Original Production Animation Art

Traditional animation, also known as cel animation, or hand-drawn animation, is a technique where each frame of the film is drawn by hand. The process begins with producing a series of storyboards to map out how the film will look. This is followed by 'layout'-drawings which provides camera moves and background information to the animators. The animat then begin 'rough' animation. This involves using simple lines-of-action and shapes to get the timing working. Once approved, the rough animation drawings are cleaned-up and put 'on model', meaning the clean-up artist uses a model- sheet ( character-turnaround) to make sure that each character is the correct proportion and scale. The key (main pose) drawings are cleaned up first, then the halfway (break-down) drawings followed by the 'inbetweens'. The clean-up drawings are then traced onto acetate and the reverse side is painted.