A young woman named Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and is turned into an old woman who is unable to tell anyone of her plight. Unable to continue her job at her mother's hat shop, she goes to the ambulatory castle of the notorious wizard Howl and insinuates herself into his household. Sophie befriends Calcifer, the fire demon who powers the castle and who is bound to Howl by a contract, the terms of which Calcifer cannot reveal. They promise...

"From Steamboat Willie to Finding Dory, the world of animation has seen many changes over the years. But one thing that always stays the same is animators' commitment to creating amazing entertainment. Readers will learn how animation was invented, how the technology behind it has changed over time, and how the latest animated films are made. They will also find out what it is like to work as an animator, what is in story for the future of animation,...

A scheming raccoon named RJ tricks a family of forest creatures into helping him repay a debt of food by invading the new suburban sprawl that sprang up while the family was hibernating. Although the family's cautious leader, Verne the turtle, urges wary of potential danger, the rest of the family eagerly dives into the world of junk food.

Getting into his grandfather's pottery workshop at night, a little boy finds an unusually large vase. Fascinated, the child feels the still-warm material, which - whether by a miracle or the hand of a magician, who knows? - at once changes into a magnificent piece of Chinese porcelain. Presently, from behind the great blue-enamelled trees, there appears a fisherman in his sampan....That's how the story of The nightingale, told all in music, begins,...

World-renowned animator Preston Blair covers the most important aspects of cartooning, such as working out layouts, planning scenes, and synchronizing mouth action. It also provides instruction on drawing a variety of believable animated characters, with tips on using lines of action to create realistic motion.

A performing grizzly bear named Boog, who has been domesticated by a park ranger, Beth, helps deer friend Elliot escape from the mullet-sporting hunter, Shaw. When the two animals escape to the forest they become lost - just as hunting season begins. To make the situation worse, Boog doesn't know how to survive outside of his beloved ranch. Elliott and Boog develop a strong bond not only between themselves but also with the other wild animals as they...

Readers will trace the history of animation from its earliest roots to its most recent successes and beyond. They will also learn about the different types of artists, engineers, and filmmakers who have made this incredible blend of art and technology possible throughout the decades.

Meet the men and women who use their computer skills and creativity to bring computer-generated movie characters and fantasy worlds to life. Where do CGI artists get their inspiration from? What do modelers, riggers, and animators do? How is technology used to capture an actor's performance and use it to animate a CGI creature? And what does it take to turn sketches on paper into a groundbreaking, blockbuster movie?