The Animation Smears Book

Uncovering Film's Most Elusive Technique

Christian Avender

$242

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

CRC Press
30 December 2024

Film movie production: technical skills; Digital animation

Throughout cinema, there have been various techniques to depict motion, and one style in particular is the fascinating use of smears in animation. Incredibly popular and captivating to artists, these animation smears are frames that creatively replicate motion blur captured on film, which is the phenomena that we commonly observe in our everyday life.

The vast world of different techniques for smears is explored in this book, expanding way beyond their commonly believed starting point in the 1940s to their actual origins that date back to the beginning of art history with illustrations and prototypes that led to their usage in some of the earliest known theatrical animations.

The Animation Smears Book: Uncovering Film’s Most Elusive Technique is a comprehensive guide that provides extensive information on the stylistic and creative aspects of smears and their impact, on how they make use of the way we perceive motion. Additionally, this book also reveals the names of artists who helped develop smears and the original techniques that were used.

Thoroughly examined by a professional animator, the animation smear is highlighted as a versatile technique used in all forms of animation including 3D and stop‑motion. This book answers all of the questions that readers ever had about smears and brings clarity to this simple yet mysterious trick that has puzzled fans, scholars, and historians for centuries.

By: Christian Avender
Imprint: CRC Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 620g
ISBN: 9781032728353
ISBN 10: 1032728353
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 30 December 2024
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Chapter 01 Introduction Going Forward: The Pursuit of Movement Chapter 02 What is an Animation Smear? The Origination The Foundation Winsor McCay Jim Tyer Animator Skill Sets The Requirements The Limits Chapter 03 Prelude: Portraying Motion in Art Before Film Chapter 04 Part One: The Introduction of Film Multiples Trails Line Smears Abstract Smears Chapter 05 Part Two: The Study of Movement Long & Mini Smears Take Smears Reverb/Stagger Smears Blocking Smears Transparent Smears Joint Smears Chapter 06 Part Three: Influence & Application from Modern Art Cycle Smears Wipes Shavings Projection Smears Running/Flutter Smears Blotch Smears Hook Smears Direct Smears Chapter 07 Part Four: The Digital Age Automated Smears Solid Drybrush Blurred Smears Library Smears Multi-Layered Smears Chapter 08 Part Four Extended: 3D Animation Smears Stop-Motion Smears Skewing Conjoined & Duplication Snapping Chapter 09 Certain Action Examples Single Frame Multiple Frames Chapter 10 Master Animator Methods Disney Styles Warner Bros. Styles Japan Styles End Note Chapter 11 What Are NOT Smears Gimmicks that Distort the Model Techniques that Don’t Distort Non-Animation Factors Chapter 12 Smears Outside of Animation Chapter 13 Conclusion Terminology Credits, References & Thanks

Christian Avender is a Canadian industry animator with experience on shows from Netflix, Paramount, Warner Bros. and more. Independently researched since 2011, the author provides a better understanding of a commonly overlooked art technique that is still being used in animation today. With years of animation history experience, university education and citing from actual different examples of smears, the author provides a comprehensive understanding of this art technique than ever detailed before in a publication. As an active member of the animation industry and productions, the book features collaborations with other artists and workers to help with the design and to showcase the versatility of animation smears in different settings. With over a dozen animation techniques, it provides as a valuable resource for art institutions as well as serve as a bigger picture alongside other instructional books in animation. The author shows how a larger understanding of action and motion blur in art has been sitting dormant for years, as it is revealed in this book which is the first of its kind dedicated exclusively to the underappreciated art of animation smears.