What To Buy For Kid Into Animation

Nosotros're standing on with our #BrownBag25 picks this month, and we thought with Christmas but around the corner that nosotros'd take a look at some souvenir ideas you lot might want to treat yourself or the budding artist/illustrator/animator in your life to!

To assist you choose from the plethora of gift options available, we asked our Brown Baggers what their ideal gifts would be and compiled a list of their great suggestions. We've grouped them into sub-categories for actress convenience.

Accept a roll through and be sure to add together your own wish list items in the comments below:

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS - Fine art OF, ANIMATION & COMIC BOOKS

You can't go wrong with books related to animation or fine art books from animated features or artists! Here are some of the books we call up are must-haves for any animator:

i. The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Williams

This enormous tome (340 pages!) by legendary animator Richard Williams (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Pink Panther), considered the animation bible by many, is an blitheness students (and pros) staple! Detailing the basic principles from billowy ball to run cycles, with great attention paid to technique. The book is written primarily for 2D animators simply the techniques are applicable to 3D also.

You can besides bank check out the iPad app version for the techies amongst y'all or the 16-DVD box-set 'The Animator'south Survival Kit - Blithe' which features over 400 specially animated examples: www.theanimatorssurvivalkit.com

2. Cartoon Animation by Preston Blair

California native Preston Blair (Fantasia) is somewhat of an institution amongst our 2D artists. His animation collection series provides a thorough basis for studying animation principles and techniques, and would make a terrific addition to any animators bookshelf.

three. Fatigued to Life: 20 Gilt Years of Disney Primary Classes: Volume ane & Volume 2: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures

The Drawn to Life volumes collect the notes for life drawing classes from the legendary Walt Stanchfield. Every page contains bits of data or philosophy on drawing that will make you think nigh drawing in a unlike fashion. And that's what our Brown Bagger's love most nigh this book, it's written past somebody who has a passion for life and cartoon and carried it with him his whole life.

4. The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston

Created by two of the famed Nine Sometime Men (The Walt Disney Company's cadre animators), this book is a must for anyone who appreciates animation, and Disney animation in particular. Detailing Disney's process for completing a picture footstep by footstep, the volume provides in-depth information for animators covering the history of how animation came to exist as well as of import blitheness concepts.

SKETCHBOOKS & ART SUPPLIES

Every artist adores acquiring some nifty new art supplies and well, what kind of artist would you exist if you lot didn't have a sketchbook? There is a huge assortment of beautiful sketchbooks out there to choose from and lots of terrific pencils/pens/paints, just here are some of our staff's picks:

v. Seawhite Sketchbook - a sturdy, skillful starter sketchbook for any budding creative person.

half-dozen. Hahnemuhle Travel Booklet - these come in a variety of sizes small size / large size

7. Canson ArtBook 180° - this sketchbook opens up completely without having a hardback cover. Allows you to have a flat surface to sketch on without the pages falling back onto 1 another or sketching with a slant.

8. Moleskine Sketchbook - our 2nd Designer Derek Horan'due south favourite: "Artists love a sketchbook that they can easily take with them anywhere they get and there really is none better than Moleskine!"

ix. And for something a little unlike why not try Wooden Kyougi Pads!

x. Pentel Graph600 0.5 mm - There are dissimilar colours available but this is the mint blue one. Information technology'southward a keen piece of gear because information technology has a bit more weight to it than most mechanical pencils. And you can buy different coloured lead for sketching, bluish ones for example, 0.5mm or arrange appropriately to the size of mechanical pencil.

11. Prismacolor Col-Erase Pencils - Can you ever have too many pencils? Nosotros definitely don't call up so and the Prismacolor Col-Erase are fan favourites in the studio.

12. Uniball Air Micro - Sometimes a pencil but won't cut it - well, in that case we have it on pretty skillful authority that this is a really nice pen for drawing!

thirteen. Holbein Gouache Paints - Some fantastic paints for the traditional artists.

14. Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolour Paints - These accept the added bonus of coming in a very pretty box!

15. Rembrandt Luxury Watercolour Travel Brush Box Gear up - For some extra pretty brushes to go with your paints!

16. Buddha Lath Original - For some doodling AND relaxing.

17. Posca Pens and Markers - These are fun and oh so vibrant, sure to delight whatever artist!

HANDY TOOLS AND DESK DECOR

18. Desk mirror - well animators need to rehearse in front of the mirror to get the best expression, don't they?

19. Chronometer - Timing is crucial in animation and a physical chronometer is a huge help.

xx. Alvin Wooden Homo Mannequin - It's a nifty tool for an creative person to stage their scenes, create basic poses and a skillful aid with setting up compositions likewise.

21. Stress ball - Stress happens to the best of usa and these may aid to relieve a bit of it!

22. Desk toys - And lots of them! Our gang can never get enough cool toys to decorate their workstation with.

SOFTWARE, APPS, & ONLINE COURSE SUBSCRIPTIONS

An often disregarded but incredibly appreciated souvenir idea is a subscription or license to some peachy fine art software or online art grade! There are some astonishing options around to suit all budgets and needs so be sure to do some enquiry in advance.

23. Adobe Creative Cloud - if you love digital art, chances are you're using an Adobe production, and any artist would be thrilled to get a subscription!

Be certain to check out other recommended online courses from our Dark-brown Baggers hither: 25 Great Online Courses for Artists & Animators #BrownBag25, and some software recommendations right hither: 25 Great Tools for Artists & Animators #BrownBag25

GRAPHICS & DRAWING TABLETS

If yous're just starting out and want to become into digital art, a drawing tablet is the fashion to go!

24. A small Intuos tablet is great for starting out and for more experienced folks the medium is perfect in terms of size and quality.

25. For users with a bigger upkeep, there's the Wacom Cintiq 22HD. This Cintiq is probably every animator'south dream, expensive (only so worth information technology). Afterwards yous get used to it there is no going dorsum, then if you lot know someone who really, Actually loves y'all very much… or if yous've been extra, extra proficient all year long maybe write a nice alphabetic character to Santa!

Intuos tablet