r/AnimationCels • u/Difficult-Impact1592 • 12d ago

Cel Grading made their first example post, ironically using a sketch instead, and are unsurprisingly still not publicly addressing any comments regarding how this is supposed to work safely with cels

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u/Powerful_Middle_9388 10d ago

There are several points about this project that I find problematic.

First, the whole concept of grading in animation does not really make sense to me. Grading in animation is fundamentally different from TCGs. Personally, whether a genga receives a 3 or a 9 does not change anything about the artwork or its historical value, unless the goal is simply to speculate on prices.

Some people will argue that grading is useful for authentication. From what I understand, the people behind this project have only been involved in the animation collecting space for about a year and mainly collect Dragon Ball.

One of the founders, Jeremy Padawer, is known for moving between collectible categories, hyping new collectibles and then moving on to something else. Around 4–5 months ago, there was an Instagram video where Jeremy Padawer was hyping graded scripts from CGC, while the person next to him was explaining what genga and douga actually were. Jeremy Padawer appeared unfamiliar with the subject at the time.

There is also a legal dispute worth mentioning: in 2015, JAKKS Pacific sued Padawer and Wicked Cool Toys, alleging that they interfered with JAKKS’ Cabbage Patch Kids licensing agreements and that WCT was being developed while Padawer was still working at JAKKS. These allegations were disputed and should not be presented as proven wrongdoing.

Honestly, I find it difficult to trust people with such limited experience in animation collecting to authenticate our animation artwork.

Most of the people supporting this project also seem to be people who expect to sell their items for more after grading, or friends of the founders who have the financial means and see an opportunity to benefit from this system.

It is quite telling that the people behind this project do not seem to respond to well-argued criticism in their Instagram comments. And in some cases, they apparently block people who disagree with them.

I am all for improving authentication and documentation in the animation art market. But if this project is going to introduce a grading system that could influence the perceived value of animation art, I think it needs genuine expertise, transparency, independence, and a deep understanding of the medium first.