Avant-garde works that prioritize texture, non-linear logic, and the materiality of the medium (e.g., sand animation or scratch-on-film). 3. Key Theoretical Concepts
If you have ever typed into a search engine, you are likely a student, educator, or dedicated animator looking for a foundational text. Published in 1998 by Routledge, Understanding Animation remains one of the most cited, taught, and debated books in the field. This article explores why Wells’ book is essential, what concepts it introduces, the ongoing demand for its digital access (PDF), and how to critically engage with its content in the modern media landscape.
The 1st edition lacks CGI/digital animation. The 2nd edition (2013) adds chapters on computer animation and anime’s global rise. Try for the 2nd edition if possible.
Wells famously applies psychoanalysis to cartoons:
Paul Wells’ Understanding Animation (1998) is a foundational academic text that defines animation as a distinct, liberating cinematic form that redefines the relationship between animator and character. The work explores specific aesthetic strategies and genres, including metamorphosis and deconstructive narrative techniques. A PDF version for study is available at VDOC.PUB . Paul Wells ‘Understanding Animation’ – Metamorphosis
Read the PDF for the theory and the text, but if you are a visual learner, you may want to have YouTube open to search for the clips of the specific animations (like "Street of Crocodiles" or "Red's Dream") that Wells references, as the static images in the PDF often don't do them justice.