I went to architectural school, so my background in animation was close to zero when I started working with computer graphics. Since this is such a highly valued skill, I had to work and study hard to make up for my lack of knowledge. Some of the books reviewed here helped me enormously during the way.

I usually don't work on character animation projects, although I have worked in a few interesting gigs. Even so, I find it that knowing some of the principles applied to character animation greatly helps me to create more fluid and vivid animation, even with inanimate objects.

The Illusion of Life
by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston

Film Directing Shot by Shot:
Visualizing from Concept to Screen
by Steven Katz

Film Directing Cinematic Motion:
A Workshop for Staging Scenes
by Steven Katz

Cartoon Animation *new*
by Preston Blair