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A rare and culturally significant set of original hand-painted animation cels created for The Beatles Anthology, Apple Corps' landmark documentary series chronicling the complete story of the world's most influential band.
Produced at Manga Studios under the supervision of Creative Director Shaun Magher, these vibrant cels feature animated renditions of Paul McCartney and the Blue Meanies, designed in the instantly recognisable Yellow Submarine style. They appear in a joyful segment built around restored Super 8 footage of The Beatles on holiday, where hand-drawn animation playfully overlays live-action scenes. This creative fusion of styles served as a visual homage to the pioneering 1968 Yellow Submarine feature while celebrating the band's enduring sense of imagination and humour.
Painted on 12-field celluloid using traditional cel-vinyl animation paints, the cels were originally shot against chromakey blue backgrounds to be composited into the Anthology sequence. The accompanying digital fine art background prints reproduce the single original production background created for the Paul and Ringo interview scenes, ensuring the setup presents as it would have appeared during production.
What makes this pair exceptional is not only the connection between Anthology and Yellow Submarine, but also their impeccable provenance - they come directly from Shaun Magher, accompanied by his letter of authenticity.
These cels represent a rare bridge between two eras of Beatles history: the psychedelic animation that defined their late-1960s aesthetic and the 1990s revival that reintroduced them to new generations.
Both historically and artistically, they stand as joyful, collectible artefacts from the Beatles' animation legacy, a celebration of creativity, nostalgia, and the continuing cultural resonance of the Fab Four. Dimensions (Blue Meanie cel): 28.5 cm x 33 cm (11.25" x 13")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £1,000 - 2,000 M
View all lots from BEATLES ANTHOLOGY, THE (TV SERIES, 1995-1996)