The animation master-cum-independent filmmaker of No Exit? (1998) synthesizes hard-to-come-by information found in industry publications on convincingly creating such visual effects as dancing skeletons and flying pterodactyls. Brierton (animation, Columbia U.) includes a discussion of armature construction techniques and materials, photographs of the art's basic tools, a b&w photo gallery of stop-motion armatures and puppets, a glossary, and references (online, print, and suppliers). Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)