Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation - The Best Resource for Aspiring Animators - Free Download!
Preston Blair Cartoon Animation Book Pdf Free 159
If you are interested in learning how to create your own cartoons, you might have heard of Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book. This book is considered one of the best resources for aspiring animators, as it covers everything from the basic principles of animation to the techniques of drawing and animating characters, animals, and effects. In this article, we will tell you more about who Preston Blair was, what his book is about, and how you can download it for free. We will also show you some of the benefits of reading this book and applying its lessons to your own projects.
Preston Blair Cartoon Animation Book Pdf Free 159
Introduction
Who is Preston Blair and why is his book important?
Preston Blair was a legendary American animator who worked for Disney, MGM, and Hanna-Barbera studios. He was involved in some of the most famous animated films and shows of the 20th century, such as Fantasia, Pinocchio, Bambi, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, and many more. He was also a teacher and a mentor to many other animators, including Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, and John Kricfalusi.
His book, Cartoon Animation, was first published in 1994 and has been reprinted several times since then. It is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and practical guides to cartoon animation ever written. It contains hundreds of illustrations and examples that demonstrate how to create believable and appealing cartoons with simple shapes, lines, and colors. It also explains the theory and history behind animation, as well as the tips and tricks that professional animators use to make their work stand out.
What is cartoon animation and how does it work?
Cartoon animation is a form of art that uses drawings or images to create the illusion of movement. It can be done by hand or by computer, but the basic principle is the same: each drawing or image represents a frame or a moment in time. By showing these frames in rapid succession, the viewer perceives them as a continuous motion.
The process of creating a cartoon animation usually involves several steps: first, the animator comes up with an idea or a story for the animation. Then, they sketch out the main scenes or keyframes that show the most important actions or poses of the characters or objects. Next, they fill in the gaps between the keyframes with more drawings or images that show the transitions or movements between them. This is called inbetweening or tweening. Finally, they add color, sound, music, dialogue, and other effects to enhance the mood and atmosphere of the animation.
How to download the book for free and what are the benefits?
If you want to learn from Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book without spending any money, you can download it for free from various online sources. One of them is Archive.org, a website that preserves and provides access to millions of books, movies, music, and other digital content. You can find the book by searching for its title or by following this link: https://archive.org/details/PrestonBlairCartoonAnimation. You can either read it online or download it as a PDF file to your device.
By downloading the book for free, you can enjoy several benefits: first, you can save money and time that you would otherwise spend on buying or borrowing the book. Second, you can access the book anytime and anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection or a PDF reader. Third, you can study the book at your own pace and convenience, without worrying about deadlines or restrictions. Fourth, you can practice the exercises and examples in the book as much as you want, without damaging or losing the book.
Main body
Chapter 1: Basic Principles of Animation
The first chapter of Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book introduces the basic principles of animation that every animator should know and master. These principles are the foundation of creating realistic and expressive cartoons that capture the attention and imagination of the audience. They are:
Timing and spacing
Timing refers to how long an action or a movement takes to complete. Spacing refers to how far an object or a character moves from one frame to another. Together, they determine the speed and rhythm of the animation. By adjusting the timing and spacing of the frames, the animator can create different effects, such as slow motion, fast motion, acceleration, deceleration, ease in, ease out, etc.
Squash and stretch
Squash and stretch is a technique that gives flexibility and elasticity to the objects or characters in the animation. It involves changing their shape or volume according to the force or impact that they experience. For example, when a ball bounces on the ground, it squashes when it hits the surface and stretches when it leaves it. This creates a sense of weight and energy in the animation.
Anticipation and follow-through
Anticipation and follow-through are techniques that prepare and complete an action or a movement in the animation. Anticipation is a small movement that precedes a larger one, such as bending your knees before jumping or winding up your arm before throwing a ball. It helps to build up tension and expectation in the viewer. Follow-through is a small movement that follows a larger one, such as swinging your arms after running or shaking your head after nodding. It helps to convey momentum and realism in the animation.
Chapter 2: Creating Characters and Expressions
The second chapter of Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book teaches how to create characters and expressions for cartoon animation. Characters are the main elements of any animation, as they are the ones who tell the story and evoke emotions in the audience. Expressions are the ways that characters show their feelings and thoughts through their facial features and body language. To create effective characters and expressions, the animator needs to consider:
Construction and proportion
Construction and proportion are the techniques that help to draw characters with consistent and accurate shapes and sizes. Construction involves breaking down complex forms into simple geometric shapes, such as circles, squares, triangles, etc. Proportion involves measuring and comparing the relative sizes of different parts of the character, such as the head, body, limbs, etc. By using construction and proportion, the animator can create characters that look balanced and harmonious.
Facial features and emotions
Facial features and emotions are the techniques that help to draw characters with expressive and appealing faces. Facial features include the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, eyebrows, etc. Emotions include happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, etc. By changing the shape, size, position, angle, color, etc., of the facial features, the animator can create different emotions in the characters.
Movement and poses
Movement and poses are the techniques that help to draw characters with dynamic and convincing actions and gestures. Movement is how a character moves from one place to another or changes its position or orientation. Poses are how a character stands or sits or holds its body or limbs at a certain moment. By using movement and poses, the animator can create characters that look alive and active.
Chapter 3: Animating Animals and Effects
The third chapter of Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book shows how to animate animals and effects for cartoon animation. Animals are often used as secondary characters or props in animation, as they can add variety and humor to the story. Effects are often used as background elements or enhancements in animation, as they can add atmosphere and drama to the scene. To animate animals and effects effectively, the animator needs to consider:
Anatomy and locomotion
Anatomy and locomotion are the techniques that help to draw animals with realistic and natural shapes and movements. Anatomy involves studying the structure and function of the animal's body, such as the bones, muscles, organs, etc. Locomotion involves studying how the animal moves on land, water, air, etc., such as the gait, stride, speed, etc. By using anatomy and locomotion, the animator can create animals that look authentic and believable.
Personality and behavior
Personality and behavior are the techniques that help to draw animals with distinctive and appealing traits and actions. Personality involves giving the animal a unique character or attitude, such as friendly, shy, brave, etc. Behavior involves showing how the animal reacts to different situations or stimuli, such as hunger, fear, curiosity, etc. By using personality and behavior, the animator can create animals that look interesting and engaging.
Smoke, water, fire, and other effects
Smoke, water, fire, and other effects are the techniques that help to draw elements that are not solid or tangible, but still have a visual impact on the animation. These effects can be used to create mood, atmosphere, contrast, or drama in the scene. They can also be used to emphasize or complement the actions or emotions of the characters or animals. To draw these effects effectively, the animator needs to consider their shape, color, texture, movement, transparency, etc.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In conclusion, Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to create their own cartoons. It covers everything from the basic principles of animation to the techniques of drawing and animating characters, animals, and effects. It also provides hundreds of illustrations and examples that show how to apply these techniques in practice. By reading this book and following its lessons, you can make any characterperson, animal, or objectcome to life through animated movement!
Call to action and recommendations
If you are interested in downloading Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book for free, you can do so by visiting Archive.org or by clicking on this link: https://archive.org/details/PrestonBlairCartoonAnimation. You can also find other books by Preston Blair on this website or on other online sources. We recommend you to check out his Advanced Animation book as well, which covers more advanced topics such as dialogue animation, special effects animation, storyboarding, layout design, etc.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about cartoon animation. If you did, please share it with your friends or leave us a comment below. We would love to hear your feedback and suggestions for future articles. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book:
Q: Who is Preston Blair?
A: Preston Blair was a legendary American animator who worked for Disney, MGM, and Hanna-Barbera studios. He was involved in some of the most famous animated films and shows of the 20th century.
Q: What is cartoon animation?
A: Cartoon animation is a form of art that uses drawings or images to create the illusion of movement.
Q: How can I download Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book for free?
A: You can download it for free from Archive.org or by following this link: https://archive.org/details/PrestonBlairCartoonAnimation.
Q: What are the main topics covered in Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book?
A: The main topics covered in the book are: basic principles of animation; creating characters and expressions; animating animals and effects.
Q: What are some benefits of reading Preston Blair's Cartoon Animation book?
A: Some benefits of reading the book are: saving money and time; accessing the book anytime and anywhere; studying at your own pace and convenience; practicing the exercises and examples; creating realistic and expressive cartoons. 71b2f0854b