'Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.' -Vincent Van Gogh

Imagine animating with a pencil, then a quill, then a copy machine of a pencil drawing, a paint brush, and then suddenly… a mouse.

However, we have evolved since then, and there are some beautifully contemporary examples of 2D animation. Even 3D animation can be made to invoke a hand-made feel.

In the beginning, every animator must be familiar with at least two books: 'Cartoon Animation' by Preston Blair and 'The Illusion of Life' by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.