School's out...time to start scanning!

last modified: Thursday, May 28, 2009 (2:36:00 PM CST)

Well school has been out for almost two weeks. I've been relaxing and starting my summer job, getting some freelance work and cleaning my studio of its post finals mess. This semester went great - I managed to get four pieces in the student show and straight A's!

I've also begun to scan 59 pages of Unico settei that came in the mail from Rinkya last week. Its going to take quite awhile to update with it all because the pages don't fit on my scanner and I need to center/crop/stitch many of them in photoshop. They are really awesome - I can't wait to see them updated.

I also want to set up a new layout and update with a Kikyo cel that I've been sitting on for a couple of weeks. I'm really starting to get sick of my pink bubbly Unico layout. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which series/character I should feature in my next? Right now I am leaning towards Inuyasha.

It seems like the cel rainy season is starting for me. I think the cel gods know when I have money in my account because a lot of nice production artwork is starting to show up. I've been eyeing some gorgeous and super rare Gay Purr-ee cels that I think I can afford if I pace myself. I just need to figure out my budget for cels this summer as I plan to get my credit card paid off by September. This summer is definitely not going to be full of huge big ticket cel updates like summers in the past.

Dum dum Dum DUM!

last modified: Saturday, April 11, 2009 (5:21:19 PM CST)

I'm so excited to announce my newest cel: Scooby-Dum!

http://likeabutterfly.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_info.asp?ItemID=274970

Its a rare find because he only appeared in four episodes between 1976 and 1978. I've only seen one other cel of him on a gallery website and it was really expensive. Art-Toons was selling this one on Ebay for an amazing price. I couldn't believe it was listed for almost a month with no takers, so when I finally had a little bit of cash I snatched it up at the last minute. I always loved seeing him appear when I was little watching re-runs of Scooby-Doo.

The Czech Philharmonic Plays Sonic

last modified: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 (11:46:13 PM CST)

So I was playing around on iTunes tonight, looking for music to work out to, when I came across this album. Its by the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and Kuehn's Mixed Choir. Its called "Play! A Video Game Symphony Live!" One of the songs is a medley of music from the first Sonic the Hedgehog game on the Sega Genesis. Is way past cool! I love orchestral renditions of cartoon themes - I have the "Inuyasha Wind" albulm and a the orchestral version of the opening of The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Inspector Gadget. I know there are a lot of bad versions of video game music out there but if you are a Sonic fan, this one is definitely worth downloading.

Buyer's Market? Hell Ya.

last modified: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 (8:30:15 PM CST)

Lately, I've heard it said by other cel collectors that we are in a buyers market for production art. I didn't know what to think, but now I completely agree! I just purchased a double matted Secret of NIMH cel on Ebay for under $200, with free shipping! Its absolutely gorgeous, a cel of Mrs. Brisby reaching for the amulet as Nicodemus is handing it to her. It should have been a $400 cel! I was flabergasted when the auction ended. And to top that, I just found a Chipmunk Adventure cel for $20! A couple months ago they were going for $150-$250! I am completly shocked, (but not dissapointed, hehe).

On another note, I am almost finished with the updating of all my Unico in the Island of Magic genga. I only have 10 more of the rough genga to post. I am not happy with my scans, though - you can hardly see them. The paper is yellow with age and the pencil lines are really light, but I think I need to re-upload better versions of them. I might just have to up the contrast on them in Photoshop. It will make the paper look more yellow, but at least you will be able to see the images. Also, I want to make an animation out of them - and I'm still working on it. *Sigh* I wish I had Photoshop image ready.

Also, I am going to hold off on my American animation upload of Bunny Rabott and Max from A Goofy Movie until I get the Chipmunk Adventure and NIMH cel. Stay tooned!

Make New Friends But Sell the Old

last modified: Sunday, January 18, 2009 (9:00:21 PM CST)

I finally sold some cels to purchase my recent win on Mandarake's BWA. I am saying good-bye to my Last Unicorn cel (of the Unicorn), my Pocahontas production drawing and three Unico cels. Its a little bittersweet because I don't sell items from my collection often. The last time was so I could afford to pay for my Spellbound Inuyasha cel. I was a little sad when I deleted them from my gallery, especially the LU cel...that hurt a little.

BUT its really worth it beause I will soon be welcoming some more amazing Unico production art with open arms. The BWA auction I won was for 48 pages of Unico genga - something I've never seen before on RS or in any gallery. And on top of that Caroline (of Unicorn Gallery fame) sold me her cel of Unico and Melvin, which happens to match some pages from the genga set! Her timing couldn't have been more perfect and now I have the pleasure and anxiety of waiting for my production art!

And on a side note, I also have a couple updates coming of some American animation production art: a production drawing of Bunny Rabbot from Sonic SatAM, and a model cel of Max and Bobbie from A Goofy Movie. I've been searching for cels from Goofy Movie for a long time so it will feel good to finally be able to add that catagory to my list of series and features.

Early Christmas Update

last modified: Friday, December 19, 2008 (10:04:12 PM CST)

I've just made a huge Unico in the Island of Magic update! I've added 9 new Unico cels, including 3 wishlist cels. Two of the wishes were granted to me by my parents for Christmas. They are from my two favorite parts from Unico in the Island of Magic. The first one is of Unico transforming into his unicorn-pegasus form:

http://likeabutterfly.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_info.asp?ItemID=264186

And the other one is from the climax of the film, right after Unico charges through Lord Kuruku with his horn:

http://likeabutterfly.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_info.asp?ItemID=264187

I am so amazed at how my Unico section has grown. I thought Unico in the Island of Magic cels were going to be the hardest to find from all of the animation I collect from and now they dominate my gallery. They've recently been given their own Itoya portfolio too, so they don't crowd my other cels.

Merry Christmas Everyone! I'll see you in the 09!

I can't believe I won them!

last modified: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 (2:29:24 AM CST)

Wow, I am totally beside myself right now. I just got out of a bidding war on Mandarake for two Wishlist cels from Unico in the Island of Magic and I won! I can't believe it but I actually won! It was my first bidding war on Mandarake - the other bidder kept raising the amount little by little, extending the auction each time (so annoying). After a while of this I thought I was going to have to choose one cel over the other. The other bidder finally gave up on one and became the highest bidder on the other. I just let the timers go, watching the price climb. When I was sure that I had won one of them, I put one more max bid on the other and no one challenged it! So I didn't have to give up one of them after all! It was strange, I was so nervous inside but oddly calm and rational about the bidding. I didn't have a strategy, except to chose one cel if both auction amounts got really high - I was just playing it by ear. I recently paid a lot of money for another huge wishlist cel (see earlier post) and I don't think I was ready to give a kidney for both or even one of these - luckily I didn't have to!

This summer I lost out on a huge lot of Unico cels, but this totally makes up for it because these are absolutely amazing! Here are the links:

http://ekizo.mandarake.co.jp/auc_e/itemInfo.do?itemId=03012694580700779

http://ekizo.mandarake.co.jp/auc_e/itemInfo.do?itemId=03012694620700986

The first one is from the end, when Unico charges through Lord Kuruku and the other is from when Unico transforms into the Unicorn/Pegasus to take Cheri and Marusu to the end of the earth! I am just so lucky to have found and won these. Now to go get some sleep!

I traded Mustang Sally for Princess Sally Acorn

last modified: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 (1:24:02 AM CST)

I already posted this update at Anime-Beta, but I thought it was such a big update that I would post it on my weblog too! I've finally been able to update my gallery with the one of my most ultimate dream wishlist cels. Its from the opening of the Sonic the Hedgehog SatAM cartoon. Its from the very end of the opening, right after Princess Sally kisses Sonic and before he jumps into the title screen!

http://likeabutterfly.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_info.asp?ItemID=256956

I don't think I could ever explain how rare and incredible this cel is to me or other Sonic fans. I guess you could say that if it were an Inuyasha cel, it would be a cel of Inuyasha and Kagome kissing (ya I know it doesn't exist) if they kissed during one of the opening sequences.

And what is really weird - just a day before this cel popped up on Ebay I was looking at my wishlist and I actually looked at this same exact cel and thought sarcastically "Ya, I will never see this cel in a million years!" I really think I am developing a sixth sense because this is the second time this has happened. I actually sold my old junker car - a Mustang Sally, to be able to afford it.

It was complete anxious agony going up against other bidders for this cel, and it wasn't fun waiting for it to ship either, but when it came in the mail yesterday I was beside myself. Its gorgeous, in perfect shape. I love how Sonic has just let go of Sally's hand and I just adore the mushy look on his face! I've left this cel up on my wishlist if you want to see how I had it screen-capped, and I've got a YouTube clip of the sequence up under my Sonic SatAM series description if you want to what part of the opening it comes from.

Youtube and Project Playlist

last modified: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 (6:49:52 PM CST)

I've finally gotten around to adding Youtube clips to my series descriptions! Now all I have to do is figure out how to center them on the page. I've also figured out how to embed my playlist (from www.projectplaylist.com) onto my cel gallery. It was a little tricky because its size was distorting my gallery scheme, but after some tweeking of the html code I changed its dimensions to fit. Now my cel gallery is even more fan-girlish and obnoxious with music from cartoons!

Cel Storm

last modified: Monday, June 23, 2008 (10:41:38 AM CST)

This summer has been crazy for me as far as cel collecting goes. Spring and summer is the cel rainy season for me - I usually only by cels in the when I am out of school and working (you know, when I actually have money). So far I've aquired some amazing cels that I would like to eventually show off in my gallery.

But I keep putting off updating because more and more good cels keep coming along. I want to update them all at once and when I finally do update it will be the biggest and greatest I've had yet. I've got an awesome galley scheme worked out and I still have to update all of my cel descriptions and wishlist section and I want to be done with it.

Now it seems I will have to wait another month because four recently paid for Gay Purr-ee cels were damaged by the USPS. They are holding on to them while the insurance claim gets considered. Don't worry, when I know the outcome I will definately be posting a rant on Anime-Beta. But that is not all...

When I decide that I am not allowed to buy anymore cels this summer, when my bank account finally starts to fill out again, when it seems that all of my Ebay and Yahoo Japan searches come up negative, and when the cel winds seem like they have finally died down, the ultimate cel storm hits. And baby, it looks like its gonna be an F5!

Yes, its a multi layer cel setup with an original backround of one of my favorite movies. Yes it is on my wishlist. Yes it has a relatively low staring bid and no reserve. And of course, it is a great shot, with all of my favorite characters in it. I don't want to give it away because I don't want to jinx myself. Maybe I should just be thankful that it came along at a time when I actually might have the funds to pay for it.

If I survive this week, I'll let you all know...(-;

And the updating begins!

last modified: Monday, June 09, 2008 (3:42:22 AM CST)

I've finally found some time to update my gallery! I am re-scanning my older cels, updating my wishlist, changing my gallery scheme and adding all of the new cels that I have been gathering for the past couple months (some of them are wishlist cels)! It might be my biggest update ever, but I won't be able to tell until I get all of the work done. So, let the wild rumpus start!

My First Disney!

last modified: Friday, March 14, 2008 (12:50:31 AM CST)

I have just purchased my very first piece of Disney production art! It came in the mail today and it is just gorgeous. Its is a production sketch from Pocahontas (before clean up). I've been wanting to collect from Disney movies for a long time, but it was always too expensive for my budget. Aside from being affordable, I hadn't bought a cel since September so I was starting to go into "withdraw." Pocahontas is definately not one of my favorite Disney movies, but most of the production art I have seen from it is just amazing. This piece is no exception - I just fell in love with the lines! Its also a great pose - it totally communticates her free spirit and courage. And, as a bonus this could have *possibly* been drawn by Glen Keane! But if not, I am still so happy that I made the decision of buy it!

Holiday Update

last modified: Thursday, January 03, 2008 (8:06:36 PM CST)

I just updated my gallery with some new additions that I came home to over winter break. I am going GAGA over my Chipmunk Adventure cels. Chipmunk Adventure was one of my favorites growing up. The animation in it is actually really nice, because a lot of Disney animators, like Glenn Keane, worked on it. I almost flipped when I found them on Ebay! I cannot believe how perfect they are and how perfect the price was. Two of them are actual wishlist cels, and one of those I had screen-capped in my wishlist. My Inspector Gadget sketches are great too - gorgeous line quality! The Gadget sketches were a Christmas present from my parents and the Chipmunk Adventure cels were a present to myself.

I had a great Christmas, not only because of these beauties, but because I got to come home for Christmas and see my family, relax and play in the snow!

Update of the Year!

last modified: Friday, September 14, 2007 (1:30:15 PM CST)

Its been so long since I updated my gallery - I think my last update was in May. I have been so busy with school lately that I've been neglecting my gallery. Well, I finally got a chance to scan all of my new cels and update my banner and color scheme. I am proud to announce that I have aquired Inuyasha and Secret of NIMH wishlist cels,two new Sonic SatAM production drawings, five cels from Unico, one from Inspector Gadget, and one from Gay Purr-ee. And most anticipated of all....drum roll please...the original art of an entire story from the very first Sonic the Hedgehog Archie Comic! See, its still possible to collect when you are in art school full time! Hopefully these goodies will last me until Xmas!

Missed out on AX 2007

last modified: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 (2:08:33 AM CST)

Well, I am kinda bummed out about not being able to attend Anime Expo. I just started collecting cels last year and I would have loved to go to AX for the first time, but it just was to much of a hassle for me. I just moved out to San Francisco to start school over the summer. Its a really fast paced semester, only 7 weeks long, so I had a ton of homework and really no means to get to Long Beach (yes, even from San Fran). Driving would have taken all weekend and last minute plane tickets were way too much. I was hoping that my school would be sponsering a trip, since it's an art school, but I didn't luck out.

No I will be forced to froth and drool over all of the goodies everyone is going to bring back. I don't even want to think about how many Inuyasha cels I missed out on. Maybe some of the dealers will have leftovers no one wanted to buy. !Sigh!

Right now I am planning on how to get to the San Diego Comic Con in a month!

Inuyasha Final Episode...umm WHAT?

last modified: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 (3:46:07 AM CST)

I just caught the last episode of Inuyasha on Adult Swim last week and all I have to say is...IT SUCKED!! I've heard people say that it is dissapointing but, jeez, this was pretty bad. I liked the whole bit about Inuyasha not being able to overcome the power of the Jewel of Four Souls until Kagome embraced him, but the rest of it was just unexcusable!

There was no closure, no explanation, just "we will fight Naraku until blah blah blah..." It was so uneventful. Someone please tell me that I am missing something and that there are more episodes!!! I know the manga is still goin on in Japan but this was such a cop out. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Inuyasha, but this anime just deserved better!

Hooray for Motor City Comic Con!

last modified: Friday, May 18, 2007 (11:46:50 PM CST)

Just got home from the Motor City Comic Con and I am bringin' home some treasures! I nearly fell on the floor when I found a Chipmunk Adventrue cel that I had been looking for. It's from the scene where Janette and Elenor are nursing the baby penguin in the hot air balloon! I also put some Sonic SatAm and Inspector Gadget cels on layaway as well. I went to the con looking for original Sonic comic book art (which I found but could not afford...yet) and ended up finding a whole lot more! I am chomping at the bit to update my gallery. All I am waiting on is for one Don Bluth cel to ship. Hopefully I didn't spend too much and won't have to sell some of my InuYasha cels before I move out to San Fran...but OMG a Chipmunk Adventure cel!

In need of an update!

last modified: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 (3:23:15 PM CST)

My gallery is in great need of an update! Some more Sonic, InuYasha, Secret of NIMH Scooby Doo cels and even some Last Unicorn cels are coming soon...

New cel is coming...

last modified: Friday, March 30, 2007 (1:40:53 AM CST)

Hooray! My Secret of NIMH cel is on its way...can't wait to update my gallery again.