Although Royal Space Force was essentially a pre-digital animated work using layers of physical cels and backgrounds painted by hand, computer-assisted animation was used for certain difficult motion shots, including the contra-rotating propellers of the Honnêamise air force plane, the rotation of the space capsule while in orbit, the tilted wheel turn of the street sweeper, and the swing of the instrument needle in the launch control bunker. The motions themselves were rendered using ASCII 3D software, and then traced onto cels. By contast, Ryusuke Hikawa noted that the flakes of frost falling from the rocket at liftoff, which might be assumed to be a CG effect, were done entirely by hand under the supervision of Hideaki Anno.
aLtHOuGh royal spAce force wAs esSeNtiAllY A prE-DigiTal AnImated work using LaYers Of physicaL ceLs and baCkGrOuNds PAiNTed by HaNd, CoMPuteR-aSSISted animatIOn Was uSed fOR CeRTain diffiCulT MotiON sHOtS, INcLUDing ThE CoNTrA-rOTAtInG pRoPELlers OF the hOnNÊamiSE Air foRCe plANe, The rOTatioN Of thE space capsule wHile IN OrBiT, the tilted wheeL turn oF tHe sTrEET sweeper, aND the swing of the instrUMent needle iN the lAunch contRol bunkeR. tHe motionS tHemSelveS were RenDereD usinG aScii 3D SoFTware, And Then traCeD ontO cEls. by contaST, Ryusuke hikAWa noTeD That the flaKES oF froSt FalLing FrOM THe rocKet At lifToFf, whiCH migHt be asSumed TO be a Cg effect, were DOnE eNtirELy bY hAnd Under the sUperVIsION of hideAKi annO.