Textbook about Animation Layout

Unlocking Animation Layout is the book that I recently finished for Focal Press. The vast majority of books dealing with animation are really coffee table books. They might have nice artwork but are really geared to the person who's simply a fan of animation. Whenever they include a section about layout it's clear to any Layout Artist it was written by someone who doesn't really understand the subject. As one who spent his career drawing layouts for animation it has always driven me crazy to read them and try to glean something useful. Aside from showing pretty drawings there is rarely anything at all helpful. I've always wondered why no one has ever written a worthwhile book about animation layout specifically for artists. Well that's the thrust of this book.

I was fortunate to learn under Don Griffith who worked as a top Layout Artist at Disney for about fifty years. He was an excellent mentor and I wanted readers to have access to that treasure trove of information too. Without exaggerating, it took me over twenty years to learn everything in this book. It's not because I'm the stupidest person on the planet but because any useful material came from various sources over many years. However, you have in your hands a great stockpile of information that can be absorbed in weeks not years. I'm confident you'll want it to live on your desk as a reference for a long time to come.

The main thrust of this book is to teach about visuals. It is geared to artists. The first four chapters are to get everyone up to speed, and the majority of the book is to teach you about visual communication. It may sound boring and technical but I can assure you that it's anything but, and you'll find it fascinating and incredibly useful.

Lastly, the book is written both for the person who's learning animation layout for the first time as well as the artist who has been drawing great layouts for decades. There's valuable information for both of you that you won't find anywhere else. It will help your portfolio and production layouts immeasurably. As an artist and teacher I've tried to make every subject in the book not only helpful but crystal clear. The drawings, layouts, full color stills and film examples are so you fully understand what's being discussed.

About the Author: From his days working under the Nine Old Men and creating layout for Disney classics like Aladdin and Hercules to more than a decade of teaching animation to the rising generation at CalArts, Dan Hansen has accumulated a lifetime of knowledge and is sharing it with you in Unlocking Animation Layout. Acting as your personal mentor, Hansen walks you through all of the elements of design and layout you’ll need to become a successful layout artist. Each chapter discusses a new concept using actual layout drawings from real films, includes a list of film examples of the idea in action, and offers an assignment that, once completed, can become part of your portfolio.