Pencilmation How-To Book?

So, lots of people ask me how I make these cartoons, and I just got to thinking today, maybe I should self-publish a book that teaches people how to make animations like these.

Here are chapter titles off the top of my head:

  1. What you need to get started and how you can get it cheaply
  2. How to come up with cartoon ideas
  3. Designing the animated storyboard
  4. Animating
  5. Inking/Tracing
  6. Sound and music design
  7. Sharing your cartoon with the world!

So maybe it wouldn’t be a very long book, but it would have pretty pictures and would walk the reader through my cartoon making process from start to finish.  It could also include example files that the reader could open on their computer.  That would be cool!

What do you guys think about that?  Is it a good idea or am I getting ahead of myself at this point?

25 Responses to Pencilmation How-To Book?

  1. Hi Ross, I think this a brilliant idea. I can’t wait to see your new episode. :D

  2. i think its a really awesome idea ,in fact my cousin who is 5 does not know how to work the computer and i showed him and now everyday he goes on pencilmation.com. so i think you should go for it, keep up the good work.

  3. good idea, i love your cartoons to.
    i’m come from holland.
    can i buy your book in the netherlands.

  4. go for it ross! my grampa always said if you try hard enough you’ll end up with either a masterpeice or something to hit your critics with ^.^
    he was a real example to me, although my parents didn’t think so

  5. u should all go to http://www.icanhascheezburger.com
    see u there, im lol98

  6. #1 Pencilmationfan

    i love an idea of a book and like sparkwolf said a comic would be cool.
    maybe in your book though you could do a few step by step drawings of your favourite characters that would be cool and maybe the front cover could have a hologram thing so the image would move

    just sayin keep on drawing

  7. JUST A FAN TO COOL U OFF

    I think its a good idea, and that you should have it come with a CD so people would be abble to see how its done and read how its done!!! Or so if people dont understand the book that much the CD will help them.

  8. I lurve the idea!!! I will so buy that book – even if it costs me a whole year’s worth of pocket money! (not saying it should… because I’d be broke!)

    This is also a great way to earn your cash… and keep eating.

    Rock on Ross!

  9. great idea i love your cartoons!

  10. great idea i love your cartoons

  11. oh yeah that will be totally awesome.I`ll definitely buy it.sorry for any typos if there are because i`m only a kid and nobody checked this.

  12. animation beginner

    Yep, I’d buy it! Also, does anyone like clay animation or do it?

  13. Oh, three more things:

    1 I’m writing this message so I can click the “subscribe” button.

    2 Change “Toooooons” back, or to “Animations”. I mean, seriously?

    3 A Pencilmation COMIC would be cool.

  14. Maybe make a digital one? Just sell CD’s including a SWF. A real book wouldn’t be a “best-seller”: What is the chance someone who uses 1 FLASH knows 2 PENCILMATION will buy 3 THE BOOK? I would, but maybe it’s best to do the same thing Adam Phillips does: An academy page on his website.

    Shame on you if ye don’t know Brackenwood.

  15. I would like a how to book …..
    publish ninja publish…..
    teach me ….

  16. awesome idea! i wanted to be a cartoonist since i was 7, and i want to know how to make cartoons like yours.

  17. Ruchi S Agarwal

    Great idea! Whether it’s a book or the information published on your website, I’d be very interested. Looking forward to it soon.

  18. I would be interested .

  19. I think that’s a great idea!
    I would definitely be interested.

    However, writing a book would be a large effort on your part. However, if you were going to write a book, I think it would be best to do it chapter-by-chapter, and not all at once.

  20. I would definitely be interested. :)

  21. I think this would be an interesting idea. Might want to wait a bit, very cool idea. Also something i’ve been thinking of, you should make pencilmation wallpapers or something, that too would be really cool! Keep up the good work!

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