What do Ren and Stimpy, Spongebob, Tiny Toons, Animaniacs, Batman and Superman the animated series, Early Sesame Street, Osamu Tezuka, The Simpsons, Beatles Yellow Submarine, Akira, Charlie Brown and Peanuts, Kim Possible, Jay Ward, Hayao Miyazaki, Sonic the Hedgehog, Nightmare Before Christmas, Mr. Magoo, Brave Little Toaster and ‘The Art of Bill Plympton’ have in common? They are all included in Heritage Auctions latest sale taking place this weekend. Starting Friday the unusual, but accurately titled, The Art of Anime and Everything Cool Auction will commence with some historic works from the history for animation.

“With 928 lots, this will be the world’s largest auction to feature top-grade anime, manga and even classic American animation,” said Jim Lentz, Director of Animation Art at Heritage. “From feature films to television series, the sale is packed with iconic scenes and characters.”

Production animation cels and backgrounds from the most critically-acclaimed and culturally-influential anime films, television series and characters to headline a three-day auction event June 25-27 at Heritage Auctions, a first of its kind held by any major U.S. auction house to pay homage to the craft of anime animation art.

The auction features top selections from the Glad Anime Museum Collection, created by Mike Glad, the photographer and Oscar-nominated film producer who amassed original art by some of anime’s greatest creators. Unlike any other, the incredible Japanese animation collection has traveled from museum to museum globally and is now one of the single most important anime animation art collections ever brought to market.

AKIRA

One of the prime highlights from the collection is a stunning Akira Kaneda production cel sequence of four on its key master pan background (Tokyo Movie Shinsha, 1988). Measuring 52 inches by 12-1/2″ (132.8cm x 31.75cm), the sequence is a hand-painted masterpiece from the groundbreaking and pivotal anime masterpiece featuring the key character Kaneda in an action-packed motorcycle moment from the climactic and harrowing final scenes of the film.

A close second is an action close-up of Akira’s characters Kei and Kaneda in a production cel setup with key master background, from the Glad Anime Museum Collection. The film is deemed culturally important because it almost singlehandedly brought anime into the limelight for Western audiences with its American release in 1990. Several lots from Akira are on offer in the auction, including more motorcycle scenes.

Auction highlights include important production animation cels used in the making of award-winning feature films and work from the artform’s most respected filmmakers.

OSAMU TEZUKA

Akira may never have happened if it wasn’t for anime trailblazer Osamu Tezuka, whose Astro Boy series defined the entire artistic movement known as anime beginning in the 1960s. Tezuka, often revered as the “God of Manga,” revolutionized animation in Japan, and used Astro Boy as a conduit to address heavy issues like war and intolerance.

Several examples from the series are on offer including an amazing hand-inked and hand-painted original production cel from the classic Astro Boy series from the mid-1960s. An important model sheet from the same period depicts Astro Boy and additional characters such as Astro Girl, Dr. Packidermus J. Elefun and Victor Percival Pompous.

HAYAO MIYAZAKI

The artwork by the Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist is well represented.

My Neighbor Totoro Mei, Chibi-Totoro and Chū Totoro production cel (Studio Ghibli, 1988) is from a key scene in the critically-acclaimed Miyazaki-directed animated masterwork. Lead character Totoro is recognized as one of the most popular characters in Japanese animation and the film is regularly ranked high in lists of the most important world films made.

This auction features rare stuff from the archives of Bill Plympton. This is my original from Bill’s “YOUR FACE” (1986) and no, I’m not selling it!

For more information on this incredible auction – visit the Heritage Auctions website.

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Jerry Beck

Writer, cartoon producer and author of more than 15 books on animation history. A former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney; currently on the faculty at both CalArts in Valencia and Woodbury University in Burbank, California.

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