How to Sell Your Original Walt Disney Cel
To auction, sell or consign your original Disney production cel, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (natedsanders.com).
What is an Animation Cel / Celluloid?
Animation cels were originally trashed once filming concluded until Disney realized their potential and sold them at studio gift shops during the 1930s and 1940s. The shift from traditional animation techniques using cels to digital animation has greatly increased their value among collectors. Each Disney cel is a carefully hand-painted piece of animation history and feature cherished characters from their classic films.
Here Are Some Original Disney Production Cels We’ve Sold:
”Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” Original Cel
Disney’s first full-length film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was the highest grossing sound film at the time of its release. The classic is now part of the National Film Registry and is often considered one of the greatest animated films. We sold an original animation cel from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from the estate of Ray Bradbury for $15,000.
Original Cel of Mickey Mouse in “Fantasia”
We realized $11,000 for a Mickey Mouse cel from the beloved “Magic Brooms” segment in Fantasia. Mickey Mouse, while working as an apprentice for the sorcerer Yen Sid, decides to use magic to complete his chores while Yen Sid steps out. The “Magic Brooms” segment is among the most memorable ones from the film and highlights Disney’s ability to story tell with animation and classical music.
Original Disney Cel From ”Alice in Wonderland”
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland film was adapted from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. The 1951 film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture and has become a cult favorite for its peculiar characters and animation style. We sold an original Alice in Wonderland cel from the Ray Bradbury estate for $8,319.
Original Disney Cel From “Society Dog Show”
Society Dog Show is a Disney short from 1939 that revolves around Mickey Mouse taking Pluto to a fancy dog show. Throughout the humorous short, their humble background is highlighted as Pluto’s behaviors contrast with those of the elite dogs in the show. Despite Pluto’s differences, he saves the day when a fire erupts which leads him to win over the audience and take home the top prize. We sold a cel from Society Dog Show for $7,422.
”Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” Original Cel
We realized $7,199 for an original animation cel from the 1937 film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Cel features Snow White in her iconic dress sitting among several forest creatures including a bunny, squirrels and a fawn.
Thanks for stopping by to view some of our Walt Disney cel sales. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to sell your original Walt Disney cel or have interest in a free appraisal. Learn how to sell your Walt Disney autograph items at Nate D. Sanders Auctions.
FAQ
What is the difference between an animation cel and a lithograph?
An animation cel is traditionally a hand-painted piece used in the filming of a movie, TV show or other animated production. A lithograph is a reproduction of art and usually not screen-used.
Why are some cels attached or stuck to a background?
Production cels were painted with a vinyl or acrylic-based paint and remained somewhat tacky. Sometimes studios stacked cels with their backgrounds for storage and the pieces adhered to each other over time.