Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels

Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels Review

From Snow White to Shrek, from Fred Flintstone to SpongeBob SquarePants, the design of a character conveys personality before a single word of dialogue is spoken. Designing Characters with Personality shows artists how to create a distinctive character, then place that character in context within a script, establish hierarchy, and maximize the impact of pose and expression. Practical exercises help readers put everything together to make their new characters sparkle. Lessons from the author, who designed the dragon Mushu (voiced by Eddie Murphy) in Disney's Mulan—plus big-name experts in film, TV, video games, and graphic novels—make a complex subject accessible to every artist.

Story Lessons of Character Building (Morals) and Manners

Story Lessons of Character Building (Morals) and Manners Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan

When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan Review

No one has ever captured Ronald Reagan like Peggy Noonan. In When Character Was King, Noonan brings her own reflections on Reagan to bear as well as new stories—from Presidents George W. Bush and his father, George H. W. Bush, his Secret Service men and White House colleagues, his wife, his daughter Patti Davis, and his close friends—to reveal the true nature of a man even his opponents now view as a maker of big history. Marked by incisive wit and elegant prose, When Character Was King will both enlighten and move readers. It may well be the last word on Ronald Reagan, not only as a leader but as a man.

Reading & Writing Chinese: Simplified Character Edition

Reading & Writing Chinese: Simplified Character Edition Review

This is a revised third edition of Tuttle's Reading & Writing Chinese.

This new edition focuses on the internationally recognized test of proficiency in Chinese, the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK). All 800 characters prescribed for Level A are covered here, and the 1400+ Levels B and C characters are covered concisely.

All of the prescribed vocabulary for Levels A-C of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi is included among the example compounds. Knowledge of the 2,200+ characters and 5,253+ vocabulary items covered will equip students to take the test at either the Basic or the Elementary-Intermediate standard. Success in the top band of the Basic standard is sufficient to enter college in China.

The Eight Characters of Comedy: Guide to Sitcom Acting And Writing

The Eight Characters of Comedy: Guide to Sitcom Acting And Writing Review

At the core of this Hollywood howto guide is the concept of The Eight Characters of Comedy, the eight specific character archetypes used in sitcoms dating back to the advent of TV. Every actor can find a sitcom niche by identifying with one of these eight characters. Using past and current actors and sitcom personalities, Sedita describes in detail where these characters come from and how actors can play them truthfully. * who is normally cast as The Logical Smart One' * why do we love The Lovable Loser' * why is The Neurotic such a fun character to play' In addition, readers learn how to break down a comedy script, how to identify different types of jokes, how to deliver them with comedic precision, sitcom auditioning techniques, and how to market themselves.

Calling & Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life

Calling & Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life Review

In Calling & Character, Willimon lays out a clear and compelling picture of the pastoral life, one that will inform both those embarking on ordained ministry and those who have been in it for many years. He lays out specific habits such as study, collegiality, and humor as the day-by-day means of following the difficult and dangerous, yet deeply rewarding, calling of a pastor.

Character Mentor: Learn by Example to Use Expressions, Poses, and Staging to Bring Your Characters to Life

Character Mentor: Learn by Example to Use Expressions, Poses, and Staging to Bring Your Characters to Life Review

You've researched your character extensively, tailored her to your audience, sketched hundreds of versions, and now you lean back content as you gaze at your final character model sheet. But now what? Whether you want to use her in an animated film, television show, video game, web comic, or children's book, you're going to have to make her perform. How a character looks and is costumed starts to tell her story, but her body language reveals even more. Character Mentor shows you how to pose your character, create emotion through facial expressions, and stage your character to create drama. Author Tom Bancroft addresses each topic with clear, concise prose, and then shows you what he really means through commenting on and redrawing artwork from a variety of student "apprentices." His assignments allow you to join in and bring your drawing to the next level with concrete techniques, as well as more theoretical analysis. Character Mentor is an apprenticeship in a book.

Professional artists from a variety of media offer their experience through additional commentary. These include Marcus Hamilton (Dennis the Menace), Terry Dodson (X-Men), Bobby Rubio (Pixar), Sean "Cheeks" Galloway (Spiderman animated), and more. With a foreword by comicbook artist Adam Hughes, who has produced work for DC, Marvel Comics, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros. Pictures, and other companies.

• Learn by example-get concrete ways to strengthen your drawings and characters and input from veteran artists working in a variety of media


• Improve your own drawings with the well-thought-out assignments in each chapter, and then visit the accompanying website to see the author's commentary on students' assignments


• Accompanying website features video of the author commenting on and redrawing "apprentice" artwork

The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook

The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook Review

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Character NamesWriters give as much thought and consideration to naming characters as they would to naming a newborn child. Back in print and better than ever, The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook has been updated and expanded to help you find character names and their meanings quickly and easily!This one-of-a-kind resource was specifically designed with the writer in mind. Inside you'll find:25,000+ first names and surnames, and their meanings, listed by originNames and surnames from more than 45 countriesA reverse lookup of names by meaningAn alphabetical index of namesAn explanation of naming practices and historical context for each originA list of the top ten most popular names in the United States every year from 1880-2003Instruction on how to create believable names that fit your characters and your storyThis exciting new edition also includes advice from a number of best-selling authors, including Elizabeth George, Alexander McCall Smith, Homer Hickam, Marian Keyes, Big Fish author Daniel Wallace, and others. You'll get the inside scoop on their naming methods, plus the stories behind the names of their most famous characters.So throw out your old telephone books and baby-naming guides—The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook meets all your naming needs!

Learn to Draw Your Favorite Disney/Pixar Characters

Learn to Draw Your Favorite Disney/Pixar Characters Review

This one-of-a-kind how-to-draw book makes learning to draw favorite film characters from the most popular Disney/Pixar animated feature films a true delight! The book features characters from Disney/Pixar hits including Toy Story; Monsters, Inc.; A BugÆs Life; Finding Nemo; and The Incredibles.

Simple step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow illustrations walk would-be artists through the entire drawing process, from simple sketches to colorful character renderings. Let Learn to Draw Your Favorite Disney/Pixar Characters show you how fun drawing can be!