Traditional animation is the most well known form of animation. This method of animation has developed over the years evolving from paper and pencil to digital drawing.

Traditional animation in it's first iteration used classic pen and paper to draw each frame of an animation feature. The lead animator would draw specific key frames that would identify the necessary actions and the other animators known as "inbetweeners" would fill in the frames. From this animators would transfer all frames onto what was known as cels. These cels were clear layers of celluloid that could be layered upon each to create scenes from animation. It was noted however that celluloid suffered from sporatic decomposition and as a result was replaced by cellulose acetate plastics.

Once all cels had been completed they were layered up and a photo, using what was known as a rostrum camera was taken for each frame.

Into the 1990's the older method of cel based animation techniques began migrate over to more digital based methods to replicate traditional animation. Instead of transfering to cels all frames were immediately transfered over to computers for colouring. CAPS (Computer Animation Production System) has since become the industry standard for developing traditional animation.