Animation Unleashed

100 Principles Every Animator, Comic Book Writer, Filmmaker, Video Artist, and Game Developer Should Know
By Ellen Besen


Book Review
By Ann Baldwin


Ellen Besen has been working in the field of animation for over 35 years and is a former (15 year) faculty member of Sheridan College’s School of Animation. Highlights of her career include directing award-winning films for the National Film Board of Canada. Her films have been shown in multiple international festivals and at such institutions as MOMA, and her film analysis workshops are featured regularly at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. In her book, Animation Unleashed: 100 Principles Every Animator, Comic Book Writer, Filmmaker, Video Artist, and Game Developer Should Know ~ Illustrated by Bryce Hallet (Micheal Wiese Productions 2008), she takes you on a fun adventure into the wild land of animation, where you’ll expand your vision on and skills in the craft of storytelling and filmmaking.

She will show you some of the hidden worlds, where you can uncover ideas for your scripts. You’ll learn one of the simplest methods for writing a great animated script, which also applies to writing live-action feature films. She shares many techniques for creating suspense, mystery, tension, and emotions in your audience.

You’ll explore every nook and cranny on your journey with Ellen as she covers such topics as caricature, movement, fantasy, reality, props, sound, backgrounds, special effects, and more. She uses hundreds of wonderful illustrations and films such as Toy Story, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Monsters Inc, Fantasia, Bug’s Life, Lady and The Tramp, and Finding Nemo as examples.

Ellen states that “Action doesn’t communicate unless it can be seen.” She reveals a quick test-method to ensure that your character’s actions will been seen clearly by your audience. You’ll also discover one of the most powerful tools and key elements for communication that will give more meaning to your character’s actions.

Just like children, animated characters are great at not only expressing emotions on their face, but showing you how they feel as well; so much can be learned about creating memorable characters and stories through the art of animation. I highly recommend Animation Unleashed for all animators, filmmakers, and screenwriters, who want to gain the use of valuable techniques and learn a simple language for communicating to their audience with ease.

You can connect with Ellen Besen on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Ellen-Besen/1419880057 and purchase a copy of Animation Unleashed at Micheal Wiese Productions, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

From Word To Image

Storyboarding and the Filmmaking Process
By Marcie Begleiter

Book Review
By Ann Baldwin


Marcie Begleiter is a writer and educator who specializes in previsualization. She has worked extensively in the film, television, and interactive industries. She is owner of Filmboards, whose client list includes Paramount, Tristar, New Line, HBO, and ABC. In her book, From Word To Image: Storyboarding and the Filmmaking Process 2nd Ed. (Michael Wiese Productions 2010), she will expand your visual awareness and communication skills about all aspects of the visual storytelling process.

Before a film goes into production there are numerous decisions that must be made, often by hundreds of co-workers; storyboarding is an effective method of communicating between all the departments during pre-production, so when the cameras begin rolling, everyone is on the same page.

She takes you from the text script (screenplay) through all the stages and elements involved in creating a visual script (storyboard). She demonstrates not only how to create the basic stick figures, but detailed, 3-D illustrations as well, while covering topics such as composition, color, and perspective. There are plenty of helpful exercises where you’ll learn things such as how to create and use Moodboards to inspire your creativity.

She supplies you with a wealth of resources such as websites, software, films, DVD’s, and texts. She uses hundreds of illustrations and single frames from films such as The Cotton Club, Vertigo, The Last Emperor, The Godfather, and The Wizard of Oz as examples.

Storyboarding is a valuable tool for screenwriters that allows you to see your stories in a new light and helps you to write more visually. I highly recommend From Word To Image for all filmmakers involved in the collaborative development of a film during pre-production such as screenwriters, storyboard artists, production designers, directors, and cinematographers.

To learn more about Marcie Begleiter you can visit her website at http://www.marciebegleiter.com and purchase a copy of From Word To Image at Michael Wiese Productions, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.