Cartoon Cute Animals: How to Draw the Most Irresistible Creatures on the Planet [Paperback]

Everyone loves to see something 'cute' - but it doesn't 'just happen'. There are specific, and surprisingly simply ways to turn an ordinary animal into a cute animal. This author is a master at conveying that information to others. If you would like to be able to do what the title says - create cute animals - I can't imagine there being a better book around to teach you exactly how to do that.

Christopher Hart has made a name for himself with art how-to books, and now he's released Cartoon Cute Animals: How to Draw the most Irresistible Creatures on the Planet!

This book is a pretty self-explained guide. In the introduction, Hart writes, "Our favorite warm and fuzzy characters all have that `certain something.' But what exactly is it? Although you may not be able to articulate it, this sought-after, ultra-cute quality is based on specific techniques that, when applied to character design, result in an irresistible cartoon animal. These are techniques that you can now learn, too!"

This tall 160-page book is separated into different sections. After the introduction, we have "Getting Cute: The Essentials," where Hart discusses such things as facial proportions, appealing eyes, and even "Turning Ordinary Expressions into Ultra-Cute Ones."

After covering many basic principles, Hart divides the book into what kind of animals he teaches you how to draw. Your choices are "Dogs & Cats," "Bears," "Woodland Creatures," "Animals of the Jungles & Plains," "For the Birds!" and "Sea Life & Reptiles." If one or two animals take up the whole section, he spends more time discussing different aspects for them. For example, in the "Dogs & Cats" section, you learn "Pooch in Profile," "Walking the Dog," "See Spot Sit," etc. But in the "Woodland Creatures" section, because it's dealing with multiple animals, the instructions go over animals more quickly. Here the moose only has one page of instructions, though the rabbit still gets four.

Most pages have step by step instructions, both in the written word and with drawings that go through various steps. Some pages, like the "Appealing Eyes" page, just show examples of the final results. This is a good book for young artists in particular, especially those interested in cartoons and comics. That's because the style taught here is a cartoony style, not a realistic one, but one that would fit well with animation and graphic novels.

Reviewed by Danica Davidson

See different styles for the same animals...see different animals with the same styles. Learn all you want to know about quick and fun cartoon characters for beginners! Loved the step-by-step views, and the profile views. Definitely a keeper!