I'd like to get some book/dvd recommendations to learn how to use AE CS4. I'm interested in special effects. Things like this: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0DB63F6C07ACC3ED&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&v=YY2RaPJCGKE&rclk=pth

Thanks

oops just saw I posted in wrong forum. Can this be moved to the effects section?

No one is better at training than Paul Holtz. He is simply the best. His company is called Class On Demand.
Class On Demand - Video-Based Training for Digital Media (http://www.classondemand.net)

I have his DVD "Baisc Training For After Effects 7"
I also purchased his DVDs on CS4 Production Premium, Illustrator, and Photoshop ... all great training stuff.

"Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects" Trish and Chris Meyer, Focal Press, ISBN 978-0-240-81010-2. Only book I've seen that actually explains HOW it works as well as what to do, and has a lot of insight on the quirks and tricks of AE which the "recipe books" don't have..../Battle Vaughan

For online tutorials, you can't go past VideoCoPilot

VIDEO COPILOT | After Effects Tutorials & Post Production Tools (http://www.videocopilot.net/)

After you learn the basics, FXPHD.com is the ultimate training resource for vfx.

thanks guys I appreciate it. As for the classondemand site is there a more advanced class other than the basic training? fxphd seems to have the more advanced and specialized classes. The video copilot site looks great as well (being free doesnt hurt either)

Videocopilot has a tutorial showing a person blowing his head off like that youtube video. Its called "Assisted Suicide".

There is also Lynda.com, which is good for learning the basics, and most AE tutorials are taught by Chris Meyer. I used Lynda.com to learn the basics and have since moved to fxphd for more advanced compositing. (in addition to learning Cinema 4D)

You should check out lynda.com for video training. Chris and Trish Meyer are authors there and the site has many authors teaching AE from beginning to advanced. It's only $25 a month and definitely the best place to learn starting out or keep as a quick reference down the road.

The head explode is a tutorial from Andrew Kramer (with his Action Essentials pack) on videocopilot.net.