Showing posts with label animation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animation. Show all posts

Wonder Woman's Book of Myths (DK READERS) Review

Wonder Woman's Book of Myths (DK READERS)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Wonder Woman's Book of Myths (DK READERS)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Wonder Woman's Book of Myths (DK READERS). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Wonder Woman's Book of Myths (DK READERS) ReviewWhile the idea behind this DK Reader series is great - combining superheroes with non-fiction material, they clearly forgot their audience (9-12 year olds) when illustrating Wonder Woman's Book of Myths. I bought a class set of these, and will be returning them. I'd be fired if I sent these home with the kids! The cover illustration of Wonder Woman in a barely-there costume is just the tip of the iceburg - all of the images of women in this book are sexed-up and scantily clad.Wonder Woman's Book of Myths (DK READERS) OverviewDC Comics' super heroine introduces young readers to the world of classical Greek mythology in this exciting DK Reader. Wonder Woman tells the stories of her favorite gods and goddesses, and their impact on her own adventures.

Want to learn more information about Wonder Woman's Book of Myths (DK READERS)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons Review

Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons ReviewUntil Nickelodeon decided to revamp and update the children's world in 1991, parents had no problem keeping up with their kids' cartoon experiences. After all, Bug Bunny and Daffy Duck, the Flintstones, and Scooby-Doo (in so many incarnations) were all staples of a kid's fantasy world.
As hectic as the world is for a parent, it's hard to keep up with what shows they've watched or are watching when they're growing up. Sad to say, television cartoons have served as babysitters and best friends for kids for decades.
However, Nickelodeon changed the package when they released DOUG, RUGRATS, and THE REN AND STIMPY SHOW. Questionable content began to invade American living rooms and kids' bedrooms in subtle ways. DOUG and RUGRATS tended to be wholesome fare - though with strange ideas at times.
But there was just no excusing Ren and Stimpy's behavior. They were gross and inelegant at best, and downright disgusting and offensive at worst. However, your kids thought they were hilarious. If you sat down and watched part of an episode with them, you'd swear they were way too young to be caught up in something as crass as that.
You'd probably be halfway right. But Nickelodeon took the stance that kids were a lot more intelligent - and socially inelegant - than most parents wanted to believe. So they created entertainment that took all those facets into account.
And man, what a whirlwind it's been these past 16 years. My oldest son turns 25 soon, and my youngest is 10. I had five kids, and Nickelodeon has been a constant feature in my house from the beginning.
The problem with having kids, though, is that you have to work to provide for them. And to provide cable TV. So even though I tried to get in front of the TV to check out what they were watching, I couldn't do it often enough. I watched some of the Nicktoons (as they came to be called) but not all of them because I didn't have time.
Thankfully there's a book out now that will catch you up almost overnight with the thirty cartoon that have and are airing on Nickelodeon. Jerry Beck's (author of THE HANNA-BARBERA TREASURY and THE ART OF BEE MOVIE and other works concentrating on the cartoon pays much you')monstrous compendium is kid-intelligent and adult-friendly, and it's heavy and sturdy enough to use as a shield or as a weapon. Not only that, but it was produced with the full support and cooperation of Nicktoons.
When I first pulled the book out of the box, I thought some had gone badly wrong. The book felt...SQUISHY. I let go in a hurry and decided to finish opening the box to have a better look. Then I realized that the book was covered in green slime, another trademark of the network.
Just like a kid, I couldn't help mashing on the slime book cover to see what I could change and see how long it would retain the impressions I made. It was great fun. If you really want to get a strange reaction from another adult, just hand them the book without warning. The first time they close their fingers in slime, they're going to freak - and be instantly interested.
Once I opened the book, I was even more impressed. The table of contents is set up with icons of the television shows. One of the games you can play as an adult is try to identify the series from the icon, then open the book to that page to find out if you were right. I got more of them right than I thought I would.
The sections on the cartoons are adult-friendly too. There's not a whole lot of reading to be done to get up to speed on what the cartoon series was. Background and creative spark, as well as the names of the writers and or directors, are wrapped up in easy-to-read chunks. The artwork is absolutely beautiful, gleaned from storyboards and character concepts all the way up to finished presentations.
While I was reading through the book, picking out my favorite cartoons first (like DOUG, RUGRATS, THE ANGRY BEAVERS, DANNY FANTOM, and HEY ARNOLD), my ten-year-old dropped in, saw what I was reading, and snuggled into the couch next to me. Then he started telling me what he knew about the characters, favorite episodes, favorite comic bits, and when it was going to be on again, if that was the case. There are unexpected benefits that come from owning this book. And, unlike the television episodes, the book can be turned on at any time.
There's not a whole lot of reading here to be done, which should be encouraging to you as an adult, because I'm sure your lives haven't slowed down any more than mine have, but there are a ton of pictures and graphic media. If you don't think there's a ton there, try holding this book straight out from your body in one hand!
NOT JUST CARTOONS: NICKTOONS! is an amazing compilation of info regarding these shows. The beauty of it is the book makes a great Christmas present (maybe not so much a stocking stuffer) for a kid or an uninformed adult on your list that doesn't know about Nicktoons but has children. Pick up the book and wander back through the history of your child's imagination and excitement.
Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons OverviewNot just Cartoons: Nicktoons! is the first book to collect all thirty-one of the groundbreaking cartoons into one dynamic volume. Fans will soak up the behind-the-scenes access to their favorite shows--whether it's seeing the original claymation figures from the lovable hit Hey Arnold!, original animation cells from the absorbing SpongeBob SquarePants, or the irreverent Ren & Stimpy characters like you've never seen them before. The creators and producers behind each show recall how a kernel of an idea transformed into a fully realized cartoon. There are the sketches that creators brought to the pitch meetings, storyboards that show how the writers and illustrators plan their shows out, and tons more. With a green, slime-filled cover, Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons! is the must-have for every animation enthusiast, design aficionado, and cartoon fan alike!

Want to learn more information about Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Write Your Way into Animation and Games: Create a Writing Career in Animation and Games Review

Write Your Way into Animation and Games: Create a Writing Career in Animation and Games
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Write Your Way into Animation and Games: Create a Writing Career in Animation and Games? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Write Your Way into Animation and Games: Create a Writing Career in Animation and Games. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Write Your Way into Animation and Games: Create a Writing Career in Animation and Games ReviewBefore I can properly apply the book (which is textbook format, though a lot more interesting and fun than normal textbooks) here's a little background. I'm a lifelong writer, just now getting serious about publication, with an abiding passion for film (particularly animation) and video games. While I'm not bad on the designing end of the spectrum, writing is definitely my stronger suit. I researched screenwriting and animation writing in my teens, but, figuring I'd learn all this in film school (all of which accepted me, none of which helped me pay) I never took it seriously.
Fast-forward a few years. I'm still in love with writing; it's still a creative pursuit at which I excel (assuming I work very hard and polish each piece); I still love film, but that expensive hobby understandably got pushed onto a back burner. A few weeks ago, I began to wonder seriously, not idly as I've done for years, about what I could do to write for animation and games. Coincidentally, I stumbled across this book.
"Write Your Way into Animation and Games" is a fabulous resource for beginners, and even intermediates depending on what you're looking for. I was frustrated by the first chapters, which cover screenwriting basics and how to craft a simple story. I read them anyway (in case skipping would cause me to miss something). And I have to say, the advice is clear, concise, brief, thorough, and necessary. It was material I'm highly familiar with, but once I banished the "been through this before" conceit, the refresher did very well for me. I'd urge anyone not actually working in animation (not that you'd be picking up this book if you were) to please go over it. It's a little irritating at times, but the information is still valuable.
After the basics, it delves progressively deeper in terms of technique and resources. The information on animation writing, from script format to page count to dialogue and action balance, was fantastic. Without setting out any unbreakable rules, it gives a very clear idea of expectations and guidelines, which is much, much more helpful that something along the lines of "you always have to do this exactly this way."
My only disappointment--and it was fairly minor--was a relative lack of gaming resources. Writing for games and for animation is obviously very similar, but I was more interested in games than in animation at this point. I wish it had been more balances, or even biased in favor of game-writing. That said, given the amount of information and resources in this book, that really was a minor disappointment.
"Write Your Way into Animation and Games" is set up like a textbook. At very rare times, it reads like a textbook, but it's still a lot more interesting than most of the textbooks I have/am dealing with now. If the format would, for some reason, put you off, don't worry about it. This isn't dry reading. The writing is professional but vibrant, and bursting with examples (which I definitely need.) I can't promise this will be a perfect read for any beginner. But, overall, this was a really great guide for me, and I know I'll be using it in the future.Write Your Way into Animation and Games: Create a Writing Career in Animation and Games Overview
Launch your career in writing for video games or animation with the best tips, tricks, and tutorials from the Focal press catalog--all at your fingertips. Let our award-winning writers and game developers show you how to generate ideas and create compelling storylines, concepts, and narratives for your next project.

Write Your Way Into Animation and Games provides invaluable information on getting into the game and animation industries. You will benefit from decades of insider experience about the fields of animation and games, with an emphasis on what you really need to know to start working as a writer.

Navigate the business aspects, gain unique skills, and develop the craft of writing specifically for aniamtion and games. Learn from the cream of the crop who have shared their knowledge and experience in these key Focal Press guides:

Digital Storytelling, Second Edition by Carolyn Handler Miller

Animation Writing and Development by Jean Ann Wright

Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games by Christy Marx

Story and Simulations for Serious Games by Nick Iuppa and Terry Borst

Writing for Multimedia and the Web, Third Edition by Timothy Garrand

* How to break in to the industry and have a career in writing for animation or videogames.

* How to fine tune your narrative, characters, world, and dialogue--with this comprehensive guide to writing.

* Companion Web site includes all of the key multimedia and resource components from the original Focal Press books.


Want to learn more information about Write Your Way into Animation and Games: Create a Writing Career in Animation and Games?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games Review

Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games ReviewMore than a few years ago, I had the extremely good fortune to be mentored in the art of animation writing by Christy Marx, who told it like it was about the biz and taught me all about the basics in great detail. Now a professional myself with credits as an animation production coordinator and writer, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book. Not only does it cover all the ground she taught me about animation writing with the same depth and care, it takes on comics and videogames, two mediums which have become more and more intertwined with animation over the last two decades -- something which is taken into account throughout the book. Whether you're trying to figure out if any or all of this areas are for you, or just looking for a better understanding of the business, this is an excellent primer.Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games Overview

Want to learn more information about Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Second Life: A Guide to Your Virtual World Review

Second Life: A Guide to Your Virtual World
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Second Life: A Guide to Your Virtual World? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Second Life: A Guide to Your Virtual World. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Second Life: A Guide to Your Virtual World ReviewBasically, I did the same thing a lot of other people did in Second Life. I registered, then walked away after not getting the fun of it right away. I came back to it because I needed a new creative and social outlet. Mr. Whites book approaches the problem that the Second Life folks are only now getting a handle on and solves it. By going through the chapters in whatever order, at your own pace, You can get a handle on this experience and use it to help remake your world. First and Second. Now my Second Life is all about making new friends and doing and making things with the tools and talents I can muster.... and talking to people who like dancing....while talking, and making things....
The best game engine is another human being.
Thank you Brian White.Second Life: A Guide to Your Virtual World OverviewLive your Second Life to the fullest! • Get started and get comfortable fast• Understand the culture, and avoid beginner's mistakes• Create the right look for your avatar• Master Second Life's building and texturing tools• Learn how to terraform, build, and landscape your first plot• Create your own Second Life "objects" and clothing• Attend the best Second Life virtual eventsCreate Your Virtual Life in an Incredible Online World...Right Now!Imagine a virtual landscape where everything is created and owned entirely by residents like you. Imagine a place where you can enjoy sunsets, ride a jet ski, buy land, plant a garden, get a tattoo, go sky diving, spend an evening dancing the night away, or relax at home by the fire. Picture a world vividly developed, socially dynamic, and strikingly real where you can bring previously unimaginable things to life with friends from around the globe. This is Second Life®, the hottest Internet phenomenon in years…maybe ever!Now, there's a totally real, totally independent guide to Second Life. This full-color book is as rich as Second Life itself! It's packed with insider tips, easy step-by-step techniques, and interviews with dozens of SL residents telling you what they wished they knew when they started! Brian White pulls no punches: You'll learn exactly what's great and not so great about SL...how to thrive in its unique culture, and how to create your dreams!The more time you spend in Second Life, the more useful this book will become...teaching you more advanced skills; everything from vehicle construction, Linden Scripting Language, particle systems, to creating custom animations and the new sculpted prims!Visit the companion site in Second Life to find all the textures and objects from this book as well as the contributor's gallery and other goodies: http://slurl.com/secondlife/humuli/222/123/29Contents Preface xviChapter 1 Welcome to Second Life 3Chapter 2 Exploring the New Frontier 27Chapter 3 Communication and Social Networking 47Chapter 4 Your Avatar–Your Virtual Self 67Chapter 5 Second Life Culture and Relationships 93Chapter 6 Building Basics 119Chapter 7 Advanced Textures and Clothing 171Chapter 8 Making the Magic: Scripting Basics 229Chapter 9 Land Ownership, Terraforming, and Landscaping 253Chapter 10 Particles, Vehicles, Animations, and Sculpted Prims 283Chapter 11 Photography, Music, and Movies 333Chapter 12 Practical Matters: Under the Hood of the Metaverse 347 Index 366

Want to learn more information about Second Life: A Guide to Your Virtual World?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 2 Review

Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 2
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 2? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 2. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 2 ReviewCompletelly recommended both to children and adults; just what I was looking for. My daughter does not speak English but adores Avatar and does an effort to understand the comic. Thank you very much to the authors. Mr. DiMartino, go for the Oscar!.Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 2 OverviewAang must face his destiny as he fights for the Water Tribe's safety and his life. But even with the help of Katara, Sokka and his flying bison Appa, will he be able to escape Zuko's deadly clutches? The journey through the war-torn world continues, as Aang searches to find a master to teach him Waterbending the first step to becoming the Avatar!"--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Want to learn more information about Avatar: The Last Airbender, Book 2?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art Review

Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art ReviewI've been creating digital art with Daz Studio for just over three years now, and there was always something missing from my renders. Although there are many tutorials online, none of them ever seemed to cover the basics of the program, instead jumping to the advanced parts while assuming you actually know what you're doing. Then I saw this book on here, and decided to buy it. That was possibly the best investment I ever made. Not only does the book help new and experienced Daz users create better art, but it also includes full versions of other commercial Daz programs, as well as model and content packs for the Victoria 4 model. I can't recommend this book enough, and I can't wait for the new Carrara guide book.Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art OverviewUnlock your inner 3D artist as you create amazing 3D art using the powerful program DAZ Studio. "Figures, Characters, and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art" will help you bring your artistic vision to life and enable even those who haven't mastered technical art skills to create beautiful, realistic art. Unlike other art software, DAZ Studio gives you the ability to compose striking scenes using a vast library of existing characters, props, and sets. DAZ Studio's easy-to-use toolset allows even beginning artists to set up an environment and populate it with characters that can move and interact. You'll discover how to construct, move, and pose figures, how to use lighting to make your art look lifelike, and even how to make the characters you create talk. Offering comprehensive coverage of the DAZ Studio software, "Figures, Characters, and Avatars" will help you become a better artist and show you how to stretch your creative imagination as you make unique digital art and animation.

Want to learn more information about Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Avatar: The Last Airbender (The Art of the Animated Series) Review

Avatar: The Last Airbender (The Art of the Animated Series)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Avatar: The Last Airbender (The Art of the Animated Series)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Avatar: The Last Airbender (The Art of the Animated Series). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Avatar: The Last Airbender (The Art of the Animated Series) ReviewThis is a wonderful art book for a spellbinding animation series. Making the series took 6 years, hundreds of artists, and hundreds of thousands of drawings. This book showcases a selection of some really beautiful illustrations.
There are loads of character and background designs inside, in sketches and in their finished coloured form. The main characters like Aang and others come with cool animation sequences created with pencils. Also included are many of the discarded concepts which were difficult to animate or doesn't suit the story. Appa had some really awesome spiral horns but were discarded, unfortunately. The character drawings are superb. Just by looking at their different expressions you can pretty much guess their characteristics.
Besides the characters which includes the town folks and soldiers, there are also drawings for many miscellaneous stuff like storyboards, airships, hybrid animals, wanted posters, promotional posters, chibi (or super deformed) style and random doodles from meetings.
Did I mention the background paintings? The world created is so beautiful!
The whole book is annotated heavily by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. They talk about everything on production, from creating the pilot episode to Nickelodeon approving the final season. You can see and read about their influences and inspiration everywhere, from Buddhism, Studio Ghibli, Gainax, Chinese martial arts, etc. It's very interesting to see how they apply what they learned from research to their drawings and animation.
This is a fantastic art book for the series and fans, which should appeal to anyone who hasn't watch the series. Good art appeals to all.
Highly recommended!
(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)Avatar: The Last Airbender (The Art of the Animated Series) OverviewSince its debut in 2005, Avatar: The Last Airbender has been one of Nickelodeon's most talked about and highest-rated animated series.Offering an epic storyline, engaging characters, action, adventure, and a powerful message about the importance of hope in a world besieged by war, it is also beautifully executed, harmonizing Western influences with aesthetic inspiration drawn from a diverse array of cultures, including those of China, Japan, India, and the Inuit. An unprecedented look at the concept, design, and production art behind this smash-hit, award-winning series, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Art of the Animated Series features hundreds of images, most of which Nickelodeon has never released to the public, andchronicles the show's development - from the very first sketch through to the series finale and beyond! With extensive commentary from series creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino.

Want to learn more information about Avatar: The Last Airbender (The Art of the Animated Series)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...