DALLAS, TX.- Sixty years ago, a black-and-white cartoon called Astro Boy, exported from Japan, hit the television airwaves in the United States. Viewers couldn’t have guessed that it would kick off a formative aesthetic – a mood, an entire state of mind – that by 2023 would evolve to captivate millions worldwide. Astro Boy, adapted from an earlier manga, was the world’s introduction to anime. The American adaptation of Japan’s Mach GoGoGo, what we call Speed Racer, followed four years later, and American kids (and plenty of adults) would sit down in the afternoons in the 1970s to watch the adapted interstellar adventures Battle of the Planets and Star Blazers. The genre’s combination of giant eyes, explosive action and high drama settled into the psyches of pop-culture fans everywhere and has never lost its grip. This year – as many young people organize their identities around contemporary anime stories and characters and veteran fans continue to consume their historic favorites – a handful of beloved anime titles celebrate significant anniversaries.

The history of anime is by now so rich and varied – from Astro Boy to Akira, Cowboy Bebop to My Neighbor Totoro, Dragon Ball Z to Pokémon to Æon Flux to Evangelion –while the anime universe is ever-expanding. This month, Heritage Auctions presents the largest and most sweeping sale of anime art ever produced as fans and creators celebrate milestones of favorite titles.Heritage’s October 20-23 The Art of Anime and Everything Cool Volume IV Signature® Auction encompasses more than 900 lots of significant production cels, Key Master setups, rough and final drawings and more from all of the greats listed above and many more.

“This is Heritage's fourth Signature® auction for anime art, following a record-breaking $3.1 million auction in September of last year,” says Jim Lentz, Heritage's Vice President of Animation and Anime Art. “This staggering collection is sure to appeal to anyone who has ever fallen in love with the distinct aesthetics, colorful animation, and unforgettable characters of the widely beloved global phenomenon.”

Anniversaries abound in this fourth Heritage auction of anime: Berserk and Cowboy Bebop both celebrate a 25th anniversary this year. The sophisticated neo-noir classic Cowboy Bebop, which hit our screens in 1998, is widely considered the title that opened up anime to new generations of fans, and one of its most memorable scenes is represented here with a gorgeous hand-painted production cel featuring Spike Spiegel at the moment he utters the closing line of a final episode: Bang. Other covetable Bepop lots include fantastic production cels of characters Jet Black, Vicious, Judy, and of course crowd-favorite Faye Valentine. Berserk, the anime based on the late, great Kentaro Miura’s legendary manga, is represented here with the largest collection of production cels and drawings from the title to ever hit the block.

And celebrating its 35th anniversary is the groundbreaking (and mind-blowing) Akira, represented here by what is certainly the most complete collection offered of production cels with Master and Key Master hand-painted backgrounds as well as animation drawings and color guides. The two-layer, hand-painted production cel of Kaneda on his red motorcycle, exhaust smoke billowing behind him, is emblematic of the film, as well as this moody and beguiling background production cel of the seedy bar called Harukiya. The epic movie had range, to say the least, and so does the selection of Akira cels on offer in this event.

In every Heritage Anime Art auction, selections from Studio Ghibli is one of the most popular categories. More than 60 cels and drawings from the Studio are here from its most popular movies including the 35-year-old treasure My Neighbor Totoro (this lyrical animation drawing of Mei sitting on a sleepy Totoro epitomizes the charm of Hayao Miyazaki’s work), Princess Mononoke (this production cel setup with background features a fierce San ready to charge into battle), Kiki’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky and more.

Dragon Ball Z, which kicked off in Japan in 1989, shot across the Pacific, and was richly franchised, boasts one of the most devoted audiences of any animated title. The series remains a cultural touchstone via its adaptations, remasters, and re-rereleases. This sale features production cels, drawings and more of fan favorites Goku, Gohan, Cell, Trunks, Vegeta, and the rest of the crew.

“The Art of Anime and Everything Cool Volume IV opens with some of the most impressive titles in anime that we’ve ever brought to auction,” says Lentz. “The list goes on and on, one fan favorite after another. You’ll find lots from Vampire Hunter D, Perfect Blue, Street Fighter II, Robot Carnival, Angel’s Egg, Ghost in the Shell and more.”

Another highlight of this event is artwork from the career of animator and director Peter Chung. Best known for creating the cult hit Æon Flux for MTV’s Liquid Television, Chung got his start under Ralph Bakshi with Fire and Ice, and went on to animate and direct for Nickelodeon’s Rugrats, as well as Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. By the time of Æon Flux’s debut in 1991,Chung’s approach to style stretched a German Expressionist, Egon Schiele-like spikiness over a robust anime armature, and the look left an indelible stamp on modern pop culture.

“From his unique approach to character design and movement to his distinctive storytelling craftsmanship, every element of Chung’s style is highlighted with over 30 lots featured,” says Lentz. “This sale boasts rare signed production artwork from Chung’s personal archive and production cels, hand-drawn storyboards and production backgrounds from his trailblazing original series Æon Flux.”

That series' ground-breaking twist in the realm of Western animation turned it into an instant fan favorite. Some choice lots from Æon Flux include a Chung-signed production cel from the pilot episode that features a close-up of the title character’s face (note the familiar flytrap eyelashes); a Chung-signed production cel set-up with Key Master background, also from the pilot, featuring a gloved Æon brandishing her gun; a production cel setup with Key Master background showing the agent facing off against a giant. insect-like alien, and more. These lots and all lots in the auction can be found at HA.com/7311. Heritage’s October 20-23 The Art of Anime and Everything Cool Volume IV Signature® Auction is a weekend-long, four-day event, and the Anime category will be auctioned on Friday and Sunday.