As an avid reader, animation fanatic, and amateur doodler, I find myself fascinated by animation books. Although I am by no means an animator, in the artistic sense, learning about the behind-the-scenes of animated films creates a deeper understanding and appreciation for the wonderful art forms within the industry. Let's check out some of the most important books an animator or animation fan should have on their bookshelf:
The Animator's Survival Kit, Richard Williams
You may know the name Richard Williams, even if you're not familiar with what his work is. He's famous for many works, but most importantly for The Thief and the Cobbler, an intended masterpiece of the animation industry. Williams is indeed an artist - just watching his original intentions for The Thief and the Cobbler will confirm that - and, as such, his Animator's Survival Kit is a must-have for any animator - fan, amateur, or pro. The book covers various styles, types, and processes an animator can follow, with notes of experience and reference. For the animation fan, it's a window into the backstage area of creative and diverse animation.
The Illusion of Life, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
Often heralded as the "animation bible," The Illusion of Life is written by two Disney greats, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. The book outline several principles that animators should follow, many of which are good rules of thumb for other centers of storytelling, such as writing. Popular for working animators and those still in school, The Illusion of Life is a great reference for the dedicated animation fan.
Drawn to Life, Volumes One & Two, Walt Stanchfield
Walt Stanchfield, in addition to being an early animator at Walt Disney's studio, is well-known for his mentoring of other famous animators. In the 1970s, Stanchfield, with animator Eric Larson, developed a training program for new animators; his roll call included Brad Bird, John Lasseter, Don Bluth, Glen Keane, and Andreas Deja. Drawn to Life is a two-volume set of reference books, not necessarily replacing the training course, but there for everyone else to enjoy Stanchfield's abundant wisdom.
Paper Dreams, John Canemaker
Not a reference book, Paper Dreams is more for entertainment and aesthetic value, something more common on the animation fan's bookshelf. While also an animator and actor, John Canemaker is known best as an animation historian, having published at least seven books and over a hundred articles on the subject. Paper Dreams is one of his best examples, cataloguing the storyboards of classic Disney films and highlighting the importance of storyboarding itself.
Simplified Drawing for Planning Animation, Wayne Gilbert
Wayne Gilbert has a varied resume, with work on video games, classic animation, and nine years at Industrial Light & Magic with work on Star Wars and The Mummy series. Now Head of Animation at Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts), Gilbert's Simplified Drawing for Planning Animation makes reference of stages similar to those focused on in Paper Dreams. Here, however, the book goes even further back than simply storyboards; here, Gilbert looks at the beginning of ideas, rough sketchings, and early storyboards. A must for animators and an interesting read for animation fans.
The Archive Series, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Disney tends to dominate most animation fields and it's no surprise that most of the top books on animation would involve Disney in some way. With The Archive Series, Disney itself takes an active role in teaching the next generations of animators. Various facets of the animation industry are covered - Story, Design, Animation, and more. Ultimately, I want this entire series on my shelf (and you should too).
Honorable Mentions:
'The Art Of' Animation Books
These aren't by any one author, source, or studio; rather, these are a niche genre that focuses on concept art, storyboards, and development of animated feature films. Most animation studios release books to this effect - The Art of the Iron Giant, The Art of Finding Dory, The Art of Coraline, The Art of Spirited Away, Adventure Time: The Art of Ooo are all examples of a diverse group of these frankly awesome books. Disney and Pixar, of course, have several books for their feature films and some for the short films. For more varied animation fans, there are several editions for Studio Ghibli films, Laika Studios films, and even for some of our favorite television shows (like Adventure Time!). For a list to start off your 'The Art Of...' collection, check this out.
The Disneyland Book of Lists, Chris Strodder
Alright, so this one isn't about animation (at least, not entirely). Strodder, also author of the Disneyland Encyclopedia, presents a book of lists all about the Happiest Place on Earth. As a fan of Disney, Disneyland, animation, and making lists, I recently added this book to my collection and found it capable of answering to that occasional Disneyland craving that's kind of hard to get rid of unless I go to Disneyland. Since I can't just drop everything and go to the magical theme park whenever I want, The Disneyland Book of Lists will be there to help me through.
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