Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures - Volume 1

Well, I bought this book based on the reviews and wow, I was not disappointed. It is a treasure trove of hints, tips and study for animators... but it touches on so many other things as well. The best compliment I can pay it is that after reading 15 of the chapters (and this is a hefty book, great value for money) I went back to my sketchbook and saw an immediate improvement in my work (I am a graphic designer/illustrator). Some of the tips are basic but will almost certainly improve the way you look at, appreciate and understand animation, movement, character design and the creative process that lies within all of them. It is written in a delightful manner and features plenty of fine examples from some of the greatest animators in Disney's rich history. As another reviewer commented, it is not a 'how to draw' book. But it has already opened my eyes to a variety of techniques I wasn't aware of that have made a big difference to the way I work and I am not even half way through. It was good enough for me to go straight back on Amazon and order the second volume without a seconds hesitation. If you are interested at all in drawing or animation, and particularly if you find your drawing style to be a little flat and lacking the wonderful energy that Disney characters invariably have, then this book is a must buy. For £13, you are bound to pick up tips that will last you a lifetime and an entertaining read to boot.

Just got this book a few weeks ago and i absolutely love it! I’ve looked at lots of art books/animation books before and i have to admit that i usually lose interest half way through and never finish them, i have never felt like I’ve learnt anything from them and all the information just seems to usually go over my head,but for some reason this book is different. There is something about the way Walt's lectures are written that keeps you interested and makes the information sink in, i have never learnt as much from a book as I have from this book. Often books like this contain plenty of well drawn pictures, but very little information on the creative process behind the actual sketch, its the opposite here! There is lots of information and you truly feel like he's addressing you directly and the sketches are very tastefully used to illustrate his point. Most of the drawings are very loose sketches but i feel that they stick more so don’t dismiss them. After looking carefully at his examples and subconsciously taking his techniques on board i feel like i have gained an awful lot from studying such master’s suggestions and now everytime i draw i can hear his little tips repeating themselves in my head. I was wrong this isnt a how to guide, it isnt a book, but it is a record of Walt Stanchfields ideas, lessons and learnings. Unfortunately if you are looking for a cheesy self help/ leran how to draw this isnt the book for you, its an insight into the teachings of an incredible animator who taught all the disney legends, Great book!

A wonderful book by a wonderful man, more passionate about animation than I've ever known anyone to be for a long time. His love for the art really rubs off on you and makes you want to get out there and draw, no matter how bad the final result is - remember, you've got to draw the bad ones before they will give way to the good! However, don't be fooled. This is not a "how to" drawing book. Stanchfield doesn't tell you when and where to put down a certain line. This book teaches you how to approach drawing mentally, rather than physically. For anyone who wants to add some life to there characters and really make them sing, I'd highly recommend this book.

A very inspiring book, very motivating. A must have for animators and draftsmen. Walt Stanchfields lectures are a joy to read, and the sketches/drawings featured are interesting to learn from. In a lot of the cases he took model sketches from his pupils and added his own "improved" version, to show what things you need to pay attention to when gesture drawing. He also uses several examples from (Disney) movies to illustrate what he is trying to say. It really helps you push your gestures, poses and acting.

Served its purpose of understanding the principles of animation. Clear to read and lovely to handle. I enjoyed the book

This book is simply the best if you are trying to bring more life to your pieces. Even if it is for animating the information in this book is applicable to all artist. This book will give you tidbits from the genius animator and master Walt Stanchfield and help you concentrate more and draw better. I recommend this book to any art enthusiast!

This book contains the words of an animation legend, which are mostly unaltered, easy to follow and truly inspirational. It will teach you how to approach drawing for animation, although will not explain the technicalities of art making or animation itself. What is contained in this book is very useful, sensible advice on observational practices. If I could only have a single book on art, drawing, or animation, it would definitely be this one.

Good stuff

Um dos melhores livros de desenho que existe. Não é um livro para os iniciantes. Requer já uma certa maturidade artistica para a leitura. Mas há muito o que se aprender com ele!

Este libro no es para aprender a dibujar. Esta totalmente enfocado en aprender dibujo gestual o "gesture", lo cual es realmente muy importante para que los dibujos no se vean rígidos y sin vida. Es vital para cualquiera que quiera ser buen animador, de hecho. Si me ha ayudado mucho a mejorar mis dibujos.

L'unique bémol concerne la pâleur des illustrations. Elles devaient être dessinées au crayon graphite.... Difficile à reproduire donc. Mais avec de la concentration, l'effort est récompensé.

Bought both volumes 1 and 2. Both full of information and detail, will take me a long time to get through it all but suspect it's going to be well worth it.

Compré este libro por que me puede ser muy útil ya que estoy estudiando animación. Cual fue mi sorpresa cuando lo abrí al ver que la cubierta estaba estropeada, el lomo tenía una especie de pegamento blanco y además había señales de uso en el exterior (huellas como grasientas) y en el interior (marcas). Tras ponerme en contacto con Amazon solo conseguí que me devolviesen un 25% del importe o tener que molestarme yo en ir a correos a devolverlo y esperar otros X días para tener otro. El contenido del libro es excepcional. No esperéis muchas imagenes ya que mayoritariamente es texto. Os recomiendo esta edición pero si podéis comrarla hacedlo por USA ya que si te llega en el estado que a mi me ha llegado te devuelven el 100% del importe sin tener que devolver el producto.