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.
An exceptional pair of original hand-painted model sheet cels, created in the same traditional manner as production artwork and used to define final character colour and design consistency for animators. These reference cels depict some of Hanna-Barbera's most recognisable television characters: Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har (1966), and Baba Looey (1958) from Quick Draw McGraw. Both sheets are hand-painted and signed by legendary studio artist Bob Singer, one of the key creative forces behind Hanna-Barbera's golden age of television animation.
Model sheets were a crucial part of the animation process, serving as visual blueprints to ensure characters maintained continuity across hundreds of frames and multiple animators' hands. While most were printed or photocopied from original artwork, fully hand-painted model cels like these were rarely produced, typically made for high-level internal reference or archival display. Few have survived outside of studio archives, making these examples particularly special.
Bob Singer's contribution to American animation is immense. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he designed and art-directed countless Hanna-Barbera favourites, including Scooby-Doo, The Jetsons, Jonny Quest, and The Flintstones. His influence helped define the clean-lined, expressive style that came to characterise mid-century television animation.
Both cels display outstanding preservation of colour and line quality. Baba Looey is dated November 25, 1958, showing early design refinements such as the note "Treat hands as hoofs," while the Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har cel is dated 1966 and includes full turnarounds from multiple angles, offering insight into the precision required for serial animation.
A remarkable piece of animation history, not just a collectable, but a lost animator's tool, representing the artistry and process behind one of the most influential studios in television history. Dimensions (each): 26.5 cm x 32 cm (10.5" x 12.5")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £500 - 1,000 M
View all lots from HANNA-BARBERA