An animation cell, short for celluloid, is a transparent sheet of plastic on which objects are painted for traditional, hand-drawn animation. These cells, layered over painted backgrounds, are photographed frame by frame, creating the illusion of movement when played in sequence.
The Heart of Traditional Animation: Decoding the Animation Cel
The animation cel, often simply referred to as a “cel,” is the fundamental building block of classic animation techniques. Think of iconic cartoons like Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or Hanna-Barbera’s The Flintstones. These visual masterpieces weren’t born digitally; they were painstakingly crafted using thousands upon thousands of individual cels.
The process involves meticulously drawing and painting each frame of movement onto these transparent sheets. This allows animators to reuse static background elements while changing the animated characters in the foreground, greatly simplifying and speeding up production. The cel’s transparency is crucial, permitting the background to be visible while different levels of animation can be layered on top. A cel is a rectangular sheet of cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate, materials chosen for their clarity and stability, although acetate is now predominantly used due to nitrate’s flammability.
The art on a cel typically consists of line art drawn in ink on one side, and the corresponding painted areas on the opposite side. This arrangement allows for sharper, more defined outlines. Once painted, the cels are dried and then registered precisely to ensure a smooth and fluid movement when filmed. The painted cels are then placed over a static background painting, and a single frame of film is exposed. This process is repeated for each frame of the animation, requiring immense time and skill.
The end result? A seamless illusion of movement created from a collection of static images, all thanks to the humble animation cel. The transition to digital animation hasn’t eliminated the understanding of cel animation; it’s merely moved the process to a digital environment where layers are used to achieve a similar effect.
Animation Cels: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ 1: What materials are animation cels made of?
Traditionally, animation cels were made from cellulose nitrate. However, due to its flammability, cellulose nitrate was largely replaced by cellulose acetate, and later by cellulose acetate butyrate. Acetate is now the more common material, offering a good balance of clarity, durability, and safety.
FAQ 2: How are the characters drawn and painted onto the cels?
The process usually begins with a pencil sketch of the character’s pose. This sketch is then transferred, often using a tracing technique, onto the cel. A thin line of black ink is used to outline the character’s form on one side of the cel. Once the ink has dried, the colors are carefully painted onto the reverse side of the cel, ensuring the ink lines remain sharp and visible. Specialized animation paints, designed to adhere well to the cel and maintain their vibrancy, are used.
FAQ 3: What is ‘inking and painting’ in the context of animation cels?
Inking refers to the process of tracing the animator’s pencil drawings with ink onto the cel. This defines the character’s outlines and provides a crisp, clean look. Painting involves carefully applying colors to the reverse side of the inked lines, filling in the character’s form. These two steps are crucial for bringing the animation to life.
FAQ 4: How are the cels aligned during the animation process?
Precise alignment is critical for creating smooth animation. Animation cels feature registration holes – typically three holes punched along the bottom edge – that align with corresponding pegs on an animation table or platform. These pegs ensure that each cel is positioned identically relative to the background and other cels in the scene, preventing unwanted jitter or movement.
FAQ 5: What is the difference between a cel and a background?
A cel contains the animated characters or objects that move within a scene. It is transparent, allowing the background to be seen through it. A background, on the other hand, is a static, non-moving painting or image that provides the setting or environment for the animation. The background remains constant while the cels move over it, creating the illusion of the characters interacting with their surroundings.
FAQ 6: What is ‘layering’ in animation cel production?
Layering is a technique where multiple cels are stacked on top of each other to create complex scenes. For example, a character might be drawn on one cel, while their hair is drawn on a separate cel above it. This allows for more intricate animation, such as hair moving independently of the character’s body. By layering cels, animators can create a sense of depth and complexity within a scene without having to redraw the entire frame.
FAQ 7: How does the cel contribute to the illusion of movement?
The magic lies in the subtle changes between each cel. Animators create a series of cels, each depicting a slightly different pose or position of the character. When these cels are photographed in rapid succession and projected onto a screen, the human eye perceives these small changes as continuous motion. This is based on the principle of persistence of vision, where the brain retains an image for a fraction of a second, blurring the individual frames together to create a smooth animation.
FAQ 8: Why are original animation cels considered valuable collectibles?
Original animation cels are highly sought after by collectors for several reasons. They are unique, tangible artifacts from beloved animated films and television shows. Each cel represents a small but crucial part of the animation process. Their value is driven by rarity, the popularity of the character or film, the complexity of the cel, and its overall condition. Owning an original cel is like owning a piece of animation history.
FAQ 9: What factors affect the value of an animation cel?
Several factors contribute to an animation cel’s value. These include:
- Character Popularity: Cels featuring main characters are generally worth more than those featuring minor or background characters.
- Film/Show Popularity: Cels from highly popular and iconic films or television shows command higher prices.
- Complexity: Cels with multiple characters, intricate details, or special effects are more valuable.
- Condition: The cel’s physical condition is crucial. Cels with cracks, scratches, or paint loss are worth less.
- Rarity: Some cels are rarer than others, depending on the scene or the production process.
- Size: Larger cels might be more desirable.
- Presence of a Background: Cels sold with their original production background are more valuable.
FAQ 10: How can I properly care for and preserve animation cels?
Proper care is essential to preserve animation cels for future generations. Here are some tips:
- Handle with Care: Always handle cels with clean hands or gloves to avoid transferring oils or dirt.
- Avoid Direct Sunlight: Exposure to sunlight can cause fading and deterioration.
- Store in a Cool, Dry Place: Avoid extreme temperatures and humidity.
- Use Archival-Quality Materials: Store cels in acid-free, lignin-free sleeves and backing boards.
- Avoid Pressure: Do not stack heavy objects on top of cels.
- Frame Properly: If framing, use UV-filtering glass or acrylic to protect the cel from light damage.
- Professional Conservation: Consider consulting with a professional art conservator for valuable or delicate cels.
FAQ 11: How did the advent of digital animation affect the use of animation cels?
The rise of digital animation has largely replaced the need for physical animation cels in mainstream production. Digital animation software allows animators to create and manipulate characters and backgrounds directly on computers, eliminating the need for traditional cel-based techniques. However, the principles of cel animation, such as layering and creating subtle changes between frames, still inform the digital animation process. In many ways, digital animation simulates the layering and manipulation that was central to using physical cels.
FAQ 12: Are animation cels still used today?
While digital animation dominates the industry, animation cels are not entirely extinct. Some independent animators, art schools, and niche productions may still employ traditional cel animation techniques for stylistic or aesthetic reasons. The tactile nature of working with physical materials and the unique look that cel animation provides can be appealing to certain artists. Furthermore, interest in traditional animation is experiencing a resurgence, fueled by nostalgia and a desire to explore alternative animation styles. While not as prevalent as they once were, animation cels retain a significant place in animation history and continue to inspire artists today.