However, computers are becoming more efficient and less expensive to use in animation, and works like Miyazaki's hand-painted masterpieces may soon become a thing of the past. At 24 frames per second, a 90-minute film consists of more than 120,000 cels. The cost and time involved is prohibitive for most projects. Technology also has expanded the animator's toolbox for camera work and special effects. Multiplaning, for example, which gives animation depth by allowing artwork at different distances from the lens to be in or out of focus, can be done quickly and easily.
Some folks think it looks a little too slick.
Princess Mononoke took three years to make and includes more than 144,000 hand-drawn animation cels. Miyazaki personally supervised each of the approximately 80,000 key frames, in which most of the movement and action take place. The director's previous films have been handcrafted, but this time Miyazaki took advantage of new technology for some tasks, such as compositing. In a few scenes, three-dimensional computer graphics were added to create a morphing effect. By contrast, Toy Story 2 is entirely computer animated.