Collector’s Corner

New to animation cels? Start here. This page explains what a cel is, shows the traditional animation process in under 5 minutes, links you to active cel communities, and lists the major places cels are sold.

What is an Animation Cel?

An animation cel is a hand-painted sheet—typically cellulose acetate—used in traditional animation. Artists paint characters on clear sheets and layer them over static painted backgrounds; each cel represents a frame (or group of frames) photographed to create motion.

  • Layers Cel (character) + Background (painting) + Layout/Linework
  • Materials Commonly cellulose acetate; earlier eras sometimes used cellulose nitrate or paper layers
  • Artifacts Matching douga (pencil drawings), genga (key drawings), and production backgrounds often accompany cels

Preservation note: acetate can chemically degrade (“vinegar syndrome”). See our preservation guides for storage best practices.

The Simpsons: Cel Animation Process (Video)

Which Side Is the Paint On?

  • Reverse-painted Most cels are painted on the back of the sheet; the front holds the inked or xeroxed line art. This keeps lines crisp when photographed.
  • Touch-up & effects Some studios added small front-side touches (highlights, effects), but the norm is paint on the reverse.
  • Handling tip Never rub the painted side. Store in smooth archival sleeves so the paint faces a non-stick surface.

Sizes & Formats

  • Standard ~9×10.5" (anime) or ~10.5×12.5" (US). Fits typical peg spacings for each region.
  • Oversized Larger-than-standard sheets used for dramatic compositions or close-ups.
  • Pan cels Extra-wide cels created for camera pans or wide scenes; often extend far beyond standard width.

Rarity & framing: Oversized and pan cels are generally less common and may require custom sleeves/mats. Expect higher prices for iconic scenes and characters.

Backgrounds & Matching Sets

  • Production backgrounds Hand-painted backgrounds used under the cel layers. Fewer exist than cels due to reuse and studio retention.
  • Matching setups A “match” means the cel pairs to its correct background and/or the exact drawing (douga) it was painted from.
  • Why rarer? Backgrounds were shared across shots, archived, or discarded. Complete cel+bg sets and bank scenes can command premiums.

Tip: If buying a “matching” setup, ask for episode/sequence numbers or screencaps that verify the pairing.

Production Art Glossary

Production Script
Production Script

The production script is the narrative and dialog plan for an episode/film. It drives the storyboard and informs layout, timing, and acting choices downstream.

  • Identifiers: episode title/number, scene breakdowns, dialog lines, action notes.
  • Collector note: scripts are paperwork provenance; value ties to famous scenes/episodes and creator annotations.
Time Sheet (X‑Sheet / Dope Sheet)
Production Script

The time sheet (X‑sheet / dope sheet) is the frame‑by‑frame control chart for a shot: timing, dialog phonemes, exposure, layer order, and camera moves. It’s the master reference that ties drawings to exact frames.

Example Video: https://youtu.be/uZQ4GCdiCuM?si=E43azFIws-FRImzm

  • Identifiers: frame columns, dialog syllables, exposure marks, pan/zoom notes, layer letters (A/B/C).
  • Use: ensures artwork, camera, and sound are synchronized; essential for screen‑matching and authentication.
Layout (Camera Composition)
Production Script

Layout is the shot blueprint: camera framing, character placement, and background composition. It establishes what the audience will see before key animation begins.

  • Identifiers: scene/cut numbers, camera notes, perspective guides, and background callouts.
  • Use: guides genga/douga, background painting, and camera moves; reference for registration and scale.
Genga (Key Animation)
Production Script

Genga are the key animator’s drawings that establish the pose, acting, and timing of a shot. They’re often looser or more expressive and guide the movement. Collectors value genga for direct insight into the animator’s intent.

Note: Genga are sometimes called “rough,” but many are actually more detailed than douga—showing nuanced facial structure, hair tufts, fabric folds, and intent notes. Clean‑up may simplify these to keep motion readable for in‑betweening and paint.

  • Authentication cues: timing charts, camera notes, supervisor corrections, episode/scene/cut numbers, and correct peg punches on studio stock paper.
Douga (Cleaned Production Drawing)
Production Script

Douga are cleaned-up production drawings created from genga (and layout). A douga typically becomes the exact line art that is transferred to the cel (via ink or xerography) and is what most “matching sketches” correspond to.

  • Authentication cues: sequence codes like A12 (layer + drawing), timing charts, peg type (3‑hole ACME / round) consistent with era, studio stamps/cut numbers, and layout references (LO).
  • Context: Douga are cleaned‑up from genga, so micro‑detail may be intentionally reduced for clarity.
Correction Layer (Yellow Shuusei)
First Example Second Example

Transparent paper (often yellow) overlays used by supervisors to apply fixes on top of genga/douga for proportion, expression, or motion arcs. Clean‑up incorporates these into the final douga.

Cel (Painted Acetate)
Production Script

The cel is the transparent cellulose acetate painted on the reverse, carrying the final character lines on the front. Cels were photographed over painted backgrounds to produce the finished frame.

  • Authentication cues: layer code on the strip (e.g., A9, B3), paint behavior consistent with era, correct registration holes, and ability to screen‑match the frame.

Reading Cel Markings

  • Layer letter (A, B, C…): stacking order in the shot; A is often base, higher letters stack above.
  • Frame number: index within that layer’s sequence (e.g., A9 is the 9th drawing on layer A).
  • END tag: last cel/drawing in that layer for the cut; numbering can reset on a new cut.
  • Circles: studio‑dependent; commonly marks a key pose, a hold, or “OK” after correction.
  • Suffixes & symbols: primes (, ) may indicate sub‑frames/exposure tweaks; arrows/triangles note pan/zoom alignment.
  • FX annotations: notes like glow, smoke, impact, or color callouts tied to effects passes.
Pan / Oversize Cel
Production Script

Pan cels are extra-wide for camera movement; oversize refers to larger-than-standard formats. Both are desirable, often rarer, and may need custom storage/display solutions.

SFX Cel (Special‑Effects Cel)
First Example Second Example

Special‑effects cel where the reverse side is painted fully black (“black‑back”). This blocks light from the background so the painted front reads bolder; used to emphasize the subject or intensify effects.

Harmony Cel
First Example Second Example

Harmony cels are final composited cels where character paint, shading, and effects are combined on a single cel layer for a specific look. Used for complex or high‑impact shots (lighting, glows, transformations).

Hanken Cel (Presentation / Promotional)
Production Script

Hanken cels are presentation/promotional pieces created for licensing, posters, covers, or ads—not photographed for the episode, so no on‑screen match.

Key Frame (Key Animation)
Production Script

Key frames are the major poses that define a shot’s motion and acting. Think start, end and in between moments of significance within an animation sequence. They are drawn by a key animator, set the timing/spacing with charts, and guide the in‑between drawings.

  • Why collectors care: direct link to the animator’s intent, iconic poses, and high screen‑match potential.
  • How to identify: may be circled or otherwise called out; often accompanied by timing charts, action arrows, and camera notes. Paper, peg punches, and studio stamps should match era/studio.
  • Genga vs key frame: “Genga” refers to key animation drawings in general; a key frame is a specific pose within that set. Not all genga are the single extreme pose, but all key frames are part of the genga set.
Background (BG)
First Example Second Example

The background is a separate painting that sits behind the cel. Because backgrounds were reused or archived, they’re commonly scarcer than character cels.

From Rough to Final Cel

[From rough to final cel]

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