Heritage Plans innovative anime art auction

Animated scenes and backgrounds from the most critically acclaimed and culturally influential films, television series and characters will feature in a three-day auction event from 25 to 27 June at Heritage Auctions. The art of the anime and all that is fantastic at auction is the first of its kind held by a major US auction house to pay homage to the art of animated animation.

"With 928 lots, this will be the largest auction in the world featuring top-tier American anime, manga and even animation," said Jim Lentz, director of animation art at Heritage. "From feature films to television series, the sale is full of iconic scenes and characters."

The auction features the best selections since Happy anime museum collection, created by Mike Glad, the Oscar-nominated photographer and film producer who has amassed original illustrations by some of the greatest anime creators. Unlike any other, the incredible Japanese animation collection has traveled from museum to museum around the world and is now one of the most important anime animation art collections ever brought to market.

One of the highlights of the collection is a jaw-dropping one Akira A sequence of four Kaneda-produced celes against the background of its master key (Tokyo Movie Shinsha, 1988). Measuring 52 inches by 12-1 / 2 inches (132,8cm x 31,75cm), the sequence is a hand-painted masterpiece from the groundbreaking and pivotal anime masterpiece featuring key character Kaneda in a motorcycle-filled moment full of action from the climatic and heartbreaking final scenes of the film.

A close second is a first plan of action AkiraKei and Kaneda characters in a production cell with a key master background, from the collection of the Glad Anime Museum. The film is considered culturally important because it almost single-handedly brought anime to the fore for Western audiences with its US release in 1990. Several lots from Akira are on offer in the auction, including multiple motorcycle scenes.

Highlights of the auction include major production animation celes used in the making of award-winning films and works by the art form's most respected directors and pieces featuring iconic characters from beloved series around the world.

Akira it may never have happened if it weren't for the pioneer of anime Osamu Tezuka, whose Astro Boy series has defined the entire art movement known as anime since the 60s. Tezuka, often revered as the "God of Manga", revolutionized animation in Japan and used Astro Boy as a channel to tackle serious problems like war and intolerance.

Several examples from the series are on offer including an amazing original production cel inked and hand painted from the classic Astro Boy mid-60s series. An important model sheet from the same period depicts Astro Boy and other characters such as Astro Girl, Dr. Packidermus J. Elefun and Victor Percival Pompous.

The artwork of the Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author and mangaka Hayao Miyazaki is well represented at auction. my neighbor Totoro The production cel of Mei, Chibi-Totoro and Chū Totoro (Studio Ghibli, 1988) is taken from a key scene in the acclaimed animated masterpiece directed by Miyazaki. The main character Totoro is recognized as one of the most popular characters in Japanese animation and the film regularly tops the list of the most important world films made.

A production cell configuration with key master background from Kiki's delivery service (Studio Ghibli, 1989) can be seen at the 1:14:49 level of the animated film. This beautiful hand-painted original production cel set of titular witch Kiki depicts a solemn scene as she struggles with her doubts on her journey into adulthood. The scene captures Miyazaki's moments of silence and atmosphere that distinguish his films from all others.

A beautifully executed production cel with production background and animation design (Studio Ghibli, 1997) from Miyazaki's critical and commercial blockbuster Principessa Mononoke is on offer from the Glad Museum Collection. Prince Ashitaka is awakened by his Yakul steed in the hand-painted artwork. Seen at roughly 1:.05:51 am of the film, the cel could spark intense interest from bidders for an heirloom from one of the greatest anime films ever made.

As for some of the most popular anime characters: First, a hand-painted original production cel setup of the namesake being god-like Genocyber, measures a whopping 15-1 / 2 inches by 12-1 / 5 inches (39,37cm x 31,75cm). Seen at the 37:34 mark of the first episode. Science fiction / cyberpunk horror Genocyber is perhaps best known for his hugely controversial graphic violence and, as a result, has developed a dedicated cult following since its release.

The Glad Anime Museum collection offers a jaw-dropping production cel installation with its key main background from the well-known science fiction anthology masterpiece Carnival of robots segment titled "Franken's Gears" (APPP, 1987). Also from the museum, a spectacular cel from production action sequence Dragon Ball GT (Toei Animation, circa 1989-96) depicting a character Piccolo attack a monster is offered with the animation drawing and the group of four layout drawings.

Sailor Moon (Usagi Tsukino), perhaps the most recognizable fictional manga superheroine from the classic hit series of the same name, appears in the auction. A jaw-dropping and iconic scene of Sailor Moon narrowly dodging an attack by the evil Cardian Leshy (Toei Animation, circa 1992-97) in an amazing and large original hand-painted production cell. A close-up of Sailor Moon (Toei Animation, circa 1992-97) is an eponymous example of the characters' charming and expressive reactions that define the anime's distinctive style on its core background.

A fantastic original hand-painted production cell from Mamoru Oshii's cyberpunk masterpiece Ghost in the shell (Production IG, 1995) makes a rare appearance at auction. The highly influential film was credited by Series A director James Cameron as "the first true adult animated film to achieve a level of literary and visual excellence." The cel can be seen at the beginning of the film at 12:38.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited to:

• Ninja parchment production cel with master background featuring Jubei and Kagero characters (Madhouse, 1993).
• A spectacular hand-painted original production cel featuring Ash and his team of adorable pocket monsters from the blockbuster movie Pokémon: The first movie (OLM, 1998/2000), depicting the characters Pikachu, Squirtle and Bulbasaur, comes from the Glad Museum Collection.
• An intense production cel with production background and animated drawing of the character Gohan, as he is about to shock everyone with a truly memorable transformation into Super Saiyan 2, from the fan favorite series Dragon Ball Z (Toei Animation, c. 1989-96).

Heritage Auctions' The Art of Anime and Everything Cool auction will run June 25-27, with worldwide bids available on HA.com.