Six great animation reference books
The Illusion of Life
By Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas
This book is written by two of the original and best known Disney animators. It describes the key principles of animation, has amazing illustrations and an insight into the techniques they helped develop during the golden age of 2D Disney feature animation.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/106731.The_Illusion_of_Life
The Animator’s Survival Kit
By Richard Williams
A very practical reference book. I do genuinely pull it out when I’m in trouble and it usually has amazing reference sequences that help me finish animating a difficult shot.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136091.The_Animator_s_Survival_Kit?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_24
Cracking Animation
By Peter Lord, Nick Park, Brian Sibley
A good place to start with an overview of the full filmmaking process in stop motion, as well as a history of the medium.
https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Cracking_Animation.html?id=cNSNEAAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y
Elemental Magic, Volume I: The Art of Special Effects Animation
By Joseph Gilland
Impress colleagues and friends by drawing magic as a special effects animator (think water, smoke with this handy practical guide.
Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney's Animation
By Mindy Johnson
Looking through the most recommended books on animation it’s easy to get the idea it is a male only profession. Think again, with this history of women at Disney (and aside from Disney don’t miss the oldest surviving animated feature film directed by Lotte Reiniger).
The Art of Howl's Moving Castle
By Hayao Miyazaki, Yuji Oniki (Translator), Joe Hisaishi
A book full of beautiful production artwork including concept development and background art. Wonderful reference and inspiration material. There are many other “art of” books from both Studio Ghibli and Pixar, all excellent quality and full of amazing artwork.
A few more books I’d recommend:
Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels
By Scott McCloud
The storyboarding and visual telling of your story is the essence of a good film, and also the essence of a good comic. As with the recommendation below, this book is not strictly an animation reference book, but it’s an excellently written (and drawn) guide and an enjoyable read.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60113.Making_Comics?ref=rae_2
Alan Moore's Writing for Comics
By Alan Moore
If you’re a visual person trying to branch out into writing (it’s not a problem, look at the animator who went on to create Bluey) you might enjoy this book by comics legend Alan Moore. Although it’s not strictly an animation book, comics and animation have enormous crossover in visual storytelling and Moore is an excellent and straightforward tutor to help you get writing.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59704.Alan_Moore_s_Writing_for_Comics?ref=rae_17
A Dictionary Of Color Combinations
By Sanzo Wada
Sometimes great books are just a springboard for your imagination. This book is a series of colour swatches created in Japan in the 1930s, a great reference book to inspire you when you’re starting a new design.