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. A Windsor Media Centre discussion evolved and solidified into a final Animation class startup shopping list for the Open Curricula Projects 2D Animation nine-day introductory class on the fundamentals.

Animation desks

Chromacolour portable animation table.

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

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

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.

A standard 4x3 animation field guide.

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.

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

There are four kinds of peg bars:

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.

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

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~~