DALLAS, TX.- If there is an indelible image from the 1988 classic anime film Akira , this is it: Shōtarō Kaneda atop his famous motorcycle, headed straight toward the viewer.

The image of Kaneda on his motorcycle is one of the most popular and iconic from the film, forever captured in an Akira Kaneda Iconic Vertical Pan Production Cel D/C6 End (Tokyo Movie Shinsha, 1988) that will be among the top draws in Heritage Auctions' International Original Art and Anime Signature® Auction March 11-13.

Beyond the significance of the film for which it was made, this cel (estimate: $50,000+) is in exceptionally high demand because it almost was destroyed. The studio Tokyo Movie Shinsha nearly discarded all production artwork from Akira to conserve space, before it was salvaged at the last second by its North American distribution company Streamline Pictures for the cost of shipping.

" Akira is an important anime film, beloved by generations of fans," Heritage Auctions International Comic Art Director Olivier Delflas said. "This is the ultimate image from that film, captured in a beautiful multi-layer production cel, as nice a visual element as we have ever offered. This beautiful hand-painted cel was created by the legendary Katsuhiro Otomo, and its reach extended beyond Akira, which launched an entire movement of cyberpunk anime in Japan, and it almost singlehandedly brought anime into the limelight for Western audiences with its American release in 1990.

"The impact of this cel exceeds the groundbreaking film for which it was made. If not for the quick action by Streamline Pictures, this magnificent artwork would have been lost or destroyed."

Another highlight in the auction is a UFO Robot Grendizer Official Promotional Illustration Original Art (Studio Go Nagai/Giunti Editore, 1978). In the late 1970s, the European market was deeply impacted by the release of the UFO Robot Grendizer anime. A bit overlooked in Japan, this series was known in Europe under the names of Atlas UFO Robot , Goldrake , or Goldorak , and it was met with phenomenal success. This museum-quality illustration (estimate: $35,000-55,000) was produced in Italy with the agreement of Studio Go Nagai, based on the model sheets of the famous conceptual designer Kazuo Komatsubara, and is the best-known and most iconic of the very few rare original illustrations from this period on this series. It has been used many times as a visual aid to promote the anime, as well as for the production of magazines, toys, various collectibles, each of which was supported by exceptional marketing for its time.

Teshirogi Takashi

From the Japanese manga artist who created the Destiny Deoxys manga adaptation and the Aim to be Battrio Master! manga about the arcade game Pokémon Battrio , Teshirogi Takashi's Ash and Pikachu Vol 2 Chapter Cover Pokémon Original Manga Art (Shogakukan, Inc., 2002) is making its Heritage Auctions debut in this sale. This original cover art (estimate: $25,000-35,000) features numerous characters, including Pikachu, Ash, Bulbasaur, Poliwag, Poliwhirl and Oddish. Takashi's Takashi Ash and Pikachu Vol 2 Story Page 22-23 Pokémon Original Manga Art (Shogakukan, Inc., 2002) also is being offered at Heritage for the first time. This superb double page (estimate: $6,500-10,000) includes a nearly complete layout on two boards.

Captain Harlock

From the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Leiji Matsumoto comes a Space Pirate Captain Harlock Captain Harlock Episode #42 Production Cel with Master Background (Toei Animation, 1979). This spectacular hand-painted cel (estimate: $5,500-10,000) represents the only shot in the whole series – in the fifth minute following the credits – in which Harlock is seen in front of the skull symbol which adorns the side of Arcadia.

Also offered is a hand-painted Arcadia of My Youth Space Pirate Captain Harlock Production Cel A1 with Production Background (Toei Animation, 1982) can be seen about an hour and 11 minutes into Arcadia of My Youth (estimate: $3,750-5,000).

Dragon Ball Universe




From the Japanese media franchise created by Akira Toriyama comes a Dragon Ball Z Goku and Future Trunks Episode No. 124 Production Cel with Animation Drawing (Toei Animation, 1992). This extraordinary hand-painted cel (estimate: $6,000-10,000) can be seen just before the 18:00 mark in the "Z Warriors Prepare." It was so effective that this exact frame was reused as a Hanken on the playing card "Double Saiyans No. 94," for the 2001 set of FUNimation trading card game; a copy of this card is included in this lot. The cel then was used again during Toonami's "Android Saga" intro on Cartoon Network; cels used in production multiple times are extremely scarce.

Other Dragon Ball offerings in the auction include, but are not limited to:

Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon Goku and Hoï Production Cel C19, Key Master Background 8A1 (estimate: $4,500-6,500)

Dragon Ball Goku and Master Roshi Production Cel with Production Background and Animation Drawing (estimate: $4,000-6,000)

Ulysses 31

Jérôme Alquié's Ulysses 31 Premium DVD Set No. 2 Interior Cover Pan Promotional Cel, Printed Background, DVD Set (Jetix, Jean Chalopin, 2011) is the finest large pan promotional cel from Ulysses 31 , with its adventures inspired by Greek mythology, ever offered at Heritage Auctions. Alquié participated in the emergence of a generation marked by Japanese artistic aesthetics that encouraged the success of manga. This museum-quality image features all the main characters: Ulysses 31, Telemachus, Themis and Nono the little robot.

Mechas

From Hideaki Anno's celebrated anime film The End of Evangelion comes a Mass Production Evas Ritual End Scene Production Cel C11/A37 (Gainax, 1997) from the scene when the Mass Production Evas pierce open their own cores, a process some have concluded was to release trapped souls. A famous and shocking image (estimate: $4,000-7,500), this scene has met with significant speculation from fans and scholars of the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross Northrom VF-1S Valkyrie and Regults Painting Original Art (Artmic Co., Ltd, c. 1981-82) is a spectacular, museum-quality original paintingby Japanese Animation and Design Studio Artmic (short for Art and Modern Ideology for Creation), founded by Toshimitsu Suzuki after he left Tatsunoko Productions in 1978. This painting (estimate: $4,000-5,500) delves into the central Macros s theme, the struggle between humans and Zentradi. It includes stunning visuals of the famous VF-1S Valkyries in their various attack modes, Flight, Gerwalk and Battroid modes against the Zentradi Regults.

Other top anime cels in the auction include, but are not limited to:

• Makato Kobayashi Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Illustration Animation Art (Bandai B-Club Magazine, 1985) (estimate: $3,500-8,500)
• Kazuo Komatsubara Galaxy Express 999 Maetel and Tetsuro Hoshino Promotional Animation Original Art (Toei Animation, 1980) (estimate: $2,000-5,000)
• Kazuo Komatsubara Genki Boy Champ, Do Your Best Genki Promotional Animation Original Art (Toei Animation, 1979) (estimate: $2,000-5,000)

Other top lots include, but are not limited to:

• My Neighbor Totoro Mei, Satsuki and Tatsuo Kusakabe Production Cel B34 (Studio Ghibli, 1988) (estimate: $10,000-15,000)
• Princess Mononoke Ashitaka Production Cel B23, Production Background (Studio Ghibli, 1997) (estimate: $4,500-8,000)
• Pom Poko Oroku The Peacekeeper of the Raccoon Dogs Production Cel C72 END (Studio Ghibli, 1994) (estimate: $3,000-5,000)