How to Learn Classical Animation for Free
- 1). Purchase or check out from your local library some instructional books on the subject of classical animation. A technical instructional textbook on classical animation is "The Animator's Workbook" by Tony White, and according to CompuPhase, Preston Blair's "Cartoon Animation" is a good "learn by example" book, featuring lots of examples of classical animation. "Animation from Pencils to Pixels: Classical Techniques for the Digital Animator" not only includes information on classical animation, but discusses storyline development, legal and financial aspects of short and independent filmmaking, storyboarding and job hunting.
- 2). Purchase the necessary classical animation tools and materials through an animation product supplier such as Chromacolour International. These include, but are not limited to, pencils, markers, sharpeners, drawing paper, storyboard pads, triacetate cel sheets, cel paint, and pegbars.
- 3). Utilize websites offering free instruction, and resources on classical animation. Animation Meat! offers PDF files for download such as model sheets and storyboard panel templates, and ThinkQuest provides a series of free online lessons on classical animation.
- 4). Progress through the relevant materials in your instructional guides and on your preferred websites in an orderly, step-by-step fashion. Practice each lesson until you have a firm grasp of it before moving on to the next one.
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