Rating: 
Summary: ReHASH
Review: I purchased the Animation Master 98 Handbook almost 2 years ago and found it to be very benificial to increasing my skills with Animation Master... to a degree. I recently purchased the AM2000 Handbook in hopes that it would cover/correct problems in the first book. Yet the incomplete, vauge, and at times, unreliable instructions that the 98 Handbook had left me with returned in the AM2000 Handbook 99.9% of all my problems stem from the modeling tutorials, especially the Advanced Modeling section. At times you are left to "figure it out for yourself" instead of being walked through each step in the process. The most disappointing is the modeling tutorial of the female body. Where Mr. Paries spends 10 pages on how to model a simple fish, he spends only 11 pages describing how to model the "intricate" human female. If you own the AM98 Handbook, see if you can find this "updated" version at your local library, borrow it from a friend, or just don't worry about it. There's really not much new in this edition and very few problems were fixed from the preceding edition. If you are just learning AM, pick it up. It may not be the most complete and/or detailed book that it should be, but it will give you a good idea of some of the things you can do with AM.
Rating:
Summary: A great book!
Review: Animation:Master handbook is well written and provides a great place to start for beginners. For those who are experienced Modeler and animators, the book will be a valuable reference and introduction to the unique features in Animation:Master. There is enough general information for beginners and experienced artists. The only reason I didn't give it a five is because it could be even better. Jeff Paries works at Hash and has a website with sample models. I would like to see Jeff incorporate some of the more advanced modeling techniques and cover the new features in A:M 6.1 in the next revision.
Rating: 
Summary: Makes many of the same assumptions as the A:M manual.
Review: I had some of the same problems using this aftermarket manual as I did trying to use the original, worthless A:M manual-and then it created some new problems of its own. Example: neither book includes anything resembling a "quick-start" guide, that is, a straightforward no-options approach to get a quick, trouble-free 3D result right off the bat. Oh no. Too simple. The official manual doesn't even reveal how to draw a line onscreen until page 199. The Paries book starts its modeling tutorial earlier, on page 47, but does it by handing the reader a prebuilt model off the included CD-ROM. How does that teach anyone how to design a 3D model?
If I ever learn how to use this software, I'm going to write my own doggone handbook.
Rating: 
Summary: A Giant Leap Above The First Edition !
Review: I have been using Animation Master going on 3 years now and have experienced all of the problems and sucess that any software goes through.. When the first edition of The Animation Handbook came out it was just what the user needed. With a completely new interface and tools to learn it was a must buy to help to learn the product. Now with the release of the new software there are so many new features that without this 2nd edition the user would get bogged down just trying to learn them... Jeff has really worked hard on this book its very apparent. The minute you start to thumb through chapters you soon see how the new examples, tutorials, and advice make this book a must.. This 2nd edtion jeff really brought the level of each user into every chapter. Step-by-step he gets you involved in the entire process of learning animation with this superior software. With all of the information in this 2nd edtion,the help he offers for the user,and the great examples, If you are a user of Animation Master and want to increase your knowledge buy this book you won't be dissapointed.. Mike Lium Cactusbud Studio
Rating:
Summary: AM Handbook a is real eye opener!
Review: I have just recieverd my copy of the second edition, I wish I'd had this when I first got AM! AM has so many features it can be difficult to know where to start, but I have been following the exellent very detailed tutorials on features I hadn't dared to touch before the handbook. If you need every step documented like I do, you will appreciate this book. There are plenty of pictures and diagrams "showing" you what you should be seeing as you follow along. The tone of the instructional prose is written in a light, personable manner, so as not to leave the reader snoozing nose-down in a sea of bland technicality, and the fabulous demo CD has some really nice utilities as well as wonderful models to dissect and play with.
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Summary: Version One + Two + Addendum = A:M 2000 Handbook
Review: I have two takes on this book. First, if your a beginner with no other reference other than the manual, this book will walk you through some of the basic features of A:M. It will introduce you to some of A:M's abilities plus it will provide some reference to support applications and plug-ins. My second take on this book is that if you've been using A:M for some time and are comfortable with many of the features of A:M I would strongly suggest that you re-think the purchase of this book. It lacks detailed instruction of many of the new features of A:M 2000 (springs and masses are the first thing that come to mind). Much of this book makes use of the same examples as seen in previous editions. Though totaly relevant to the subject to be discussed it seems a bit tacky and unaccetable when paying good money for a NEW handbook edition. The manual included with the software itself provides as much instruction as does the Handbook. The use of the mailing list plus accessing the tutorial sites will answer many of your questions and to superior levels of detail. To sum it up, having purchased both editions one and two, The A:M 2000 Handbook will be the last edition I'll be buying from this author.
Rating:
Summary: Version One + Two + Addendum = A:M 2000 Handbook
Review: I have two takes on this book. First, if your a beginner with no other reference other than the manual, this book will walk you through some of the basic features of A:M. It will introduce you to some of A:M's abilities plus it will provide some reference to support applications and plug-ins. My second take on this book is that if you've been using A:M for some time and are comfortable with many of the features of A:M I would strongly suggest that you re-think the purchase of this book. It lacks detailed instruction of many of the new features of A:M 2000 (springs and masses are the first thing that come to mind). Much of this book makes use of the same examples as seen in previous editions. Though totaly relevant to the subject to be discussed it seems a bit tacky and unaccetable when paying good money for a NEW handbook edition. The manual included with the software itself provides as much instruction as does the Handbook. The use of the mailing list plus accessing the tutorial sites will answer many of your questions and to superior levels of detail. To sum it up, having purchased both editions one and two, The A:M 2000 Handbook will be the last edition I'll be buying from this author.
Rating: 
Summary: Be aware reviews before June 5, 2000 are not for this book!
Review: I just wanted to make everyone aware that reviews done before mine are NOT for the book listed here, and I have not bought this book. I bought the Animation:Master Handbook, Second Edition which covers through Animation:Master 98, and THAT is the book that reviewers up to my review are commenting on. I had problems early on with the Animation:Master Handbook, Second Edition as some steps in completing projects were either missing or unclear. I'd still have to work through later projects to see if the book improves. Hopefully this new book is more complete than the last one. With books like these I feel you really have to be spoonfed every key stroke or something gets lost in the translation. I don't care if that looks like the author is talking down to us...he knows a lot more than we do!
Rating:
Summary: It was worth the wait.
Review: I screamed when it came in. As soon as I got home, I started up my computer, opened up AM(Animation Master)and did as many tuturials I could that night. I was so simple, he guides you through the process step by step, and it hardly messed me up. Hash Inc. has a saying "Animation is Hard", but with this book and paves the road so it isn't.
Rating:
Summary: This Book Is An Absolute Must Buy!
Review: I've used Hash's software since Playmation before it became Animation Master. The books were always an absolute help and this one is better than the last. As the product improves and grows so does the handbook versions. You won't be dissappointed.
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