Check out an interview with the authors on CNET! Featured on The Verge “Ever since the release of The LEGO Movie, I’ve wondered how I could create my own stop-motion videos with my ever-growing LEGO collection. Thanks to the genius minds of David Pagano and David Pickett, I had the opportunity to learn with The LEGO Animation Book.” Have you ever wondered what your LEGO creations would look like on the big screen? The LEGO Animation Book will show you how to bring your models to life with stop-motion animation — no experience required! Follow step-by-step instructions to make your first animation, and then explore the entire filmmaking process, from storyboards to post-production. Along the way, you’ll learn how to: Create special effects like explosions and flying minifigures Convey action and emotion with your minifigure actors Design sets for animation — make three buildings look like an entire city! Light, frame, and capture consistent photos
Add detail and scope to your films by building in different scales Build camera dollies and rigs out of LEGO bricks Choose cameras, software, and other essential animation tools Dive into the world of animation and discover a whole new way to play!Click here for additional LEGO animation resources About the AuthorDavid Pagano is a LEGO animator and writer and the founder of Paganomation, a NY-based production studio. His work has appeared everywhere from BrickJournal to the Wall Street Journal. David Pickett is the LEGO filmmaker behind BRICK 101 and Nightly News at Nine. Together, they run the LEGO animation blog The Set Bump. Chapter 1: The Basics Chapter 2: Animation the Minifigure Chapter 3: Animation Principles Chapter 4: Building for Brickfilms Chapter 5: Working in Different Scales Chapter 6: Tools of the Trade Chapter 7: The Creative Process Chapter 8: Cinematography and Production View the detailed Table of Contents (PDF)
View the Index (PDF)ReviewsAuthor Dave Pickett stopped by the FOX 32 studio to show off the book— watch the segment here! NY1 News stopped by author David Pagano's studio to chat about the book. Check out an interview with author David Pagano on AM New York. Read an interview with Dave Pickett in The University of Chicago Magazine. “This is an excellent book that covers everything from cameras and software to animating minifigures, building sets and post-production.” “The whole way through there is excellent imagery to support the text and methodology behind how to create and produce your very own brickfilm. It is great if you are starting from scratch for the very first time, although that’s not to say that a seasoned pro wouldn’t learn a thing or two from these guys.” “Creating a Brickfilm can seem like a tricky affair, but the book's authors make it really easy to get started. We look forward to seeing what’s next from No Starch Press, not to mention all these great new Brickfilms born out of this great book.”
“Overall, if you have a passion for making LEGO stop-motion videos but don’t know where to begin, The LEGO Animation Book is a great starting point...If you’ve already made some videos before but want to hone in on some aspects that you want to improve on, this book is also a good resource to have in your library.” “Whether you have just started or already have some experience making brick films, The LEGO Animation Book is a must have tool to take your stop-motion efforts to the next level. And even if you have never made a brick film in your life, after reading through this book you will be primed to get started on the LEGO movie of your dreams.” “Everything is awesome with this book that teaches basic animation principles, acting methods for minifigures and tips for creating sets and special effects.” “The LEGO Animation Book is enthusiastically recommended for dedicated LEGO fans from ages 8 to 88 and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library collections.”
Welcome to another instalment of the week in geek, our weekly round-up of news in the world of gaming, comics, film, and TV that you might have missed. This week we have news on the Lego Batman Movie, a remastered version of the Bioshock games, some tidbits about Bryan Cranston's role in the upcoming Power Rangers movie, and more. Last week we learned that Breaking Bad and Malcolm in the Middle star Bryan Cranston will play the Power Rangers' mentor Zordon in the upcoming movie reboot. Now Cranston has opened up about taking on the role. First up, he told Larry King why he took on the role in the first place. As it turns out, part of it came from the fact he did a lot of dubbing work for the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers series back in the day. In fact, the original Blue Ranger (Billy Cranston) was apparently named after him. He'd also "never done a sci-fi/superhero type" role before. He also told ET that the role already involves a lot of CG and motion capture work, and that the film include some fresh details about Zordon as well as his backstory.
According to Chris Miller and Phil Lord, directors of The Lego Movie and producers on The Lego Batman Movie, the upcoming film is basically one 90-minute easter egg. L: There is no favouritism, and there are no limits M: Chris McKay, the director of the movie, is a real Batman aficionado and knows really arcane stuff that was only in one issue of the comic book in 1972, and that sort of thing. L: And he has a very large Catwoman tattoo on his forearm. M: So, it is chock full of stuff for Batman aficionados. It is just a 90-minute Easter egg. L: And it heavily honours the comics. So, it covers all the way through to Batman v Superman. As has been rumoured for many months, 2K is re-releasing the three Bioshock games (Bioshock, 2, and Infinite) plus DLC in the form of Bioshock: The Collection. They're being remastered and released on PC, Xbox One, and Playstation 4 on September 13th. It'll also have director's commentary about what it took to bring the games to life. Here's a trailer: Benedict Wong has spoken about his role in the upcoming Doctor Strange, and his character Wong.
Traditionally Wong has been Stephen Strange's manservant, teacher, and protector. Speaking to Den of Geek, Benedict confirmed that this won't be the case in the film. “I’m certainly not going to be the tea-making manservant. We’re heading in a different direction. He’s more of a drill sergeant. There isn’t any martial arts for Wong in Doctor Strange actually, he’s more of a drill sergeant to Kamar-Taj. He’s one of the masters of sorcery.” It looks like the first season of Marvel and Netflix's Daredevil will be getting a physical release this October. That's if listings from Zavvi are accurate. It's £20 for the DVD, £26 for the Blu-ray, £30 for the exclusive steelbook Blu-ray, and £50 for a collector's box that includes the steelbook and five themed items. Jon Bernthal has also gone on record to say that the Frank Castle you meet in Daredevil season 2 is not the Punisher. Speaking to Awards Daily: "I think when you’re talking about characters like these, the way they fight, what’s motivating the fight is very important.
Beating someone up to drag them into jail is different than someone who is exercising his rage on people. The Frank Castle you find in this story is not The Punisher. He’s reeling from the loss of his family. He’s driven by rage and is on a singular mission to find these people who took his family from him, and do it as brutally as possible." Marvel's revealed a bunch of new stuff coming to its comics before the end of the year. First up is Divided We Stand, which deals with the aftermath of Civil War II. We don't know what's going to be involved here, but given the aftermath of the last Civil War it can't be good. It does conjure up a few questions, like where a lot of the big heroes are. Also, why does Dr Doom have Iron Man's helmet? There's also a brand new Avengers team coming (yes, another one). This time, though, it's pretty patriotic. If you're an American that is. The U.S.Avengers led by Roberto Da Costa/Sunspot, current leader of the New Avengers and a revamped non-villainous AIM.
Also on the team is Squirrel Girl, Red Hulk/Thaddeus Ross, Pod, a new Iron Patriot, Cannonball, Toni Ho, and the time-travelling Danielle Cage (daughter of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones) who is also a future version of Captain America. I'm a little surprised America Chavez isn't involved, given her somewhat patriotic name and uniform. There have been a lot of rumours that Agents of SHIELD will introduce Ghost Rider next season, thanks to an advert featuring a fiery chain. Most people dismissed the speculation and pointed at the chain-wielding fire-powered inhuman Hellfire, who premiered during season 3. Now, though, there's a casting call that suggests Marvel will be casting Ghost Rider. One of them, anyway. Also to be introduced in Season 4: a pair of Latino brothers, one of whom is always the most dangerous person in the room, the other paralysed in a wheelchair. That sounds like Robbie Reyes, the most recent Ghost Rider who made his debut in 2014. Unlike Johnny Blaze, who made a deal with the demon Mephisto for his powers, Robbie gets his powers due to being possessed by a ghost that used to inhabit his car.