Steve Anzovin and Raf Anzovin

3D Toons

The state of 3D animation has advanced so much recently that it is used in part or in total for many of the films made nowadays. Not only that, but computer hardware is advancing so fast that such animation begins to look possible to the amateur filmmaker. This book is aimed at that market. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to know exactly waht it is trying to do. It isn't a 'how-to' book which would teach people the basics of 3D animation. It doesn't look at the well known filmmakers such as Pixar. Rather it's a showcase for the works of some lesser known animators.

The trouble is that the book isn't laid out like that. If it had started with the gallery of the work of the different animators, and then gone on to show how each of them had solved the problems of different aspects of 3D animation then it would be a valuable resource to those who were looking to extend their talents. As it is it seems that the authors aren't being upfront about the fact that this is showcasing work (including their own), and the gallery only comes at the end. Also I found that the layout was sometimes poor, with the text difficult to read - it seemed like you were just meant to look at the pictures. That said, as I got further into the book and decided what it was trying to do, I felt that it might be useful to those who had learnt the basics of animation and were looking to develop their skills further

Amazon.com info

Paperback 192 pages
ISBN: 0764129511
Salesrank: 916895
Weight:1.4 lbs

Published: 2005 Barron's Educational Series

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 192 pages
ISBN: 1904705405
Salesrank: 878672
Weight:1.5 lbs

Published: 2005 ILEX

Amazon price £15.26

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 192 pages
ISBN: 0764129511
Salesrank: 487332
Weight:1.4 lbs

Published: 2005 Barron's Educational Series

Amazon price CDN$ 24.95

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 21.95:Used from CDN$ 5.82

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Product Description
3D animation is today’s hottest art form, and here’s the perfect training manual to get 3D artists started! Both experienced artists and newcomers to 3D can discover the secrets behind creating fully dimensional characters for comics, web toons, graphic novels, and computer-animated short films. This book will also appeal to collectors, comics enthusiasts, and others who simply appreciate great cartoon art and want to know more about how it is created. The authors show how claymation and other traditional animation media can be given fresh life by using digital techniques. They also instruct with clear, non-technical explanations focusing on body and facial design, texturing, rigging, lighting, posing, and other aspects of building digital characters in 3D. Illustrated spreads graphically demonstrate how to conceive characters and scenes, then develop them into a finished narrative work. A gallery section showcases recent creations of some of today’s leading 3D artists. Approximately 400 illustrations in full color.

Product Description

3D animation is today’s hottest art form, and here’s the perfect training manual to get 3D artists started! Both experienced artists and newcomers to 3D can discover the secrets behind creating fully dimensional characters for comics, web toons, graphic novels, and computer-animated short films. This book will also appeal to collectors, comics enthusiasts, and others who simply appreciate great cartoon art and want to know more about how it is created. The authors show how claymation and other traditional animation media can be given fresh life by using digital techniques. They also instruct with clear, non-technical explanations focusing on body and facial design, texturing, rigging, lighting, posing, and other aspects of building digital characters in 3D. Illustrated spreads graphically demonstrate how to conceive characters and scenes, then develop them into a finished narrative work. A gallery section showcases recent creations of some of today’s leading 3D artists. Approximately 400 illustrations in full color.

Readers Will Have A Great Deal Of Fun With This Book! *****
3d Toons Creative 3D Design For Cartoonists and Animators is a powerhouse of information that focuses on artistic choices in explaining to its readers how 3D cartoonists reach their goals. As mentioned in the inside flap of the book, "3D cartoons are becoming the hottest thing in Hollywood, and they are also taking over TV." The book is written by authors who have an enormous and intimate knowledge of 3D cartoons. Steve Anzovin is the CEO of Anzovin Studio, a computer-generated character animation that he co-founded with his son Raf. Their objective in putting together this book was to deemphasize the teaching of techniques and focus on the "nitty-gritty" inner workings of the creative process. It is amazing how much effort and talent is required in the making of an animation. Readers are informed how 3D characters and sets are brought to life in cartoons, graphic novels, and computer-animated short films. It thus is more than a "fresh look" at 3D animation but rather a fresh attempt to appreciate the immense creative process that is required. The examination of this creative process is neatly organized into seven sections that are in turn sub-divided. The authors examine and explore 3DToonstyle, Toon Evolution, Anatomy of a Toon, Animated Toons, Shooting Toons, Toon Media, and 3dToon Gallery. Each section is prefaced with a succinct overview and thoughtful queries prompting reflection and discussion. For example, when you look at the chapter dealing with toonstyle, readers are asked, what makes a cartoon character? From this point of reference the authors analyze why they look, act, and sound the way they do. The book does not necessarily have to be read in a particular order and the newcomer to animation as well as the novice can easily open it to any section and garner useful information. Spectacular and easy to follow illustrations enhance the book's informative as well as its aesthetic appeal. Each image contains sidebar explanations as to how and why they were created in a particular manner. To illustrate, if you refer to the section pertaining to Cartoony Toons, there is an example of three images that are stripped-down cartoon faces without bodies and we are informed that is all a character needs. As explained, these bodiless characters were designed for medical animation aimed at children of cancer patients. The final chapter exposes the best of 3D Toon Art. It is here where we have a glance at the work of some of the giants in the field such as Jimmy Maidens, Robert J. Tiess, Yves Dalbiez, Sebastian Schoellhammer, Avalanche Software (Video Game Animation), Victor Navone, David Maas & Tatjana Herrmann-Maas, Shaun Freeman, Michael Sormann, Reel FX Creative Studios, and Patrick Beaulieu. As well as explaining at appropriate points within the various sections' key concepts, the authors provide a glossary of quick definitions of the 3D Toon Terms used in the book, as well as suggestions for further reading. There is also a very helpful index. Fledgling 3D animators, students, dreamers, and those who want to learn more about this fascinating topic will have a great deal of fun with this accessible book. It will most certainly become part of the required reading of many a course on animation, as it will prove to be quite an asset. Norm Goldman, Editor Bookpleasures

Readers Will Have A Great Deal Of Fun With This Book! *****

3d Toons Creative 3D Design For Cartoonists and Animators is a powerhouse of information that focuses on artistic choices in explaining to its readers how 3D cartoonists reach their goals. As mentioned in the inside flap of the book, "3D cartoons are becoming the hottest thing in Hollywood, and they are also taking over TV."

The book is written by authors who have an enormous and intimate knowledge of 3D cartoons. Steve Anzovin is the CEO of Anzovin Studio, a computer-generated character animation that he co-founded with his son Raf.

Their objective in putting together this book was to deemphasize the teaching of techniques and focus on the "nitty-gritty" inner workings of the creative process.
It is amazing how much effort and talent is required in the making of an animation. Readers are informed how 3D characters and sets are brought to life in cartoons, graphic novels, and computer-animated short films. It thus is more than a "fresh look" at 3D animation but rather a fresh attempt to appreciate the immense creative process that is required.

The examination of this creative process is neatly organized into seven sections that are in turn sub-divided. The authors examine and explore 3DToonstyle, Toon Evolution, Anatomy of a Toon, Animated Toons, Shooting Toons, Toon Media, and 3dToon Gallery.
Each section is prefaced with a succinct overview and thoughtful queries prompting reflection and discussion. For example, when you look at the chapter dealing with toonstyle, readers are asked, what makes a cartoon character? From this point of reference the authors analyze why they look, act, and sound the way they do.

The book does not necessarily have to be read in a particular order and the newcomer to animation as well as the novice can easily open it to any section and garner useful information.
Spectacular and easy to follow illustrations enhance the book's informative as well as its aesthetic appeal. Each image contains sidebar explanations as to how and why they were created in a particular manner. To illustrate, if you refer to the section pertaining to Cartoony Toons, there is an example of three images that are stripped-down cartoon faces without bodies and we are informed that is all a character needs. As explained, these bodiless characters were designed for medical animation aimed at children of cancer patients.

The final chapter exposes the best of 3D Toon Art. It is here where we have a glance at the work of some of the giants in the field such as Jimmy Maidens, Robert J. Tiess, Yves Dalbiez, Sebastian Schoellhammer, Avalanche Software (Video Game Animation), Victor Navone, David Maas & Tatjana Herrmann-Maas, Shaun Freeman, Michael Sormann, Reel FX Creative Studios, and Patrick Beaulieu.

As well as explaining at appropriate points within the various sections' key concepts, the authors provide a glossary of quick definitions of the 3D Toon Terms used in the book, as well as suggestions for further reading. There is also a very helpful index.

Fledgling 3D animators, students, dreamers, and those who want to learn more about this fascinating topic will have a great deal of fun with this accessible book. It will most certainly become part of the required reading of many a course on animation, as it will prove to be quite an asset.

Norm Goldman, Editor Bookpleasures

Steve and Raf did it again! *****
I found this book about a month ago while browsing the animation titles at my local bookstore. What initially drew my attention to it was the extremely familiar dog character on its cover (I believe it's name is Dennis, but don't quote me); I was especially pleased to see that Steve and Raf Anzovin, its creators, listed as the book's authors. Steve, the founder of Anzovin Studios, his son Raf, and the team at Anzovin Studios are extraordinarily talented artists, animators, and programmers, with extensive knowledge in all aspects of commercial 3D animation production. Based on my experience with several of their products (use their last name dot com to find their website), I took it straight to the cashier and purchased it without bothering to look through it first. I don't often get excited about a book, but this one lived up to my expectations, it's excellent. Steve and Raf have done it again! Their writing is accessible, clear, and direct; and the visual examples used in each section are contextually appropriate throughout the book. NB My personal peeve with far too many writers and publishers of technical manuals and textbooks, where specific tables, figures, or photos referenced within a text don't enhance the reader's understanding of the material (add to, support, or clarify its meaning), and their locations are not immediately apparent (whereby its location is logically correlated both visually and contextually, or hopefully more simply stated, referenced visuals are on or near the same page[s] as, the text that references them!).

Steve and Raf did it again! *****

I found this book about a month ago while browsing the animation titles at my local bookstore. What initially drew my attention to it was the extremely familiar dog character on its cover (I believe it's name is Dennis, but don't quote me); I was especially pleased to see that Steve and Raf Anzovin, its creators, listed as the book's authors. Steve, the founder of Anzovin Studios, his son Raf, and the team at Anzovin Studios are extraordinarily talented artists, animators, and programmers, with extensive knowledge in all aspects of commercial 3D animation production. Based on my experience with several of their products (use their last name dot com to find their website), I took it straight to the cashier and purchased it without bothering to look through it first. I don't often get excited about a book, but this one lived up to my expectations, it's excellent. Steve and Raf have done it again! Their writing is accessible, clear, and direct; and the visual examples used in each section are contextually appropriate throughout the book.

NB My personal peeve with far too many writers and publishers of technical manuals and textbooks, where specific tables, figures, or photos referenced within a text don't enhance the reader's understanding of the material (add to, support, or clarify its meaning), and their locations are not immediately apparent (whereby its location is logically correlated both visually and contextually, or hopefully more simply stated, referenced visuals are on or near the same page[s] as, the text that references them!).