The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation (original 1981; edition 1995)

One of the three practically required references for animators and aspiring animators (the other two being Richard Williams' book and Preston Blair's book).

This coffee table-sized book was written by two of Disney's "Nine Old Men" at the apex of their careers. In "Illusion of Life" Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston cover the history of animation at the Disney Studios and discusses the process of creating an animated film from beginning to end.

The "principles of animation" are covered as are layout, storyreels, background painting an much more. The book is filled with artwork from concept art to background paintings to reproductions of cels to cel setups to rough drawings by the animators. It also contains more technical material such as the design of Disney's Multiplane Camera and the impact it had on animation.

This is a beautiful volume that you'll learn something new every time you read it. ( )

Indispensible! The animator's bible. ( )