Animated Performance

Reviews / Votes

"This book feels like a seriously helpful companion for animators be they student or professional. As an animator I am a visual thinker so this book immediately catches my eye for its simple clear design. It is well referenced throughout with strong examples of work from across the animation sector; I particularly like the historical illustrations of T.S. Sullivant, A.B. Frost etc, showing the art of caricature and emotion...I would strongly recommend this book to our students and to anyone interested in animation." - Professor Peter Parr, Reader in Animation, The Arts University College at Bournemouth. "Animated Performance (AVA Publishing) by Nancy Beiman is an instant classic...Beiman's new book concentrates solely on character animation and she knocks it out of the park. It is a thorough, step by step examination of the art, aimed at the advanced student or professional animator who already knows the basics. The principles she discusses can apply to any technique (CG, Flash, stop motion, etc.) and she has packed the book with ample examples of her own animation, as well as classic comic strips, commercial art and movie stills to illustrate her points. She's also peppered the book with inspiring quotes...What's most important is the book is a joy to read - even a non-animator such as myself can get a lot out of it. It's 232 oversized pages, loaded with solid information based on a lifetime of professional experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone doing, or attempting to do, character animation on any level." - Jerry Beck, Cartoon Brew. "[Nancy Beiman's] imagination-based exercises are where this book really shines. They're great. Every five or 10 pages, Nancy adds a clear, concise, well-planned and thoughtful exercise that directly relates to the preceding text. They are the kind of exercises that appear to have been developed by an excellent teacher after years of hands-on knowledge in the classroom. I'd love to try them all." - Fran Krause, Animation World Network, October 2010. 'Packed with amusing illustrations, inspiring anecdotes and lively examples, Beiman's book acts as the kind of teacher we all wish we had in school.' Ramin Zahed, Animation magazine, September 2010. 'Animated Performance contains a wealth of information to guide you through the process of bringing animated characters to life. More than 200 illustrations show how animal and fantasy characters can live and move without losing their non-human qualities. Quotes from Disney animators Art Babbitt, Wolfgang Reitherman and Eileen Woodbury are sprinkled through the book to bring their particular wisdom to the subject. I can recommend this book to any serious student of animation, whatever medium they are working in, or to an animation fan who wants to know more about how animated characters are brought to life.' Animator Magazine, December 2011. 'Toon town veteran and animation teacher Beiman delivers a well-designed (both aesthetically and functionally) and indispensable resource in this primer volume. In its 200-plus pages you'll find tons of information on the study of movement in animation, from lip synching to character analysis and motivation. Beiman guides you through the principles of designing motion with a level of care and knowledge you'd be hard pressed to find in many how-tos - grab a pack of gold star stickers to keep on your desk and you may as well have a personal toon tutor.' Animation magazine, 'Ten Essential Animation Books', February 2012.