"I've picked the most expensive medium that takes the longest time. ... The reward is - you can play God." - Richard Williams
How do animators work, and what are their challenges? Animation documentaries can give some answers, and posters have been busy loading the videos to the Web. I've collected some of them here, and put all of the parts of multi-part documentaries onto single post pages. All of the links main links open in a new browser window.
How to Create Classic Animation
Classic animation is usually done with a camera. This list is a work in progress as well.How to Make an Animation - by Deburuman
Deburuman shows how he animates in two Single-8 films made in 1989.Modern Classic Animator Javan Ivey
Javan Ivey in a two part documentary from IndyMogul.com shows his do it yourself animation studio and gives tips on stop motion animation with clay.Cartoon Animation
There are a lot of documentaries about cartoon animation, from many sources.An Animation Odyssey - Richard Williams
The "real" title of this documentary is The Thief Who Never Gave Up, but it is definitely an animation odyssey by a man who wanted to make sure we didn't lose the knowledge from the first golden age of animation. He also wants to build on that knowledge. Modern animators owe him a lot. His book, The Animator's Survival Kit, contains all the things he's learned about classic cartoon animation.I Drew Roger Rabbit
Richard Williams a few years later, after his success as Animation Director for Who Framed Roger Rabbit. You'll see the progress he's made on his personal feature animation, now titled The Thief and the Cobbler, and get insight into his mind and methods as he talks about and animates walks.Animating Art - Disney's Art Babbitt
Art Babbitt began his career at Disney and is one of the animators that links Richard Williams and modern animators to the old masters. This documentary follows Art Babbitt through to his days with Williams, and contains yet more insights for Williams fans. Find out more about Art Babbitt on Wikipedia.Three Excerpts from More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Animation
These videos show the range of classic cartoon (cel) animation, from the one-person independent production to the full-blown theatrical feature. This documentary delves deeper into the moviemaking process than many of the Disney documentaries.Tex Avery - Cartoons for Big Kids
Tex Avery was a great animation innovator. "He worked very hard at being funny." - June Foray, voice actor.Animate with Disney's Glen Keane
In this video, shot in a CalArts classroom, Disney animator Glen Keane animates a character rising from a chair. While he animates, he narrates what he's thinking. This video will reward close study. Find out more about Glen Keane on Wikipedia.Voices of Disney Animated Characters
Character voices are half or more of an animation performance - just look at the major actors voicing characters in current animation. Animators have always drawn inspiration from the actors performing the voices. These segments show this process in the Disney era.More Disney animators
Disney has made documentaries on many of their animators. These are as much biographies as they are about animation. There are insights here, though, both about animation and how all of an artists talents come together in a life.Animation Biography - Disney's Marc Davis
Marc Davis is one of Disney's Nine Old Men. Find out more about Marc Davis on Wikipedia.Animation Biography - Disney's Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas is one of Disney's Nine Old Men. Find out more about Frank Thomas on Wikipedia.Animation Biography - Disney's Ollie Johnston
Ollie Johnston is one of Disney's Nine Old Men. Find out more about Ollie Johnston on Wikipedia.Animation Biography - Disney's Milt Kahl
Milt Kahl is one of Disney's Nine Old Men. Find out more about Milt Kahl on Wikipedia.Animation Biography - Disney's Ward Kimball
Ward Kimball is one of Disney's Nine Old Men. Find out more about Ward Kimball on Wikipedia.Animation Biography - Disney's Ken Anderson
Ken Anderson is both an animator and an art director. Find out more about Ken Anderson on Wikipedia.Animation Biography - Disney's Eric Larson
There are some sound synchronization issues with this video, but in part 3, Eric is teaching an animation class and using a mime to study action and character. He also says "hands are the final statement of a character." Eric Larson is is one of Disney's Nine Old Men. Find out more about Eric Larson on Wikipedia.Animation Biography - Disney's Woolie Reitherman
Woolie Reitherman is one of Disney's Nine Old Men. Find out more about Woolie Reitherman on Wikipedia.Model Animation and Claymation
Documentaries about model animation and claymation are harder to find. I'll be adding to this list as time goes on.Learn claymation with Oscar winning clay animator Jimmy Picker
I've posted this one courtesy of Jimmy Picker and Quickdraw Animation Society.Clay Animation with Nick Park
Oscar winning animator and storyteller Nick Park takes you behind the scenes in two documentaries: Inside The Wrong Trousers from 1993, and from ITV's The South Bank Show.Animation History
Animation Nation is a series of three excellent BBC documentaries covering the history of British animation. It starts with the world's first animated film, made in 1899 by the highly innovative British film maker Arthur Melbourne Cooper to advertise matches - and foster patriotism during the Boer War.
