Naoki Yokouchi, celluloid of Cybercat kurochan

NAOKI YOKOUCHI (Japan, 1966).
CYBERCAT KUROCHAN.
Four celluloids and drawing on the back.
Measurements: 23 x 26,5 cm (x4).

Before the digital era, traditional Japanese animation (also known as anime) used the technique "cell animation" or "cel animation", consisting of painting the frames meticulously by hand on sheets of acetate or celluloid. This method, predominant in animation before the advent of digital techniques, turned each celluloid into an original work of art, capturing a unique moment in the production of the series. The elaboration process was as follows: first the sketch was created and then inked on the acetate and painted by hand on this surface. The colors were applied to the back of the cell with acrylic or gouache paint, ensuring that the lines inked on the front remained sharp.
Due to their rarity and artistic value, these celluloids are not only coveted by collectors and fans of the most iconic series, but also represent a tangible testimony to the creative process of one of the most iconic fields of animation and pop culture.

Cybercat Kurochan is a manga series written and illustrated by Naoki Yokouchi, published in the Japanese magazine Comic Bom Bom starting in August 1997. Its popularity made Kurochan the number one character in the magazine's popularity polls, ahead of the likes of Medarot and Microman. In October 1999, CyberCat went from manga to anime, with a success that came to equal, and even surpass, that of classic titles such as Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.