DALLAS, TX.- Heritage Auctions caps its 2025 Animation calendar with an extraordinary celebration of American storytelling and artistry at its December 12–15 The Art of Disney Signature® Auction. Timed perfectly for the holiday season, this year's event shines a spotlight on the 60th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas with a dedicated offering of original production art from the beloved special, alongside the largest and most diverse collection of Walt Disney-signed material ever presented by Heritage — an achievement for the world's leading auction house in Disney art.

"This auction brings together the heart of American animation, from Charles Schulz's holiday classic to the visionary hand of Walt Disney himself," says Jim Lentz, Heritage's Vice President of Animation and Anime Art. "It represents everything collectors love most: history, warmth, artistry and the enduring magic of characters who have lived with us for generations."

Across four days and more than 1,300 lots, the auction spans Disney's most iconic eras, from early studio legends to the Disney Renaissance and beyond.

Charlie Brown at 60: A Holiday Tradition Comes to Auction

Sixty years ago, on December 9, 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired and quietly rewrote the rules of what an animated holiday special could be. With its gentle pacing, unvarnished child voice actors and the now-legendary jazz score by Vince Guaraldi, the special introduced generations to Charlie Brown's search for authentic meaning amid the noise of the season. Today, it remains one of the most beloved pieces of American animation ever created.

To honor this milestone anniversary, Heritage has a remarkable selection of original production art from A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Peanuts television specials. Among the most significant offerings is a spectacular sequential master setup of Charlie Brown carrying his tiny Christmas tree — a hand-painted, multi-cel configuration set against a hand-painted pan production background with its matching overlay cel. It embodies not only the artistry of hand-animation but also the emotional core of the special itself.

Additional highlights include original production cels, concept drawings and long sold-out limited editions from It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Come Home and more. Each piece serves as a visual echo of Schulz's timeless comic strip and the delicate sincerity of the Peanuts universe.

As Linus might say, "Of all the Charlie Brown auctions in the world, this one will be the Charlie Browniest."

The Largest Offering of Walt Disney–Signed Material in Heritage History

Heritage has long been the market leader in Disney art and nowhere is that more evident than in its unmatched ability to source and present significant material tied to Walt Disney himself. This December's event showcases the greatest concentration of Walt Disney signatures ever offered by Heritage in a sweeping assemblage spanning rare contracts, studio documents, books, photographs and original animation art.

Among the most coveted highlights is a one-of-a-kind Courvoisier cel setup of Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice from Fantasia, signed by Walt and accompanied by a heartfelt award letter to 13-year-old Irene Kanelstein. Also appearing is a stunning Key Master setup from Cinderella bearing Walt's autograph, a jewel of early feature animation.

"This is a once-in-a-generation grouping," says Lentz. "For collectors who care about the man behind the magic, these pieces are the closest one can come to touching history. They reflect Walt's creativity, his generosity and the enormous impact he had on animation and storytelling and on the generations who grew up with his work."

The Little Mermaid & the Disney Renaissance: A Sea of Rare Originals

More than 35 years after its release, Disney's The Little Mermaid remains one of the most transformative films in animation history. Its premiere in 1989 marked the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, a decade-long creative revival that produced some of the studio's most acclaimed works. The film also holds a unique technical distinction: It was the last Disney feature to use hand-painted cels, marking the end of an era of traditional animation craftsmanship.

Heritage's December auction features the largest grouping of original production cels from The Little Mermaid and other Disney Renaissance movies ever offered in a single sale. The Mermaid artworks capture Ariel, Sebastian, Ursula and the vibrant kingdom of Atlantica in unforgettable moments from the film. Each hand-painted cel is a piece of cinematic history, and complementing these undersea treasures are select artworks from Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Tarzan and more, presenting collectors a rare opportunity to acquire material from the era that re-energized Disney animation for a new generation.

The Great Artists of Disney: Legends, Innovators and Two of the Nine Old Men

This Art of Disney auction pays tribute to the remarkable individuals whose imaginations shaped the Walt Disney Studio throughout its many eras as it brings together original artworks by Disney Legends and legendary craftspeople who left their indelible marks on animation history.

Among the most celebrated names is Mary Blair, whose bold stylistic concepts for Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and It's a Small World revolutionized Disney's visual language. Equally striking are concept paintings by Eyvind Earle, whose richly detailed compositions defined the artistic world of Sleeping Beauty.

Collectors will also discover iconic images by Carl Barks, best known as the creator of Scrooge McDuck and the "Good Duck Artist" behind some of Disney's most beloved comic characters; expressive and charismatic works by Fred Moore, whose famed "Freddie's Girls" helped shape the studio's approach to animation design; and selections from the personal archives of artists such as Manuel Gonzales and Disney Renaissance animator extraordinaire Andreas Deja.

Two of Walt's legendary Nine Old Men, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, make standout appearances as well, represented through pieces that reflect their lifelong dedication to character performance and the emotional heart of storytelling.

Storybook Magic: The Art That Raised Generations

Rounding out the sale is an enchanting collection of original illustrations from Disney storybooks, including classics published as Little Golden Books. These works introduced generations of young readers to the worlds of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Snow White, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Bongo and Mr. Toad and in many cases were a child's first encounter with Disney art. Highlights include works by Little Golden Book greats such as Norm McGary, Hamilton Greene, John Hench, Samuel Armstrong, Bob Moore and Xavier Atencio, Campbell Grant and Dick Kelsey, not to mention the great Gustaf Tenggren. Many lots include copies of the original publications, allowing collectors to enjoy the printed and painted versions side by side.

This section also extends beyond Disney to include cherished storybook illustrations by Richard Scarry (including a Smokey the Bear cover), Eloise Wilkin, Garth Williams, Corinne Malvern and more, as well as rare art from Hanna-Barbera.

"This auction reminds us why animation art remains one of the most joyful, accessible and culturally powerful collecting categories," says Lentz. "This sale celebrates the storytellers who taught us to dream."