Newtek’s sixth version of Lightwave, the platform on which Character Animation with Lightwave 6 is based, provides some powerful tools for the animator who needs to create objects that walk and talk and sing and dance--objects with character. This book showcases these new features, plus the basics of character animation for the new user.

There are six major sections, broken down into 21 chapters, covering everything from modelling, texturing and setup to animating and postproduction compositing. There is a lot of information here, over 700 pages of it, which is good. But the book would be better if it contained more screen shots.

While the concept and execution of creating character animation in Lightwave 6 is expertly explained, Character Animation rises above the crowd by including chapters about Lightwave, storytelling through animation and methods of production. In fact, the first part of the book (about 50 pages) is all about preproduction: story concept, script, storyboarding and sound and timing issues.

Creating computer animation is easy. Creating computer animation that looks good is not, and the demands of computer character animation are enough to make any artist dizzy. Tools such as Lightwave, while being equipped to meet the challenge, are often difficult to master without some experienced guidance. By investing the time to thoroughly read Character Animation with Lightwave 6, you can climb the learning curve without succumbing to vertigo.

It’s important to note that this book is an update to the previous edition. There is some new material to reflect the latest features of Lightwave 6.5, but there may not be enough new material to merit buying this edition if you already own the previous one. Mike Caputo

An overview of the computer animation field offers practical tips and techniques for animating faces and figures, creating a demonstration reel, and getting an interview with an animation studio.

Newtek’s sixth version of Lightwave, the platform on which Character Animation with Lightwave 6 is based, provides some powerful tools for the animator who needs to create objects that walk and talk and sing and dance--objects with character. This book showcases these new features, plus the basics of character animation for the new user.

There are six major sections, broken down into 21 chapters, covering everything from modelling, texturing and setup to animating and postproduction compositing. There is a lot of information here, over 700 pages of it, which is good. But the book would be better if it contained more screen shots.

While the concept and execution of creating character animation in Lightwave 6 is expertly explained, Character Animation rises above the crowd by including chapters about Lightwave, storytelling through animation and methods of production. In fact, the first part of the book (about 50 pages) is all about preproduction: story concept, script, storyboarding and sound and timing issues.

Creating computer animation is easy. Creating computer animation that looks good is not, and the demands of computer character animation are enough to make any artist dizzy. Tools such as Lightwave, while being equipped to meet the challenge, are often difficult to master without some experienced guidance. By investing the time to thoroughly read Character Animation with Lightwave 6, you can climb the learning curve without succumbing to vertigo.

It’s important to note that this book is an update to the previous edition. There is some new material to reflect the latest features of Lightwave 6.5, but there may not be enough new material to merit buying this edition if you already own the previous one. --Mike Caputo

NewTek’s sixth version of LightWave provides some powerful tools for the animator who needs to create objects that walk and talk and sing and dance--objects with character. Character Animation with LightWave 6 showcases these new features, plus, for the new user, the basics of character animation.

There are six major sections, broken down into 21 chapters, covering everything from modeling, texturing, and setup to animating and post-production compositing. There is a lot of information here, over 700 pages of it, which is good. But the book would be better if it contained more screen shots.

While the concept and execution of creating character animation in LightWave 6 is expertly explained, Character Animation with LightWave 6 rises above the crowd by including chapters about LightWave, storytelling through animation, and methods of production. In fact, the first part of the book (about 50 pages) is all about preproduction: story concept, script, storyboarding, and sound and timing issues.

Creating computer animation is easy. Creating computer animation that looks good is not, and the demands of computer character animation are enough to make any artist dizzy. Tools like LightWave, while equipped to meet the challenge, are often difficult to master without some experienced guidance. By investing the time to thoroughly read Character Animation with LightWave 6, you can climb the learning curve without succumbing to vertigo.

It’s important to note that this book is an update to the previous edition. There is some new material to reflect the latest features of LightWave 6.5, but there may not be enough new material to merit buying this edition if you already own the previous one. --Mike Caputo

Presents the latest upgrades, tips, tricks, and techniques in a step-by-step, practical approach that results in professional, high-quality projects, such as facial animation and walking. Steps you through how to create your own character animation demo reel. Discusses how to break into the character animation field, including how to get an interview with one of many animation studios.

i like this book its good

this book Character Animation with Lightwave 6 by D.Kelly has everything you could hope for in when you need help making those really difficult character setups and so this book will help you alot if you are interested in making a character animation

Don’t buy this! It’s NOT about Character Animation!

I have many LW books, and too was excited to see this one available (I actually bought it a yr ago and wanted to write a review as I was here). However this book does absolutely *nothing* in terms of teaching the necessities of Character Animation. NOTHING essential - No Character Rigging or techniques on Modelling for rigging, No Layout Setups of Rigs - NOTHING! Just a self indulgent chapter or two on how cool the author is for getting his own head scanned. And I can’t believe the completely LAME and stupid waste of pages this guys goes to when he shows how to make a "Monster Eye" color map by stitching together 10 digital photos of closeups of his eye looking different directions in Photoshop. With the 2 CDs that come with this book you’d think he’d get something right. This Author has too much time on his hands and not enough LW chops - either that or he just has No idea as to what’s important for Char Anim...- only LW 5 techniques. Skip this book!!!

Don’t buy this! It’s NOT about Character Animation!

I have many LW books, and too was excited to see this one available (I actually bought it a yr ago and wanted to write a review as I was here). However this book does absolutely *nothing* in terms of teaching the necessities of Character Animation. NOTHING essential - No Character Rigging or techniques on Modelling for rigging, No Layout Setups of Rigs - NOTHING! Just a self indulgent chapter or two on how cool the author is for getting his own head scanned. And I can’t believe the completely LAME and stupid waste of pages this guys goes to when he shows how to make a "Monster Eye" color map by stitching together 10 digital photos of closeups of his eye looking different directions in Photoshop. With the 2 CDs that come with this book you’d think he’d get something right. This Author has too much time on his hands and not enough LW chops - either that or he just has No idea as to what’s important for Char Anim...- only LW 5 techniques. Skip this book!!!

Screenshots are LW[6] but techniques are LW5

When I upgraded from Lightwave 5.6 to Lightwave 6.x, I did so fully understanding that there would be a learning curve. Consequently, I did so armed to the teeth with all the publications I could get ahold of. I had read Doug Kelly’s earlier Lightwave 5 book and found it helpful, so I purchased it along with Dan Ablan’s "Inside LW[6]" and "Lightwave 6.5 Magic".
Fortunately, I read Newtek’s manual thoroughly and worked through Ablan’s book before I even opened "Character Animation w/LightWave[6]" I find it difficult to believe that Mr. Kelly even upgraded to Lightwave[6] before writing the book. Most of the tutorials are a throwback to Version 5, in fact I’ll wager that most of the CD-ROM material was generated on pre LW[6] software. Features like Skelegons, infinite Modeler layers, Surface and Graph Editors are hardly mentioned, if at all. New tools like point extenders, interactive smooth shifting and the band saw are ignored. These features alone represent a fundamental shift in the way animators think. Anyone interested in expanding their Lightwave skillset would find this book and its tutorials a pointless exercise.

Screenshots are LW[6] but techniques are LW5

When I upgraded from Lightwave 5.6 to Lightwave 6.x, I did so fully understanding that there would be a learning curve. Consequently, I did so armed to the teeth with all the publications I could get ahold of. I had read Doug Kelly’s earlier Lightwave 5 book and found it helpful, so I purchased it along with Dan Ablan’s "Inside LW[6]" and "Lightwave 6.5 Magic".
Fortunately, I read Newtek’s manual thoroughly and worked through Ablan’s book before I even opened "Character Animation w/LightWave[6]" I find it difficult to believe that Mr. Kelly even upgraded to Lightwave[6] before writing the book. Most of the tutorials are a throwback to Version 5, in fact I’ll wager that most of the CD-ROM material was generated on pre LW[6] software. Features like Skelegons, infinite Modeler layers, Surface and Graph Editors are hardly mentioned, if at all. New tools like point extenders, interactive smooth shifting and the band saw are ignored. These features alone represent a fundamental shift in the way animators think. Anyone interested in expanding their Lightwave skillset would find this book and its tutorials a pointless exercise.

Not very helpful

I was excited when I saw this book, being fairly new to LW6 (although experience in other apps). I saw it as a chance to get good with the character animation toolset. However, the book is mostly general character animation theory, and has little to with Lightwave at all. Sure, it has valid info on designing and storyboarding characters in 3D, but I already know that -- I wanted detailed information on how to apply what I know to Lightwave 6. I’d advise on skipping this one. There’s better info out on the web, for free.

Not very helpful

I was excited when I saw this book, being fairly new to LW6 (although experience in other apps). I saw it as a chance to get good with the character animation toolset. However, the book is mostly general character animation theory, and has little to with Lightwave at all. Sure, it has valid info on designing and storyboarding characters in 3D, but I already know that -- I wanted detailed information on how to apply what I know to Lightwave 6. I’d advise on skipping this one. There’s better info out on the web, for free.

Badly Named

The first 5 chapters of this book cover story writing and storyboarding. The premise behind this is that you can’t design a character without having a story. The next few chapters dealt primarily with how you would use very expensive digitizing equipment (think laser telemetry), and how to touch up data artifacts. The last few chapters deal with outputting your project. I saw nothing on modeling and animation using Lightwave as the primary tool. I’ll give away the big secret of the book right here: Build a clay model and photograph it.

Badly Named

The first 5 chapters of this book cover story writing and storyboarding. The premise behind this is that you can’t design a character without having a story. The next few chapters dealt primarily with how you would use very expensive digitizing equipment (think laser telemetry), and how to touch up data artifacts. The last few chapters deal with outputting your project. I saw nothing on modeling and animation using Lightwave as the primary tool. I’ll give away the big secret of the book right here: Build a clay model and photograph it.