A LIMITED EDITION CEL is a hand painted cel created expressly as fine art and was NOT used in the filming of an animated show. They are painted using the same materials as production cels, painted on acetate like productions cels, and are usually hand painted by artists from the same studio where the production cels were made.
Limited edition cels are produced in LIMITED QUANTITIES and usually depict special scenes. Limited edition cels usually are issued in small edition sizes ranging from 150-750 pieces. Most "Peanuts" limited edition cels are issued in edition sizes of 250-500. The number of the piece will appear on the front of the cel. Limited edition cels portray characters in classic poses or in scenes from a favorite film. Many "Peanuts" limited edition cels are famous scenes from the Christmas and Halloween specials. These were created in part because production cels from these specials no longer exist. They were damaged, destroyed, or given away. These limited edition cels are made to be as close to the original production cel as possible. Other "Peanuts" limited edition cels are unique in that they show the characters in multiple poses in the same cel. These cels are special since an original productions cel could never present multiple poses in the same cel.
All "Peanuts" limited edition cels are signed by Bill Melendez. Mr. Melendez is the animation artist responsible for every "Peanuts" television special, movie and commercial produced. (To read more about Bill Melendez click here.) Mr. Melendez chooses the scenes that will become limited edition cels and he and his production team then create the cels. ONLY LIMITED EDITION CELS ARE HAND SIGNED and hand numbered by Bill Melendez. Production cels are NEVER signed.
Because limited edition cells are not production cels and are not used in the television specials, they have NO MATCHING PENCIL DRAWINGS. Only production cels may have a pencil drawing included. Most "Peanuts limited edition cels have backgrounds that are LASER COPIED BACKGROUNDS, like productions cels.
Written by Eric A. Wildgrube. From "Knott's Camp Snoopy Peanuts Animation Art Training Guide."
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