Talking Animals and Other People

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best
Review: Along with Mike Barrier's "Hollywood Cartoons" the best book written on the history of the medium. Some quibble about these books being "Disney-centric," but both books pay homage to the man who FIRST emphasized CHARACTER and PERSONALITY in the animated film. And that goes a LOT further than slapstick, no matter how good!

Rating:
Summary: The Best of its Kind-a Great Memoir!
Review: I've probably read every book on animation written in english-both in and out of print; Shamus Culhane's book, while an autobiography, is also a detailed insider's view of what it was really like to work in animation's "golden age". And word for word, as a history-it's the best of them all. Culhane spares no one(least of all himself)in his funny, always passionate-and often downright angry-stories of his career which went from New York in the early 'thirties, to depression Los Angeles and the fabled Disney studio, pre-"Snow White", to Fleisher, Warner Bros., Lantz, and finally running his own small studio. A cracking good read!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent memoir from the curmudgeon of animation
Review: James "Shamus" Culhane is not a name that is instantly recognizable to the general public, as is Chuck Jones, but his contributions were every bit as significant. Like Jones, he can be maddeningly arrogant and dismissive of the efforts of his fellow animators, but the truly annoying thing is that he is often right. Culhane worked at virtually every major cartoon studio during its "Golden Age", and generally improved the output of every studio with which he was involved--however briefly. He turned the Fleischer's version of Popeye into a fluid, living character, whereas before Popeye seemed to move like some sort of animatronic figure at Disneyland. He directed one of the few bright spots at Walter Lantz, a Woody Woodpecker cartoon called "Barber of Seville" (which garnered an Academy Award nomination). He also takes us where few other books in animation dare to go--the early days of cartooning for television (did you know he was one of the first producers to make animated commercials for TV? The Ajax elves were his). He even attempted to get in the ground floor of the TV animated series market, though his efforts did not succeed.

This is a must-read, if for no other reason than it avoids rehashing the same material covered again and again by previous books, and gives us an insight into the inner workings of an animation studio as few other books do.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent memoir from the curmudgeon of animation
Review: James "Shamus" Culhane is not a name that is instantly recognizable to the general public, as is Chuck Jones, but his contributions were every bit as significant. Like Jones, he can be maddeningly arrogant and dismissive of the efforts of his fellow animators, but the truly annoying thing is that he is often right. Culhane worked at virtually every major cartoon studio during its "Golden Age", and generally improved the output of every studio with which he was involved--however briefly. He turned the Fleischer's version of Popeye into a fluid, living character, whereas before Popeye seemed to move like some sort of animatronic figure at Disneyland. He directed one of the few bright spots at Walter Lantz, a Woody Woodpecker cartoon called "Barber of Seville" (which garnered an Academy Award nomination). He also takes us where few other books in animation dare to go--the early days of cartooning for television (did you know he was one of the first producers to make animated commercials for TV? The Ajax elves were his). He even attempted to get in the ground floor of the TV animated series market, though his efforts did not succeed.

This is a must-read, if for no other reason than it avoids rehashing the same material covered again and again by previous books, and gives us an insight into the inner workings of an animation studio as few other books do.

Rating:
Summary: Best Book Ever Written About Animation
Review: Shamus Culhane's book is an enthralling expose on a full life in the animation business, from its first taste of popularity to the height of studio animation, to its tragic decline. Personally incisive, Culhane tells his own story with acerbic wit and surprising dexterity. After having read at least two dozen books on the subject, I can safely say this is by far the single best book ever written on the art of animation

Rating:
Summary: A must....
Review: This book is a must.It is extremely useful for those who want to animate cartoon characters.Shamus description of his life which he shares with the animation history is a very brilliant and inspirated storytellig.This is the book that all animator's should buy. It contains all the valuable information about american animation and all those wonderful pioneers who created the most amazing industry in the world: animation.Do not hesitate! Just buy this book and you will love it. I bet!

Rating:
Summary: Not just for animators... it's the web!
Review: This book was recommended to me by another web/multimedia developer. He told me that I should read it, that it was the web industry in a nutshell. The main difference is the web has a very compressed time line. I first read the book over a year ago... it still reads like prophesy.

Rating:
Summary: Talking Animals and Other People by Shamus Culane
Review: This is a "must have" for anyone who wants to create animation. Although not a how-to book, it has an incredible amount of insightful and useful information that is pertinent to those starting out or thinking about starting out their animation career. Shamus writes his animation life story in a way that will entertain and enlighten you. Many of his adventures and experiences are as relavant today as when they happened to him long ago during the Golden Age of animation. The author gives you a ring side seat as he is introduced to animation and evolves as an animator and producer. This was a book that I wish had no end; it actually made me sad to reach the final page.

Rating:
Summary: Talking Animals and Other People by Shamus Culane
Review: This is a "must have" for anyone who wants to create animation. Although not a how-to book, it has an incredible amount of insightful and useful information that is pertinent to those starting out or thinking about starting out their animation career. Shamus writes his animation life story in a way that will entertain and enlighten you. Many of his adventures and experiences are as relavant today as when they happened to him long ago during the Golden Age of animation. The author gives you a ring side seat as he is introduced to animation and evolves as an animator and producer. This was a book that I wish had no end; it actually made me sad to reach the final page.