Wednesday, July 26, 2006

BOOK REVIEW: "ACTING FOR ANIMATORS" BY ED HOOK




14 comments:

Anonymous said...

These are such energetic drawings!

When i took the class acting for animators unfortunately the teachers had no idea what they were doing. I've learned far more from this blog than some expensive class- oh woe is me!

Eddie Fitzgerald said...

Kali: Most of these drawings were done off a live-action CD-Rom that came with the book. The disc showed an actor doing pretty much what he's doing here.

I think Hook's idea was that all theatrical, larger-than-life gestures, even animated ones, are built up from eight Laban "eforts." Frankly I don't see the usefulness of this but I'm a sucker for theories and if the studio paid for the classes I'd go.

Craig D said...

Keen-o!

David Germain said...

Is this post a dig at my recent animation? ;)

Seriously, one cannot have too many reference resources. Even ass-backwards books or courses do you leave you with at least one nugget or two.

Ryan Khatam said...

very cool

Anonymous said...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

oh, MAN!

Thanks uncle eddie. I wish you could make a cartoon that looked exaclty like this. All loose and sketchy and funny.

Ryan Kramer said...

Hey uncle eddie, nice post. Is this book truly worth a buy for a college bum on a budget? (as opposed to other acting for animators books)...I just purchased the Arijon book on Filmic Language from amazon.com and can't wait to get it!

Anonymous said...

"Laban"? More like Lame

Sometimes you just got to keep it simple and not overthink things.

Most animators would be better served to buy a box set of Harold Lloyd, Chaplin, or Keaton films than spend Money on Hooks book. The over-the-top posing, acting, and staging in the silent era has much more to do with animation than the "eight Laban efforts".

Eddie Fitzgerald said...

RyanK: I think TSevens is right, more or less. If you're a funny cartoonist on a budget you'd be better off using your money for DVD reference.

kp said...

That's what I'm doing! Haha

Danne8a said...

Eddie!
I love your Gesture and Hand Drawings!
Even your roughs are sooo Inspired!

david said...

these are great! my favorite ones are the gliders. The way the guy has his hands out like he is cutting through air is hilarious.

I.D.R.C. said...

I am reminded of the great master thespian dabbers of the early 20th century. They could dab anything.

max said...

Wow, these drawings are so real.