Make Your Own Scooby Doo Animation Cel. Vintage cel animation.

Hello and welcome! In this video I'll demonstrate the techniques and tools for making your own vintage scooby doo animation cel. This is painted on glass using a technical pen, acetate ink and testors model enamels.
Thanks for watching.
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This video is for entertainment purposes only, I make no warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of the information contained therein. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and I am not liable for any losses or injuries incurred as a result.
#scoobydoo
#animationcel
#make

[@johnnybongo5077]

I love it!! I miss the classic background/animation styles of the old Saturday morning shows.

[@Currentlyabroad]

this is absolutely gorgeous!! The background alone was insane but the finale result?? i audibly gasped

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Thanks!

[@Mewki39]

That background is truly inspiring, definitely learned some new techniques watching.

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Glad you liked it!

[@amyclarkson2789]

I really wish I wasn't such a beginner. Then I could follow this tutorial, but I could NOT follow along lol. My grandpa and I use to watch the orginal series together. It's a very fond memory, and I wish I could paint this and gift it to him. And maybe he'd hold on the the memory longer.

[@christopherbrown6523]

Damn, you nailed the original background aesthetic.

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Thanks!

[@potatosalad5355]

The new one is ten times better! ...What do you know about "aesthetic" duuuhh!?

[@christopherbrown6523]

@@potatosalad5355 I meant the painting he made looks like the backgrounds used on Scooby doo. That's why I said "nailed the original aesthetic."

[@opus53waldstein70]

the background is a masterpiece! Amazing 😀👍👍

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Thanks 😆

[@eduardo_corrochio]

Cool reproduction! I'm not into Scooby Doo myself but I like this look. Seems like a genuine labor of love, this project. I am assuming that if someone watching this video decided to make their own image like this, they could not sell it without permission or a license from Warner Bros entertainment, yes? Strikes me that this kind of art work is strictly made for hanging in one's own home or making as a gift for a fan of nostalgic cartoons.

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Yes, that's correct, you can't legally sell these. Also , the amount of labour and materials involved means the price you would have to charge someone would be approaching what they would pay for an authentic one. I've been making these for myself for 20+ years. I grew up watching this stuff on Saturday mornings so they have a special place in my heart. If you really want one and can't afford to buy one, making it yourself is a viable and cheaper alternative. Plus you can make something custom, like this scooby doo one has a non-original background.

[@eduardo_corrochio]

@@RichardThompsonCA Thank you. Your nostlagia/love for "Scooby Doo, Where Are You" is probably similar to my fondness of the 1940s/1950s Bugs Bunny and Daffy and Tweety shorts. Love those, grew up laughing my head off at them on TV.

[@RichardThompsonCA]

@@eduardo_corrochio I love old warner brothers as well, i've got a few of them too. Also the spiderman tv show, ren and stimpy, the flintstones, and the pink panther. There was a lot of great stuff back then. The art style of the backgrounds are amazing.

[@eduardo_corrochio]

@@RichardThompsonCA So true. The Ren and Stimpy Show remains a gem; its background paintings are often brilliant. For example, in _Double Header_ the establishing shot of a bus station at night has a wet pavement effect that indicates recent rainfall. I love details like that.

[@gintokisan5171]

the background was very good..

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Thanks!

[@randomnessltd]

I experimented with oil paints back when I was like 8 or 9 (I'm an art guy, by hobby only for now), I haven't gone back to them but you've inspired me to give it another shot.

[@RichardThompsonCA]

That's awesome! I was never a huge fan of oils myself, I was always too impatient for the dry time.😃

[@paulsheldon8838]

@@RichardThompsonCA I suppose the style would work with acrylic paints?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

@@paulsheldon8838 This background was painted with acrylics. I suspect the original background was probably gouache.

[@DRToysCreations]

CLASSIC!!! I love this!

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Thanks!

[@orlandosarachagahorna7765]

I didn't like it. No, wait, I kinda liked it. Although... No, I liked it. Actually, I liked it very much... Now, being honest I really liked it. But the truth is I JUST LOVED IT!!

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Thank you.

[@stephen70edwards]

I thought the original Scooby Doo cells were done with Xerography for the black outlines, then colored with paint. Am I mistaken?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

You're not mistaken. This is how I make reproductions without any of that equipment.

[@prepare2qualify111]

I really want to try this but it's gonna be a trainwreck when i'm done.

[@BreinGames]

When you paint on the glass, you’re covering the technical pen lines. Do you go over them again?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

No, there's no need. Because it's done on the back of the glass and the lines go on first, covering them with paint doesn't change their visibility. You just have to make sure they are really opaque so the paint won't show through.

[@TheRealJmad]

was really good! how come you inked on the back of the cell though see most cells inked inthe front then painted on the back

[@RichardThompsonCA]

I'm working on glass, which has more thickness than acetate. If I inked on the front and painted on the back you'd get a bit of parallax from different angles and things would appear to not line up.

[@TheRealJmad]

@@RichardThompsonCA oh that makes sense just wodnering because getting into creating old school cartoons trying to learn how to animate

[@artmanstudios7037]

What is the background paper size and type of paper that you're using there?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

The background is 16 x 20 inches and it's Masonite (high density fiberboard) that's been painted with a few coats of white gesso.

[@MikelRChannel]

Thanks for sharing! Been trying to do this kind of Art but dont have the time to do it. One suggestion thou, might be cool if you put some mist or fog using Air brush on the Haunted House but over all its looks very Good!

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Great suggestion!

[@MikelRChannel]

@@RichardThompsonCA just a question thou, how do you paint transparent objects in an anime cell say eye glasses or visors?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Hmmm, I can't think of any examples of that off hand that I've seen. You could draw just the frames of the glasses, but I imagine it would be very difficult to keep any consistency frame to frame if you were trying to create a transparent glare effect on the lenses. It would be very difficult to get exactly the same level of transparency/opacity on every frame. But you could make the reflection/glare completely opaque, that would take care of the consistency issues. Of course i'm talking about hand drawn animation, not computer work. But it would be easy enough though, on a single cel, using an airbrush.

[@krislachowski]

These are really well done. What's your art background?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Thanks. I went to college for graphic design. Then I was a commercial illustrator for 30 years. I started that career with the airbrush , but transitioned to digital in the late 90's. I was taught in school how to draw/paint/sculpt traditionally, we didn't have computers back then.😂 I've never worked in animation though.

[@HappyHauntings]

Love this! It’s amazing!! May I ask what type of acrylic paint did you use?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Mostly Liquitex fluid acrylic, but also some Golden fluid acrylic, and some Golden airbrush colors. Right now I'm really digging the Liquitex acrylic gouache bottles. They are very opaque, have a great consistency and dry very matte.

[@massimilianoaprea4948]

​@@RichardThompsonCA Do you use acrylics only for the background? I've been using acrylics of several brands on cel but the results often have brush strokes and have not always solid matt finish. What do you suggest?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

@@massimilianoaprea4948 I only use acrylics for the cel backgrounds. If you look at the original vintage backgrounds they have brush strokes, they were painted by hand. If you want a more matte finish I suggest trying some liquitex acrylic gouache. I've recently bought some of these and love the velvet matte finish and opacity and the viscosity is just right for me. You could also varnish over the background with a matte acrylic varnish, but be careful with that, too many coats and it can dry milky, clouding the image underneath.

[@HappyHauntings]

Thank you! Sorry for the late response! You are amazing!

[@coledakers6127]

What size do I use?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

The picture frame is 16x20 inches, the matte board opening is 10x13 inches and the technical pen size is 0.45.

[@rossoakes2370]

Any plans to make a video on that Homer Simpson one? I'd love to have a crack at doing that one myself!

[@RichardThompsonCA]

I've got plans for quite a few more, the next one (currently in progress) is roger rabbit and baby herman from "tummy trouble". That homer isn't based on anything from the show, the background is "blueprint style". I'm going to be making some custom cels in the future, i'd love to do an Akira that lights up!

[@rossoakes2370]

@@RichardThompsonCA What would you say to painting the 'cel image' straight onto the front glass section meaning you wouldn't need two layers of glass in each picture? Just wondered if there was a reason as to why you double up? I only ask as you've inspired me to have a go at this myself, and it would be easier for me to paint on the glass that comes with a frame rather than getting an extra pane cut.

[@RichardThompsonCA]

@@rossoakes2370 I'm not sure if that would work. Would you have the mat board in front of the cel glass? The reason for the second/front piece of glass is just to give it a finished appearance and to make sure the mat board doesn't get dirty/dusty or discolor. I think you definitely need the mat board, I think it would look unfinished without it and you need to hide the edges of the background.

[@darkglamramos]

Can India Ink be used on transparency sheets to create Animation Cels?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

Transparency sheets work fine but they don't lay perfectly flat, and you will see that in the reflections. India ink might work but I suspect might bead up on the plastic film. The acetate ink I use for these doesn't have that problem, it has something in it to prevent beading.

[@darkglamramos]

@@RichardThompsonCA Thanks, what about using gouache? I'm just curious about trying it out. When taking a printmaking class in university I inked on Mylar with an emulsion side and I used India Ink on it and it worked as a stencil for screen printing. I ask about Gouache because I've seen others use Posca Pens and other acrylics and just wondering if anyone has tried using other mediums as an experiment. I've seen Posca on Glass, and the Testor Enamel as you demonstrate on your videos. Anyways, thanks for the reply and the awesome videos.

[@RichardThompsonCA]

@@darkglamramos I've never tried gouache on glass but I suspect it would also bead, and not stick well. I've got some of the film positive stuff for screen printing and it does have the coating on one side so that ink from an inkjet will stick to it, but that emulsion also makes it kind of milky looking, so it's not really suitable for cels. Anything that doesn't have that coating is going to have beading issues, I would think. That's why the best option I've found is the acetate ink. You could also use a rigging brush with black enamel, depending on how steady your hand is ;-)

[@coledakers6127]

What if I don’t have the pen or paint you use? Are there any pens and paints that are just the same?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

I think any enamel paint would work, something you might find at a hobby or hardware store. As for the line work, instead of a tech pen you could use a rigging brush and black enamel paint. I don't think there are any off-the -shelf pens that have a compatible ink in them. The disposable tech pens that I have here, have a standard ink made for paper that won't stick to glass. If you can find them, they made cel vinyl paints for this very purpose, but I've not been able to find any locally.

[@coledakers6127]

Thank you so much

[@ExpressoTheCat]

can you do the adventures of sonic the hedgehog cartoon next?

[@RichardThompsonCA]

I've never seen that one. What year was it?