects, this one emphasizes character development and acting techniques for animators 🎯 The author developed much of the book's content while teaching at Sheridan College, one of the world's premier animation schools 🌟 The exercises in the book are based on real theatrical and method acting techniques, adapted specifically for animated character performance