The first animation auction to span three days, Heritage Auctions’ upcoming Animation Art Auction Dec. 13-15 in Beverly Hills, California is the largest ever held, with 1,832 lots, and includes one of the most coveted Bugs Bunny lots of all time, the estate of the man referred to as “the world’s greatest animator” and rare lots from Hanna Barbera.

Rev Chaney was an extraordinary animator who worked during the early days of what now is known as the “Golden Age of American animation,” and the legendary Chaney’s collection is considered one of the most important in the hobby. The demand is due in part to the fact that Warner Bros., which had kept an archive of its animation art work, deemed it worthless in the late 1960s and much of it was destroyed. This auction includes more than 100 lots from the Rev Chaney Archives, including these highlights (click links below to get a better look). First up, from both Hair Ribbin’ and Herr Meets Hare is a Bugs Bunny Color Model Cel (from Hare Ribbin) with a Studio Production Background (from Herr Meets Hare):

Next, from Baseball Bugs (1946), Bugs Bunny and Gas House Gorilla Production Cels

Lost and Foundling Sniffles and Hawk Production Cel on Key Master Background (Warner Brothers, 1944):

Plane Daffy Bugs Hitler, Göring and Goebbels Production Cel Setup (Warner Brothers, 1944)

Falling Hare Original Model Sheet Drawing (Warner Brothers, 1943)

Unruly Hare/Cross Country Detours Elmer Fudd Color Model Cel on Production Background (Warner Brothers, 1945/40)

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The auction includes a trove of 76 lots from Bugs Bunny, one of the most popular characters ever drawn. Among the most intriguing lots from the furry favorite:

Buckaroo Bugs/Jack Wabbit and the Beanstalk Bugs Bunny Production Cel on Production Background (Warner Brothers, 1945/1943)

Buckaroo Bugs Bugs Bunny and Red Hot Ryder Production Cel (Warner Brothers, 1944):

Stage Door Cartoon Bugs Bunny Production Cel on Master Production Background (Warner Brothers, 1944)

Hare Force Bugs Bunny and Sylvester the Dog Production Cel on Master Production Background (Warner Brothers, 1944)

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Sometimes referred to as the “greatest animator of all time,” Art Babbitt earned more than 80 awards as an animation director and animator, and developed the character Goofy. He worked on such Disney classics as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia and Dumbo, among others. The auction includes 41 lots from the Art Babbitt Estate, including:

Art Babbitt’s Animation Desk, Shelf and Chair (Art Babbitt Estate, 1950’s)

Art Babbitt’s Disney Legend Award (Walt Disney, 2007)

Winsor McCay Award Presented to Art Babbitt (Art Babbitt Estate, 1974)

Snoopy Sketch by Charles Schulz (Art Babbitt Estate, 1971)

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One of the most popular cartoons of the 1970s and 1980s was Scooby-Doo, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Included among the 19 Scooby-Doo lots are:

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You Mystery Machine Early Color Model Cel (Hanna-Barbera, 1969) – one of the first ever made, dated four months before the show premiered in 1969

Scooby-Doo and Yogi’s Great Escape Painted Production Background Group of 17 (Hanna-Barbera, 1969-87)

Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics End Title Cel with Key Master Background and Scoreboard Layout Drawing (Hanna-Barbera, 1977)

To view more lots in this incredible auction – Go HERE!