What would be an inexpensive gift to help a teenager learn about computer animation?

Question

My brother has expressed interest in computer animation. I would like to get him something to help him learn more about it, ie a book or inexpensive software. I don't want to spend a lot of money until I know it is something he will pursue. His computer is about 5 years old and he has average computer skills. Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

Books,

Animator's Survival Kit and The Illusion of Life are classics in the field.  (The first one is more of a "how to," while the other one is a little more arm-chair read-able, it combines "how to" with how they did it (they were Disney animators)).

You also might check out smithmacro.  They have Poser (3d animation for hobbiests and anime studio, which is cut-out animation like southpark)

Plastic Animation paper: is a good 2d animation application.  But if he is going to do 2d animation on his computer, he either will have to scan his drawings or get a tablet (tablets allow you to draw on the computer with a pen, they cost $50+, starting with the Bamboo, going up.)  But if you invested in a wacom, then you could either get the free download of plastic animation paper -- or other free downloads, such as Pencil (which is completely free, ie it doesn't have a "purchase" version).

Game animation industy is very big.  If he likes playing games, then you can get him a book on modding.  Modding is creating your own worlds, characters and animations inside a particular game.  I don't have any recommendations, but many of the major 3d companies have free modding versions of their software.  XSI, Autodesk Maya and 3d max all have free versions.