Animation 101

Rating:
Summary: Interesting book, but the title is misleading
Review: Ernest Pintoff is a renowned animation teacher and Oscar-winning filmmaker. In this book, however, he doesn't teach the reader how to animate. The book provides a brief history of the animation industry, before presenting 20 short articles by famous animators. These articles make up most of the book. Nearly every article reads like an interview, with the famous animator summarizing his or her career in animation. These articles did give me some insight into the animation industry, but I was a little disappointed and thought the book should have been titled "Animation History 101" or "Interviews With Animation Professionals". The book does provide a list of recommended books and films (with no explanations), a short glossary of terms, and a list of animation schools.

Some exellent books I have read on the subject are "Chuck Amuck" by Chuck Jones and "Talking Animals and Other People" (animation industry), and "Animation From Script To Screen" (animation technique), both by Shamus Calhane.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting book, but the title is misleading
Review: Ernest Pintoff is a renowned animation teacher and Oscar-winning filmmaker. In this book, however, he doesn't teach the reader how to animate. The book provides a brief history of the animation industry, before presenting 20 short articles by famous animators. These articles make up most of the book. Nearly every article reads like an interview, with the famous animator summarizing his or her career in animation. These articles did give me some insight into the animation industry, but I was a little disappointed and thought the book should have been titled "Animation History 101" or "Interviews With Animation Professionals". The book does provide a list of recommended books and films (with no explanations), a short glossary of terms, and a list of animation schools.

Some exellent books I have read on the subject are "Chuck Amuck" by Chuck Jones and "Talking Animals and Other People" (animation industry), and "Animation From Script To Screen" (animation technique), both by Shamus Calhane.

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: From the front covers and reviews, I was expecting better. If the editor was such an expert in animation, he should have noticed the blatant errors within many of the works inside.

For example, when they talk about Ralph Bakshi (who is one of my animation idols) they said that "Fritz the Cat" was a low budget animation picture. Wrong! They went over budget in "Fritz the Cat", and in fact when news got out that this X-Rated film was not only animated but on a large budget, it brought more people to the theaters. Another error in the same article was referring to Ralph Bakshi's "Streetfight", aka "Coonskin." It says that it appeared to bash blacks, Italians, and Jews. Jews? Maybe if you count the one rabbi that was on the screen for ten seconds just to tell Sonny he was supposed to kill the rabbit as making fun of Jews...but how can that be making fun of? Did the writer even see the film?

The biggest error in this book, however, was one that made my blood boil. I can't remember what the title of the piece was, but I will never forget the dumbest, most inaccurate words I have ever read:

"...after the release of Hayao Miyazaki's 'Ghost In the Shell,' Disney studios..."

Excuse me? Hayao Miyazaki did "Ghost In the Shell"? I know he did "Princess Mononoke" which caught the attention of the Disney company, but I thought "Ghost In the Shell" was released by Manga...? It was. "Ghost In the Shell was made by Mamoru Oshii, not Hayao Miyazaki.

I wouldn't be surprised if I saw this book accrediting the film "Grave of the Fireflies" to Chuck Jones.

There are better books on animation out there. I suggest the autobiographies of the animators themselves, not the so-called "experts."

Rating:
Summary: Ditto!
Review: I suppose it's hardly worth it to write a review when I agree with everything the former reviewer said...but just for those who want a second opinion, he's absolutely right. If you want animation lessons, look elsewhere.

But it's rather interesting to have a look through.

Rating:
Summary: Ditto!
Review: I suppose it's hardly worth it to write a review when I agree with everything the former reviewer said...but just for those who want a second opinion, he's absolutely right. If you want animation lessons, look elsewhere.

But it's rather interesting to have a look through.