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 Cel — Sold for $15,000

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.

Check out some originl signed Walt Disney cels we’ve sold.

Cel of Mickey Mouse in Fantasia — Sold for $11,000

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 — Sold for $8,319

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.

Sleeping Beauty Animation Cel — Sold for $7,464

Incredibly rare and large Disney cel from the beloved 1959 film, “Sleeping Beauty”. Cel depicts Prince Phillip and Princess Aurora, aka Briar Rose, as her name was changed to conceal her cursed identity, during the beginning of the film when the star-crossed lovers first meet in the “Once Upon a Dream” musical sequence. Characters are placed over a forest backdrop. Framed to an overall size of 13″ x 10″. With an official Disneyland sticker to verso reading, ”This is an original handpainted celluloid drawing actually used in a Walt Disney production.” Near fine. Sold for $7,464.

Original Disney Cel From Society Dog Show — Sold for $7,422

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 — Sold for $7,199

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.

Cel of Maleficent From Sleeping Beauty — Sold for $5,838

Disney animation cel of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. Cel depicts the 1959 film’s notorious villainess looking appropriately devious, her raven sidekick perched on her hand. Hand-painted production cel is matted against an illustrated background to an overall size of 12″ x 14″. Nickel-sized spot of bubbling to Maleficent’s cloak and a tiny bubble to the raven between wing and body, else near fine. With Disney COA sticker to verso. Sold for $5,838.

Two Cels from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs &Cinderella — Sold for $3,125

We sold two original Disney cels from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella for $3,125. The Cinderella one features five cels framed together and includes two bluebirds, Bruno the dog, Major the horse and Cinderella. The Snow White cel depicts the Evil Queen holding the potion that will transform her into the old hag.

Animation Cel From Dumbo — Sold for $3,000

This hand-painted cel from the Disney classic Dumbo features Mrs. Jumbo embracing baby Dumbo while lovingly looking at him. Cel is matted against a plain, pale blue background that bears a stamp, “WDP” to the lower right. With Albert Roullier Art Gallery, Chicago label affixed to verso above another label, printed, “This is an original painting on celluloid, actually used in the Walt Disney production of ‘Dumbo, the Circus Elephant'”. Sold For $3,000.

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 and memorabilia at Nate D. Sanders Auctions.

FAQs

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.