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Disney Animation Art

The Walt Disney Company revolutionized the world of animation in the 20th century, not only producing cherished animated films but also pioneering the preservation, archival, and reproduction of its company’s works.

In 1923, animator Walt Disney and his businessman brother Roy Disney founded the Walt Disney Company, originally called the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. After creating a number of successful Mickey Mouse short films, the company produced the world’s first fully animated feature film, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” followed by nearly 30 more using traditional animation techniques. After 1989, studio crews adopted computer animation almost exclusively, and the last film Disney produced using hand-inked and hand-painted production celluloid (cels) was “The Little Mermaid.”

For vintage Disney art collectors, original production cels are becoming rare and highly collectible, particularly anything produced from the 1920s through the 1950s. Also revered are original backgrounds, drawings, concept sketches, and storyboards. Any pieces signed by a Disney artist or Walt Disney himself will hold high values.

Aside from original production art, Disney has produced and marketed a variety of limited-edition prints, including hand-painted cels, lithographs, and sericels. Although these pieces are not considered vintage, some have recorded high earnings in the art marketplace.


Quick Facts

  • Disney’s Animation Research Library (ARL) holds 65 million pieces of animation artwork; over 200,000 of these are original production cels. The library is open to employees and designated members of the press, and its exact location is not publicly disclosed
  • Walt Disney jokingly called his group of supervisory animators the “Nine Old Men.” These individuals assisted Disney in creating and producing films from the 1960s through the 1970s
  • Heritage Auctions held a record-breaking animation art auction in April 2015. Several top-sellers included production cels from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” ($47,800), “Pinocchio” ($23,900) and “The Little Mermaid” ($15,535)

Recommended Items at Auction

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DISNEY 'LADY AND THE TRAMP' PRODUCTION CEL
Feb 28, 10:00 AM CST
DISNEY 'LADY AND THE TRAMP' PRODUCTION CEL
by Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers
Est: $200- $500
$2253 Bids
DISNEY 'LADY AND THE TRAMP' PRODUCTION CEL
Feb 28, 10:00 AM CST
DISNEY 'LADY AND THE TRAMP' PRODUCTION CEL
by Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers
Est: $200- $500
$2253 Bids
Mickey's Trailer Model Sheet Pencil on Paper, 1938
Mar 20, 11:00 AM EDT
Mickey's Trailer Model Sheet Pencil on Paper, 1938
by Auctions at Showplace
Est: $300- $500
$1252 Bids
Limited Edition Walt Disney 100th Anniversary Edition Art by THOMAS KINKADE Studios
Feb 21, 10:30 AM EST
Limited Edition Walt Disney 100th Anniversary Edition Art by THOMAS KINKADE Studios
by South Florida Auction & Estate Sale Services
Est: $6- $1,000
$92 Bids
Animation Cel, Walt Disney Productions
Feb 20, 10:00 AM PST
Animation Cel, Walt Disney Productions
by Clars Auctions
Est: $800- $1,200
$4001 Bid
Disney Mickey Mouse Changing Of The Garb Sericel
Mar 01, 10:00 AM CST
Disney Mickey Mouse Changing Of The Garb Sericel
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$251 Bid
Walt Disney, Goofy
Mar 02, 10:15 PM CET
Walt Disney, Goofy
by Novartia
Est: €700- €800
€900 Bids
Walt Disney Sericel Assortment
Feb 25, 10:00 AM CST
Walt Disney Sericel Assortment
by Leonard Auction
Est: $400- $600
$2000 Bids
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Nastya Rovenskaya- Original Oil on Canvas "Scream"
Feb 27, 10:00 AM PST
Nastya Rovenskaya- Original Oil on Canvas "Scream"
by Robinhood Auctions
Est: $4,420- $5,525
$6500 Bids
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Nastya Rovenskaya- Original Oil on Canvas "Snoopy's Vivid World"
Feb 23, 10:00 AM PST
Nastya Rovenskaya- Original Oil on Canvas "Snoopy's Vivid World"
by Robinhood Auctions
Est: $4,420- $5,525
$7500 Bids
Pair of Sericels Mickey Mouse Fantasia and Garfield 
Feb 23, 1:00 PM EST
Pair of Sericels Mickey Mouse Fantasia and Garfield 
by Block Auction House
Est: $50- $500
$250 Bids
Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse
Mar 02, 10:15 PM CET
Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse
by Novartia
Est: €700- €800
€2500 Bids
Walt Disney, Mickey
Mar 02, 10:15 PM CET
Walt Disney, Mickey
by Novartia
Est: €700- €800
€900 Bids
Walt Disney "Cinderella" Limited Edition Sericel
Mar 01, 10:00 AM CST
Walt Disney "Cinderella" Limited Edition Sericel
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$250 Bids
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Walt Disney original "Winnie the Pooh and Piglet" cartoon Cell
Feb 22, 1:00 PM AEDT
Walt Disney original "Winnie the Pooh and Piglet" cartoon Cell
by Moorabool Auctions
Est: AUD200- AUD300
AUD1000 Bids
Disney Studios, 1950's-1960's - Hand-Painted Animation
Feb 20, 2:30 PM CET
Disney Studios, 1950's-1960's - Hand-Painted Animation
by Templum Fine Art Auctions
Est: €400- €450
€1500 Bids
Disney Studios, 1950's-1960's - Hand-Painted Animation
Feb 20, 2:30 PM CET
Disney Studios, 1950's-1960's - Hand-Painted Animation
by Templum Fine Art Auctions
Est: €500- €600
€1500 Bids
Walt Disney Drawing- hand signed
Mar 02, 10:15 PM CET
Walt Disney Drawing- hand signed
by Novartia
Est: €1,500- €2,000
€2500 Bids
Animation Cel Walt Disney Production Sleeping Beauty Prince Phillip
Feb 23, 10:00 AM PST
Animation Cel Walt Disney Production Sleeping Beauty Prince Phillip
by Taylor & Harris
Est: $1,200- $1,500
$1,0000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Disney Animation Art


Robinhood Auctions

Robinhood Auctions

Novartia

Novartia

Kraft Auction Service

Kraft Auction Service

Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers

Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers