Identifying key cels

Hello,
Also hold cels that do not move but have arms mouths and extra legs that do are also Key cels.
One more type is "END" cels these most of the time have the work "END" wrote on them or the drawing.
only about 1% of key cels are not marked but there are a few out there so you may have some that you do not know and are not marked.most of the time this type is not marked because the head animator for that toon did the whole scene therefore no mark is needed it is wrote in the dope sheets or layout sheets that they are all Keys.

Just for your info the Keys are done by the head animator for that toon,There are also inbetween animators that do all the other cels in the scenes,the key animator does the first and last cel and about every 5th to 7th cel in the scene all others are done by the inbetweeners, There can be many head animators for each show they are incharge of there toon or toons only and not the whole show.
One main head animator overlooks all the other animators and helps the producer put the whole show together,this head guy/girl most of the time does the storyboards and layouts for all the toons and also does the Hanken artwork for the posters and DVD covers and such,Once in awhile a animator is is used to do the hanken work by him/herself but only on a few shows,This persons art may never grace the show but will be seen on the DVD covers posters ECT..
The backgrounds are all done by key animators so therefore they are also Keys.
95% of rough drawings and layout drawings are also Keys.
Just a little info I hope it helps out some.
Roy

Please research and read this site:
http://www.fukushuu.org/cels/celfaq.php?g=y

Wow! Awesome and Informative Topic! ^_^

I was going to ask this question the other day; but, I got side-tracked. I am going to look at my collection again and see if I have more Key cels than I think I do^^;;.

Thanks Majinuub, Ted, Mahoru, SME, and Roy. This is very helpful information.

I was wondering this myself. I did come to the conclusion a while ago that Key cels were circled but I have a couple of sketches that are circled but don't look nearly as nice as my Street fighter Sketch.

For example this sketch for this cel has a circled number.

http://love.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_info.asp?ItemID=159971

Does that mean it is a Key cel even though it is not as elaborate as some other key cels?

I may also have to go through my collection and see if I have any others lurking in the shadows.

1 cels(A1, B1) are key cels too right? I have 1 that doesn't come with a sketch.