Hand Drawn Animation Equipment

The Art of Cel Animation

A Behind-the-Scenes Look

What is Cel Animation?

Cel animation, also known as traditional animation, is a painstaking process that involves hand drawing individual frames of animation on sheets of thin transparent plastic called cels. These cels are then layered over a painted background and photographed one frame at a time to create the illusion of movement. Cel animation has been used in the creation of countless classic cartoons and animated films, including Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) and Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" (2001).

The Process of Cel Animation

The cel animation process begins with a storyboard, which serves as a blueprint for the finished film. From the storyboard, animators create pencil sketches of each frame of animation. These sketches are then transferred to cels, which are painted with transparent paint. The painted cels are then layered over a painted background and photographed one frame at a time. This process is repeated for each frame of animation, creating the illusion of movement when the frames are played back in sequence.

The Advantages of Cel Animation

Cel animation offers several advantages over other animation techniques. Cel animation is highly versatile and can be used to create a wide range of different styles, from realistic to stylized. Cel animation is also very detailed and can create very fluid and lifelike motion.

The Disadvantages of Cel Animation

Cel animation is also a very labor-intensive process, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Cel animation also requires a high level of skill and experience, which can be difficult to find in today's world of digital animation.

The Future of Cel Animation

Despite the rise of digital animation, cel animation continues to be used in the creation of some animated films and television shows. Cel animation is also being used in new and innovative ways, such as in the creation of animated video games and web series. While the future of cel animation is uncertain, it is clear that this traditional art form will continue to be used to create beautiful and memorable animated works of art.