Animation art isn't just kids' stuff. In January, an animation cel from Disney's "Fantasia" sold at American Royal Arts for $65,000. In February, a cel from "101 Dalmations," inscribed to John F. Kennedy, Jr., and signed by Walt Disney, sold at Sotheby's for $61,000.
In the '60s, a tourist could pick up a cel in Disneyland for as little as $5, but those days are long gone. Prices for rare vintage cels have shot up to as much as $498,000.
"There's been a tremendous shift in the industry" says Heidi Leigh, owner of Animazing Gallery, New York, commenting on escalating prices, increasing sales, and major market changes affecting animation art.
"Not everyone agrees that [animation art] is fine art, but they all recognize it is a lost art form."
Disney's last hand-animated movie, "The Little Mermaid," came out in 1989--16 years ago. Subsequently, Disney released "Toy Story" (1995), a Pixar movie done with 3-D computer imaging. Now all animated features and practically all cartoons--from the "Simpsons" to "Spongebob Squarepants"--are digitally created.
Thus, the age of original, hand-painted production cels is over. With no new production cels being made and the supply of vintage cels dwindling, the public is taking a second look, and gaining new respect, for this remarkable American art form.
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