What is Hand-Drawn or Cel Animation?
Hand-drawn or cel animation is a traditional animation technique that was popularized in the 20th century. The term “cel” refers to celluloid, a transparent sheet that was used to draw the animated characters and backgrounds in the past.
Today, digital tools have replaced celluloid, but the basic concept remains the same: a series of illustrations are drawn by hand, and then photographed and put together to create a seamless animation.
Who Created The First Cel Animation in The History and When?
The history of cel animation can be traced back to 1906, when Winsor McCay created the first hand-drawn animated film, “Gertie the Dinosaur”. McCay’s groundbreaking film was a sensation and paved the way for future animators to experiment with this new art form.
Over the next few decades, hand-drawn animation became increasingly popular, and by the mid-1930s, Disney Studios had established itself as a leader in the industry with classic films like “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Fantasia”.
First Time Cel Animation Used in Commercials?
Hand-drawn animation was not only used in feature films, but also in commercials. In the early days of television, cel animation was used to create eye-catching and memorable ads.
From the quirky characters in Chiquita banana ads to the catchy jingles in Alka-Seltzer commercials, hand-drawn animation was an essential part of advertising during this era.
Now, over a century later, hand-drawn animation is still a popular choice for commercials, and there are many great examples of this style of animation being used by famous brands.
How Much Roughly Does It Cost to Create a 30-Sec Hand Drawn Commercial?
The cost of creating a 30-second hand-drawn commercial varies depending on many factors such as the complexity of the animation, the number of artists involved, and the length of the production process.
On average, a hand-drawn commercial can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000 or more.
While this may seem like a hefty price tag, the investment can be well worth it in the long run, as hand-drawn animation has the power to evoke emotions. Unless one day we will be able to ask ChatGPT to create cel animation for us, the price tag will likely to remain high (or increase) given the amount of work that goes to creating every second of such animations.
Top 10 awesome Cel Animation Studios:
Cartoon Saloon
Cartoon Saloon is a Irish animation studio founded in 1999 that has produced several award-winning animated films, including “The Secret of Kells” and “Song of the Sea.” The studio is known for its traditional hand-drawn cel animation style and has won recognition for its high-quality animation work.
Powerhouse Animation Studios
A Texas-based animation studio that offers cel animation services, as well as digital 2D animation and 3D animation. The studio is known for its traditional hand-drawn cel animation style and has won recognition for its high-quality animation work.
Powerhouse Animation Studios has worked on a variety of projects, including feature films, TV shows, and video games. The studio is known for its ability to bring a hand-drawn look to digital animation and has worked with clients in the entertainment and advertising industries.
They got of a team of experienced animators and artists who specialize in cel animation and are dedicated to delivering top-quality animation work.
Acme Filmworks
Acme Filmworks is an American animation studio that has been in operation since 1985. The studio is known for its 2D hand-drawn cel animation style, and has produced work for a variety of clients, including major networks, advertising agencies, and independent producers.
Studio SOI
Studio SOI is a German animation studio that specializes in traditional hand-drawn cel animation, as well as digital 2D animation. The studio has produced a number of award-winning animated films, including the feature film “Lena: Always on My Mind.”
Animagic Studios
Animagic Studios is an Indian animation studio that provides 2D hand-drawn cel animation services, as well as digital 2D animation and 3D animation. The studio has worked on a variety of projects, including feature films, TV shows, and commercials.
Buck Design
Buck Design is a design and animation studio based in Los Angeles, California. The studio offers a variety of services, including cel animation, digital 2D animation, and motion graphics. Buck Design is known for its ability to bring a hand-drawn look to digital animation, and the studio’s cel animation service is highly regarded in the industry.
Buck Design is a creative design and animation studio that has worked with a variety of clients and brands over the years. Some of their notable clients include Google, Airbnb, Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Amazon, and Facebook, among others.
Run Kick Shout
Run Kick Shout is a French animation studio that specializes in traditional hand-drawn cel animation and stop-motion animation. The studio has produced work for clients in the entertainment and advertising industries, and has won recognition for its high-quality animation work.
Team Tumult
Team Tumult is a Swiss animation studio that provides 2D hand-drawn cel animation services, as well as digital 2D animation and stop-motion animation. The studio has produced a number of award-winning animated films, and has worked with clients in the entertainment and advertising industries.
The Line Animation
The Line Animation is a UK-based animation studio that provides 2D hand-drawn cel animation services, as well as digital 2D animation and stop-motion animation. The studio has produced work for clients in the entertainment and advertising industries and has won recognition for its high-quality animation work.
Lasso Studio
Lasso Studio is a US-based animation studio that provides 2D hand-drawn cel animation services, as well as digital 2D animation and stop-motion animation. The studio has worked on a variety of projects, including feature films, TV shows, and commercials.
Golden Wolf
Golden Wolf is a UK-based animation studio that provides 2D hand-drawn cel animation services, as well as digital 2D animation and motion graphics. The studio has produced work for clients in the entertainment and advertising industries, and has won recognition for its high-quality animation work.
Last Words
These studios offer cel animation services, but it is always a good idea to check their websites or contact them directly to see if they are the right fit for your specific project needs. It is also important to note that while some studios may specialize in cel animation, they may also offer other animation services, such as digital 2D animation or 3D animation.
*If you are offering cel (hand-drawn) animation services and would like to be added to the above list, do get in touch and we will review your service.
Are You Looking For a Hand-Drawn (Cel) Animation Company?
Kasra Design is a provider of premium Cel animation services that cater to a diverse range of clients (in almost every industry) from around the world. We’ve worked on projects ranging from short Cel animations to explainer videos. Get in touch to discuss your project details here.