ABSTRACT

PRODUCING INDEPENDENT 2D CHARACTER ANIMATION takes an in-depth look at the artistry and production process of cel animation in a friendly, how-to manner that makes the sometimes tedious process of animation enjoyable and easy to understand. This book guides animators through every step of planning and production; includes examples of actual production forms, organization tips, screen shots, and sketches from the pre- to post-production processes; and contains detailed information on the hardware and software used to complete each step.

By mapping out the course of how his small studio brainstormed, created, then produced its award-winning animation, TIMMY'S LESSONS IN NATURE, Mark Simon explains to animators what it takes-both creatively and resource-wise-to get their animations to market.

Includes exclusive interviews with Oscar-nominated independent animator Bill Plimpton, Craig McCracken, creator of the POWER PUFF GIRLS, Craig "Spike" Decker of SPIKE & MIKE'S SICK AND TWISTED FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION, David Fine & Alison Snowden who are the Academy Award-Winning producers of BOB AND MARGARET, Cartoon Network's Senior Vice President of Original Animation, Linda Simensky, and Tom Sito, Co-Director of OSMOSIS JONES...as well as others.

part |1 pages

Section A Before We Get Started

chapter 1|2 pages

Frame Rate

chapter 2|4 pages

Time versus Footage

chapter 3|5 pages

DPI versus Pixels

chapter 4|2 pages

Scenes

chapter 5|4 pages

File Organization

chapter 6|17 pages

Tricks of the Trade

chapter 7|6 pages

Supplies, Hardware, and Software

chapter 8|4 pages

Production Crew

part |1 pages

Section B Pre-Production

chapter 9|4 pages

The In-House Pitch

chapter 10|9 pages

Character Design

chapter 11|14 pages

Story and Storyboards

chapter 12|15 pages

Budget

chapter 13|5 pages

Crewing Up

chapter 14|3 pages

Revised Storyboards

chapter 15|5 pages

Layouts

part |1 pages

Section C Production

chapter 16|3 pages

Directing Dialogue

chapter 17|9 pages

Audio Recording and Editing

chapter 18|3 pages

Animatics

chapter 19|4 pages

Animation Breakdowns, Slugging, or Timing

chapter 20|8 pages

Audio Breakdowns

chapter 21|5 pages

Assigning Production Work

chapter 22|6 pages

Key Animation

chapter 23|7 pages

Rotoscoping

chapter 24|2 pages

Effects Animation

chapter 25|4 pages

Pencil Tests

chapter 26|2 pages

Enhanced Animatics

chapter 27|7 pages

Backgrounds

chapter 28|3 pages

Inbetweens

chapter 29|4 pages

Clean-Ups

chapter 30|9 pages

Scanning

chapter 31|13 pages

Digital Ink and Paint

chapter 32|4 pages

Composite and Export of Individual Layers

chapter 33|9 pages

Camera Moves and Special Effects

chapter 34|7 pages

Final Image Composite

part |1 pages

Section D Post-Production

chapter 35|4 pages

Title Cards

chapter 36|3 pages

Credits

chapter 37|4 pages

Editing

chapter 38|6 pages

Music and Sound Design

part |1 pages

Section E What Next?

chapter 40|2 pages

Copyright

chapter 41|5 pages

Festivals

chapter 42|4 pages

Online

chapter 44|4 pages

Portfolio Piece