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Circa-1990s The Magic of Disney limited-edition The Little Mermaid cel, estimated at $250-$300

Animated bidding expected for Sept. 27 auction of 1930s-1990s animation cels

Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Circa-1990s The Magic of Disney limited-edition The Little Mermaid cel, estimated at $250-$300

Circa-1990s The Magic of Disney limited-edition The Little Mermaid cel, estimated at $250-$300

NEW YORK – There are many ways to own a tangible piece of your childhood. One of the most satisfying forms is animation cels, whether they were made for an actual animated film or show or were a later-made limited edition release. On Tuesday, September 27, starting at 1 pm Eastern time, Jasper52 will present a sale titled Animation Cels 1930s-1990s, consisting of exactly that – animation cels from the era when every animated production had to be drawn by hand. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

The 118-lot auction contains material from many favorites, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Three Caballeros, Cinderella, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, The Aristocats, Peter Pan, The Sword in the Stone, The Little Mermaid, Mickey’s Christmas Carol and Beauty and the Beast.

Representing animated specials and television series are works from Beavis and Butthead, the Peanuts gang, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Aeon Flux, Hey Arnold, Angry Beavers, Rocko’s Modern Life, Ren and Stimpy, Doug, Rugrats, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Real Ghostbusters and The Jetsons.

Circa-1990s Beavis and Butthead production cel, estimated at $250-$300
Circa-1990s Beavis and Butthead production cel, estimated at $250-$300

Still others that make the cut are lots featuring Warner Brothers characters such as Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Sylvester and Tweety Bird and also Michigan J. Frog.

The first highlight is a circa-1990s The Magic of Disney limited edition animation cel depicting Ariel, aka The Little Mermaid. The lot notes state, “The Animation tour at the old Disney/MGM building showcased actual cels being painted on the property. This is one of those cels that was available for purchase in the gift store at the end of the tour.” It is estimated at $250-$300.

The charms of Beavis and Butthead are decidedly different from those of Ariel, but those who love the distasteful teenage duo really, really love them. A production cel from the 1993 MTV animated television series, showing Beavis and Butthead seated on their familiar pink couch, carries an estimate of $250-$300.

1982 ‘I Tawt I Taw a Putty Tat!’ limited edition cel, number 3 of 100, signed by Fritz Freleng, estimated at $800-$1,000
1982 ‘I Tawt I Taw a Putty Tat!’ limited edition cel, number 3 of 100, signed by Fritz Freleng, estimated at $800-$1,000

Completing the highlights is a 1982 limited edition cel of Sylvester the Cat and Tweety Bird, titled I Tawt I Taw a Putty Tat! Number 3 from an edition of 100, the hand-painted cel was signed by the renowned Warner Bros. animator Fritz Freleng. It carries an estimate of $800-$1,000.

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