Running April 23-30, the auction will showcase rare and one-of-a-kind pieces spanning 90 years of animation history, with all proceeds directly benefiting over 70 animation professionals affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
ASIFA-Hollywood has partnered with Sotheby’s for an online auction that will feature pieces donated from animation studios such as The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Animation, and Paramount. All proceeds will directly benefit over 70 animation professionals who have been affected by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles.
The “AnimAID | The Art of Animation” auction will showcase rare and one-of-a-kind pieces spanning 90 years of animation history, from beloved films and TV series such as 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Simpsons, Inside Out, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Wild Robot, Beauty and the Beast, and Avatar. Highlights include rare storyboards, animation cels, maquettes, and exclusive experiences like personalized character designs and behind-the-scenes studio tours.
All pieces will be on display at Sotheby’s New York galleries from April 11–15, with online bidding open from April 23–30. You can find auction lots here, which is also where bids can be placed once the auction begins.
Notable pieces include a black-and-white story sketch from Tortoise and the Hare (1935) alongside a special color pencil drawing of Woody and Buzz Lightyear (2025), created to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story release. All items will be offered with no reserve, with estimates ranging from $500 to over $25,000.
Some highlights:
Each of the 3D-printed Pinocchio faces featured in this piece was directly used in the creation of the Academy Award-winning Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022). The animation team meticulously stored each replacement face in humble pizza boxes, ensuring they were delivered to the right stage for specific scenes. As part of the Pinocchio exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, several of these boxes — complete with their iconic Pinocchio faces — were encased in sleek acrylic displays, preserving a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the magic of stop-motion animation.
Storyboard highlights from this collection include a storyboard from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the Academy Award-winning Brave, the Dora the Explorer spinoff Go Diego Go, and panels from directors Chris Williams (Disney’s Frozen) and Chris Sanders (DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot). Also featured are storyboard drawings from Disney legends Burny Mattinson and Lorna Cook for The Lion King (1994). Additionally, signed storyboards from Avatar: The Last Airbender capture a key moment of Katara mastering her waterbending skills, drawn by director Lauren Montgomery and signed by creators Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino.
This original character design of Emily from Corpse Bride, co-created by Tim Burton and character designer Carlos Grangel, provides an intimate look into the development of one of the most unforgettable characters in animated cinema. Corpse Bride is the first stop-motion feature film directed by Burton after previously producing The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and James and the Giant Peach (1996). Emily was voiced by Helena Bonham Carter.
An original animation cel from the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants episode “Nature Pants” captures one of the most viral moments from the show. Depicting SpongeBob, exhausted, out of breath and pantless, after being chased by his best friend Patrick through the treacherous Jellyfish Fields, this cel perfectly encapsulates the humor and lighthearted fun of Stephen Hillenburg’s magnificent underwater universe.
An extraordinary and highly collectible piece of The Simpsons history. This vibrant original production cel captures Homer Simpson in the act of breaking up a mischievous altercation between his children, Bart and Lisa. It’s a snapshot of the family dynamics that have made The Simpsons a pop culture phenomenon for decades.
An original sketch by the renowned filmmaker Chris Sanders captures a poignant moment from his beloved film The Wild Robot, in which Roz tenderly removes quills from Fink. The film, acclaimed for its emotional depth and storytelling, received numerous accolades, including nine Annie Awards, the Critics’ Choice and Producers Guild of America Award, as well as three Academy Award nominations, making it the most Oscar nominated film by DreamWorks Animation.
At the heart of the auction are exclusive, personalized, and experiential offerings, providing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for animation fans and collectors. These include a custom character design and original drawing by Nico Marlet, the Annie Award winning character designer behind DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, and The Prince of Egypt. Sony Pictures Animation is offering the winning bidder a unique chance to voice a minor character in the highly anticipated upcoming theatrical feature, GOAT. Personal, behind-the-scenes tours of iconic animation studios such as Disney, Sony Pictures Animation, DreamWorks and Lucasfilm will be available, along with meet-and- greets with artists and filmmakers.
Also on offer is a VIP experience on the Santa Rosa, California grounds where Charles “Sparky” Schulz, creator of the beloved Peanuts gang worked and played for more than 30 years. This includes a Director’s Tour of the Charles M. Schulz Museum, a tour of Sparky’s office, a one-of-a-kind hands-on demo by Creative Director Emeritus Paige Braddock, and exclusive access to Sparky’s private studio - normally off-limits to the public. The day will also include ice-skating, followed by lunch and hot cocoa at the Warm Puppy Café, making it a truly unforgettable journey through the legacy of an animation legend. These exclusive experiences provide an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the creative minds behind some of the greatest animated films of our time.
Source: Sothebys
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
