1. Storyboarding and Design:
* Storyboarding: Similar to today, animators would first create a storyboard, which was a series of drawings outlining the key scenes and actions of the animation. This helped to visualize the flow of the story and establish the timing of the animation.
* Character and Setting Design: Animators would then design the characters and environments in detail. These designs were often drawn on paper.
2. Cel Animation:
* Cels: "Cels" were transparent sheets of celluloid acetate that animators would draw on. Each cel would depict a single frame of the animation.
* Multiple Cels: For scenes with complex backgrounds or multiple characters, animators would stack cels on top of each other, creating a layered effect.
* Drawing Each Frame: Animators had to meticulously draw each frame of the animation, often drawing slight variations to create the illusion of movement. This involved drawing the character in multiple poses for each movement, and the background and foreground elements would also need to be adjusted for smooth transitions.
3. Rotoscoping (Optional):
* Live-action Reference: Some animators would use rotoscoping, a technique where they would trace over live-action footage to create more realistic movement. This was particularly helpful for complex actions or scenes with human characters.
4. Ink and Paint:
* Ink and Paint: After the cels were drawn, they were inked to create clean lines and then painstakingly painted with the desired colors.
5. Camera Work and Timing:
* Camera Work: Animators would then assemble the cels in order, using a special camera designed for animation. The camera would capture each frame individually, creating a strip of film.
* Timing: The animators carefully controlled the speed at which the film was exposed to create the desired animation speed.
6. Sound and Music:
* Sound Effects and Music: Sound effects and music were often added separately, with sound editors meticulously synchronizing the audio with the visuals.
The Labor-Intensive Process:
This entire process was extremely time-consuming and required a great deal of skill and patience. A single minute of animated film could require thousands of individual hand-drawn frames.
Some Early Examples:
* "Fantasia" (1940): This classic Disney film is a prime example of the artistry and technical skill involved in traditional cel animation.
* "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937): Another early Disney masterpiece, this film pushed the boundaries of animation at the time.
The advent of computers and digital animation has significantly changed the animation process. However, the legacy of traditional cel animation lives on in the artistry and craftsmanship of those early pioneers.