cel

American  

[sel] / sɛl /

Or cell

noun

1. a transparent celluloid sheet on which a character, scene, etc., is drawn or painted and which constitutes one frame in the filming of an animated cartoon: may be overlapped for change of background or foreground.

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cel British  

/ sɛl /

noun

1. short for celluloid celluloid

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Etymology

Origin of cel

By shortening of celluloid

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cel

“I don’t think stop motion will ever be as big as cel or computers,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2024

When a film cel from “Snow White” was acquired by the Met in 1938, Disney was seen as a pioneer, an innovator, even a modernist.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 6, 2022

It’s understandable that Miyazaki might find sources of inspiration harder to come by as he ages, or doubt his stamina for the gruelling work that goes into cel animation.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 16, 2017

They started the collection with one “Fat Albert” cel.

From New York Times ● Aug. 9, 2017

The “Miscellany” was an interesting publication: pronounce miscellany with the accent on mis, and not on cel.

From Five Hundred Mistakes of Daily Occurrence in Speaking, Pronouncing, and Writing the English Language, Corrected by Anonymous