Cel Animation

Cel animation is a traditional animation technique where characters and objects are drawn on transparent sheets called cels. Artists paint each element separately, then layer these cels over a static background. By carefully photographing each layered setup in sequence, animators create the illusion of movement. This method was widely used before digital animation, allowing for detailed, hand-crafted visuals. The use of cels provides flexibility, as backgrounds can remain unchanged while characters move, and multiple layers can be combined for complex scenes. Although largely replaced by digital methods today, cel animation remains a foundational approach in animation history.