Reddit reviews Acting for Animators, Revised Edition: A Complete Guide to Performance Animation
We found 4 Reddit comments about Acting for Animators, Revised Edition: A Complete Guide to Performance Animation. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
I think you're on the right track, definitely spend time modeling and animating before leaving your current job.
I would recommend getting started doing modeling and rigging yourself (then feel free to use pre-built rigs and such if you want). This is basically just so you know what's going on behind the scenes of rigs you'll use in the future. Even if you never create a model or rig throughout your career as an animator at a studio (which many times may be the case), you'll have the knowledge to communicate with modelers / riggers to get what you need to animate.
For animation, I do think it's worthwhile to have some experience in 2D animation (a little easier to get started in and helps you practice fundamentals you'll end up using in 3D) Acting for Animators, Animators Survival Kit, and Drawn to Life are all highly recommended books for 2D animation. Oh, and good news! you can practice all the fundamentals of animation with stick figures!
On that note, I would highly recommend practicing drawing. Ctrl+Paint has some decent video things on drawing and painting. While you don't need to be Da Vinci to go into modeling / animation (I'm not great at drawing / painting myself) it does help to be able to sketch out quick ideas (concepts for models, storyboards, etc). Just a little practice each day goes a long way!
As far as 3D software goes, it depends on where you work what you'll use, but the fundamentals will all be roughly the same. The company I work at uses Motion Builder for our animation, though I primarily use Maya for any work (and I know plenty of people using 3DS Max, Blender, and other software for the whole process). Some companies may even use proprietary software that you have no access to outside of the company and will expect you to learn it after being hired. Just stick with whatever you use, learn it well and you'll be able to transfer that knowledge into whatever software you'll need in the future
TL;DR Take your time, learn some 2D animation, draw stuff, and learn a 3D modeling / animation program like the back of your hand.
PS. I know a lot of people say you don't NEED 2D animation, and I'm not saying you NEED to know it, it's just useful.
Get a learning edition of Maya for free off autodesk's website, get some free rigs off creativecrash.com. Then you need Animators Survival Kit, Acting for Animators, then Timing for Animators. Then practice for years
Ah yes, I've owned The Animator's Survival Kit for a few years now. Fantastic read, I've also been meaning to check out Acting for Animators. Sorry, I should've given more information about my level of understanding with animation. I had a mentor in high school that gave me a great headstart with animation. Thank you for the advice, very much appreciated.
Edit: Also, I just checked out your animation Circle Fury. You're very talented, bravo.
oh and a few more books I just thought of, don't bother with any other books than these as most of them are crap:
http://www.amazon.com/Force-Dynamic-Drawing-Animators-Second/dp/0240808452/ref=pd_sim_b_11
http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Characters-Personality-Animation-Graphic/dp/0823023494/ref=pd_sim_b_13
http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Staring-Facial-Modeling-Animation/dp/0470609907/ref=pd_sim_b_19
http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Worlds-Production-Design-Animation/dp/0240520939/ref=pd_sim_b_23
http://www.amazon.com/ILLUSION-LIFE-DISNEY-ANIMATION/dp/0786860707/ref=pd_sim_b_20
http://www.amazon.com/Drawn-Life-Classes-Stanchfield-Lectures/dp/0240811070/ref=pd_sim_b_7
http://www.amazon.com/Film-Directing-Shot-Visualizing-Productions/dp/0941188108/ref=pd_sim_b_24
http://www.amazon.com/Acting-Animators-Revised-Performance-Animation/dp/032500580X/ref=pd_sim_b_46
http://www.amazon.com/Vilppu-Drawing-Manual-Glenn/dp/1892053039/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330652274&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Anatomy-Practical-Art-Books/dp/0823002977/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330652258&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/Draw-Looney-Tunes-Dan-Romanelli/dp/B0032FO6G4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330652405&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Bridgmans-Complete-Guide-Drawing-Life/dp/0517255464/ref=pd_sim_b_95
And this book two of my teachers wrote, it has a lot of the concepts from the Ringling course: http://www.amazon.com/Ideas-Animated-Short-Finding-Building/dp/0240808606/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330651988&sr=1-2