The texture animation is only in the first few pages, its fairly simple (well the book makes it seem that way). It coves all kinds of random visual effects. Its both the coolest 3d book ive read but its also pretty useful
In fact the book has a few other techniques that might work for this, if adapted a bit

and thanks
Here is a sort of follow up, a shot from a quick test animation that is rendering now
https://img338.imageshack.us/my.php?i...hanteater2.png
(btw, my monitor is so much lighter than everyone elses, so as a result my image may be too dark for you, for which I apologise.