'The Simpsons' Animation Cels

Fans of The Simpsons may or may not have a collection of Burger King toys, action figures, magnets or other merchandise. Some serious collectors are willing to spend much more than a few dollars for animation cels or art. Read more if you would like to add to your collection of The Simpsons.

What is a "Simpsons" Cel?
A "Simpsons" cel is a piece of celluloid that an artist from the show hand-painted to create a scene. Each cel then moves the characters just slightly, so that when they are all "flipped" together, they appear to move in a scene. Literally thousands of cels are required for an entire show of "The Simpsons."

Where Can I Buy "Simpsons" Cels?
On May 16th, 1999, Fox put "The Simpsons" art on sale. Since then a new kind of "Simpsons" collector has emerged. If you want to start your own collection, you don't need to travel the globe. There are plenty of online stores where you can buy "Simpsons" animation cels. Here are a few:

• The Wonderful World of Animation
• Animation Connection
• If you're a fan living in the United Kingdom, you can take a trip to Belgravia Gallery in London to purchase a cel there. Some of the animation cels are even autographed by Matt Groening or one of the characters. At one time, Nancy Cartwright was in London to promote the art sale.

How Much Do "Simpsons" Cels Cost?
Prices range from $9.99 for a poster of Springfield characters, to $2,500.00 for a "Treehouse of Horror" cel. Original Production "Simpsons" Cels usually start at $400, depending on the scene depicted. Some of the most expensive, and rare, cels are from the "Tracey Ullman" shorts and the opening couch gags.

Be sure to read "Before You Buy Animation Art Cels" for more information on setting your budget, avoiding fakes and more.