The dominant technique where each frame is hand-drawn on paper, then traced/photocopied onto transparent acetate sheets (cels) to be painted.
Fantasmagorie (1908) by Émile Cohl is considered the first, utilizing traditional hand-drawn techniques.
Techniques like cut-out animation remain popular for specific aesthetic styles. If you can tell me:
Are you focusing on a (e.g., 1930s-1950s Disney vs. 1970s)? Do you hand-drawn ? I can refine this into a specific project guide or report.
Drawings were transferred to cels and painted on the back to create the final colored frame. Historical Significance
An Introduction to the Forms and Materials Used in Animation Art