Two-time Emmy-winning animation writer-creator-producer Joe Murray, who is best known for shows such as Rocko’s Modern Life, Camp Lazlo! and Let’s Go Luna, has made his popular book Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, Web or Film, available to the public as a free e-book.
The guide, which was published in 2010 by Random House, offers an insider’s insights into creating and producing animated shows. Here’s the official description: “Packed with details and lessons learned from producing Rocko’s Modern Life and Camp Lazlo, along with many side anecdotes, the book includes interviews with the late Stephen Hillenburg (Spongebob SquarePants), Craig McCracken ( Powerpuff girls, Foster’s Home for Imaginer Friends) Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob and Heffer), and many more professionals discussing their craft.
“This book won’t tell you what characters to create or how to draw them. What it will do is guide you in discovering and exploring your own creative sweet spots and help you to navigate the process that links your unique artistic vision with the realities of producing a commercial cartoon. The book explores in detail the importance of character and story hooks; how to put together pitch materials; what goes into producing a series pilot; and how to build the best creative team to produce your show. Whether you’re an aspiring cartoonist, experienced animator, hardcore fan, or you simply like to draw and tell stories, Creating Animated Cartoons with Character is the ultimate entrée into the world of animated cartooning from a master of the craft.”
Murray writes, “The book has since gone out of print, and many resellers are taking advantage of a wanting audience by selling copies at an immense profit. I have received many letters from those who cannot afford these prices and feel they could benefit from the information here. Even though some of the streaming and broadcast information are a bit out of date,( and Lets Go Luna is not included here) much of the info is still relevant. So I am offering a digital copy for you as a free download. As payment, maybe you can donate to a food bank, or simply pay it forward somehow. I am working on a new book about story and character for animation. We will see how it goes.”
You can get Murray’s free e-book here
