It makes me very happy to hear that! I am also unimpressed with their animation/style choice, but they had to keep in mind a global market and make it geared toward children.
I start with a regular pencil on sketch paper to work out my idea, then I transfer it to cold pressed watercolour paper using a light table and mechanical pencil. I use artist grade watercolour paint (it has more pigment in the paint), and finish with a bit of outlining with a black Sakura Micron 01.