Bidding for this lot will end on Sunday, December 7th. The auction will begin at 3:00PM GMT (7:00AM PST) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Friday, December 5th or Saturday, December 6th.

This superb multi-layered cel setup from Batman Beyond presents Bruce Wayne, Terry McGinnis, and Ace the Bat-Hound within the moody architecture of the Batcave. This scene perfectly encapsulates the show's dark futurism and emotional legacy. Hand-painted cel layers are combined with their matching original production background and multiple key layout and animation drawings, all bearing the Warner Bros. Animation Art seals of authenticity.

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and airing from 1999 to 2001, Batman Beyond extended the celebrated Batman: The Animated Series universe into a cyberpunk Gotham of 2040. With Bruce Wayne retired and a new protege, Terry McGinnis, donning the mantle of the Bat, the series was both a reinvention and a continuation, redefining what Batman could represent for a new generation. The show's brooding design, sharp character animation, and cinematic use of shadow earned it critical acclaim and a lasting cult following.

This particular setup, from the episode "Mind Games", is a classic example of the series' atmospheric storytelling. The inimitable styling of production backgrounds, painted on black stock, using airbrushed gouache with angular contrasts, portrays the cavernous geometry of the Batcave, rendered in shades of steel blue and graphite. The cels themselves showcase layered inking and paintwork that integrate complex highlights, particularly in the silhouetted wings and digital glow of the console screens, all classic hallmarks of the late 1990s Warner Bros. production style. The setup's composition balances solitude and legacy, with Bruce and Terry positioned side by side before the glowing monitors, while Ace's presence adds a quiet touch of loyalty to the scene.

The accompanying layout and production drawings offer an exceptional look into the animation pipeline. The architectural layout drawing defines the Batcave's perspective grid, lighting zones, and monitor positions, while character drawings depict the placement of Wayne, McGinnis, Ace, and the background bats. Each sheet bears original studio annotations in coloured pencil, showing the collaboration between layout, animation, and background departments to achieve the final composition. There are tape remnants and marks on the layout drawings.

Pieces that combine all three elements (cel, matching original background, and a full suite of production drawings) are increasingly scarce from this series, particularly those that feature both Bruce and Terry together in the Batcave. With its layered complexity and cinematic depth, this setup represents Batman Beyond at its visual and emotional best: a masterful blend of legacy and innovation, hand-rendered at the dawn of the digital age. Dimensions (cel on background): 26.5 cm x 36 cm (10.5" x 14.25") ; (each drawing): 24 cm x 27 cm (9.5" x 10.5")

Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.

Estimate: £900 - 1,800 Ω

View all lots from BATMAN BEYOND (1999-2001)

View all lots from BATMAN - ALL ITEMS