New Online Store Cel-Ga Focuses on Original Japanese Animation Cels

19th August 2015

Cel-ga.com is proud to present a new online store focusing on authentic Original Japanese Animation Cels. These Cel-ga are Original hand-produced items that come from the production companies and were used in the production of the shows, including some rare items from Studio Ghibli, Dragon Ball and others.

Cel-ga (セル画) is the Japanese term for Celluloid Picture. This refers to the transparent material used to make frames of animation in the production of Japanese Anime shows. Each cel is one frame. To create the illusion of movement, each drawing differs slightly from the one before it, then the completed cels are photographed one-by-one against a painted background by a rostrum camera onto motion picture film to produce the final animation.

The majority of these production techniques have since been superseded by digital animation. The initial concept sketches and subsequent dou-ga are still done by hand, but rather than being painted on cels, they are now scanned and the rest of the production completed on computers. This result is this process is much faster and cheaper to produce, but it makes the hand-produced items rare collectors' items. The general transition point to digital took place after 2001, so more modern shows such as Naruto and One Piece will generally only have their sketches available.

Cel-ga.com is an online store where you can purchase these animation cels, and also as a resource for information about collecting Japanese anime cels. Periodically we will also be running timed auction sales where collectors can pick up some discounts on rare items.

Cel-ga.com is part of the Japanese Gallery. Based in Kensington Church Street it was established 1977 and is one of the leading Japanese antique dealers in the UK, selling original ukiyo-e woodblock prints, ceramics, antique swords amongst other items. We regularly advise and assist in authentication for museums, auction houses and educational institutions. As we purchase Cels either directly from the production companies or certified dealers, we can guarantee the authenticity of the items we sell.

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