Introducing Character Animation with Blender 2nd Edition

I just finished this book just yesterday and I have to say this is one of the most comprehensive sources for an individual who is learning to use Blender 3D. It includes detailed step by step tutorials, photos (color in the digital version), and links to the online cloud where all the reference files are stored. I purchased volume 1 of this book and this version hits all the major components of the Blender 2.5 system spot on. I definitely enjoy the way that the text does not assume anything and guides you so you have a full understanding. This book is a requirement as it gently leads you up to the more advanced Blender 3D books which cover Physics, Game Programming, and Movie Making.For all those who may gripe and say that there are equivalent or better text available that are open-source, Tony Mullen does a fantastic job of presenting content in a way that doesn't make the book obsolete. I was easily able to navigate 2.5 with his old book written for 2.4. Also, the level of instruction of this book compared to open source means is like comparing a Wikipedia page to a college class in history. You get what you pay for. Open Source is readily accessible granted (I used "Noob to Pro" too) but this book is really if you want to refine your skills and take it to a higher level. I'm just about to crack open my "Bounce, Tumble, & Splash" Blender book soon. You won't be disappointed by the quality. Definitely a good reference from a experienced veteran who worked on Sintel and other open movie projects.

Goes through the process of creating a character from start to finish in blender. Topics covered include basic geometry, the modifier stack and some common modifiers (mirror, subdivision etc...) UV unwrapping, texturing, animating etc... The only feature that I found is missing is a dicussion of the sculpting tools and re-topologizing a high poly mesh. (Character Development in Blender Jonathan Williamson covers these features but doesn't arimitures etc...). Blender is very powerful but has a reputation for being hard to learn and use because of its non-standard ui. Introduction to Character Animation with Blender was the most useful for me as I got over the hump and became productive.

This book takes you from the basics of animation starting with character creation, material development, animating, etc. all the way through to production.Tony Mullen is not just a good, interesting writer, he is one of the principals involved with the Blender independent movie movement.The book is really a treasure trove of information from someone who has taught Blender to others over the years.Most of my reviews are longer, but this one does not have to be.If you are serious about Blender animation and interested in ultimately producing commercial or high-end amateur animations then you should read this book.In service,Rich

I fell in love with this book from the first time I picked it up. It has all the things I need to do my character modeling and it also gives me ideas to branch out on my own. Thought I am not reading it through and through, I can tell you, for what I use it for, buying it is the best decision I have made.

I'm getting a lot out of this book. It's helped me through a project I'm working on. It covers a lot of ground. It's a good book for someone who is new to Blender and interested in animation. The only thing I wish was different, is the formatting on the book. I wish when they mention a key command they would bold it in the text. They do have call outs but they're small and barely noticeable. I've learned to keep a highlighter handy for referring back to things later.

This book is primarily geared toward character animation but it gives a great overall look at Blender and its capabilities. Although this book was written prior to the new Cycles render engine and there are several modeling improvements available it stands the test of time IMHO. I highly recommend this for anyone starting out in Blender or wishing to learn more about the specific tools covered.

I gave it 5 stars because it's by Tony Mullen so you will not be let down. The only reason I am commenting here is to let people know that there is NO dvd that comes with the book. Hopefully someone will change that in the product information on this page. You can get the files by going to the Sybex website which is also mentioned above.

I thought this book was a great way to help me refresh my blender skills and really helped with the new 2.5 Interface, My only problem is that they do the same "Blender Man" build. You would think with a new UI that they would show off a bit but I guess why try to fix something that already works?