This collection is a study of the value of craft as it can be understood within the study and practice of animation. Chapters include studies on experimental animation, computer animation, trauma and memory, children’s animation and silhouette animation among others.

1. Introduction, Caroline Ruddell and Paul Ward.- 2. Made by Hand, Birgitta Hosea.- 3. Craft as Critique in Experimental Animation, Lilly Husbands.- 4. Lotte Reiniger: The Crafty Animator and Cultural Value, Katharina Boeckenhoff and Caroline Ruddell.- 5. Autobiography and Authenticity in Stop-Motion Animation, Carla MacKinnon.- 6. Handmade Aesthetics in Animation for Adults and Children, Ewan Kirkland.- 7. In good hands? Indexes and interfaces in A Computer Animated Hand (Ed Catmull & Frederic Parke, 1972), Christopher Holliday.- 8. Crafted Wonder: The Puppet’s Place within Popular Special Effects Reception, Alexander Sergeant.- 9. Q&A with Eric Dyer, Caroline Ruddell and Paul Ward.

This collection is a study of the value of craft as it can be understood within the study and practice of animation. The book reconsiders the position of craft, which is often understood as inferior to ‘art’, with a particular focus on questions of labour in animation production and gendered practices. The notion of craft has been widely investigated in a number of areas including art, design and textiles, but despite the fact that a wide range of animators use craft-based techniques, the value of craft has not been interrogated in this context until now. Seeking to address such a gap in the literature, this collection considers the concept of craft through a range of varying case studies. Chapters include studies on experimental animation, computer animation, trauma and memory, children’s animation and silhouette animation among others. The Crafty Animator also goes some way to exploring the relationship craft has with the digital in the context of animation production. Throughthese varied discussions, this book problematizes simplistic notions about the value of certain methods and techniques, working to create a dialogue between craft and animation. 

“Rather than avoiding the contradictions, the editors dive right in, showing how the practice of animation often moves from handmade to digital and back again, sliding, too, across disparate political objectives. They have wisely focused their collection on “the ways different types of animation foreground or self-consciously showcase notions of the (hand) crafted.” What’s at stake in showcasing the mark of the hand in contemporary art practice?” (Holly Willis, Los Angeles Review of Books)
“In the essays gathered here by Ruddell and Ward, the notion of craft takes on a newfound potency that encourages readers to consider—and perhaps more importantly reconsider—ideas of artistry, authenticity, and the ambiguity of craft in the realm of digital animation production. Highlighting the labour-intensive processes of animation in all forms, The Crafty Animator also discusses how ‘craft’ functions to empower, marginalise, and commercialise in different contexts. A timely book that will no doubt prove to be a valuable resource for many years to come.” (Chris Pallant, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK) 

Constitutes the first book-length study to interrogate the value of craft within the context of animation production Challenges the historical argument around how “craft” is perceived as inferior to “art” Includes a chapter-length interview with animator Eric Dyer, who discusses the challenges and excitements of making animation

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