Animation Art Collecting

Selling Your Animation Art

2005-09-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

Galleries can either buy your art collection, whether it is one item, 1000 items or even more, or alternatively you can consign your art with them. This sometimes is a long process based on the time of the year. They simply advertise your Artwork via their Gallery or Website, or offer it personally to their clients, and once a sale is agreed, charge a small commission fee.

Sometimes Galleries may suggest that you hold on to your collection if they feel the market is at a low and not right for selling. When a Gallery consigns your Artwork they will endeavor to give you the best price that the current market bares at the time of sale.

A good place to sell your Animation Art online is at the Animation Art Gallery

Choosing a Frame over the internet.

2005-09-20T01:27:00.000-07:00

Choosing a piece of Animation Art is easy and safe over the internet, but choosing a frame is very personal and is more advisable to be done in person at a local framing gallery, as you can choose the exact size and colour to compliment your cel and the room it is to be displayed in.

How should I frame my Animation Art?

2005-09-16T04:02:00.000-07:00

Always frame your art with the highest quality materials. Use acid-free mats and backing, especially for framing drawings or other, paper based artwork.

The above are general guidelines only, and are accepted practices in the Animation Art Industry. There are no warranties on this information, and are presented only as guidelines.

Can I clean an Animation Cel myself?

2005-09-14T05:46:00.000-07:00

NO, under any circumstances, do not attempt to clean a cel yourself. Leave this to the professionals such as your framer, who can remove minor smudges and other imperfections, and they should do so with extreme care.

Where should I not hang a framed piece of Animation Art?

2005-09-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Do not hang any art where direct sunlight can cross it and neither hand it above a radiator. Watch for hot-spots reflected from glass tables; it can be just as damaging as direct sunlight. If there is a high amount of reflected sunlight, you will want to make sure your cel is framed with a UV-reflective material.

Where can I store an unframed Animation Cel?

2005-09-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

Store it upright, in a cool room, away from sources of direct heat or sunlight. Cels seem to store better in moderate humidity: not too dry and not too moist. Do NOT store in a Kitchen, bathroom, loft or cellar, unless properly insulated.

Can we handle Animation Cels?

2005-09-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

Unframed Animation Cels should be handled as little as possible, preferably not at all. When handling your cel, it would be best to use clean cloth gloves. With or without gloves, cels are best handled by the edges.

Framing Animation Art

2005-09-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

Choosing a piece of Art is easy and safe over the internet, but choosing a frame is very personal and is more advisable to be done in person at a local framing gallery, as you can choose the exact size and colour to compliment your cel and the room it is to be displayed in.

Artwork that is shipped framed can become warped, especially if it is a large piece, or if it is stretched on canvas. Additionally glass or perspex can crack or smash and damage your artwork.

Shipping costs triple when a piece is framed, and this additional cost could be used to purchase another piece of art at a later date if so desired.

Lumicels

2005-09-05T06:22:00.000-07:00

At first glance, Lumicel™ appears to be a beautifully drawn composite animation model sheet and sericel. It features favorite characters in a variety of expressive and dynamic poses, while further showcasing these characters in a central serigraphic or hand-painted color image.

But then, with the wave of a hand, Lumicel™ comes to life with lighting, music and sound effects. Lumicel's™ exclusive IOn™ feature makes all of the technology invisible. There are no buttons, speakers, or switches to distract from the beauty of the artwork.

Once the IOn™ is activated, a section of the model sheet is illuminated and an accompanying sound bite is played. The commentary varies from narration by animation pioneers such as Walt Disney or Mel Blanc, to quintessential character lines, soundtracks, or a film score.

Should I invest in Animation Art?

2005-08-31T23:42:00.000-07:00

Collectors have purchased Animation Art for as little as one pound and sold it for hundred's or thousands of pounds. The value of Animation Art is increasing more rapidly than any other Art form on the collectable market. Select and purchase Animation Art because it gives you pleasure. Enjoy it to the full, and you will receive the greatest return on your investment, the joy of owning a moment in film making history that will never be repeated again.

What makes Animation Art valuable?

2005-08-31T01:29:00.000-07:00

Age and rareity are two important factors. What character(s) are in the Artwork, and what expressions they are showing. Figures in a full pose position are normally more sought after than a head shot or half body pose. Memorable scenes from classic films or cartoons create a high value. Villains and Princesses are also valuable. Signatures of artists connected with a specific production can often increase the value. Walt Disney's signature on the mount/mat will also increase the value, as he never signed the artwork itself.

Why is Animation Art important?

2005-08-30T01:33:00.000-07:00

Animation Art has become a universal art form that has entertained, informed, and instructed generations around the world for almost 100 years. Animation speaks to everyone in a universal language, regardless of age, creed, or nationality.

How many animation cels are used in a typical cartoon?

2005-08-29T00:02:00.000-07:00

A film runs at 24 frames per second. That number never changes. Therefore the most any cartoon can be animated to is 24 fps. Budget films usually run at 12 cels per second, each cel being shot twice. However, lower budget cartoons can, and usually do, use the same cel three or more times. The more a cel is used, the "jerkier" the final cartoon will look. For a high budget cartoon, that runs for 8 minutes, there are roughly 11,520 hand painted cels used...which is a lot of hard skilled work (just think how many cels are used in a full length feature film). There is a whole new question that arises from this, and that is how many collectable cels are available from an 8 minute cartoon? Alternatively, if an 8 minute cartoon is animated at 24 fps, are there 11,520 collectable cels for sale? The answer is simply no. Firstly, you must consider that about half of the cels could never be sold, due to the main character's eyes being closed, they are passing behind another object, their back is showing, or it is just an awkward non attractive pose. Therefore, the majority of the cels have gone, and the remainder are left to be either destroyed, damaged through bad storage or sold to the collectors market. By this time there are only about 10% of the cels available to purchase.

Are Disney limited edition cels hand painted?

2005-08-28T00:57:00.000-07:00

Yes limited edition cels are hand painted reproductions of famous scenes, or are sometimes newly created ones that often depict sports scenes, or mix characters together that ordinarily would not appear together. Some collectors also quite like the beautiful colour reproduction backgrounds that accompany the pieces as well.

Where can you find your vintage Animation Art?

2005-08-25T23:13:00.000-07:00

Galleries acquire vintage animation art from several sources including private collectors, animators or family and friends of animators, people who have found the pieces in their 'lofts', aswell as other galleries and dealers.

What is Animation Art?

2005-08-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

Animation Art is more than just the cels and backgrounds seen by a camera in the finished version of an animated film, cartoon, short or commercial. It also includes inspirational sketches and paintings, story ideas, character models, and drawings used in the making of the animated film, aswell as post production models and publicity work, prepared after its completion.

Disney Giclee - or any Giclee

2005-08-24T00:23:00.000-07:00

The French term "Giclée", literally meaning "spray of ink," is used to describe these prints. Four precision nozzles spray up to a million microscopic droplets per second on to fine art paper. Then, each piece of paper is individually hand-mounted. Displaying a full color spectrum, the prints are lush and velvety, capturing the subtle nuances of the original artwork.

Xerography

2005-08-22T23:33:00.000-07:00

By the late 1950's Disney studios developed Xerographic process to transfer the animator's drawings directly onto cels. The Xeroxed lines appear to be more sketchy than hand inked lines. This is because they are transferred direct from the animator's drawings and seem to keep a sense of life. This is something that hand inking often lacks. Sleeping Beauty was the first film to adopt this process.

Hand Inking

2005-08-22T00:58:00.000-07:00

Prior to the late 1950's all animation drawings were traced onto cels by using a brush or quill pen.

Lithographs

2005-08-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

These images (prints) are created using a simple print process. They are mass produced items.

Reproduction Background

2005-08-20T00:03:00.000-07:00

This is the most common type of background. It is a reproduction of the original background by means of lithography, seriagraphy, colour copying or photography.

Custom or Handpainted Background

2005-08-19T00:19:00.000-07:00

This background has been painted by an independent artist to enhance the cel. Generally it will be in the style of the original.

Matching Master Background / Keymaster Setup

2005-08-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

This is often referred to as a key master background setup, but is simply a cel or cels with the background from the same scene that were originally photographed. When framed these will look exactly as they do in the original film or cartoon short.

Master Background

2005-08-17T00:39:00.000-07:00

A background originally painted by a studio artist, and actually photographed in the production of the final released version of the film or cartoon short. A background painting sets the scene in which the animated character appears.

Production Background

2005-08-15T23:20:00.000-07:00

A background created for use in a production of an animated film. It must be noted that a production background may not necessarily originate from the same production that the cel is from.

Model Sheet

2005-08-15T02:57:00.000-07:00

Drawings created by artists showing a particular character or object in many different poses and positions. These drawings will each be cut out and pasted onto a model sheet. This in turn will be photostated and given to various departments to ensure consistency between all artists working on a project. Hundreds of photostats will be produced from a single model sheet.

Concept Art / Inspirational Sketch

2005-08-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

Created by the artist to develop the atmosphere, mood or design of the character or setting.

Storyboard

2005-08-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

A series of drawings similar to a comic strip depicting a basic storyline of the film or cartoon short. These drawings will be pinned up on a bulletin board and placed in the order of the storyline.

Clean Up Drawing

2005-08-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

These drawings are created by the assisting department and represent the final stage of animation before the image is transferred to the cel. The sketches can often include colour lines to indicate different ink colours, and notes to the ink and paint department about parts of the character or background in a relevant scene.

Rough Animation Drawing

2005-08-04T02:03:00.000-07:00

A rough drawing created by an animator on paper, in pencil, indicating a position or pose of a character or object.

Animation Drawing

2005-08-03T02:05:00.000-07:00

A drawing on paper in pencil, sometimes coloured which is created by a studio artist of an animated character or object for which the cels are later created

Sericel

2005-08-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

A non production cel created by means of a printing process similar to silk screening. No work is done by hand, therefore no painting or inking is involved. They are often produced in limited quantities of 5000, and they are marketed as a low cost alternative to production and limited edition cels.

Limited Edition Animation Cel

2005-08-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

A non production hand painted cel created for sale to the collectors market. It is produced in fixed limited quantities and are easily identified by a fraction (150/500) in the lower right hand corner. They were not used in films or cartoon shorts, and the original intent was to recreate the original production cels. Nowadays many studios release new images not based on production artwork.

Sealess Cels

2005-07-31T00:12:00.000-07:00

Cels which do not carry any seals, stickers or certificates are not necessarily forgeries. The majority of this type of artwork either comes from artists or employees of the studios who received the artwork as a gift, or is simply artwork which the artist has drawn and has taken home as a memory of the project. It was also common for artists to take home other artists work as inspiration for other projects they themselves were working on.

Disneyland Art Corner

2005-07-30T01:37:00.000-07:00

Cels sold at Disneyland's Art Corner Shop in Tomorrowland from the mid 1950's to the late 1960's. These cels are trimmed, placed in a small matt against either a lithograph background or a sheet of coloured paper. A gold seal is attached to the back of the matt which is the authenticating sticker.

Courvoisier Cel Setup

2005-07-29T01:12:00.000-07:00

A cel setup created and marketed through Courvoisier galleries between the late 1930's and 1940's. Courvoisier galleries of San Fransisco were Disney's agent for the marketing of the studio's animation art between this period. They prepared production backgrounds to complement the cels and other art.

The Courvoisier setups share a few distinctive features; a simple presentation or woodgrain background, a cream coloured matt with the title of the production (or the name of the character) inscribed in pencil below the matt opening, a "WDP" stamp or a 3" x 5" label stating the name of the production. Generally, characters are trimmed to the size of the image and attached to the backgrounds, and ocassionslly were enhanced with airbrushed shading or dry brush effects. The backgrounds ranged from basic airbrushed techniques depicting stars or dots, to detailed watercolour backgrounds created by the Disney background department. Often the cels from Dumbo, Bambi and Fantasia were laminated.

Publicity and Promotional Cel

2005-07-28T04:29:00.000-07:00

A cel created and painted by a studio artist for publicity display or promotional purposes. Normally hand painted in the perfect pose.

Production Cel

2005-07-27T00:24:00.000-07:00

Any cel created for the production of an animated film or cartoon short. This does not necessarily mean that the piece appears in the film. Model cels and preliminary art are all production artwork.

Animation Cel Set Up

2005-07-25T23:52:00.000-07:00

Simply a combination of two or more cels. The cels can be placed with a background or without a background, and can be either matching with the background (the way the image appeared in the short or film) or non matching (they do not appear together in the film but just appeal to the collector).

3 examples of Animation Cel sizes

2005-07-25T00:24:00.000-07:00

12 Field Cel

This refers to the size of the area on the artwork which falls within the sight of the camera. Measuring approximately 10.5" x 12.5" this is the standard size for cels, backgrounds and drawings.

16 Field Cel

This refers to the size of the area on the artwork which falls within the sight of the camera. Measuring approximately 12.5" x 16.5" this is the standard size for cels, backgrounds and drawings.

Panoramic

In moving camera shots wider cels, backgrounds and drawings were used. Panoramic (Pans) were often referred to as a 12 field double pan (10.5" x 25") or a 16 field one and a half pan (12.5" x 24"). A prime example of where pan cels were used in numerous scenes in order to accomodate the need for the wide screen process, are in the films shot in cinemascope or technorama.

Animation Cels - What are they made of?

2005-07-24T00:24:00.000-07:00

Nitrate Cel

An animation cel made from cellulose nitrate which unfortunately is a very unstable material prone to shrinkage, wrinkling and yellowing over time. Nitrate cels were used throughout the Disney studios during the 1920's until the early 1940's. Other studios used nitrate cels upto and including the 1950's.

Acetate Cel

An animation cel made from cellulose acetate. This material is still used in the studios today as it is of a very stable nature.

Animation Art Cels - What are they?

2005-07-23T20:07:00.000-07:00

An animation cel (short for celluloid) is a blank clear plastic sheet used by the studio artist to paint an animated character or object based on the animator's original pencil drawing.

The cels are then placed over a background and photographed in sequence to produce an illusion of life in the completed film or cartoon short.

Every cel is different but this does not mean that every cel is unique. Often multiple copies of a cel were created by the Inkers as colour models in order to advance their technique and skills.