Essential Computer Animation fast: How to Understand the Techniques and Potential of Computer Animation (Essential Series)

A relatively thin book, Essential Computer Animation Fast is rich in information, a hand up from an experienced teacher and talented writer. For anyone who is interested in the topic, this book is a solid first reference.

Opening with a short history of computer graphics, it quickly chronicles the development of computers and computer animation software, progressing to the fundamentals of computer graphics and animation. Occasionally, it gets technical, as in a discussion of the different modeling paradigms: Bézier curves, NURBS, and surface patches. These topics make good reading, although many contemporary computer graphic artists are rather far removed from them.

Essential Computer Animation Fast describes lighting methods, types of shadows, the principles behind inverse kinematics, motion capture, and hardware; but not particularly deeply. In fact, the discussion on post-production techniques (a critical step in any animation production) could have been considerably longer than its seven pages. The section on animation itself also could have been more in-depth. That said, you will get a wide range of good information.

Computer animation has matured so quickly that even those in the field have a difficult time keeping up. Besides learning all of the foundation material, and just staying up to speed, you have to keep on top of new information daily--new techniques, new software, new approaches, not to mention new artistic trends. Because of this ever-growing mountain of experience, the newcomer is faced with a learning curve whose crest is constantly moving beyond reach. Essential Computer Animation Fast gives you solid footing on that mountain. --Mike Caputo