Draw your image on a piece of white printing paper using your pencil. Detail the lines of your drawing and make sure they are dark.
Place a piece of celluloid acetate on top of the paper with your image. Make sure your acetate and paper are the same size. The standard size for acetate and paper is 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Use two pieces of tape to keep the paper and acetate together. Attach both pieces of tape to the drawing surface, one on each end to hold your work in place.
Trace the lines of your drawing onto the acetate using the permanent marker or paint pen. Wait for your outlines to dry and remove the tape on the acetate. Flip over the acetate so the back faces you.
Use the paint pens to color your animation cell in stages. Paint the smaller details during the first stage, such as facial characteristics. Wait for the paint to dry before continuing. You may also use acrylic paints and brushes as a substitute for paint pens.
Paint the larger areas of your cell after previous stages have had time to dry. Paint the background of your cell last to avoid smudges.