One of the many wonderful things about animation is you can literally own the movie you love. Before computers took over, each frame of a movie was made by hand and those images were often sold as collectibles. Owning a screen-used movie prop or costume is one thing. Owning the entire screen is something else entirely.
And that’s exactly what you can do thanks to Heritage Auctions, which is running “The Art of Anime, Vol. VI,” a stunning collection of original animation art from all of your favorite anime. Gundam, Pokémon, Akira, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, it’s all here. Plus, this specific auction has a focus on Studio Ghibli, so there are stunning frames from films like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and many more.
You can see, and bid on, everything in the auction at this link. Below, we’ve picked out just a few of our favorites. And, we quoted the number $17 million because that’s how much Heritage Auctions made just from animation in 2024. So we figure that should cover all these and then some.
“This is more than just an auction,” Jim Lentz, Heritage’s Vice President of Animation and Anime Art, said in a press release. “It’s a tribute to the artistry and vision that have made Studio Ghibli a household name. Collectors and fans alike will have the opportunity to own pieces of history from the films that have inspired generations.”
To see all 1,200+ pieces in the auction, and what the current bid is, head to this website. It culminates from March 22-24 so start saving up. And if someone has that $17 million, DM me for my Venmo.
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