The Energon Pub

And of all bots, it's Megatron!!!!!!!!

This puppy wasn't cheap, it's up on my most expensive TF items ever, only beaten by a lucky draw figure and 100% MIB Goodbye Megatron set. I just got a 2nd source of income though, so I thought I'd treat myself to a ridiculous purchase to celebrate.

Check it out!

Does anyone else own any cels? I am wondering what the best way to archive one of these is. A frame, obviously, but are there any other rules of thumb for keeping these safe and displayable?

Sweet man! Would love to get one someday...

Nice original cel. Compliments on your SS collection.


Silver still rocks.

Thanks. I'd love to get the Coronation Starscream cel, but unless the guy that runs the TF cel archive kicks the bucket or something, I think that's never going to happen.

That's a really good shot!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Transformers DVD sets come with a couple of cels? If so, I could probably sell mine for a small fortune. Ker-ching!

Nice find...you'd best have that in a frame!!!

WOW!Lucky you!

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a cel?

Very nice indeed. Great addition to your collection.

Bonecrusher27 wrote:Pardon my ignorance, but what is a cel?

What he purchased was an original animation cel.
Cel animation was a breakthrough for cartoons because its process helps save labour and speed production. Animation is like a flipbook where hundreds of images shown in sequence create the illusion of motion in whatever is being illustrated.

Think of it like a layer representing one moment in time.
So if megatron was animated at 60 frames per second, this is one frame or "cel" of that sequence.

Multiple Cels can be used in conjunction as well, this is the labour saving part, megatron can be fully animated with multiple cels while the background remains constant therefore requiring only one cel.

This is possible because an animation cel is transparent, allowing the use of layers. This technique can be used for anything that is remaining still in a scene, making it so animators do not have to redraw non-moving elements over and over again.

like this


hope this helps 'crusher.

Awesomely sweet man, how much do these cells usually run for?!

they are in the hundreds. Transformer g1 cels are exceptionally rare because they just weren't archived in any proper fashion.

Plus this is a good shot of an iconic character. Its the equivilant of a light saber prop actually used on film in starwars or something.

And the "cels" in the rhino DVDs are hardly cels at all. Those are just images redrawn or scanned and printed on acetate. I'll give an update when it arrives

very good image of megatron on that cell impressed.

When i see these for sale i allways think of the simpsons episode where bart racks up a debt buying one and unluckily gets a frame with only an arm in shot

Sid Burn wrote:

Bonecrusher27 wrote:Pardon my ignorance, but what is a cel?

What he purchased was an original animation cel.
Cel animation was a breakthrough for cartoons because its process helps save labour and speed production. Animation is like a flipbook where hundreds of images shown in sequence create the illusion of motion in whatever is being illustrated.

Think of it like a layer representing one moment in time.
So if megatron was animated at 60 frames per second, this is one frame or "cel" of that sequence.

Wow that's really good information and very detailed explanation; thanks Sid! Are you in the industry yourself?

60 fps? Heh! TFs were animated more like 8 fps... =)

Cel painting died after Little Mermaid... and hand animation
at Lilo and Stitch! =(

RIP

Bonecrusher27 wrote:Wow that's really good information and very detailed explanation; thanks Sid! Are you in the industry yourself?

I'm a commercial artist, I interned for 2 years at an animation studio when I was coming up through the business. I decided against pursuing the animation side of the business though.

Evil FurryCon wrote:60 fps? Heh! TFs were animated more like 8 fps... =)

Cel painting died after Little Mermaid... and hand animation
at Lilo and Stitch! =(

RIP

Ah, I think you have been misinformed. Although Flash and CG animation are very popular today, a streamlined version of cel animation is still widely used. Cartoons like teen titans arent flash cartoons or cg, how exactly did you think they were being produced? I can think of half a dozen cartoons that are on right now that are cel animated, albeit the technique is more streamlined but cel animated nonetheless.

If you mean the difference between traditional pen and ink animation and digital pen and ink animation, the difference isnt as dramatic as you think. the difference is drawing on a tablet as opposed to a cel, the images are still being hand drawn and animated.

Evil FurryCon wrote:60 fps? Heh! TFs were animated more like 8 fps... =)

Cel painting died after Little Mermaid... and hand animation
at Lilo and Stitch! =(

RIP

Actually more like 12 fps, as that is the standard

I have a cell. I currently keep it in it's sleeve and in a dark box until I can get it professionally framed by someone who knows what they are doing.

Sure 2d is still been done..
Just bitchin bout the new 3D-Disney's new insta-classics... =P
They shouldn't be on the official feature list with Snowhites
and other r e a l animations...

12 drawings per second is sufficient but japs tend to like
only 8 drawings per second...

Nice cel anyway... Would think complete pics like that are rare
with all the limited animation and many elements on separate
layers... mouths especially.

Frame it well! =)
I have a few bluth and Warner cels meself.

Managed to find the cel's origin...

"S.O.S. Dinobots" .. not "Heavy Metal War". =)

Scene bout 4,18 minutes from the beginning where Meg turns
round real fast and says

"The data collected by Reflector, Soundwave and Laserbeak
leads to only one conclusion: A perpetual powersource
excists, which can provide us with enough energy
*TO* vanquish the Autobots and control the universe...forevahhh."

Evil FurryCon wrote:Managed to find the cel's origin...

"S.O.S. Dinobots" .. not "Heavy Metal War". =)

Scene bout 4,18 minutes from the beginning where Meg turns
round real fast and says

"The data collected by Reflector, Soundwave and Laserbeak
leads to only one conclusion: A perpetual powersource
excists, which can provide us with enough energy
*TO* vanquish the Autobots and control the universe...forevahhh."

nice research!

Hey thanks a lot! That is a great episode too.

Good cel of Megs. How much did it put you back?

About your question how to store, temporarily remove it from the existing cel back and/or matting if it included one. Replace them and put the cel into a archival quality cel bag. Think larger comic or magazine bags if you need a visual reference. You will need to cut some of the corners to allow the fumes to be released and to allow the cel bag to release the excess air. Also since you are in the limbo process of framing your cel, you will need to know some facts about production cels:

1) Keep your cel AWAY from any sunlight and/or artificial light. Yes that means no overhead lighting as well. Why? B/c the light will cause the tracelines to fade. What are tracelines? Those are the blacklines around the paint which were historically made by inserting the acetate into a xerox type of machine. On one side you had the black tracelines and the other the paint is applied manually.

2) Keep your cel isolated from other items. Specifically do not allow anything to rest on top of it or next to it. NO PRESSURE must be placed on top of it. You can slide it into a large ITOYA brand folder if you like (many cel collectors use these for storage and they come in varying sizes) and keep it either upright like a book or with the spine pointing up. Why? To release pressure and so it enables you to hang the entire folder on a sturdy wooden or steel hanger.

3) Isolate it away from moisture, smoke, cold and heat. The best place typically is in a closet in the furthest corner away from sunlight and/or heat/moisture from the outside or the bathroom. Another way to reduce the moisture is to use the small packages commonly found with computer parts, shoes, and even in food, Sylica something. These reduce moisture build up and if you really don't have any get some kitty litter put in into baggies and use those instead, it works.

4) Insure the cel ASAP! If you paid anything close to 1k you need to insure that cel.

5) Do a lot more research on the TF cel market b/c it is not for the faint of heart, poor credit or low of funds. Know and understand that most high end cels RARELY IF EVER leave collections. Having said that do not be surprised not to find anything for choice popular characters and if they do appear expect to spend upwards of 7k easily.

6) Eventually even when you do get your cel professionally framed with archival acidfree matting AND UV resistent glass STILL DO NOT allow direct sunlight or lighting be exposed to your cel.

Anyways if you need more information PM and yes I do collect traditional animation production cels as well. Welcome to quite possibly one of most expensive addictions since crack.