Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

To make great animation, you need to know how to control a whole world: how to make a character, how to make that character live and be happy or sad. You need to create four walls around them, a landscape, the sun and moon - a whole life for them. You have to get inside that puppet and first make it live, then make it perform. Susannah Shaw provides the first truly practical introduction to the craft skills of model animation. This is a vital book in the development of model animation which, following the success of Aardman's first full-length film 'Chicken Run',is now at the forefront of modern animation. Illustrated in full colour throughout you are shown step by step how to create successful model animation. Starting with some basic exercises, readers will learn about developing a story, making models, creating sets and props, the mechanics of movement, filming, post production and how to set about finding that elusive first job in a modern studio.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction
• Getting equipped
• Getting animated
• Keep it simple - developing your story
• Coat hangers for armatures
• Model makers - the professionals
• Four walls and a sky - set and props
• Recording dialogue/lip sync/editing sound
• The mechanics of movement - animation
• The mechanics of performance
• Recording and/or filming
• Completing the story
• Getting the job - the business of animation
• Useful websites
• Animation festivals
• Animation training
• Suppliers
• Bibliography/filmographies