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Cel shading
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{{short description|Computer graphics rendering technique used to mimic the look of 2D animation}} {{More citations needed|date=March 2009}} [[File:Toon-shader.jpg|thumb|312px|A representation of a spacesuit from ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]'' comic ''[[Explorers on the Moon]]'' with a basic cel shader (also known as a ''toon shader'') and border detection]] [[File:Toon Shading applied to seashell graphics complex in Mathematica.svg|alt=graphics complex of a seashell with toon shading modeled in Mathematica 13.1|thumb|Graphics complex of a seashell with toon shading modeled in Mathematica 13.1]] '''Cel shading''' or '''toon shading''' is a type of [[non-photorealistic rendering]] designed to make 3D [[computer graphics]] appear to be flat by using less shading color instead of a [[Color gradient|shade gradient]] or [[tints and shades]]. A cel [[shader]] is often used to mimic the style of a [[comic book]] or [[cartoon]] and/or give the render a characteristic paper-like texture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.unrealengine.com/en-US/Resources/Showcases/Stylized/PostProcessing/index.html|title=Stylized Rendering Post Processing|website=docs.unrealengine.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> There are similar techniques that can make an image look like a [[Sketch (drawing)|sketch]], an [[oil painting]] or an [[ink painting]]. The name comes from [[cel|''cels'']] (short for [[celluloid]]), clear sheets of [[acetate]] which are painted on for use in [[Traditional animation|traditional 2D animation]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Jennifer |last=Hachigian |url=http://www.celshader.com/FAQ.html |title=Celshader.com FAQ |access-date=August 2, 2005 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223055516/http://www.celshader.com/FAQ.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> == Basic process == [[File:Particle in a box cel shaded.png|thumb|Cel-shaded rendering of two [[isosurface]]s of the [[probability amplitude|probability density]] of a [[particle in a box]]]] The cel-shading process starts with a typical [[3D computer graphics#Modeling|3D model]]. Where cel-shading differs from conventional rendering is in its non-photorealistic [[shader|shading algorithm]]. Conventional smooth lighting values are calculated for each pixel and then [[Color quantization|quantized]] to a small number of discrete shades to create the characteristic "flat look", where the shadows and highlights appear as blocks of color rather than being smoothly mixed in a gradient. ==Outlines== ===Wireframe method=== Black ink [[Outline drawing|outlines]] and [[contour line]]s can be created using a variety of methods. One popular method is to first render a black outline, slightly larger than the object itself. [[Hidden surface determination|Back-face culling]] is inverted and the back-facing triangles are drawn in black. To dilate the [[silhouette]], these back-faces may be drawn in [[Wire frame model|wireframe]] multiple times with slight changes in translation. Alternatively, back-faces may be rendered solid-filled, with their vertices translated along their [[vertex normal]]s in a [[vertex shader]]. After drawing the outline, back-face culling is set back to normal to draw the shading and optional textures of the object. Finally, the image is [[Compositing|composited]] via [[Z-buffering]], as the back-faces always lie deeper in the scene than the front-faces. The result is that the object is drawn with a black outline and interior contour lines. The term "cel-shading" is popularly used to refer to the application of this "ink" outlining process in animation and games, although originally the term referred to the flat shading technique regardless of whether the outline was applied.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://raulreyesfinalproject.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/dissertation_cell-shading-raul_reyes_luque.pdf|title=The Cel Shading Technique|last1=Luque|first1=Raul|date=December 2012|access-date=December 2, 2014}}</ref> The [[Utah teapot]] rendered using cel shading: [[File:Celshading teapot large.png|700px|The Utah Teapot rendered using cel-shading.]] # The back faces are drawn with thick lines # The object faces are drawn using a single color # Shading is applied Steps 2 and 3 can be combined using [[multitexturing]] (part of texture mapping). === Edge-detection method === {{multiple image |perrow=3 |align=center |header=2D [[image processing]] outlining technique |image1=Cel shading no outlines.png |caption1=First, the scene is rendered with cel shading to a screen-sized color texture. |width1=250 |caption2=Then, [[z-buffer|depth information]] of the scene is rendered to a screen-sized texture. |image2=Cel shading depth.png|width2=250 |caption3=[[World space|World-space]] [[surface normal]]s are rendered as a screen-sized texture. |image3=Cel shading normals.png|width3=250 |caption5=Finally, a [[Sobel filter]] or similar [[Edge detection|edge-detection]] filter is applied to the normal and depth textures to generate an edge texture. [[Texels]] on detected edges are black, while all other texels are white. |image5=Cel shading edge detection.png|width5=250 }} {{multiple image |align=center |image1=Cel shading composite final image.png| |width1=800| |caption1=Finally, the edge texture and the color texture are [[Compositing|composited]] to produce the final [[Rendering (computer graphics)|rendered]] image. }} == In video games == {{Main list|List of cel-shaded video games}} The [[Sega Dreamcast]] title ''[[Jet Set Radio]]'', which was revealed at the 1999 [[Tokyo Game Show]], drew media attention for its cel-shaded style.<ref>{{cite news |title=IGNDC Interviews The Creators of Jet Grind Radio |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/26/igndc-interviews-the-creators-of-jet-grind-radio |access-date=12 August 2021 |work=[[IGN]] |date=26 May 2000}}</ref><ref name="TGS-GS">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-sega-shows-jet-set-radio/1100-2461289/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718194202/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-sega-shows-jet-set-radio/1100-2461289/|title=TGS: Sega Shows Jet Grind Radio |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=September 19, 1999 |archive-date= July 18, 2014 |access-date=August 12, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> It used cel-shading for its characters and its vibrant visual style has had a lasting influence on the use of cel-shading in video games. Since the early 2000s, many notable video games have made use of this style, such as ''[[Cel Damage]]'' (2001), ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]]'' (2002) and ''[[Ōkami]]'' (2006). Cel shading, in contrast to other visual styles such as photorealism, is often used to lend a more artistic or fantastical element to a video game's environment. In developing ''Ōkami'', director [[Hideki Kamiya]] described his vision for the game's graphics: "I wanted to create a game with the natural beauty of the Japanese countryside... to make a world that was glistening and beautiful."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Okami – 2004 Developer Interviews|url=http://shmuplations.com/okami/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=shmuplations.com}}</ref> Producer Atsushi Inaba recalls in a 2004 interview that Clover Studios had "abandoned the realistic style" for ''Ōkami'' as they became inspired by traditional Japanese art.<ref name=":0" /> Game studios might choose a style such as cel shading in their development for reasons beyond artistic vision. Cel shaded graphics are usually simple in visual information, which can be useful in some applications. In the case of ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'', developer Satoru Takizawa states that using this style allowed to "represent the mechanisms and objects for puzzles [in ''The Wind Waker''] in a more easy-to-understand way."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Iwata Asks: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/wiiu/wind-waker/0/0/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=iwataasks.nintendo.com}}</ref> Takizawa also argues that photorealistic graphics, in contrast, would have "had the adverse effect of making information difficult to represent game-wise."<ref name=":1" /> == Lists of cel-shaded media == {{refimprove|date=July 2021}} ===Film=== * ''[[The Great Mouse Detective]]'', a 1986 American animated film based on "[[Basil of Baker Street]]" by [[Eve Titus]] and [[Paul Galdone]]. * ''[[Technological Threat]]'', a 1988 American animated short made by Brian Jennings and Bill Kroyer and was produced by Kroyer Films. * ''[[DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp]]'', a 1990 American animated adventure fantasy film based on the animated television series [[DuckTales (1987 TV series)|DuckTales]]. * ''[[Tom and Jerry: The Movie]]'', a 1992 American [[Animation|animated]] [[Musical film|musical]] [[comedy film]] based on the characters ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'' created by [[William Hanna]] and [[Joseph Barbera]]. * ''[[Felidae (film)|Felidae]]'', a 1994 German adult animated mystery film directed by Michael Schaack, written by Martin Kluger, Stefaan Schieder and [[Akif Pirinçci]], and based on Pirinçci's 1989 novel [[Felidae (novel)|of the same name]]. * ''[[The Rugrats Movie]]'' (1998) * ''[[Tarzan (1999 film)|Tarzan]]'', a 1999 American animated adventure film based on the 1912 story "[[Tarzan of the Apes]]" by [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]]. * ''[[The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (film)|The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle]]'' (2000) * ''[[Help! I'm a Fish]]'', a 2000 Danish-German-Irish traditionally animated science fantasy musical film. * ''[[Rugrats in Paris: The Movie]]'' (2000) * ''[[The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire]]'', a 2000 American direct-to-video [[animation|animated]] [[adventure film|adventure]] [[musical film|musical]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] and the seventh film in ''[[The Land Before Time]]'' series, produced and directed by [[Charles Grosvenor]]. * ''[[The Little Polar Bear#Film|The Little Polar Bear]]'', a 2001 German animated film based on Hans de Beer books. * ''[[Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron]]'', a 2002 American animated Western film. * ''[[Lilo & Stitch]]'', a 2002 American animated science-fiction comedy-drama film. * ''[[Treasure Planet]]'' a 2002 American animated science-fiction adventure film. * ''[[Rugrats Go Wild]]'' (2003) * ''[[Stitch! The Movie]]'', a 2003 American direct-to-video animated science fiction comedy film * ''[[Brother Bear]]'', a 2003 American animated musical fantasy comedy-drama film. * ''[[Hot Wheels: World Race]]'', a 2003 animated direct-to-video film. * ''[[Appleseed (2004 film)|Appleseed]]'', a 2004 Japanese animated film. * ''[[Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers]]'', a 2004 American [[animation|animated]] [[direct-to-video]] [[musical film|musical]] [[adventure film]] based on the [[film adaptation]]s of the 1844 novel ''[[The Three Musketeers]]'' by [[Alexandre Dumas]] and the ''[[Mickey Mouse (film series)|Mickey Mouse]]'' film series by [[Walt Disney]] and [[Ub Iwerks]]. * ''[[Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch]]'', a 2005 American direct-to-video animated science fiction comedy-drama film produced by the Australian office of [[Disneytoon Studios]]. * ''[[Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild]]'', a 2005 American animated comedy film. * ''[[Leroy & Stitch]]'', a 2006 American animated science fiction comedy television film produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. * ''Disney DVD Game World: Disney Dogs Edition'' (2006) * ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'', a 2007 American animated [[comedy film]] based on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] animated sitcom ''[[The Simpsons]]'' by [[Matt Groening]]. * ''[[Garfield Gets Real]]'' (also known as '''''Garfield 3D''''' in some regions), a 2007 American [[Animation|animated]] [[Adventure film|adventure]] [[comedy film]] based on the comic strip ''[[Garfield]]''. * ''[[Chocolate (2008 film)|Chocolate]]'', a 2008 Thai [[martial arts film]] starring [[Yanin Vismitananda|Yanin "Jeeja" Vismistananda]] in her debut film performance. It is directed by [[Prachya Pinkaew]], with [[martial arts]] choreography by [[Panna Rittikrai]]. It also stars [[Hiroshi Abe (actor)|Hiroshi Abe]] and [[Pongpat Wachirabunjong]]. * ''[[Paperman]]'', a 2012 American black-and-white computer-cel animated short film. * ''[[List of Sofia the First episodes#Pilot (2012)|Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess]]'' (2012) * ''[[Khail Girban's The Prophet]]'', a 2014 animated film computer cel. * ''[[Feast (2014 film)|Feast]]'', a 2014 American 2D animated romantic comedy short film. * ''[[The Peanuts Movie]]'' (2015) * ''[[Mutafukaz: Operation Blackhead]]'', a 2017 crime short film that became the basis for the comic book for the same name produced by Run. * ''[[Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse]]'' (2018) * ''[[Tom & Jerry (2021 American film)|Tom & Jerry]]'' (2021) * ''[[Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (film)|Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers]]'' (2022) * ''[[Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]]'' (2023) * ''[[Nimona (film)|Nimona]]'' (2023) * ''[[Once Upon a Studio]]'', a 2023 American live-action/animated fantasy comedy crossover short film. * ''[[Wish (film)|Wish]]'', a 2023 American animated musical film. * ''[[Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation]]'', a 2024 American animated [[science fiction]] [[Musical film|musical]] [[comedy film]] directed by Anna O'Brian and based on the [[Disney Channel]] animated television series ''[[Big City Greens]]'', created by The Houghton Brothers. * ''[[Coyote vs. Acme]]'' (TBA)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Critical Human on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/ACriticalHuman/status/1732621623826460848}}</ref> * [[The Pink Panther]] reboot by [[Jeff Fowler]]. ===Television=== * ''[[TaleSpin]]'' - an American animated television series first aired in 1990 as a preview on [[Disney Channel]] and later that year as part of ''[[The Disney Afternoon]]''. * ''[[Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series|Mighty Ducks]]'' - a 1996 American animated television series. * ''[[Futurama]]'' - a 1999 animated [[science fiction]] [[animated sitcom|sitcom]] created by [[Matt Groening]] for the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] and later revived by [[Comedy Central]], and then [[Hulu]]. * ''[[Ōban Star-Racers|Molly, Star-Racer]]'' - a 2001 French television pilot produced by Sparx Animation Studios * ''[[Finger Tips]]'' - a 2001 British [[children's television series]] that aired on [[CITV]] and was broadcast from 3 September 2001 to 14 December 2008. It was produced by [[The Maidstone Studios|The Foundation]]. * ''[[Spider-Man: The New Animated Series]]'' - a 2003 Canadian-American television series produced by [[Mainframe Studios]], [[Marvel Enterprises]], [[Adelaide Productions]], and [[Sony Pictures Television]] * ''[[Boo! (TV series)|Boo!]]'' - a 2003 British television series produced by [[Wish Films|Tell-Tale Productions]] * ''[[Lilo & Stitch: The Series|Lilo & Stitch]]'' - a 2003 American animated television series produced by [[Disney Television Animation|Walt Disney Television Animation]] * ''[[Dragon Booster]]'' - a 2004 Canadian television series produced by [[Nerd Corps Entertainment]] * ''[[Handy Manny]]'' - a 2006 American-Canadian children's television series produced by [[Nelvana]] * ''[[Z-Squad]]'' - a 2006 South Korean-Canadian magical girl television series produced by Enemes, [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS]], [[CJ Entertainment]], [[Daewon Media|Daiwon C&A Holdings]] and [[Nelvana]], SOVIK * ''[[The Land Before Time (TV series)|The Land Before Time]]'' - a 2007 American animated television series, based on The Land Before Time film series created by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss * ''[[Storm Hawks]]'' - a 2007 Canadian television series produced by Nerd Corps Entertainment * ''[[League of Super Evil]]'' - a 2009 Canadian television series produced by Nerd Corps Entertainment * ''[[Max Steel]]'' a 2013 American-Canadian television series produced by Nerd Corps Entertainment, [[Mattel]] * ''[[Bunny Maloney]]'' - a 2009 French television series produced by [[MoonScoop Group]], [[France 2]], and Telegael * ''[[Iron Man: Armored Adventures]]'' - a 2009 French-American television series produced by [[Marvel Animation]] * ''[[Hot Wheels Battle Force 5]]'' - a 2009 Canadian television series produced by Nerd Corps Entertainment and Nelvana * ''[[Rated A for Awesome]]'' - a 2011 Canadian television series produced by Nerd Corps Entertainment * ''[[Slugterra]]'' a 2012 Canadian television series produced by Nerd Corps Entertainment * ''[[Sofia the First]]'', a 2013 American animated fantasy children's television. * ''[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver]]'' - a 2014 American late-night talk and news satire television series produced by [[HBO]] - Episode 7: [[List of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver episodes#Season 1 (2014)|Immigration Reform]] * ''[[Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks]]'' - a French-American animated musical comedy television series created by [[Janice Karman]].<ref name="VPO Press Release">{{Cite web |title=PGS ENTERTAINMENT SECURES WORLDWIDE MEDIA RIGHTS FOR NEW ALVINNN!!! AND THE CHIPMUNKS TV SERIES FROM BAGDASARIAN PRODUCTIONS AND GENAO PRODUCTIONS |url=http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/publicsiteContentFileAccess?fileContentId=1306269&fromOtherPageToDisableHistory=T&menuName=Events |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019150837/http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/publicsiteContentFileAccess?fileContentId=1306269&fromOtherPageToDisableHistory=T&menuName=Events |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |access-date=January 21, 2023 |website=Virtual Press Office (VPO)}}</ref> Produced by [[Bagdasarian Productions]] and [[Technicolor Animation Productions]] (formerly known as OuiDo! Productions <ref>{{cite web |last=Fisher |first=Daniela |date=2015-02-23 |title=Technicolor acquires OuiDO! Productions |url=https://kidscreen.com/2015/02/23/technicolor-acquires-ouido-productions/ |website=kidscreen |access-date=2025-02-11}}</ref> in season 1) with the participation of [[M6 (TV channel)|M6]],<ref name="Alvinnn"/> it features [[Alvin and the Chipmunks]] and [[the Chipettes]] and marks their first television appearance together since 1990. First announced by Bagdasarian Productions in 2010, a promotional trailer for the series was posted on [[YouTube]]. Animation and half of the show's storyboards are handled by Technicolor Productions in France, while Bagdasarian Productions in the U.S. is in charge of voice recording and music production.<ref name="Alvinnn">{{cite web|url=https://www.technicoloranimationproductions.com/en/production.php?prodid=4|title=ALVINNN!!! AND THE CHIPMUNKS|website=[[Technicolor Animation Productions]]|date=2018|access-date=2025-02-11|archive-date=2018-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219230229/https://www.technicoloranimationproductions.com/en/production.php?prodid=4|url-status=dead}}</ref> The series is primarily distributed by [[PGS Entertainment]], a French brand management company.<ref name="VPO Press Release"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toutelatele.com/alvinnn-et-les-chipmunks-le-nouveau-reveil-matin-de-m6-69935|title=Alvinnn !!! et les Chipmunks : le nouveau réveil-matin de M6|website=Toutelatele|date=22 March 2015|last=Roulet|first=Jerome}}</ref> It premiered on M6 on March 30, 2015. In August 2015, Nickelodeon acquired the American broadcast rights to the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/nickelodeon-picks-up-u-s-rights-to-alvinnn-and-the-chipmunks-1201555257/|title=Nickelodeon Picks Up U.S. Rights to 'Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks'|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 3, 2015|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa}}</ref> It also airs in [[Cartoon Network (Canadian TV channel)|Teletoon]] and [[Family Channel (Canadian TV channel)|Family Channel]] in Canada. * ''[[Regal Academy]]'' - a 2016 Italian television series produced by [[Rainbow S.p.A.]] * ''[[Disenchantment (TV series)|Disenchantment]]'' - a 2018 American [[animated]] [[satirical]] [[fantasy]] sitcom created by [[Matt Groening]] for [[Netflix]]. * ''[[Star Wars Resistance]]'' - a 2018 American television series produced by [[Lucasfilm Animation]] * [[Love, Death & Robots]] a 2019 American [[Adult animation|Adult animated]] [[anthology]] series produced by [[Blur Studio]] for Netflix * ''[[What If...? (TV series)|What If...?]]'' - a 2021 [[Marvel Studios]] [[alternate history]] television series set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/marvel-what-if-animation-style-cel-shading-controversy-explained/|author=Tadeo, Jericho|title=Why Some People Are Bothered By Marvel's What If Animation Style|publisher=[[Screen Rant]]|date=August 10, 2021|accessdate=August 29, 2021|archivedate=August 11, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811043405/https://screenrant.com/marvel-what-if-animation-style-cel-shading-controversy-explained/}}</ref> * ''[[Arcane (TV series)|Arcane]]'' - a 2021 [[Adult animation|adult animated]] [[steampunk]] [[Action (fiction)|action]]-[[Adventure fiction|adventure]] television series created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee. It was produced by the French [[animation]] studio [[Fortiche]] * ''[[Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man]]'' - a 2025 American animated television series created by Jeff Trammell for the streaming service [[Disney+]], based on the [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Spider-Man]]. ===Video games=== {{Main articles|List of cel-shaded video games}} == See also == *[[2.5D]] *[[Gooch shading]] *[[Low poly]] == References == {{Reflist|30em}} == External links == * [http://dreamcast.ign.com/articles/163/163512p1.html IGN: ''Jet Set Radio'' review]. Retrieved August 4, 2005. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051125020725/http://www.gamedev.net/reference/articles/article1438.asp GameDev.net – Cel-Shading]. Retrieved August 5, 2005 ([[Wayback Machine]] copy). * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134943/http://sunandblackcat.com/tipFullView.php?l=eng&topicid=15 sunandblackcat.com – Cel-Shading]}}. Retrieved August 7, 2014. {{Computer graphics}} {{Animation}} [[Category:Animation techniques]] [[Category:Cel-shaded animation| ]] [[Category:Computer animation]] [[Category:Shading]]
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