DALLAS, TX.- Classic Disney cartoon cels and art proved to be the once-and-future king of Animation Art at auction a Danish illustrator Kay Nielsen's Chernabog concept art for the 1940 Walt Disney classic film Fantasiarealized $65,725 to top Heritage Auction's $1.46 million June 11-12, 2016 Animation Art Signature Auction.

The auction, the second-highest grossing animation art auction in history, was 100% sold out in terms of both value and total lots, making it what is known in the auction world as a "white glove" sale.

"Clearly there is still tremendous collector interest in quality animation of all types," said Jim Lentz, Director of Animation Art at Heritage Auctions. "Disney continues to lead the way where animation art is concerned, though the prices realized were solid across all genres of animation. We're all quite pleased with such tremendous results."

Disney great Eyvind Earle figured very prominently in the superb results of the auction, as his 1957 London Bridge concept art for the theatrical short The Truth About Mother Goose, a magnificent painting done by Earle of London Bridge prior to the Great Fire of 1666, realized $40,630. Earle's 1959 concept painting for Sleeping Beauty Castle and Coach was also highly sought after by collectors, a unique hand-painted background Color Key/Concept Art painting showcasing the castle in brilliant style, which brought a final price realized of $23,900.

While Disney dominated the top tier of the auction, superb results were also realized for more modern cartoon cels, led by a classic illustration and background from the book version of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Bill Melendez, 1978), showing all the Peanuts gang standing around in costume looking in their treat bags (featuring the famous line: "What did you get Charlie Brown? I got a rock."), which saw an impressive $16.133 final price realized.

An iconic Production Cel and Key Master Background from Doctor Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (MGM, 1966), featuring The Grinch and his faithful pooch Max, consigned to auction by the family of Chuck Jones (with proceeds of the sale benefitting the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity on Orange County, CA) proved quite popular with collectors as it rose to $14,340.

Modern cartoons have been seeing a marked uptick in the last two years, especially those that appeal to Gen-X collectors, and the June 11-12, 2016 auction showed that trend continuing as a Production Title cel from The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show (Hanna-Barbera, 1965), the best Atom Ant cel Heritage has offered to this point, soared to $10,755 and a Production Title Cel from The All New Super Friends Hour (Hanna-Barbera, 1977), featuring Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Superman and new cast additions The Wonder Twins — Zan and Jayna and their space-monkey, Gleek — saw spirited bidding drive the final price realized to $10,158.

Further highlights include, but are not limited to:

• Just Mickey/The Haunted House Mickey Mouse Production Cel and Painted Background (Walt Disney, 1929-30): A rare hand-inked, hand-painted nitrate production cel featuring Mickey Mouse is one of the earliest Mickey cels known to exist. Realized $23,900.

• Eyvind Earle Sleeping Beauty King Stephan and King Hubert Concept Painting (Walt Disney, 1959): An outstanding gouache painting on board featuring King Stephan and King Hubert on the top of the castle. The detail on the castle and the castle flags is amazing. Realized $22,705.

• Mary Blair It's a Small World Building Concept Painting (Walt Disney, 1964): Mary Blair's artwork was the inspiration and major force in the destiny and implementation of this global attraction, seen by millions of people year after year. Realized $22,705.

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Snow White and Forest Animals Production Cel Setup and Key Master Background (Walt Disney, 1937): A rare, untrimmed, full nitrate, hand-inked and hand-painted production cel setup of Snow White, as she lay sleeping in the forest. This is the scene when the forest animals come to rescue and comfort her. Realized $20,315.

• Dumbo Casey Junior and the Circus Train Color Model Group of 3 (Walt Disney, 1941): Exceptional trio of 12 field 5-peghole Color Model drawings taped and stapled together that make up Casey Junior and the complete circus train. Realized $17,925.

• Disneyland Park Entrance Poster "The Haunted Mansion" (Walt Disney, 1969): One of the most desirable Park Entrance Posters of them all, designed by Ken Chapman and Disney Legend Inductee, Mr. Marc Davis. Realized $15,535.

• Gertie the Dinosaur Animation Drawing (Winsor McCay, 1914): Original pen and ink production artwork directly from the hand of Winsor McCay, used to create this landmark animated short. Realized $11,950.