The Animal Anatomy Book That Almost Was

How a Misleading Title Fooled Me

May 19, 2025

Hello, Friends!😁

After five years of waiting... it's finally here.

Animal Anatomy for Artists by 3DTotal. I first spotted it back in 2020 on Bokus and Adlibris, Swedish book stores. And let’s be honest, those sites don’t just randomly make stuff up. If it shows up there, someone somewhere knows something.

So of course I waited. Hoped. Imagined. A big book, deep-diving into the anatomy of all kinds of animals; land, sea, sky. You know, the kind of anatomy book we dream of as artists. And now... it's out.

And... I’m disappointed.

Let me say this loud and clear:

DO NOT get this book if you’re hoping for a full spread of animal anatomy, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, sea creatures, you name it.

Because you won’t get that. Sadly. 😔

Despite what the title (Animal Anatomy) and the back cover (“wide variety of animals”) promise, this book covers one specific category: land mammals. That’s it. Just so you know before you get your hopes up like I did.

Alright, with that out of the way...

This is 3DTotal’s third anatomy book. The first two covered the human body, one focused on muscles, the other on movement. I’ve always liked their books. They’re beautiful, rich in knowledge, and just so well-made. But this one? Honestly, I felt kind of let down.

Yes, there’s a hawk. Yes, there are two reptiles, right at the end. But that's barely a gesture, not real coverage. I was hoping for something that dove deep into different species. Like really nerdy animal anatomy stuff, beyond what’s in their Creature Design book. But nope. It's basically a large, expensive version of the Morpho: Mammals book.

And still... it is a gorgeous book.😍

It opens with Joe Weatherly offering tips on drawing, how to start, what to observe among others. His art is stunning. I really wish he had gone deeper into topics like “drawing from imagination” or “keeping a sketchbook” or even just “drawing from life.” Next chapter he covers muscles and stuff. Like he could have simplified even more, and gone wider. 3/4 of the book is all references and sketches of mammals. These two first chapters could have been longer.

The second section is the visual reference library by Shannon Beaumont, also beautiful work. It shows land mammals in profile, with drawings layered on top showing muscle, skeleton, simplified forms. But honestly? It's hard to see. The photo/drawing overlays feel a bit messy. With the reference image lower opacity and drawn on top. I kind of miss the cleaner format of 3DTotal’s first anatomy book.

Then comes my favorite part, sketch pages! Actual movement sketches, loose, expressive. One based off the photo, then gesture sketches from different angles or poses. I love this section. I just wish there was more of it. Some animals only get one spread, photo on one page, sketches on the next. That layout could’ve been used to fit in more variety, reptiles, birds, fish, even insects!

So yeah... even though I’m disappointed, I’m not writing it off.

It’s a gorgeous book, full of great art and useful bits. I just wish it delivered more. Or at least, been clearer about what it wasn’t going to deliver. I did post my feedback on Threads, and 3DTotal replied saying they’re taking it in. Maybe, hopefully, we’ll get another volume that dives into more animal groups. They really do make amazing books when they get it right.

So... is it worth getting?

Yes and no. Depends on you.

If you’re looking for true variety in animal anatomy, skip it.

But if you’re okay with beautifully drawn land mammals and want a pretty book on your shelf, then go for it.

And if you’re still craving multi-species anatomy, I recommend Fundamentals of Creature Design. It’s not super in-depth, but it gives you a good overview and tutorials for building your own creatures too.

Here’s hoping the next release brings the variety we’ve been waiting for.

Stay curious. Stay sketching.😁