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AnimAID, a fundraising campaign launched to support members of the animation community that were impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, is kicking off an online auction with Sotheby’s featuring rare and one-of-a-kind pieces of animation history.
This includes original drawings, paintings, animation cels and maquette figures tied to animated films and series, including “Snow White,” “The Simpsons,” “Inside Out,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “The Wild Robot” and “Beauty and the Beast.” These items were donated by studios including The Walt Disney Company, Warner Brothers, DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Animation and Paramount.
The Art of Animation auction will also include experiences, for instance, the opportunity to voice a minor character in Sony Pictures Animation’s upcoming theatrical feature “Goat” or receive a custom character design and original drawing by Nico Marlet, the Annie Award-winning character designer behind DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “The Prince of Egypt.” Also on auction will be tours of animation studios such as Disney, Sony, DreamWorks and Lucasfilm, as well as a Peanuts experience that will include a director’s tour of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Schultz’s private studio.
AnimAID was formed by animated film society ASIFA-Hollywood (the group behind the Annie Awards, where the fundraising campaign was launched) in collaboration with animation industry talent and studios.
Highlights of the auction include a black-and-white story sketch from 1935’s “Tortoise and the Hare;” 3D-printed Pinocchio faces used in the creation of the 2022 Academy Award winner “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio;” and a color pencil drawing of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, created to benefit AnimAID and commemorate the 30th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story release. Estimates for these items range from $500 to more than $25,000.
Many of these pieces will be on display at Sotheby’s New York galleries from April 11–15, with the auction open for bidding online from April 23– 30.
“AnimAID is a powerful reminder of the unity and compassion that define our animation community,” said Aubry Mintz, executive director of AnimAID and ASIFA-Hollywood. “As we face the devastating aftermath of the wildfires, this initiative allows us to come together not only to provide essential relief, but also to honor the artists and professionals who have given so much to the world of animation. We are deeply grateful for the generous support from all our collaborations, and we are thrilled to share these iconic pieces of animation history with the public.”
