how long would it take to make a hand drawn animation about 5-8 minutes long?

Although animations (made on traditional filmstock) are projected at 24fps (frames per second), they are shot two frames per image – so 12 drawings per second. The human eye cannot detect the difference. Which would mean 3,600 images for a 5 minute film.

However, if your film contained many repetitive actions you could cut down on the number of drawings – like walking, for example, then you would create a cycle of several cels or drawings which contained those actions – these would be used several times while the character is walking – to give the effect of movement the background (on a long strip) is moved in the opposite direction.

There are other ways of cutting down the number of frames or the amount of drawing – if you had two characters sitting at a table talking – your background could be the blank faces and heads etc (no nose, eyes or mouth), on the layer above on a cel you could draw the features to synch to the sound.

You will see both of those used in cartoons especially Flintstones etc.

You can even use cut-out paper puppets with flexible arms and legs to reduce the amount of drawing.

The most important thing is to plan everything to the tiniest detail before any drawing or shooting takes place; write the script, develop the character(s), record the sound and dope the information, storyboard the project – then you start the actual drawing.

Depends on how fast you draw, and how large and complex the animation is.

Animations generally run at 24 frames PER SECOND, or 1400 per minute.

So a 5 minute animation would need 7200 pictures.

At one picture a minute, that will take about 120 hours...

About three months. Assuming you have a few days you're doing something else, and including the time drawing concepts. Maybe longer depending how minimal your style is.

I paid for 5 minutes and thats what I want.

Easy 3D Animation Software - http://3danimationcartoons.com/?rAXD

It is possible for sure