DALLAS, TX.- No matter how shrewd and savvy a collector may be, there is no need to choose between quantity and quality when it comes to The Art of Anime and Everything Cool Volume II Animation Art Signature® Auction at Heritage Auctions Dec. 10-13.

The Animation Art department’s fourth Signature event of the year is the first to span four days – a distinction made necessary by the deluge of outstanding offerings among the more than 1,500 lots that will cross the block.

“This is an incredible event, with choices as varied as the people who collect them,” Heritage Auctions Vice President and Animation Art Director Jim Lentz said. “The record prices in our Art of Disneyland/Art of the Disney Storybook Auction, the record prices in our inaugural Art of Anime and Everything Cool Auction and the Animation Art sale in August, which brought a record $4.5 million, all underscore the surging demand for top lots in this category … and this event is full of them.”

The “Everything Cool” section of the auction includes a major tribute to the 1990s “Renaissance” period of television animation, with material from a cavalcade of animated shows from the era, a list that includes but is not limited to: The Simpsons, Ren and Stimpy, SpongeBob SquarePants, Beavis and Butt-Head, Garfield and Batman: The Animated Series.

The event also features artwork from projects ranging from video games to the big screen, among them Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace games.

Some of the headliners in this massive auction are the following:

Peanuts
Charles Schulz’s Peanuts cartoon strip featured a group of kids, a beagle and a bird, but its subject matter was not just for kids. Unafraid to tackle angst that doesn’t evaporate when you reach your adulthood, there was plenty of philosophy and life lessons over the several decades Schulz wrote and drew. Don’t be a blockhead and overlook these.

The “Everything Cool” sale has unbelievable original artwork from the hands of Schulz. This includes original daily comic strip art and dedicated books. This includes a Schroeder and Lucy at the Piano Signed and Inscribed Daily Comic Strip Original Art From 1965 (estimate: $25,000+) and a Snoopy and the Red Baron Hardcover Book with a Schulz Sketch and Photo (estimate: $1,500+).

Not only that, this has Charlie Brown and Peanuts production cels, key master and master set ups and items signed by Bill Melendez, who is known for his work on the Peanuts animated specials – he provided the voices of Snoopy and Woodstock – and also worked for Walt Disney Production and Warner Bros., among others.

Frank Frazetta
The sale includes a pair of lots by the enormously popular and influential fantasy and science fiction artist whose images have appeared in comics, on book covers and music album covers.

Frank Frazetta - Vampirella Illustration Original Art (1991), signed and dated 1991 by the artist, bears all the hallmarks of Frazetta’s distinctive and influential style, presented in a spectacular original drawing featuring the beloved vampire superheroine Vampirella, who began as a horror story hostess before quickly becoming a full-blown fan-favorite leading character of Warren Publishing's Vampirella magazine. This fantastic drawing (estimate: $35,000+) of the heroine is reminiscent of the artist’s cover art illustration for Vampirella #1. Frazetta’s original work is in exceptionally high demand, and his illustrations are not only considered the best in the genre of fantasy art, but in the history of illustration as a whole.

Frazetta’s Dejah Thoris Drawing Original Art (1991) presents Dejah Thoris, the buxom princess of Helium and eventual wife of John Carter in Edgar Rice Burroughs' beloved Barsoom stories. This drawing (estimate: $25,000+) captures the style of the artist whose original works are in exceptionally high demand, some reaching six figures. His 1969 Egyptian Queen Painting Original Art soared to $5.4 million at Heritage Auctions in 2019.




Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Produced by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick, this macabre-but-loving film blends Christmas and Halloween, and it has become a major cult classic after its release in 1993. The sale includes some incredibly rare items.

The “Everything Cool” sale includes one-of-a-kind original artwork and storyboards from the hands of noted storyboard artist Jorgen Klubian and Selick, extremely rare limited edition collectible doll figures in their original coffin boxes, and rare pre-production set models.

Doctor Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Even with a live-action film adaptation in 2000, the original 1966 animated cartoon (narrated by the legendary Boris Karloff) How the Grinch Stole Christmas! remains a beloved piece of work and a must-watch during the holidays. These are items that can make any grinch have a change of heart, among them a plethora of production cels, including many signed by director/producer Chuck Jones.

Animated superheroes
Many animated superheroes of yesterday still matter today. From the Man of Steel to the Dark Knight to the green man that loves to smash, there is a vast treasure trove of characters who continue to inspire.

“Everything Cool” sees the return of “The Art of the Animated Superheroes.” These are truly stunning lots from the groundbreaking Fleischer Studio Superman theatrical shorts series, along with items featuring Super Friends, Space Ghost, He-Man and Batman: The Animated Series.

Plus, there are 3D (sold-out) bronzes in the sale, including Captain America (estimate: $5,000+), the Incredible Hulk (estimate: $5,000+) and Superman (estimate: $1,000+).

The Simpsons
Originally put on the air – it began as a short as part of The Tracey Ullman Show, and then debuted as its own show Dec. 17, 1989 – to show how families often are (rather than how they should be), The Simpsons continues to be a staple of animated TV. This sale has items from various seasons.

The “Everything Cool” presents “D’oh…The Art of the Simpsons,” featuring the best of the best with animation art. It features rare pieces from The Tracey Ullman Show, pieces from the “Treehouse of Horrors” series, rare Simpson/Bill Plympton artwork, and other great Simpsons material.

Other top lots in the “Everything Cool II” section of the Animation Art Auction include, but are not limited to:

· Winsor McCay Gertie the Dinosaur Animation Drawing Original Art (1914) – estimate: $10,000+

· Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog Cover Limited Edition Cel #AP8/25 (Warner Brothers/Chuck Jones, 1978) – estimate: $5,000+

· Rabbit Seasoning Daffy Duck Production Cel and Custom Background plus Chuck Jones Drawing and Limited Edition Cel Setup Artist's Proof #AP1 (Warner Brothers, 1952/c. 1990s) – estimate: $5,000+

· “Symphony of the Stars” Flintstones, Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, and More Limited Edition Cel Artist's Proof #AP11/20 Signed by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera (Hanna-Barbera, 1988) – estimate: $1,500+