Before digital ink and paint, cartoons were painted on celluloid sheets. These are organic materials that yellow, crack, and off-gas over time.
: Features work by Carl Giles, David Low, and Nicholas Garland. : You can explore their digital catalogue on the British Cartoon Archive
However, animation is fragile. Thousands of hand-painted cels, original storyboards, and master tapes have been lost to vinegar syndrome, corporate mergers, or literal dumpsters. This is where —both as a literal concept and a community movement—comes into play. It is the digital and physical line of defense against the disappearance of our shared childhood. Why Archiving Animation Matters
Those VHS tapes in your attic might contain rare commercials or aired versions of shows that haven't been seen in 30 years.