Stop Motion: Passion, Process and Performance

What an extraordinary review by J Burns. I wondered a) why he chose the book; b) whether he actually read it; and c) whether he enjoys animation.
Such a personal and vitriolic attack is a shame, for Barry Purves' 'Stop Motion - passion, process, performance' is an exceptional book, written by a leading practitioner whose films have been Oscar and Bafta nominated and have won over 60 prestigious awards worldwide. This is not a 'how to ' manual but one man's deeply personal and insightful investigation into what it means to be an animator.Erudite and witty, this is a fascinating chronicle of a lifetimes' love and obsession with animation - warts and all. It is insightful, humorous, poignant but above all inspiring - I loved it.

Disappointing (0/2 people found this helpful)

They say you can't judge a book by its cover and unfortunately it's true. When I bought Stop Motion: Passion Process and Performance I was hoping to read an inspiring and instructional book that would help me when creating my own animations. Far from writing an objective or in-depth analysis of the art and technique of stop motion animation, Barry Purves has used this opportunity to write his autobiography which is crammed full of personal observations and idiosyncrasies that can be of interest only to his most ardent fans.

Be warned - if you are looking for an objective and informative overview of stop motion theory and technique, as I was, this book is definitely not for you. It reads like an unterrupted stream of consciousness from a washed-up old luvvie, who occasionally drags in friends and acquaintences to add a bit of interest and give the impression of a more rounded piece of work. This book is principally an advertisement for its author and an extended tour through his back catalogue. If that's what you're looking for then I can recommend it although in fairness I shouldn't need to because it should be clearly written on the cover.

Inspiring! (1/1 people found this helpful)

'Stop Motion' is about as far from a stale text book as you can get. It manages to deliver plenty of technological information whilst also entertaining and inspiring. Be warned, even if you are not creative yet, it could well cause you to yearn to animate with the best of them!

Perhaps only such a professional and established talent could write so openly and engagingly. The author's enthusiasm is as infectious as his talent is impressive. 'Stop motion' is in many ways a love affair with a most wonderful artform - a journey through all that inspires the author and other leaders in the field. I particularly love that time was taken to interview other animators on various themes as the answers are often quirky and entertaining.

Add to that superb presentation with excellent illustration and you have a definite winner brimming with inspiration. Naturally it will be a hit with students and professionals of the craft, but I also suspect it will generate much new interest and respect. Superb!

A Wonderfully Unique Read (2/2 people found this helpful)

There is no other book like this one. Most animation books are either theoretical, or teach you 'how' to animate. It's great that we have those but at last we have a book written from the heart, by a man, and his interviewees, who are truly passionate about their craft - the art of Stop Motion (a.k.a. Model Animation). Barry Purves is renowned in the animation industry for his marvellous films, such as 'Next', 'Achilles' and 'Gilbert & Sullivan - The Very Models', as well as for working on classic series such as 'The Wind in the Willows' (my favourite) and 'Chorlton and the Wheelies'. This book covers all of Barry's major influences, and takes you on a journey through, literally the title: passion, process and performance. It is difficult to put the book down, simply because it is so packed with information and inspiration that will open your mind, not to mention the many accompanying illustrations. I would highly recommend this to any fan or student of animation, or indeed any related craft, because it is truthfully written from the heart. A wonderful book.

Stop Motion: Passion, Process and Performance

Barry Purves

Reader Reviews:

An exceptional read (1/1 people found this helpful)

Disappointing (0/2 people found this helpful)

Inspiring! (1/1 people found this helpful)

A Wonderfully Unique Read (2/2 people found this helpful)

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