Does anyone know what media the G1 artwork was drawn in?

[Pheasant]

The old G1 illustrations have this beautifully soft touch to them, and I can't for the life of me identify what they were drawn in. Other things from the 80's - Sailor Moon, for example - have a similar aesthetic.

Have any of the official artists ever mentioned what media they used? The only thing that even slightly comes to mind is wet-on-wet watercolor... or possibly airbrushing.

[LadyMoondancer]

Watercolors, I think?

[Noasar]

Most illustrators use watercolours and gouache

[SpacePinto]

I have an old MLPT animation cel and it looks like black ink outline on top of it and some sort of paint on the underside, but that's all I can tell.

[Noasar]

I have an old MLPT animation cel and it looks like black ink outline on top of it and some sort of paint on the underside, but that's all I can tell.

Animation cels are a bit different to backcard art but they are usually painted with acrylic or gouache in a similar way.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Most illustrators use watercolours and gouache

Exactly!  It can be built up in translucent layers and it dries fast so it's perfect for quicker production.