Animation equipment

This noteworthy animation equipment list is a good reference and conversation starter when beginning a new 2D classical teaching environment or working animation studio.

Animation class startup shopping list

The discussion evolved and solidified into the final Animation class startup shopping list.

Animation desks

Disney Studios animation desk and scene stacker goes for about $8000.

Chromacolour portable animation table.

Yescom A3 LED Tracing Light Box 12"x17" with stand.

LightTracer light box.

Naturally a professional desk is preferable, but budgets may limit realistic options.

• Disney Studios' animation desk and scene stacker goes for about $8000.
• Chromacolour.co.uk Lightbox 12 Field - Wooden Portable SKU WP-1402CC £229.99 ($393 CAD).
• AnimationDesks.com provide a portable animation table (desk & disk) for $290 USD ($388 CAD).
• Yescom A3 LED Tracing Light Box 12"x17" with stand on Amazon.ca for $190.
• The LightTracer light box illuminates 10"x12" area, available on Amazon.ca for $65.
• Many animation desk configurations and setups:
  • 2Pop.CalArts.edu - Portable Animation Desks
  • Pinterest.ca - Ben Thompson Beautiful Animation Desks
  • Pinterest.ca - RichardSolomonC 2D Animation Desks - 2D animation on paper
  • Pinterest.ca - Where the heart is - 2D animation on screens

Animation exposure dope sheet

An animation exposure sheet, or dope sheet.

• AnimationMeat.com Templates include bar sheets, exposure sheets, field charts, storyboards, etc. Free to download.
• Printed X-Sheets / Exposure Sheet 24fps 100 Blank SKU: SKU002-24FPS $29.95 at LightfootLtd.com.
• Wikipedia: Exposure sheet, or dope sheet.

Animation field guide

A standard 4x3 animation field guide.

• FilmmakingStuffs.Blogspot.com Animation Fields and Field Sizes

Animation paper

A series of paper sizes with comparison to Letter and Legal.

• Studio-Technique.com: Animation Paper Guide - excellent article.
• 10f = 10 field is Letter sized 8.5" x 11" / 215.9mm x 279.4mm
  • A4 = 8.3" x 11.7" / 210mm x 297mm
• 12f = 12 field is 10.5" x 12.5" / 266.7mm x 317.5mm
  • A3 = 11.7" x 16.5" / 297mm x 420mm
  • Ledger = 17" x 11" / 432mm x 279mm
  • Tabloid = 11" x 17" x / 279mm x 432mm
• The thickness/lightness of the paper impacts paper durability, important for lots of flipping.
• The thickness/lightness of the paper impacts paper transparency.
• The tooth of the paper impacts line quality.
• Wikipedia: Paper press weight should not be confused with Grammage.

Animation peg bar

Sketch of an animation peg bar, and measurements of the three common types.

There are four kinds of peg bars:

• ACME
• Oxberry
• Lightfoot Ltd Round (3-Ring Binder)
• Disney (out of use)

Erasers

• Never use the Pink Pearl erasers as they'll chew up your paper.
• Amazon.ca: Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser

Other supplies

• Scanner + Printer / Photocopier
• Scissors
• Scotch tape

Pencil sharpener

• An Exacto knife provides ultimate control to refine the pencil point for what your drawings require.
• A hand sharpener is excellent. There are pros and cons to shallow or steep points.
• An electric sharpener is fast and suitable when precision is less important.

Pencils

• Amazon.ca: Staedtler non-photo blue pencils EAN 40 07817 056523 Art. Nr. 146C-37
  • The lightest blue for initial rough sketching.
  • Less smudging than graphite.
• Staedtler Mars Non-Print 108 40 purple pencils
  • A little darker, for cleaning up drawings.
  • Less smudging than graphite.
• Col-Erase 20044 [Navy] Blue pencils
  • Darkest, for tight clean up.
  • Less smudging than graphite.
• Graphite pencils
  • Darkest, for tight clean up.
  • Softer graphite will smudge more. Graphite is harder to erase.
  • Wikipedia: Pencil grading and classification
• Col-Erase 20045 Carmine Red pencils
  • Red is primarily more for special markings and layout and design.
  • Less smudging than graphite.
• Col-Erase has now been bought out by Prismacolour and the Prismacolour brand will be on all col-erase pencils in the future.
• Col-Erase Black and Purple have been discontinued by the manufacturer, now only available in sets and kits, while supplies last.
• COL-Erase Animation Pencils (12 pencils per box) in Red, Blue, or Non-Photo Blue. SKU: SKU00061 $29.99

Suppliers

• ArtSupplyWarehouse.com Animation Accessories
  • Animation Field Guide, 12 Field Size CAR1309 $28.00 / MSRP $30.00
  • Animation Plastic Peg Bar - White CAR1401 $8.00 / MSRP $10.00

• Chromacolour.co.uk Animation Supplies

• Lightfoot Ltd.com Animation Supplies
  • 12f HD-Wide Screen Field Guide 16:9 (ACME Holes) SKU: SKU001HD/FG/ACME $19.99
  • ACME Pegbar Plastic SKU: SKU00035-AP $10.00
  • "Black Beauty" Acme Pegbar-Ruler Ultra Thin [Metal] SKU: SKU00189-AB $26.95 $24.95
  • X-Sheets / Exposure Sheet 24fps 100 Blank SKU: SKU002-24FPS $29.95
  • Animation Starter Kits
  • Personal-Lightboxes
  • 12f Sampler Pack LGE 400 sheets SKU: SKU00183 $49.00

    A Sampler Pack to try each paper type without purchasing 3 full reams. This pack has 100 sheets of four types of 12f to test before making selections of full reams of Animation Paper. Available in Round or ACME punched.

    • 12f Ingram Bond 22 lb.
    • 12f Lightfoot Pro 17 lb.
    • 12f Lightfoot Pro 20 lb.
    • 12f Lightfoot Pro Studio 24 lb.