Top 100 Animation and Drawing Resources for Animation Artists

Books

Animators Survival Kit - Richard Williams: A comprehensive guide to animation techniques and principles by legendary animator Richard Williams. I still refer to this book from time to time to revisit the basics of animation
Acting for Animators - Ed Hooks: Offers insights into how animators can use acting principles to create more believable characters. His approach to acting has been highly influential in the animation industry.
Drawn to Life - Walt Stanchfield: A collection of lecture notes from Disney master animator Walt Stanchfield, focusing on dynamic drawing for animators. Stanchfield is one of my favourite artists/authors, going deeper than the 12 principles of animation, and really focusing on what makes a good drawing in animation.
The Illusion of Life: An essential resource on the principles and history of Disney animation, written by legendary animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.
Directing for Animation - Tony Bancroft: Provides practical advice on directing animated films from pre-production to final edit. I first understood a bit of story and structure when reading this book
Force: Dynamic Life Drawing - Michael Mattesi: Focuses on capturing the dynamic, energetic quality of life drawing, crucial for animators. Encouraging artists to view the line as a force on the page is a very useful approach to gesture drawing.
Simplified Drawing for Planning Animation - Wayne Gilbert: Offers simplified techniques for planning and structuring animation drawings. Nicely packaged and easy to follow!
Understanding Comics - Scott McCloud: Analyzes the structure and storytelling techniques of comics, relevant to animators for visual storytelling.
Making Pictures Speak - Jay Senetchko: Explores the relationship between image and narrative in visual art. Jay was an instructor at Centre for Entertainment Arts where I was his teaching assistant. I credit a lot of my knowledge of drawing from watching him draw.
The Visual Story - Bruce Block: Discusses the elements of visual storytelling, crucial for animators in creating compelling narratives. He breaks down the elements of visual storytelling into various visual components such as line and shape.
Animals in Motion - Eduard Muybridge: A classic reference book with detailed photographic sequences of animals in motion.
The Animation Book - Kit Laybourne: A comprehensive guide to the art and techniques of animation, covering both traditional and digital methods.
Character Animation Crash Course - Eric Goldberg: Disney Animator, Eric Goldberg, offers practical tips and techniques for creating engaging and expressive character animation.
Directing the Story - Francis Glebas: Provides insights into visual storytelling and storyboarding for animated films.
Elemental Magic 1 and 2: Explores the art and techniques of special effects animation.
Queens of Animation: Chronicles the untold story of women who played a crucial role in Disney animation history.
Nancy Beiman's Animated Performance: Offers a deep dive into character animation and the subtleties of performance.
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - Betty Edwards: Teaches drawing skills by tapping into the creative, right side of the brain.
Anatomy for Sculptors - Uldis Zarins: A detailed reference book on human anatomy, tailored for 3D artists.

Online Courses

Animation Mentor: Offers online animation courses taught by industry professionals.
Schoolism: Provides a variety of art and animation courses from top artists in the industry.
New Masters Academy: Offers extensive art education, including drawing and animation courses, through online videos.
The Gnomon Workshop: Specializes in high-end training for the entertainment arts, including animation and visual effects.
Coursera: Provides access to numerous online courses, including those on animation and drawing.
Skillshare: Hosts a variety of online classes, including many focused on animation and digital art.
Udemy: Offers a wide range of online courses, including those on animation and related software.
21 Draw: Provides instructional content on character design and animation by industry professionals.
Masterclass.com: Features courses taught by renowned experts, including animation and filmmaking.

Software & Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud: A suite of software for graphic design, video editing, web development, and photography, including tools for animators.
Maya Autodesk: A leading 3D animation software used in film, television, and game development.
Blender: A free and open-source 3D creation suite supporting the entire 3D pipeline.
Toonboom: A professional animation software used for creating primarily 2D animations.
TV Paint: A software designed for digital 2D animation and storyboarding.
Krita: A free and open-source painting program used for concept art, texture and matte painting, and illustration.
Procreate and Procreate Dreams: Digital illustration apps for the iPad, widely used by artists for drawing and painting.
Keyframe MP and Keyframe Pro: Professional playback tools for animators and video editors.
Animschool Picker: A tool that simplifies character rig selection for animation in Maya.
Atools and Animbot: A collection of tools designed to enhance animation productivity in Maya.
Studio Library: A free tool for managing animation assets and pose libraries in Maya.
Syncsketch: A collaborative platform for reviewing and giving feedback on animations and videos.

Websites, Video Tutorials, & Channels

Animator Island: Provides articles, tips, and tutorials on animation techniques and principles.
Animation Buffet: Offers a collection of free animation rigs and assets.
Artstation: A portfolio platform for artists, including many animators and digital artists.
Prorigs: Offers professional rigs for animators to practice and enhance their skills.
Frame by Frame: Features breakdowns and analyses of animation sequences.
Animprops: Offers high-quality props and assets for animators.
Proko: Provides drawing tutorials and resources, useful for animators looking to improve their drawing skills.
Living Lines Library: An archive of animation drawings and reference materials
Lineofaction.com: Offers tools and resources for life drawing practice.
Animation World Network: A comprehensive resource for animation news, articles, and events.
Animation Magazine: Provides news, reviews, and articles on the animation industry.
Cartoon Brew: A blog covering animation news, trends, and industry insights.
Cartoon North - Canadian Animation Resources Blog: Focuses on the animation industry in Canada, providing news and resources.
National Film Board Animations: Offers a collection of animated films and resources from the National Film Board of Canada.
Trick Film: A website dedicated to indie animation, including access to animated content, and ways of fundraising your indie film.
Creature Art Teacher - Aaron Blaise: Offers tutorials and courses on drawing and animation by former Disney animator Aaron Blaise.
Animate with Arran: Provides tutorials and resources for animators.
Alan Becker’s 12 Principles of Animation: A video series explaining the fundamental principles of animation.
Toniko Pantoja: A YouTube channel providing animation tutorials and tips.
Jazza: A popular YouTube channel offering tutorials and entertainment for artists and animators.
@figisisters - Georgina Cahill Productions: Features drawing, animation tutorials and art education content.
Mitch Leeuwe: Provides tutorials and process videos on drawing and animation.
Jean-Denis Haas: Shares tips and tutorials on character animation and performance.
Sir Wade Neistadt: A YouTube channel focused on animation tutorials and industry insights.
Stephen Silver: Offers drawing tutorials and advice for aspiring animators and artists.
Kevin Parry: Stop-mo animator shares animation tutorials and behind-the-scenes content.
Alessandro Camporota: A YouTube channel providing animation tutorials and resources.
Deja View: Legendary animator Andreas Deja's blog sharing animation gems.

Reference Libraries & Databases

Filmgrab: A database of high-quality film stills for visual reference and inspiration.
Shotdeck: A comprehensive database of movie shots for reference and inspiration.
Animation Screencaps: A resource for high-quality animation screenshots from various films.

Job & Industry Resources

Industry Job Spreadsheet: A comprehensive spreadsheet of job listings in the animation industry.
Linkedin.com: A professional networking site with job listings and connections in the animation industry.
Indeed.com: A job search engine that lists opportunities in animation and related fields.

Professional Organizations & Societies

ASIFA: A global organization promoting the art of animation and connecting animators worldwide.
Women in Animation: A non-profit organization dedicated to advancing women in the animation industry.
Rise Up Animation: Provides support for underrepresented groups in animation.
Spark CG Society: Focuses on supporting women and minorities in the visual effects and animation industries.
ACM SIGGRAPH: A professional organization for computer graphics and interactive techniques, including animation.
The Visual Effects Society: Represents the global visual effects community, offering resources and networking opportunities.
IATSE: A union representing workers in the entertainment industry, including animators.

Events & Festivals

Annecy Festival: One of the most prestigious international animation festivals, held annually in France.
Ottawa International Animation Festival: A major event showcasing the best in animation from around the world.
Annie Awards: An annual awards ceremony recognizing excellence in animation.