Animating by Hand: Traditional Celluloid Animation Workshop

Before the advent of digital technology, each frame of animation was painstakingly hand-drawn and colored by animators on transparent celluloid sheets and then photographed frame by frame. This handcrafted technique, known as the “movie drawn by hand,” was the core process of Shanghai Animation Film Studio and the starting point for generations of animators to refine their skills and inherit classic works. From the Monkey King in The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven to the young hero Nezha in Nezha Conquers the Dragon King, countless classic characters were brought to life on such transparent sheets.

For this Celluloid Animation Workshop, we are honored to invite Zhao Lei, a national senior animation technician and an inheritor of celluloid animation techniques, to lead the public in experiencing the traditional art of celluloid animation.

We have selected iconic scenes from the classic animations A Deer of Nine Colors and Lotus Lantern as practical material for this workshop. No professional background is required for participants because expert instructors will provide hands-on guidance. From portraying and coloring to layering the celluloid sheets, you will complete the drawing of a key character from an animated scene, experiencing the magical moment when “the image comes to life.”