Already on the first steps of our endeavours to raise this project, we had to realise that setting up a well-fitting product line for the cartoon animation field is looking so much easier in theory than it actually works out in practice.

You will find a lot of products here that you are familiar with, perhaps already in your use since years. Also, you will encounter many newly developed products, with fresh approaches and upgrading improvements, resulting out of years of animation experience.

One good example is our ACME Peghole Punch – a product being in development for almost an entire year, and which is influenced by a lot of everyday cartoon production experience; things one always is unnerved of with established punches, asking oneself “Does it really have to be like THIS?” (especially with models beyond 1000 Euros, still not being able to punch more than 10 sheets per push).

Until present day, nearly all animation studios in Europe, from large to small, are ordering their equipment at the only really established distributor in Great Britain, or their Belgian settlement. From own experience, we know how sorely it can be to face these bank transfer fees (not everyone starting a small cartoon venture starts off with a credit card at hand), delivery times and shipping damages going along with this, and their prices are speaking for themselves.
It is our approach to fit in exactly here, offering a high-grade, reasonably priced alternative with comfortable paying methods and shortened delivery times.
For more transparency, we can support you on your demand with the parcel tracking numbers, so that you can keep an eye on where your delivery currently is located, and to overview the arrival times online.

 
There are some products that are well-established in the business since many years, and we thought a lot about if we should just enter them into our product range, or come up with freshly developed own products, featuring some improvements. One of these products is the well-known drawing pencil ColErase
We were noticing that ColErase originally was never invented to be a cartoon animation pencil – it happened coincidentally with the time, and it originally was designed as a new approach in erasable school pencils. Even though the “if” never has been a question, and we knew we would want to take the ColErase into our product range, there sprouted an idea to probably develop an own pencil – an erasable color pencil especially designed for the animation industry. The pencil should be in the same color ranges used so wide-spread in the business, equally easy to erase, but with some improvement the ColErase can not yet sport (such as reduced smudging when you run your hands over it, which happens quite often in the heat of animating).

This idea set the founding for a cooperation with an old-established tradition-rich German pencil factory, which attended to the project passionately and with a lot of interest.
In a time period of almost a year, their experience in creating pencils, and the experience of our development team regarding the requirements in animation, joined together in the creation of our very first own erasable animation color pencil, the “Rough2Line”.
The lead went back and forth from their production team to our development team, being tested on aspects like being break-proof while remaining easy to erase, or raising the pigmentation without raising the smudge tendency, and while keeping a sharpened tip for a reasonable time – every change draws variances in other specifications with them, which required a lot of balancing. 
Therefore we are especially proud of that product, and would be very glad, if it possibly one day can grant you relief to the one or other discomfort you possibly noticed while using the established pencils.

Many animators and artists are using ColErase pencils by splitting the wooden body of the pencil sheath open with a knife, and removing the lead, using it in a regular 3mm pencil lead holder separately. These leads can be kept pointed with such a miniature sharpener, resulting in less waste and no noise, which is far more useful for enroute drawing into sketchbooks and such.
We decided to also offer our “Rough2Line” color pencil in a lead-only shape, coming in a handy carrying box with 12 leads each, as well as offering the classic wooden pencil with eraser cap. 
You can also purchase fitting pencil lead holders for occasional on-the-fly work.

 
At this point, we would love to take the opportunity to thank all our business partners and friends who supported us on this long journey getting ToonBase operational, helping us with such effort, passion and energy.
We would very much appreciate if you, our customers, will benefit from our developments, our prices and our service, as well as of our quick delivery times and the direct customer support. 
And aside of all economical interest, we hope to possibly be able to contribute our own little part in preserving this lovely and amiable trade and art form of traditional cartoon animation. 

Have fun browsing through our product range!

Best regards,
your Toonbase team!