Win signed Richard Williams training DVDs 

Enter 3D World's prize draw, and you could win one of two copies of The Animator's Survival Kit - Animated, a new 16-DVD box set of video masterclasses, each signed by the legendary animator

 

How would you like a triple Oscar winner as your personal animation instructor? That’s what Richard Williams Animation Masterclass is offering with its new DVD box set, in which the renowned animator passes on insights gained over 50 years spent working in the industry. Over the course of 16 discs, the man behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and the title sequences for the Pink Panther movies shows you everything you need to know about the fundamental principles of animation for any medium, from feature films and TV series to videogames and online work.

 

In the 1990s, Richard Williams gave his animation masterclasses around the world from participants from leading studios such as Disney, Pixar, ILM, PDI/DreamWorks and Warner Bros. His book The Animators Survival Kit was first published in 2001 and instantly hailed as a classic. Now he serves as the link between the ‘Golden Age’ of hand animation and computer animation. He is dedicated to passing on his knowledge to a new generation of animators so that they in turn can push the medium in new directions.

 

The Animator’s Survival Kit – Animated combines over 10 hours of video lessons, culled from Williams’ four-day masterclass at Blue Sky Studios with over 400 specially animated examples. Each can be viewed at normal speed or frame by frame. It’s a complete animation curriculum in its most practical form and Williams’ presentation, intercut with the animated examples, consistently engages and inspires.

 

Aimed at both professionals and students, The Animator’s Survival Kit – Animated covers a broad range of subjects, starting with the basics and building up to more complex animations. The discs cover how to get started properly, timing and spacing, building walks, actions, weight, dialogue, morphing faces and, of course, putting everything together.

 

Along the way, Williams explores how different creatures and objects move, and demonstrates specific work methods used to make characters live, think and act on screen. He illustrates his points through drawing, performance and the animated examples, many of which will be familiar to fans of the original book.

 

STANDARDS-FRIENDLY

 

The 16 DVDs are ‘region free’ and will be accepted by all DVD players, anywhere in the world. However, please note that The Animator’s Survival Kit – Animated has been produced on the NTSC television standard used in North America. Other parts of the world use the PAL and SECAM television standards – PAL is used in the UK, for example, whereas SECAM is used by many European countries. Some 95 per cent of PAL/SECAM DVD/TV combinations will still play these DVDs perfectly, but if in doubt, please check your specific DVD player’s instructions.

 

As PC-based DVD-players can play all television standards, you will be able to play The Animator’s Survival Kit – Animated in a DVD-equipped computer provided your computer is equipped with a DVD drive and suitable DVD-playing software.

 

HOW TO ENTER

 

This issue, we’re giving away two copies of The Animator’s Survival Kit – Animated, each of which will be signed by Richard Williams with a personal message for the winner. Each DVD set would normally cost £745 (around $1,100 in the US). To enter, simply fill out our online entry form below.

 

Two winners will be chosen at random after the closing date, which is 1 February 2009.

 

This competition is now closed.