Principles of Three Dimensional Computer Animation

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for intro courses in animation
Review: This book is excellent in giving the reader the "big picture" of foundational knowledge needed to learn technical animation. I strongly suggest using this book in introductory courses that teach technical-based animation, looking at techniques, not creativity.

Rating:
Summary: well written, but sparsely illustrated
Review: This new edition of O'Rourke's text is a must-have for the novice 3D animator. Clear and elegant descriptions of how 3D animation programs actually work offer the animator unique insight into the logical organization of the most popular programs. It can be used both as a textbook and as a reference, and this new edition is up-to-date. The sections on procedural maps, hierarchical animation, blended surfaces and metaballs are very useful. One caveat: this is a general text which explores the structure of 3D animation programs and is therefore broadly applicable. It is not a book about a specific 3D package.

Rating:
Summary: A must-have for the novice 3D animator
Review: This new edition of O'Rourke's text is a must-have for the novice 3D animator. Clear and elegant descriptions of how 3D animation programs actually work offer the animator unique insight into the logical organization of the most popular programs. It can be used both as a textbook and as a reference, and this new edition is up-to-date. The sections on procedural maps, hierarchical animation, blended surfaces and metaballs are very useful. One caveat: this is a general text which explores the structure of 3D animation programs and is therefore broadly applicable. It is not a book about a specific 3D package.

Rating:
Summary: well written, but sparsely illustrated
Review: While Mr. O'Rourke's book does a very good job of explaining in depth the terminology of 3d computer graphics, the book is very sparse in illustrations that display how the concepts translate into final rendered imagery. With the exception of the middle of the book, which has glossy reproductions from actual computer generated 3d scenes, the book looks and feels like a high school algebra textbook.

Rating:
Summary: animators' bible!
Review: You are an animator and don't have this book? Are you mad?