Producing Animation, 2nd Edition [Format Kindle]

"Producing Animation is an invaluable resource for students, executives, artists, and live action producers who may dream about producing an animated project. From preparing a pitch through final release print, everything you need to know about producing animation is discussed. Reading it is almost as if you had a mentor to guide you through the complex and often frustrating process of producing animation. If you are planning a project, this is an itemthat should be added to your budget and it is likely that you will be able to save many multiples of its cost in no time."--Pamela Kleibrink Thompson, TheScratchPost.com

"While there's a useful library of books covering the tools, techniques and aesthetics of animation, until now there's been scant coverage of the highly refined skill sets needed to produce animation. This up-to-date volume provides A to Z counsel about putting together a medium to large scale TV series or feature projects, with focus on cel and CGI animation genres. The writing is colloquial and peppered with authentic examples drawn from the adventures and misadventures of two experienced practitioners. There are hugely valuable tips for the smaller scale, independent writer/producer/animator who wants to develop his or her production chops."--Kit Laybourne, Head of Animation at Oxygen Media and author, The Animation Book

"Once in a while, we come across books that are helpful both for those who are just starting out in the toon business and professionals with lots of experience under their belts.  Winder and Dowlatabadi, who are seasoned veterans of the business, have put together a helpful primer based on their many years in the toon trenches..In short this is the book every animation producer in town should read before they make their next movie in 2012."--Animation Magazine December 2011/January 2012

You have a useful library of books covering the tools, techniques and aesthetics of animation, but you’ve been asked to put your production and creative skills to the test to produce a theatrical feature film or to deliver 52 episodes of a television series with only 18 months in the schedule.

Producing Animation is your answer. Written by Catherine Winder and Zahra Dowlatabadi and edited by Tracey Miller-Zarneke, Producing Animation is a comprehensive guide to the production industry. Already a relied upon resource by professionals and students alike, this book covers the process from script to screen while defining the role of the producer at each phase. The second edition features new content such as sidebars on key topics from industry experts, discussions on CG, 2D and stereoscopic production processes, and an overview on marketing and distributing your project. The companion website provides access to sample tables, templates and workflow outlines for CG and 2D animation production.

Producing Animation offers:

A complete guide to identifying, pitching, developing, and producing an animated show with detailed resources for production planning, budgeting, scheduling, tracking, delivering, marketing, and distribution.

Tools to establish the best production practices for your project with insight into the inner workings of animation production at successful studios, both large and small.

A unique collection of the knowledge, experience, and advice of industry professionals on a wide variety of topics, from selling your project to setting up a co-production to stereoscopic filmmaking.

Versatile and practical sample charts, tables and templates for CG and 2D animation production to help launch your project with solid processes and procedures, also available at http://booksite.focalpress.com/companion/9780240815350/.  

"Producing Animation gives a fabulous producer's overview of the animation process." - Pamela Kleibrink Thompson, TheScratchPost.com

"Producing Animation is an invaluable resource for students, executives, artists, and live action producers who may dream about producing an animated project. From preparing a pitch through final release print, everything you need to know about producing animation is discussed. Reading it is almost as if you had a mentor to guide you through the complex and often frustrating process of producing animation. If you are planning a project, this is an item that should be added to your budget and it is likely that you will be able to save many multiples of its cost in no time." - Pamela Kleibrink Thompson, TheScratchPost.com

"This is a bridge book between the fiscal and creative forces of animation. It is concisely written in a readable and logical start to finish fashion. It is a solid reference text for anyone interested in producing animation." - TAISzine

"For those interested in changing positions within the industry, there are synopses of every role in animation. For newcomers to animation, Producing Animation is invaluable...It ought to be required reading in animation schools for students and teachers, to show how much there is to learn and is needed to do to bring out the best in animation." - TAISzine

"It was fantastic... truly a path cutting, edge of the envelope publication for the industry. Well written, informative, painfully accurate and incredibly well presented with brilliant graphs, tables, examples, etc etc. The industry has been begging (or too stupid to beg) for such a book." - Robert Taylor is a Digital Effects & Computer Animation Artist & Consultant

While there's a useful library of books covering the tools, techniques and aesthetics of animation, until now there's been scant coverage of the highly refined skill sets needed to produce animation. And yet nothing great gets made without a great producer -- someone grounded in every facet of the creative process and capable of handling dozens of control points (and avoiding dozens more crisis points.) This up-to-date volume provides A to Z counsel about putting together a medium to large scale TV series or feature projects, with focus on cel and CGI animation genres. The writing is colloquial and peppered with authentic examples drawn from the adventures and misadventures of two experienced practitioners. There are hugely valuable tips for the smaller scale, independent writer/producer/animator who wants to develop his or her production chops. - Kit Laybourne, Head of Animation at Oxygen Media and author, The Animation Book.

"Producing an animated film is a mind boggling confluence of art, business, frustration, and elation. This book is a veritable treasure of information and inspiration on one of the toughest, most rewarding jobs in the film industry."
-Don Hahn, Producer (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

"Producing Animation is an indispensable book for anyone working or thinking of working in animation. Covering features, direct-to-video and television--so few (producers) have experience in all mediums, it provides comprehensive information on the nuts and bolts of the business."
-Bonnie Arnold, Producer (Tarzan, Toy Story)

Drawing heavily from the authors' twenty years of combined experience, Producing Animation offers a clear overview of this exciting industry and a comprehensive guide to the process of developing a project from conception to final delivery. Written from the perspective of a producer, this book offers the foundation of how a project is created in addition to describing the role of the producer at each phase. Answers are provided to many of the most commonly asked questions about animation ranging from how to enter the business to the average cost and schedule for a prime-time animated series.



Producing Animation has the first-of-its-kind comprehensive chart of accounts for animation, named the Animation Budget Builder, which can be individually tailored for each project.Students, aspiring producers, investors, television and
studio executives, artists, film line producers wishing to branch into animation, and legal advisors will find this an invaluable tool. The chapters specifically geared to the pre-production, production and postproduction processes offer animation producers a wealth of practical advice. Numerous illustrations outline the different steps of production. Forms the authors have devised to help streamline the process are also included.

Observations from a wide range of industry professionals such as; studio heads, creators, directors, producers, writers and members of the production crew, give the reader insight into what it takes to be successful in this business. The authors' personal anecdotes at key process checkpoints relay firsthand experience, illustrating some of the pitfalls a producer must learn to circumvent. Detailed information on preparing a thorough production plan including the budget, schedule, and crew plan can also be found in this book.

Complete guide to identifying, pitching, selling, developing,and producing an animated show
Provides comprehensive information on production planning, budgeting, scheduling and tracking your project
Includes a detailed description and flow charts of the production process for traditional (2D) and 3D CGI

Producing Animation has the first-of-its-kind comprehensive chart of accounts for animation, named the Animation Budget Builder, which can be individually tailored for each project. Students, aspiring producers, investors, television and studio executives, artists, film line producers wishing to branch into animation, and legal advisors will find this an invaluable tool. The chapters specifically geared to the pre-production, production and postproduction processes offer animation producers a wealth of practical advice. Numerous illustrations outline the different steps of production. Forms the authors have devised to help streamline the process are also included.

Catherine Winder is a veteran animation producer and creative executive who is currently President and Executive Producer of Rainmaker Entertainment, one of Canada's largest producers of CG animation. Winder was most recently at Lucasfilm Animation where as Executive Producer she set up the studio and produced the feature film and television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She has worked with many of the industry's major entertainment companies including Fox Feature Animation, Blue Sky Studios, HBO, Warner Bros., MTV, Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Cartoon Network and Disney.

Zahra Dowlatabadi is an award-winning animation producer and a consultant based in Los Angeles. Dowlatabadi has worked with many major studios including Disney, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, and Universal Cartoon Studios in addition to collaborating with numerous internationally acclaimed animation studios and talent.

Tracey Miller-Zarneke earned her production experience on the feature films Chicken Little and The Emperor's New Groove and has gained a unique perspective on the industry by having
authored five books on the art of animation, including those for DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon, Sony's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Disney's Meet the Robinsons.

Catherine Winder is an animation executive, producer, and consultant based in Los Angeles. She is presently overseeing 2D and 3D animated feature film production for Fox. Previously she set up and ran HBO Animation, producing the critically acclaimed Spawn. She also produced Aeon Flux for MTV. As Senior Director of Production for Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, she played an integral role in getting the ground-breaking shorts program What a Cartoon? up and running. Zahra Dowlatabadi is an animation producer and consultant based in Los Angeles. Her production credits include; Warner Bros.' Quest for Camelot, Universal's Land Before Time Sequels II, III, & IV and 20th Century Fox's Once Upon a Forest. She received an Annie Award in 1996 for her work on Land Before Time IV.